City marks MLK Day with first-ever service projects

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Jan 22 2026

Annual celebration at City Park featured community leaders, student performances, and service opportunities

PASO ROBLES — The City of Paso Robles honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration and Service on Monday, Jan. 19, bringing community members together for reflection, unity, and hands-on service.

The city has hosted the event annually since 1990, and this year’s celebration placed a special emphasis on Dr. King’s enduring call to service. The morning began a little different than years past with a community celebration from 9 to 10 a.m. at City Park, featuring guest speakers and musical performances that highlighted Dr. King’s message of hope, equality, and compassion.

"We're bringing this community together today and having this wonderful event," said Mayor John Hamon. "This year's theme is 'Mission Impossible II,' building community, uniting a nation in a nonviolent way, is something we should all be remembering. And it was clear that Martin Luther had that message and many of the things that he spoke about during his life. His dream was not abstract. It was a practical and well-grounded respect of control, and shared responsibility between all of us."

He continued, "Dr. King challenged us to pursue justice without hatred, with unity, without division. A community we honor, his legacy not only by remembering his words, but live with them every day."

The event began with a listening to an excerpt of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech followed by Ed Gallagher playing "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes. Paso Robles Scout Troops 1602 and 60 helped with the Presentations of Colors, and Pastor Vern Haynes Jr. gave the invocation.

San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart was the keynote speaker at the event. A longtime San Luis Obispo resident, Steward's connection in the community began as a Cal Poly student in 1990. After earning a master’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco, she returned to San Luis Obispo with her family to raise their children. Her career has spanned public service, nonprofit leadership, higher education, and small business ownership, including work as a human resources professional, chief operating officer at United Way, and a Cal Poly instructor.

"The dedication you are sharing is showing that we are not just building this community by one voice," Stewart said. "We are building this community by many, many, many voices together. Today, we gather to honor a man who changed the course of history, not with power, not with wealth, not with force, but with love, courage, and an unshakable belief, and the dignity of every human being."

The community in attendance was then also treated to the Paso Robles High School Choir performing "Give Me That Simple Life" and "Lift Every Voice & Sing."

Following the celebration, participants took part in service projects designed to turn reflection into action. For the first time in the event’s history, the city offered organized service opportunities as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance.

Two projects were available from 10 to 11:30 a.m.: a Care Package Service Project at the Paso Robles City Library and a Mulch Beautification Service Project at Robbins Field. Nearly 55 community members registered in advance for the service opportunities, with approximately 70 people ultimately participating.

Volunteers at the library assembled care kits in preparation for San Luis Obispo County’s Point-in-Time Count, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27. The annual count helps assess homelessness throughout the county and connects individuals with resources and services. Participants who registered for the service projects received a commemorative Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration and Service gift and were invited to attend a luncheon following the completion of the projects.

City organizers noted the strong turnout and excited response from the community, sharing that the success of this year’s service projects is likely to make them a permanent part of future Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations in Paso Robles.

To continue the celebration, you can visit the Paso Robles City Library throughout February to view their Black History Month display featuring the Martin Luther King Jr. art contest-winning artwork.

Feature Image: San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart speaks to the audience during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, at Paso Robles City Park. Photo by Heather Stephenson/City Staff