56th Annual Dr. King
Remembrance Dinner
Saturday, January 17, 2026
"Reawakening Creative Maladjustment"
Saturday, January 17, 2026 I Black Tie Optional
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Reception 6:00 p.m. I Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Cotillion Banquets - 360 S. Creekside Drive, Palatine, IL
"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright day break of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional truth and unconditional love will have the final word." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
56th Annual
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance Dinner
Every year the ICDHR commemorates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an annual dinner. The dinner celebrates Dr. King's birthday, advance academic scholarship opportunities for deserving Chicago high school seniors and honor community and business leaders involved in carrying out the dream of Dr. King.
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The dinner commemorates the death of Dr. King and to remember and elevate his messages of justice, equality, unity and peace. He believed strongly that leaders are those who help others become great, and in doing so, they become great.
2026 Honorary Chairs
Rev. Dr. John Alan Boryk
Chairman, Outreach Committee ICDHR
Mr. John Eilering
Senior Vice President, Market Chairman, Lakeside Bank
The Honorable Toni Preckwinkle
President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
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Melanie O'Brien
Regional Manager, Corporate Responsibility, Southwest Airlines
Dr. Avis Proctor
President, William Rainey
Harper College
Ms. Amelia White
Corporate Responsibility Regional Manager, Texas
Southwest Airlines
2026 Keynote Speaker
TBA
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
Mistress of Ceremonies
Ms. Regina Waldroup
Reporter, NBC5 Chicago
Musical Performance
Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago
The Soul Children of Chicago community feeds the soul of every child through education, career guidance, international cultural experiences, and music.