We Have a Dream Celebration 2024

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 and feature complimentary Breakfast, Spoken Words from the Youth, Featured Keynote from Justin Terrell, Executive Director Minnesota Justice Research Center, and Call to Action from Rochester Branch NAACP President Walé Elegbede.

The NAACP 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, Insights from our Elders, Distinguished Keynote Panel Discussion from Select Community Leaders including Justin Terrell, Raffle Prizes, and Voter Awareness Campaign 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
                   - UMR – Black Student Union Students, Rochester Public School Students
9:50am              Introduction of Keynote
9:55am              Featured Keynote Speaker
                   - Justin Terrell, Executive Director, Minnesota Justice Research Center
10:15am            Call to Action
                   - Walé Elegbede, President, Rochester Branch NAACP
10:25am            Closing Remarks


Justin Terrell - Executive Director, Minnesota Justice Research Center - As the Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC), Justin Terrell has focused on building a balanced and rigorous research program aimed at equipping Minnesotans with the information and tools needed to transform the punitive criminal legal system. Through research, education and policy development the MNJRC aims to bring systems into stronger alignment with commonly held values associated with justice and racial equity (more information at www.mnjrc.org).

Walé Elegbede - President, Rochester Branch 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 the Innovation pillar of SMS in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and leads efforts in the strategic execution of disruptive technologies. A servant leader and change maker, Walé believes in the power of human connection and ideas, and that connections and bridges must be made to improve our world. He is an internationally recognized TED Talk , Rada Distinguished Alumni of the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse, and keynote speaker who regularly speaks on leadership, community, social justice issues, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and strategy execution.

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)