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

Child wearing a blue "MLK Martin Luther King Center" t-shirt with the words "grow. learn. play." and "Impact Report 2024" text on a red background.

2024 Impact Report

Click here to view a pdf file of the report

Flyer for MLK Center highlighting programs and events including youth activities, prevention initiatives, community projects, and events like Dr. King Memorial Service. Contact details for MLK Center, located in Rock Island, IL, are included.

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

    Resource 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

  • Person with dark hair smiling, wearing a septum ring, against a brick wall backdrop.

    Adriana Blanco

    Teen Pregnancy Prevention Specialist

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

    Mike Jackson

    Family Advocate

  • Portrait of a smiling person with long brown hair wearing a purple shirt, outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Joana Perez

    Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

  • 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

  • Person wearing a white top, glasses, and earrings, smiling in front of a white background with red and green letters.

    Virginia Jarrett

    West End Revitalization Coordinator

Contact Us

2025 Board of Directors

  • Moses Robinson, Chair

  • Kai Swanson, Vice Chair

  • Jessica Sager, Treasurer

  • Kayla Babers

  • Marisa Cantu

  • Lizandra Gomez-Ramirez

  • Jessey Hullon

  • James Jones

  • Joscelyn Rowe

  • Tameka Toney

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.