Young girl wearing a blue "Martin Luther King Center" t-shirt with beads in her hair, standing against a colorful mural background with the word "about" in large text.

Our Mission

To inspire greatness in the Quad Cities through community-building, education and service

Our Vision

A thriving, beloved community rooted in justice, equity and respect for one another

Our Values

  • Safety: We take care of each other

  • Inspiration: We dream big

  • Empowerment: We see the best in others

  • Community: We know we are better together

  • Integrity: We keep our promises

  • Justice: We remove barriers to opportunity

2025 Impact Report

Click here to view a pdf file of the report

Read Report

MLK Center At A Glance

View At a Glance

Meet the Team

  • Man with glasses and beard smiling, wearing a black sweater and white shirt.

    Jerry Jones

    Executive Director

  • Person smiling with black glasses and braided hair, wearing a black top, with a blurred background.

    Kristia LeShoure

    Facility Supervisor

  • Woman with glasses smiling indoors

    Rebecca Arnold

    Community Impact & Development Manager

  • A man with glasses and a goatee smiling, wearing a black jacket, standing in front of a brick wall.

    Carlos Jimenez

    Prevention Manager

  • Woman smiling with braided hair, wearing a red sweater and earrings, standing in front of a brick wall.

    LaToya Trice

    Youth Services Manager

  • Smiling person with dark hair against a brick wall

    Umu Lamboi

    Youth Services Manager II

  • Smiling person with glasses and dreadlocks, wearing a white shirt and black jacket, with a plain background.

    Thurgood Brooks

    West End Revitalization Coordinator

  • Smiling person wearing glasses, black lace top, and a purple scarf tied in a bow.

    Natalie Rush

    Family Advocate

  • A woman with long dark hair and neutral expression, wearing a floral-patterned top, against a plain background.

    Adrianna Rubio

    Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

  • Person smiling with braided hair against a brick wall background

    Avery Pearl

    West End Revitalization Coordinator

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a white top with lace detailing on the shoulders, against a blue and gray background.

    Ana Ruiz

    Administrative Assistant

  • Man in dark jacket standing in front of a brick wall

    Mike Jackson

    Family Advocate

  • Close-up of a person smiling with green eyes and brown hair, wearing a necklace.

    Heather Hurtado

    Fiscal & Grants Manager

  • Smiling person with braided hair and glasses

    Trameka Woods

    Family Advocacy Center Manager

  • Smiling woman wearing colorful glasses and plaid shirt

    Shaniece Payne

    Resource Development Coordinator

  • Close-up of a woman with dark hair, wearing red earrings, a white top, and a red jacket, smiling against a plain background.

    Destiney Hearn

    Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

  • The image depicts a person smiling at the camera. They have short, curly hair and are wearing hoop earrings and a white top with spaghetti straps and a chain detail.

    Toni Thomas

    Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Specialist

  • A smiling woman with dark skin and natural, twisted hair wearing pearl earrings, a string of pearls, and a black collared shirt.

    Lachelle Guy

    Youth Program Social Worker

Contact Us

2026 Board of Directors

  • Kai Swanson, Chair

  • Tameka Toney, Vice Chair

  • Jessica Sager, Treasurer

  • Marisa Cantu

  • First Ward Alderman, Glen Evans

  • Marshall Glover

  • Lizandra Gomez-Ramirez

  • Jessey Hullon

  • James Jones

  • Moses Robinson

  • Joscelyn Rowe

A group of five people wearing blue "Quad Cities" t-shirts are gathered outdoors on a sunny day, smiling and posing near a building with large windows. Some are sitting and others are standing on a grassy area, near some colorful raised garden beds and patio furniture.

Want to get involved?

When you give to the MLK Center, you support a strengths-based approach to youth development; you invest in tomorrow’s leaders.

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