NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
Mission Statement
The NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission embodies the values of Dr. King by acting urgently to reduce inequity and drive comprehensive justice-centered change for all North Carolinians and amplify the efforts of organizations championing humanity and supporting celebratory events in honor of Dr. King's birthday.
Vision Statement
The NC MLK Jr. Commission envisions a North Carolina in which diversity is celebrated, all people are respected, the systems of our society perpetuate justice and equity, and "we must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience" (MLK Jr. 1965) now and for generations to come.
About the Commission
The Commission consists of 16 members.
- The commission is governed by General Statute 143B-426.34A and General Statute 143B-426.34B.
- Values: Transformation, accountability, respect, equity, service
- Key priorities: Justice System, Education System, Economic Development, Technology
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham City Jail 60th Anniversary Webinar
2026 State Employees’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Program
Commission Members
| Member Name | County |
|---|---|
| Catherine Williamson-Hardy | Durham |
| Cheryl Hart | Granville |
| Dr. Charles Johnson | Wake |
| Dr. Tiffany Tuma | Wake |
| Jennifer Nehlsen | Buncombe |
| Laureen G. Jones | Franklin |
| Marcus R. Bass | Wake |
| Mildred Christmas | Wake |
| Patricia Levitin | Guilford |
| Phyllis Mack Horton | Orange |
| Resha Peregrino-Brimah | Yadkin |
| Rev. Dr. Warren Herndon | Granville |
| Roosevelt Ethridge | Wilson |
| Rabbi Judith Schindler | Mecklenburg |
| Vacant | |
| Walter R. Ferguson II | Lee |
Get Connected!
If you are interested in staying informed of the latest developments of the NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, please submit the below form. The Commission greatly appreciates your interest and passion for the work of Dr. King.
MLK Commission Connection Form
Want to Serve? Find Your Fit!
Members of the public interested in joining one of the over 300 North Carolina boards and commissions can apply for Governor appointment online. If interested in joining a DOA board or commission, you can also reach out to jordan.etters@doa.nc.gov for more information and to be considered when there are open positions.
Annual Reports, Minutes, and Resources
- The King Center: Classroom Resources
- Offers lesson plans, interactive activities, video libraries, and virtual field trips to the
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. Includes guides for teachers and
literacy-focused children’s book readings.
- Offers lesson plans, interactive activities, video libraries, and virtual field trips to the
- Stanford University: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
- Provides access to thousands of primary documents, photographs, and
publications. Features the Online King Records Access (OKRA) database and
multimedia tools like Freedom’s Ring, an interactive version of the “I Have a Dream”
speech.
- Provides access to thousands of primary documents, photographs, and
- PBS NewsHour Classroom: MLK Day Resources
- Ready-to-use lesson plans and videos covering King’s speeches, the March on
Washington, and civil rights history. Includes literary and visual analysis of “I Have a
Dream” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail."
- Ready-to-use lesson plans and videos covering King’s speeches, the March on
- WXXI Education: MLK Resources Collection
- Curated resources from PBS LearningMedia for grades 6–12, including video clips,
primary source activities, and historical context on King’s leadership and
nonviolence.
- Curated resources from PBS LearningMedia for grades 6–12, including video clips,
- The King Center (Official Site)
- The official organization founded by Coretta Scott King, offering programs, archives,
and public engagement opportunities.
- The official organization founded by Coretta Scott King, offering programs, archives,
Congressional Research Service: MLK Day Fact Sheet - Provides legislative history, presidential proclamations, and government resources
tied to the federal holiday.
- Provides legislative history, presidential proclamations, and government resources