Topeka MLK Event Brings Free Dinner and Unity Message

When Pastor Darron Edwards takes the stage Monday night in Topeka, he'll ask a question that matters more than ever: whose dream is it?

The annual "Whose Dream Is It?" Community Celebration marks the culmination of Living the Dream, Inc.'s MLK Day activities. Starting at 5:30 p.m., neighbors from across Topeka will share free soup and chili at First Baptist Church before the program begins at 7 p.m.

Living the Dream, Inc. has partnered with the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice to make this gathering possible. Carl Frazier, executive director of TCPJ, says the evening is about more than remembering history. It's about connecting King's vision to the work communities are doing right now.

Pastor Edwards, who leads United Believers Community Church in Kansas City, Missouri, brings a fresh perspective on how everyday people can carry forward King's message. His appearance as special guest reflects the event's commitment to making civil rights work accessible and personal.

The free meal creates something organizers know is powerful: a shared table. Before anyone gives a speech or shares a message, people will break bread together. That simple act of community building honors King's belief that progress happens through relationship.

The Ripple Effect

Events like this one create waves that extend far beyond a single evening. When families attend together, children see adults from different backgrounds working toward common goals. When churches open their doors for community gatherings, they model the inclusive spaces King envisioned.

The partnership between Living the Dream, Inc. and the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice shows how local organizations can amplify each other's impact. By combining resources and networks, they've built an annual tradition that brings hundreds together around shared values.

The "Whose Dream Is It?" question itself invites participants to take ownership. King's dream isn't a relic to admire from a distance. It's a living vision that needs people willing to shape it for their own time and place.

Monday night's gathering proves that Topeka residents are ready to answer that call with full bellies and open hearts.