Southeastern North Carolina Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee announces Tamera Young as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 SENC MLK, Jr. Parade
Wilmington, NC (WWAY) — The Southeastern North Carolina Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee is announcing the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of Events, a week of community-centered programming honoring the life, legacy, and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Founded to fill a longtime void in the community, the SENC MLK, Jr. Celebration Committee is committed to improving racial relations, strengthening community connections, and increasing awareness of the positive achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history.
For 2026, the Committee is proud to announce Tamera “Ty” Young as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 SENC MLK, Jr. Parade.
A Wilmington native, Young is a retired standout and former assistant coach for the WNBA, known for her exceptional career at Laney High School and James Madison University, followed by her selection in the 2008 WNBA Draft. She played professionally with the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces, and later returned to the Chicago Sky as an assistant coach, continuing to influence basketball culture on and off the court.
In honor of Dr. King’s transformative impact on American life, the SENC MLK, Jr. Celebration Committee will host a series of events designed to enrich the quality of life in the community:
• Monday, January 12 – SENC MLK, Jr. Committee Press Conference
10:00 A.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Thursday, January 15 – Conversations for Peace
6:00 P.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Friday, January 16 – SENC Martin Luther King, Jr. Pageant
6:00 P.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Saturday, January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Fun Day
11:00 A.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Sunday, January 18 – MLK, Jr. Ecumenical Service
11:00 A.M. Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 2929 Princess Place Drive, Wilmington, NC
• Monday, January 19 – SENC MLK Jr. Day Parade
11:00 A.M. 3rd Street – Downtown Wilmington, NC
• Saturday, January 24 – NAACP Breakfast
10:00 A.M. The Wilmington Convention Center, 10 Convention Center Dr., Wilmington, NCWilmington holds special significance in commemorating Dr. King’s legacy. A lesser-known historical fact is that Dr. King was scheduled to visit Wilmington but postponed his arrival to support striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was later assassinated.
• Thursday, January 15 – Conversations for Peace
6:00 P.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Friday, January 16 – SENC Martin Luther King, Jr. Pageant
6:00 P.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Saturday, January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Fun Day
11:00 A.M. Martin Luther King Center, 401 South 8th Street., Wilmington, NC
• Sunday, January 18 – MLK, Jr. Ecumenical Service
11:00 A.M. Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 2929 Princess Place Drive, Wilmington, NC
• Monday, January 19 – SENC MLK Jr. Day Parade
11:00 A.M. 3rd Street – Downtown Wilmington, NC
• Saturday, January 24 – NAACP Breakfast
10:00 A.M. The Wilmington Convention Center, 10 Convention Center Dr., Wilmington, NCWilmington holds special significance in commemorating Dr. King’s legacy. A lesser-known historical fact is that Dr. King was scheduled to visit Wilmington but postponed his arrival to support striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was later assassinated.
For any updates, volunteer information, and registration details surrounding the 2026 SENC MLK, Jr. Celebration, go to www.mlkjrcelebration.com, email sencmlkcelebration@gmail.com or call (910) 408-2511.
