2025 We Have a Dream Celebration
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - We Have a Dream Celebration is an annual community event held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to commemorate the life and work of Dr. King. The morning portion of the program hosted by NAACP Rochester Branch MN in partnership with Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce will take place at the Mayo Civic Center.
The NAACP Rochester Freedom Rally and March will then proceed before the commencement of the Community People's Program which will take place at The Rochester Civic Theatre and feature State of Branch Report by President Elegbede, Distinguished Keynote Panel Discussion and Q&A from our community. The Community People's Program will then conclude with the Commemorative MLK Birthday Party Celebration!
We Have a Dream Celebration Agenda:
8:30am Doors open - Breakfast served
9:00am Welcome, Start of Program
9:05am Invocation
9:35am Inspiration from the Heart
9:55am Introduction of Keynote
10:00am Keynote Speaker
- Prexy Nesbitt, American activist, educator, and speaker
10:15am President’s Remark and Community Call to Action
- Walé Elegbede, President, Rochester Branch NAACP
10:25am Closing Remarks
Prexy Nesbitt - Prominent American activist, educator, and international speaker - Prexy is known for his lifelong commitment to social justice and anti-racism. He played a pivotal role in the global movement against apartheid in South Africa, forging coalitions and mobilizing support in the United States and worldwide to fight for African liberation. Nesbitt's activism brought him into close contact with African liberation leaders, and he came to personally know Nelson Mandela.
In the United States, as a young man, Nesbitt marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during 1966’s “step on a thousand-mile journey" , serving as Dr. King’s bodyguard, and a significant chapter in the fight for civil rights. As an educator, Nesbitt has dedicated his career to teaching and lecturing on the intersections of race, class, and international relations, with a particular focus on African history and the global impact of colonialism. In recognition of his profound contributions to human rights, social justice, and activism, Nesbitt received the Horace Mann Award from Antioch College, an honor given to alumni who have made significant impacts in these fields.
Walé Elegbede - President, Rochester Branch NAACP – A servant leader and transformative change maker, Walé believes in the power of human connection and ideas, and that connections and bridges must be made to improve our world. At the NAACP, Walé is focused on ensuring social justice, equity, inclusion, diversity, and civil rights is achieved by advancing the strategic focus areas of Health Equity, Education, Economic Stability, Public Safety, Voting Rights, and Youth Engagement. Walé also serves as Director of Strategy Management Services (SMS) at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he oversees Portfolio Management and the Project Management Office in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) and leads transformation efforts in the build-out and strategic execution of novel diagnostic solutions and disruptive technologies. He is an internationally recognized TED Talk and AAE Keynote Speaker and keynote speaker who regularly speaks on leadership, strategy execution, social justice, and diversity, equity and inclusion. In recognition of his exceptional contribution to his profession and community, Wale received the Rada Distinguished Alumni Award of the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. He is also the 2024 recipient of the Mayo Clinic DLMP Innovation and Leadership in Education Award.
Additional Community-wide activities hosted by the Rochester Branch of the NAACP
10:30am – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March Rally (First Floor of the Mayo Civic Center)
11:30 a.m. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March
12:00 p.m. – Community Peoples Program (Rochester Civic Theater)
2:30pm - Commemorative Celebration and Birthday Party (Rochester Civic Theater)
The NAACP Rochester Freedom Rally and March will then proceed before the commencement of the Community People's Program which will take place at The Rochester Civic Theatre and feature State of Branch Report by President Elegbede, Distinguished Keynote Panel Discussion and Q&A from our community. The Community People's Program will then conclude with the Commemorative MLK Birthday Party Celebration!
We Have a Dream Celebration Agenda:
8:30am Doors open - Breakfast served
9:00am Welcome, Start of Program
9:05am Invocation
9:35am Inspiration from the Heart
9:55am Introduction of Keynote
10:00am Keynote Speaker
- Prexy Nesbitt, American activist, educator, and speaker
10:15am President’s Remark and Community Call to Action
- Walé Elegbede, President, Rochester Branch NAACP
10:25am Closing Remarks
Prexy Nesbitt - Prominent American activist, educator, and international speaker - Prexy is known for his lifelong commitment to social justice and anti-racism. He played a pivotal role in the global movement against apartheid in South Africa, forging coalitions and mobilizing support in the United States and worldwide to fight for African liberation. Nesbitt's activism brought him into close contact with African liberation leaders, and he came to personally know Nelson Mandela.
In the United States, as a young man, Nesbitt marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during 1966’s “step on a thousand-mile journey" , serving as Dr. King’s bodyguard, and a significant chapter in the fight for civil rights. As an educator, Nesbitt has dedicated his career to teaching and lecturing on the intersections of race, class, and international relations, with a particular focus on African history and the global impact of colonialism. In recognition of his profound contributions to human rights, social justice, and activism, Nesbitt received the Horace Mann Award from Antioch College, an honor given to alumni who have made significant impacts in these fields.
Walé Elegbede - President, Rochester Branch NAACP – A servant leader and transformative change maker, Walé believes in the power of human connection and ideas, and that connections and bridges must be made to improve our world. At the NAACP, Walé is focused on ensuring social justice, equity, inclusion, diversity, and civil rights is achieved by advancing the strategic focus areas of Health Equity, Education, Economic Stability, Public Safety, Voting Rights, and Youth Engagement. Walé also serves as Director of Strategy Management Services (SMS) at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he oversees Portfolio Management and the Project Management Office in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) and leads transformation efforts in the build-out and strategic execution of novel diagnostic solutions and disruptive technologies. He is an internationally recognized TED Talk and AAE Keynote Speaker and keynote speaker who regularly speaks on leadership, strategy execution, social justice, and diversity, equity and inclusion. In recognition of his exceptional contribution to his profession and community, Wale received the Rada Distinguished Alumni Award of the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. He is also the 2024 recipient of the Mayo Clinic DLMP Innovation and Leadership in Education Award.
Additional Community-wide activities hosted by the Rochester Branch of the NAACP
10:30am – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March Rally (First Floor of the Mayo Civic Center)
11:30 a.m. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March
12:00 p.m. – Community Peoples Program (Rochester Civic Theater)
2:30pm - Commemorative Celebration and Birthday Party (Rochester Civic Theater)
Partners:
Event Sponsors
(1).jpg)
.jpg){kind=logo}
(2).jpg)
Date and Time
Monday Jan 20, 2025
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM CST
The date, time, location, and agenda of this event noted is subject to change. All attendees will be made aware if anything changes.
Location
Mayo Civic Center
Ballrooms 2 & 3
30 Civic Center Dr SE
Rochester, MN 55904
