Anne Arundel MLK Awards Banquet Marks 38th Year Honoring Civil Rights Leadership in Maryland
Event returns to Glen Burnie with statewide and local honorees
The 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Banquet was scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie. The annual dinner is organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee in Anne Arundel County and centers on recognizing individuals and organizations for work tied to civil rights, community service, and civic leadership.
Governor Wes Moore was announced as the keynote speaker and as the recipient of the event’s Courageous Leadership Award. The 2026 banquet lineup also included U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth, who took office on January 3, 2025, representing Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.
Fifteen recipients spanning public service, faith leadership, education, and the arts
Organizers listed 15 honorees for 2026, reflecting a mix of elected officials, community leaders, and organizations with long-running local and regional footprints. Several awards highlight service in areas including humanitarian work, civil rights advocacy, youth development, and faith-based community programs.
- Gov. Wes Moore — Courageous Leadership Award
- Rep. Sarah Elfreth — Moris H. Blum Humanitarian Award
- Jesse Raudales — Alan Legum Civil Rights Award
- Cleveland Horton II — Dream Keeper Award
- Dr. Karen Johnson — Peace Maker Award
- Elease Johnson — Claudia DeGrate Faithful Award
- Reverend Noland Henson and Pastor Terry Henson — Drum Major Award
- Additional recipients included Dr. Shawn Ashworth, Reginald Broddie, Shay Cook, Midshipman First Class Tymique D. Goodman, Gordenia Henson, Dr. Alisha Malloy, and the Annapolis Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Committee history and ongoing memorial work
The MLK awards program in Anne Arundel County dates to 1988 and was founded by Carl Snowden. Over time, the committee’s work expanded beyond the banquet into fundraising and memorial projects that commemorate civil rights history and local public service.
The banquet has served as both a community recognition event and a fundraising vehicle for public memorial efforts tied to civil rights and civic remembrance.
Tickets for the 2026 banquet were listed at $100, with sales information distributed through the event organizers. The dinner continued a longstanding regional tradition held each January around the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday period, with participation spanning Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, and the broader Maryland civic community.