SERVING ROCK ISLAND FOR 50 YEARS
The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center first opened its doors in 1975. This year, we're celebrating 50 years of service to the West End and beyond.
In a world where many community centers come and go, reaching this milestone is no small thing. It speaks to the strength of our mission, the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the power of a community that shows up for one another.
The MLK Center has been a place for connection, support, and opportunity. Programs have included afterschool care, summer camps, food access, counseling, prevention, and community events. The Center also supports neighborhood advocacy through the West End Revitalization initiative.
As part of this milestone, we’re also preserving and sharing our history. Staff and interns have been sorting through decades of photos, documents, and artifacts to identify, catalog, and archive the legacy of the MLK Center and the West End community. We've already begun uploading materials to the Internet Archive, a free online digital library that provides public access to historical collections from around the world, including our own.
Sorting through everything we’ve uncovered is a long process, but it’s an important one. This 50-year milestone gives us a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and to stay focused on the work still ahead. You can view more of our story and ongoing history project at mlkcenter.org/history.
THANK YOU to everyone who has been part of this journey. Your support, involvement, and belief in the mission of the MLK Center have made this milestone possible.
