Nominations open for Human Relations Commission’s MLK Humanitarian Award
Nominations are now open for the City of Independence Human Relations Commission’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes a resident or organization that embodies the spirit of Dr. King’s work and has gone above and beyond in service to the Independence community.
The award will be presented during the community-wide Martin Luther King Day ceremony on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the Truman Memorial Building (416 W. Maple Ave.).
Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award criteria
Nominees for the Human Relations Commission’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Award are recognized for significant and sustained contributions in areas related to Dr. King’s life and legacy. Criteria include:
- Promoting social justice and equality: Advocating for human and civil rights and working to eliminate barriers to opportunity for diverse populations.
- Demonstrating leadership and volunteerism: Showing visible, ongoing leadership and giving freely of their time and service, often beyond their professional responsibilities.
- Building community and harmony: Working to improve communication, understanding and cooperation among different groups in the community.
- Commitment to nonviolent action: Exemplifying Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence in resolving conflicts and promoting positive change.
All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
To nominate an individual or organization, please write a short essay describing how your nominee meets the criteria above and email it to John Mayfield at jmayfield@indepmo.org.
About the annual ceremony
Each year, the Independence community gathers to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual Martin Luther King Day event has been held in Independence since 1987, organized by the Community of Concerned Citizens and the Independence Ministerial Alliance and includes the presentation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award and the John Olivarez Scholarship Award.