Birmingham King Week is an annual initiative and collaboration between the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UAB Student Affairs, City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office, Hands On Birmingham, local colleges and universities, and surrounding agencies to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr through a weeklong series of events and service initiatives at UAB and throughout the City of Birmingham. Some of the highlights for the week include the Day of Service, MLK 5K Drum Run, and Word from the Mountain Top oratory competition.
View the 2023 schedule of events here.
Past Events
-
2023 Birmingham King Week
- Saturday, January 14
MLK Day 5K Drum Run
Historic Park
1700 4th Ave. N.
- Monday, January 16
9 A.M. - MLK Day Celebration
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Monday, January 16
10 A.M. – MLK's Beloved Community
Various Locations
- Friday, January 20
6 P.M. – An Evening with Reverend Dr. William Barber II
16th Street Baptist Church
- Saturday, January 14
-
2022 Birmingham King Week
- Thursday, January 15
10 A.M. - MLK Day Celebration
Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium
- Saturday, January 15
8 A.M. – MLK Day 5K Drum Run
Historic Park
1700 4th Ave. N.
- Saturday, January 15
10 A.M. - Day of Service
Linn Park
- Monday, January 17
8 A.M. - MLK Day of Service
Birmingham Area
- Monday, January 17
9 A.M. – King Day Festivities
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Monday, January 17
7 A.M. – MLK Day of Service Volunteer Litter Pickup
Edgewater B Community
- Monday, January 17
12 P.M. – MLK Day of Service Volunteer Litter Pickup
Forestdale Community
- Monday, January 17
7 A.M. – King Jr. Day Unity Breakfast
BJCC North Exhibit Hall
- Friday, January 21
2 P.M. – Black Scientists Throughout History
Virtual
- Saturday, January 22
3 P.M. - Word from the Mountain Top Oratory Finalists Competition
Virtual
- Thursday, January 15
-
2021 Birmingham King Week
- January 15
Prayer Vigil
Statue of MLK
Near Kelly Ingram Park.
- Saturday, January 16
MLK Day 5K Drum Run
Virtual
- Saturday, January 16
9 A.M. – Gun Buy Back
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church
2315 26th Ave. North
Birmingham, AL 35234 - Monday, January 18
6 P.M. – Justice in the Beloved Community: A Conversation on A Time to Break Silence
Virtual
- Monday, January 18
9 A.M. - Stand Up for Justice: An MLK, Jr. Day of Commemoration
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Virtual
- Tuesday, January 19
4 P.M. - Social Justice Cafe: Dr. King's perception of equity
Virtual
- Wednesday, January 20
11 A.M. – Annual Love Feast
Corner of 16th Street & 6th Ave North
- Thursday, January 21
7 P.M. – Sports and Equity: Were Are We and Where Do We Go From Here
Virtual
- Thursday, January 21
7 P.M. – King Week Trivia Night
Virtual
- Friday, January 22
4:30 P.M. - Racial Reconciliation and its Historical Context at Birmingham southern College
Virtual
- Saturday, January 25
3 P.M. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Word From the Mountaintop” Oratory Contest Finalists Competition
Virtual
- January 15
-
2020 Birmingham King Week
- January 3-16
Martin Luther King Jr. Scavenger Hunt
Avondale Regional Library
509 40th St. S.
Birmingham, AL 35222 - January 6-17
Martin Luther King Day Scavenger Hunt
East Ensley Branch Library
900 14th Street Ensley
Birmingham, AL 35218 - January 6-17
Martin Luther King Mosaic Poster
East Ensley Branch Library
900 14th Street Ensley
Birmingham, AL 35218 - Wednesday, January 8
6 P.M. - The Birmingham Public Library Presents Nic Stone, author of New York Times best-seller “Dear Martin”
Birmingham Public Library, Central - Arrington Auditorium
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203 - January 10-31
Smithfield Library Annual MLK Film Festival
Smithfield Library
1 8th Ave. W
Birmingham, AL 35204 - Saturday, January 18
7 A.M. – MLK Day 5K Drum Run
1701 4th Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Saturday, January 18
8 A.M. – Gun Buy Back
St. Joseph Baptist Church
500 9th Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35204 - Saturday, January 18
11 A.M. – Youth Explosion - Past-Present-Future: A Conversation on Human Trafficking and Mental Health
St. Joseph Baptist Church
500 9th Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35204 - Saturday, January 18
12 P.M. – Brothers and Bowties: A Vision Cast
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 Sixteenth St N.
Birmingham, AL 35203
Register here - Sunday, January 19
9 A.M. – #BarberBlessingBham
Kelly Ingram Park
500 17th St. N.
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Sunday, January 19
3 P.M. – Begin the Day: The Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Lecture by Dr. Kimberley Mangun, University of Utah - Topic: Emory O. Jackson, Crusading Editor for Civil Rights
Birmingham Public Library, Central - Arrington Auditorium
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 20
7:30 A.M. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast
BJCC East Ballroom
2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 20
9 A.M. - MLK Day 2020: King's Dream in 20/20 Vision
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 Sixteenth St N.
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 20
9 A.M. - “MLK’s Beloved Community”
UAB Campus Recreation Center
1501 University Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35233
- Monday, January 20
11 A.M. - MLK Wreath Laying Ceremony
Kelly Ingram Park
500 17th St. N.
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 20
12 P.M. - MLK March
Birmingham City Hall
710 20th St. N.
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 20
1 P.M. - Hands on Birmingham City Wide MLK Day of Service
Birmingham City Hall
710 20th Street N.
