Join us as we celebrate 50 years of serving and uplifting our community! The MLK Center has been a place of inspiration, education, and connection for generations, and we’re marking this milestone with a special Open House event!

The event will feature building tours, light hors d'oeuvre, refreshments and a chance to share stories of how the MLK Center made a positive impact in your life.

Let’s come together to honor our past and shape our future!

Brief history:

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center (MLK Center), originally known as the Model Cities Multi-Purpose Center, opened its doors on January 2, 1975, under the leadership of its first director, M. L. Lockhart. Created in response to the growing need for centralized social service delivery in the Quad City area, the Center was heavily influenced by Janice Watts, the Model Cities Director, who brought together residents, social service agencies, and city officials to address long-standing social and economic barriers. The Center’s tagline, “Helping People Help Themselves,” captured its mission to empower individuals and improve the quality of life for underserved populations.