More than two decades after its founding, the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation (MLKEDC) is once again inviting the community to its annual Reclaim The Dream Memorial and Gospel Concert.
The 21st Annual event is set for Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall in Miami. This year’s program will feature a performance by Grammy Award–winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin, along with a candlelight prayer involving full audience participation.
For 21 years, Reclaim The Dream has served as both a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and a platform for civic engagement, bringing together community leaders, faith groups, and residents committed to advancing civil rights and economic opportunity.
Organizers say the event comes at a time when economic disparities and social challenges remain pressing issues nationwide, positioning the gathering as both a moment of reflection and a call to action rooted in Dr. King’s vision of the “Beloved Community.”
“Reclaim The Dream is where remembrance meets responsibility,” Miami Chairwoman and District 5 Commissioner Christine King said in a press statement. “MLKEDC is demonstrating that honoring Dr. King means investing in systems that remove barriers and expand ownership, mobility, and long-term stability for families.”
This year’s featured performer, Kirk Franklin, is widely recognized as a pioneer in contemporary gospel music, with a career spanning decades and accolades including 20 Grammy Awards and multiple honors from the Stellar, Dove, NAACP Image, BET and Soul Train Music Awards. He has also been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Beyond the music, local leaders say the event is designed to challenge attendees to think about how Dr. King’s principles apply today.
“Through Reclaim the Dream, we are not just reflecting on history. We are asking ourselves what courage, leadership, and accountability mean today,” Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon said in a press statement. “This gathering reinforces our shared commitment to increasing access and opportunities for every resident in our community.”
MLKEDC leaders emphasize that the organization’s work extends far beyond the annual event, pointing to year-round initiatives aimed at creating long-term economic impact in Miami communities.
“For us, this is both sacred and strategic,” said MLKEDC President and CEO Amina McNeil in a press statement. “We honor Dr. King’s life with candles, music, and reflection — but we advance his legacy through programs that change lives. Real tribute is measured by impact. That is the standard we hold ourselves to every day.”
Among those initiatives is the Wheels to Work Program, which helps eliminate transportation barriers by providing low-cost, no-interest vehicles to eligible residents. The organization also operates a Kitchen Incubator Program, offering a licensed shared commercial kitchen and business support for culinary entrepreneurs.
Additionally, the MLKEDC Business Center — located at the corner of Northwest Seventh Avenue and 62nd Street — serves as a hub for economic and community development, offering below-market leasing opportunities and housing a mix of services including a charter school, a renal clinic and a barbershop.
Together, these efforts reflect Dr. King’s belief that civil rights, economic opportunity and community ownership are deeply connected.
More information about the event and MLKEDC’s programs is available at mlkmiami.com.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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