'Lantern Keepers'
Sierra Austin-King, Ph.D., to Headline the 2026 Delaware County MLK Celebration Jan. 19 at Ohio Wesleyan
DELAWARE, Ohio – To honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Delaware County MLK Celebration Committee and Ohio Wesleyan University will host the 33rd annual community celebration Jan. 19, 2026, at the university. Tickets are available online now.
The theme of Delaware's 2026 MLK celebration is "The Lantern Keepers: Preserving the Flame of Justice." Sierra Austin-King, Ph.D., will serve as the keynote speaker. Austin-King is an assistant professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Black Studies, with teaching and research experiences at The Ohio State and Denison universities, as well as the Ohio Reformatory for Women.
Austin-King's non-academic appointments include leadership roles with nonprofit, K-12, and professional associations. She is the board and grants committee chair of the Women's Fund of Central Ohio, an advisory board member for the Franklin University School of Education, a board of directors member of DIVERCITY 614, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pastor Alvin Asiamah of Soul Restoration Ministry in Pickerington, Ohio, will provide the opening prayer. The Ghana-born minister is known as "Pastor A" at Soul Restoration, which seeks to fulfill its mission "through heartfelt compassion so that the love of Christ permeates through all our efforts."
Delaware's 2026 MLK Celebration will feature a musical performance by multicreative Chrissy T, a Columbus, Ohio-based vocalist, actress, and educator who has performed nationally and internationally. She released her debut EP, "Metamorphosis," in 2024, and her breakout single, "Stuck in Limbo," reached No. 1 on Amazon Music's UK R&B Hot Releases Chart.
The Jan. 19 community celebration also will include a "wax museum" in Ohio Wesleyan's Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, with students portraying historical figures. Finally, organizers are planning "a surprise component to engage our community speakers during the celebration."
Individual tickets are $35, with event sponsorship available for $260 for a table of eight. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m., brunch will begin at 10 a.m., and the program will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the OWU Benes Rooms, 40 Rowland Ave., Delaware, Ohio.
Program proceeds will continue to benefit the Delaware County Martin Luther King Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than $39,000 in scholarships to Delaware County students since 1990.
To learn more or purchase tickets, visit owu.edu/MLK. Online purchases will continue through Jan. 9. Please contact Dawn Chisebe at dmchiseb@owu.edu for more information on being part of Delaware's 2026 MLK Celebration, including sponsorship opportunities.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.