The 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast commemorates the 96th anniversary of Dr. King's birth by honoring his life-long commitment and achievements toward his dream for social change.
Tomorrow’s Leaders presented by VyStar Credit Union is a component of the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast that looks to recognize and award youth in our community who are exemplifying the philosophies of Dr. King through leadership, community volunteerism and civic responsibility.
2025 Tomorrow's Leaders Contest:
This year, each grade level will have a different medium to express their ideas.
• Elementary School: 4th & 5th Graders will write the traditional essay
• Middle School: 6th – 8th Graders will create a work of visual art.
• High School: 9th – 12th Grader will write and recite poetry.
Elementary School: Essay Topic
Martin Luther King Jr. supported human rights and freedoms for all people. He repeatedly stressed the importance of treating others with kindness and reminded us of the power we hold within ourselves to practice peaceful problem-solving and bring about positive change. In his speech, Where Do We Go From Here, Martin Luther King Jr said:
“We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious* faith in the future.”
Explain what this quote means, why it is important, and how it relates to your life or life in general.
Middle School: Visual Art Topic
Martin Luther King Jr. was a supporter of human rights and freedoms for all people. He repeatedly stressed the importance of treating others with kindness and reminded us of the power we hold within ourselves to practice peaceful problem solving and bring about positive change. In his speech, Where Do We Go From Here, Martin Luther King Jr said:
"We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future."
What impact does Dr. Martin Luther’s King Jr.’s call to action have on you or in your community? Create an art piece that illustrates how Dr. Martin Luther’s King Jr.’s call to action impacts you and/or your community. Include a statement (150 word max) about your art piece and the impact it represents.
High School: Poetry
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, “Where Do We Go From Here?”, emphasizes his call for love, non-violence, and social justice that remains incredibly relevant today. King’s vision for a society free from poverty, racism, and war is a powerful reminder of the work that still needs to be done. In this speech he said:
"We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future."
How is Dr. Martin Luther’s King Jr.’s call to action still relevant today? Write a poem that illustrates a call to action that is important to you. In your poem, be sure to elaborate on how your vision impacts the future of our nation.