Leah Weber King will be the keynote speaker at the MLK Day celebration in January, the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara has announced.

Leah King is a writer, entrepreneur, consultant and widow of Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

Leah King will speak at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19 at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. The program is free to attend, but donations are welcome. 

A native of New Orleans, King began her career as a broadcast journalist before expanding into entrepreneurship and creative consulting.

Today, she is known for her ongoing reflections on art, culture and legacy, shared through her personal digital platform, where she publishes original writing and curated quotes on a near-daily basis, organizers said.

Leah King’s marriage to Dexter Scott King placed her in direct proximity to one of the most influential American families in the struggle for civil and human rights.

“She continues to honor that legacy through storytelling, public engagement, and creative work that uplifts themes of beauty, perseverance, and purpose, organizers said.

E. onja Brown Lawson, executive director of MLKSB, said she has dreamed of having a member of the King family at the Santa Barbara celebrations since she first got involved 19 years ago. 

“This would not have been possible without the help of Wendy Eley Jackson, and I am forever grateful to her for this connection to the legacy of Dr. King.”

Leah’s work reflects her belief that the King legacy is not simply historical, it is living, evolving, and meant to be interpreted by new generations, the committee said.
 
For more, visit https://leahweberking.com/.

The mission of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara is to foster positive relationships between many diverse groups in the Santa Barbara community and the surrounding areas; to sponsor programs and events which exemplify the teachings of Dr. King; and to observe, and celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.