About this Event
To purchase reserved tables of 8 contact [email protected].
The 29th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast on Friday, January 16, 2026 will take the VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center, in downtown Muskegon. The event will feature a panel discussion on local unity efforts following the keynote address. As our keynote speaker we are extremely excited to present Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Detroit NAACP President.
Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He was educated in the Detroit Public School system. He graduated from Wayne State University with a B.A. in Political Science and Marygrove College with an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry. He attended the University of Detroit for advanced study in Black Theology. Rev. Anthony is a Certified Social Worker with the State of Michigan. On May 12, 2007, Rev. Anthony was the keynote speaker for the Graduation Class of Marygrove College at which time the Board of Trustees conferred upon Rev. Anthony the degree of Honorary Doctor of Arts. In 2022, Wayne State University conferred upon Rev. Anthony the degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa. He became the Pastor of Fellowship Chapel in December 1986 following the passing of Reverend James E. Wadsworth, Jr. Rev. Anthony is the developer of the Isuthu Institute (Coming into Manhood Rites of Passage Program) for boys ages 6-18, dealing with African American male responsibility. It is one of the oldest mentoring programs of its kind in the country. He also initiated its female counterpart, the Intonjane Institute (Coming into Womanhood Rites of Passage Program) for girls ages 6-18.
Currently, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. In addition, he is serving his 17th term as President of the Detroit Branch NAACP, a position he has held for 30 years. The Detroit Branch NAACP is the largest branch in the country. It hosts the largest sit-down dinner in the nation, bringing at least 10,000 persons to gather every year to celebrate and commemorate the struggle for social justice, freedom, and equality.
Reverend Anthony is the originator of the Take Your Souls to the Polls voter registration and mobilization program. This was initiated to bring about greater youth involvement in the electoral process. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and recognition, locally and nationally. Among them are the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference How Beautiful Are Thy Feet Award and the 2021 NAACP Image Award for Activist of the Year. During the pandemic of 2020, Reverend Anthony led and coordinated the Connected Futures Program with business and corporate leaders. This program raised $23 million to provide laptop and Wi-Fi connectivity for 51,000 students, grades K-12, in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. It serves as a model for the nation.
For more details visit www.muskegoncc.edu/unity
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center, 460 West Western Avenue, Muskegon, United States
USD 39.19