Birmingham, Al 35203 - Monday, January 20
2 P.M. Love Feast: Feed Homeless and Senior Citizens
Boutwell Auditorium
1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Tuesday, January 21
6 P.M. - History as Education, Entertainment, or Propaganda: Should how we tell the story matter?
UAB Hill Student Center, Alumni Theater
1400 University Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Wednesday, January 22
12 P.M. - Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Volker Hall, Lecture Room A
1670 University Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Wednesday, January 22
7 P.M. - "Just Mercy" Movie Screening
Edge Movie Theater
7001 Crestwood Blvd #1100a
Birmingham, AL 35210 - Thursday, January 23
7 P.M. – UAB Men’s Basketball vs Southern Miss
Bartow Arena
617 13th St. S.
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Friday, January 24
ALL DAY – Women's Track vs Green and Gold Invitational
Birmingham Crossplex
2337 Bessemer Rd
Birmingham, AL 35209 - Friday, January 24
9 A.M. – Organized Radical Collegiate Activism (ORCA) Gathering
UAB Hill Student Center
1400 University Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Saturday, January 24
ALL DAY – Women's Track vs Green and Gold Invitational
Birmingham Crossplex
2337 Bessemer Rd
Birmingham, AL 35209 - Saturday, January 25
3 P.M. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Word From the Mountaintop” Oratory Contest Finalists Competition
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 Sixteenth St N.
Birmingham, AL 35203
- January 3-16
-
2019 Birmingham King Week
- Saturday, January 19
7:00 A.M. - MLK 5K Drum Run
Race begins at the corner of 1st Avenue South and 12th Street South - Saturday, January 19
11 A.M. – Street Smart: Conversations Between Youth and Law Enforcement
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church
2315 25th Ave. N.
Birmingham, AL 35234 - Sunday, January 20
3 P.M. – Real Life Poets Remember Dr. King
Avondale Public Library
509 40th St. S.
Birmingham, AL 35222 - Sunday, January 20
4:30 P.M. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pre-Celebration and Gospel Concert
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
228 Dennison Ave SW
Birmingham, AL 35211 - Monday, January 21
7:30 A.M. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast
BJCC North Exhibition Hall
1160-1582 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 21
9 A.M. – MLK Invitational Track & Field Tournament
Birmingham CrossPlex
2337 Bessemer Road
Birmingham, AL 35208 - Monday, January 21
9 A.M. – 5 P.M. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute MLK Celebration (Free Admission)
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 16th St N.
Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 21
10 A.M. – MLK Day 2019: Vistas Serving Birmingham
Collegeville Community Center
3029 29th Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35207 - Monday, January 21
10:30 A.M. - “Let’s Talk, From Conflict to Connection; Navigating Tough Conversations”
Boutwell Auditorium Upstairs
1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard Birmingham, AL 35203
- Monday, January 21
11 A.M. - Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Annual MLK March
March begins at 20th Street N. and end at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church - Monday, January 21
11:30 A.M. - UAB MLK Day of Service
UAB Campus Recreation Center
1501 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Monday, January 21
12 P.M. - Hands on Birmingham City Wide MLK Day of Service Kick-Off and City Wide Day of Service
Birmingham City Hall
710 20th Street N.
Birmingham, Al 35203 - Monday, January 21
2 P.M. Love Feast: Feed Homeless and Senior Citizens
Boutwell Auditorium
1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard Birmingham, AL 35203 - Monday, January 21
ALL DAY - Free Admission to the Negro Southern League Museum and I am the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Make It Happy Youth Ensemble
Times: 10 A.M., 12 Noon, and 2 P.M.
120 16th St S
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Wednesday, January 23
6 P.M. - Critical Conversations: Between Charity and Social Justice – Community Engagement Among Churches and Faith-based Communities (Part 2)
Heritage Hall Room 102
1600 7th Avenue S.
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Thursday, January 24
11 A.M. – UAB Women’s Basketball vs North Texas
Bartow Arena
617 13th St. S.
Birmingham, AL 35233 - Friday, January 25
ALL DAY – 91.1 FM Musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sponsored by Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame - Saturday, January 26
3 P.M. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Word From the Mountaintop” Oratory Contest Finalists Competition
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 Sixteenth St N.
Birmingham, AL 35203
- Saturday, January 19
-
2018 UAB King Week
- Sunday, January 14
5 PM - Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Ft. The Blind Boys of Alabama
Alys Stephens Center
1200 10th Ave. S Birmingham, AL 35205 - Monday, January 15
10:30 AM -4 PM - "Day On. Not Day Off" Service Project (Registration Starts at 10 AM)
Campus Rec Center
1501 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233 - Tuesday, January 16
12 PM-2 PM - Volunteer Fair
Hill Student Center Performance Lounge
1400 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35205 - Wednesday, January 17
4:30 PM - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: The Justice System of Dr. Kings Day
Underground Room, UAB New Freshman Residence Hall - Speakers:
Former Deputy Chief Stover: First Black Police Officer on the Birmingham PD
Former Chief of Police Johnnie Johnson: Second Black Police Officer and First Black Police Chief of Birmingham PD
Bishop Calvin Woods: Walked and Worked with Dr. King
- Thursday, January 18
Economic Development
11 AM - 4th Ave Business District Tour
2 PM - District Lunch Special w/ UAB ID
6 PM - (Location changed. Please see the update.) Community Conversations with the Families of the Historic 4th Avenue Business District. The event will be held in UAB Heritage Hall, Room 102. - Saturday, January 20
3 PM - Word from the Mountaintop Oratory Competition Finalist Presentations
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Sunday, January 14
