Saginaw MLK Unity Celebration Marks 30 Years Strong

For 30 years, Saginaw has kicked off Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a powerful tradition that brings hundreds together in celebration of hope, service, and unity.

The Iota Chi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity partnered with Delta College Black Faculty and Staff to host the milestone 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Birthday Celebration on Monday at The Dow Event Center. The day began with a Unity March through downtown Saginaw, featuring about 100 participants including students, educators, clergy, and local leaders walking nearly a mile together.

Reverend Andr'e Spivey from Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit delivered the keynote address on the theme "Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence." His message reminded the nearly 300 luncheon attendees of King's enduring call to peaceful action.

The celebration honored local heroes who embody King's legacy of service. The Dr. Eugene and Lady Joyce Seals Family Foundation received the Dr. MLK Jr. Unity Award for their community impact. Darrin Johnson, who works in human resources recruitment at Delta College, earned the Spirit of Dr. King Award for his dedication to developing others.

The Ripple Effect

This 30-year tradition shows how one community's commitment creates lasting change. The event doesn't just remember King's work; it actively continues it by recognizing people doing the work right now in their own neighborhoods.

High school students received MLK Jr. scholarships during the luncheon, investing in the next generation of leaders. Sharmon Noel earned recognition with the 2025 James "Pete" Gaddis Service Award for her fraternity work. These awards connect young people to a legacy bigger than themselves.

"Our Unity March, which Dr. King and other civic leaders used to call attention to social injustices, will kick off the day of celebration," said Damon Brown, president of Iota Chi Lambda chapter. He emphasized how the event "showcases the local heroes that make our communities, state and our nation great."

The march itself carries symbolic weight. Starting where voices were once raised against injustice, marchers walked together toward a celebration of how far the community has come while acknowledging the work still ahead.

Three decades of gathering, marching, and honoring everyday heroes proves that King's dream lives on in communities willing to do the work of unity, one year at a time.