40th Annual MLK Youth Oratorical Contest

The Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (PWCAC-DST) will host its 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Youth Oratorical Competition and Program on Saturday, January 18 at 11 a.m.  This year’s event will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 18410 Chapel St, Triangle, VA (off Route One, near Quantico MCB).  The doors open at 10 a.m. and vendors and community organizations will be on site.  

Admission is free, and the community is encouraged to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by donating ready-to-eat items or microwave-and-eat items such as those listed below to support the work of Northern Virginia Food Rescue and its mission to improve food resiliency and accessibility for the entire region.

Cold Breakfast Cereal Cups

Applesauce Cups

Granola bars

Fruit cups/Bowls

Campbell's sipping soup

Pasta Roni Quaker Rice & Roni Cups

Chef Boyardee Beefaroni microwavable bowls

Hormel Compleats Rice & Chicken Microwave Tray 

Kraft Original Easy Microwaveable Mac & Cheese Cups

Fruit Snacks

Synder's of Hanover mini pretzels individual packs

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Variety Pack

Juicy Gel Snack pack

Other ready-to-eat or microwave heat-and-eat items.

This year’s speech topic, “Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy:  My Voice, My Choice, My Future” is inspired by the writings of Dr. King.   Although not the inspiration for the theme, Dewey M. Clayton’s opinion published in the Jan. 15, 2024 Courier Journal, makes this connection.  “King believed each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up, and speak out. According to Dr. King, democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community – a nation and world society at peace with itself. We ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of our nation.”

In addition to listening to enthralling speeches and cheering on this year’s six contestants (three high schools and three middle schools), attendees can enjoy the MLK Youth Community choir and other 40th-anniversary celebration highlights.

Other on-site activities include:

• Small business Vendors and Community outreach organizations on-site

• Day of Service Donation – Northern VA Food Rescue/NVFR (optional)

• Past MLK Program memorabilia display