01/21/2026
MLK Weekend of Celebration | Wrap-Up & Thank You
What an incredible and unforgettable MLK Weekend of Celebration! On behalf of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community, our supporters, and every person who helped make this weekend meaningful, powerful, and full of unity.
To our MLK Celebration Committee, thank you for your dedication, time, sacrifice, and teamwork. Your passion and commitment are what keep this legacy moving forward year after year.
A special thank you to our host churches and leadership:
Pastor Lampley and the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church family, thank you for welcoming us and supporting this weekend with excellence. Rev. Dr. Sharon Adair Harden and the St. Luke AME Church family, thank you for your hospitality, love, and continued partnership in uplifting our youth and community.
We are grateful for the presence and support of our local government officials, including Mayor Matt Santini and Commissioner Steve Taylor. Thank you for your continued support of this celebration and the vision of unity it represents.
A very special thank you to Pugmire Ford of Cartersville for providing the vehicle used to drive our Grand Marshal, Mayor Matt Santini we truly appreciate your generosity and support!
We also proudly acknowledge and congratulate:
Our Drum Major Award Recipients: New Frontiers Award
Our Scholarship Recipients: Tekiera Chapman, Teghan Davis and Mallory Nichlas
Our Chairperson’s Award Winner: Levon Ward, thank you for your years of service, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our community to you all.
To all of our speakers Paula Canty Cobb, Ethan Upshaw, GMO and Friends, Bridgett Wiley Reynolds, and Pastor Michael Daniel throughout the weekend, thank you for sharing your voice, wisdom, and inspiration at each service and event. Your messages reminded us of the power of service, leadership, and love.
And to everyone who gave through food donations, monetary donations, volunteer time, and behind-the-scenes support, thank you. Every contribution mattered, and every act of kindness made a difference.
This weekend was a beautiful reminder that when we come together in love, purpose, and unity, we build something greater than ourselves.
We look forward to the continued growth of this celebration, greater community involvement, and even more opportunities to include and inspire our youth in the years ahead.
Thank you, Cartersville & Bartow County. Until next year let’s keep serving, growing, and moving forward together.