Dr. Mary Frances Berry will be the featured speaker at Scottsdale’s 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration.

The event takes place at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 15, at the Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts.

Scottsdale nonprofit Community Celebrating Diversity has hosted the celebration for more than 30 years as a way to recognize and celebrate diversity across the local community with a focus on impacting youth and future community leaders.

For more than four decades, Berry has been one of the most visible and respected activists in the cause of civil rights, gender equality and social justice.

As chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, she led the charge for equal rights and liberties for all Americans over the course of four presidential administrations.

Berry is also a prolific author, with books covering a wide range of subjects, from the history of constitutional racism in America to the history of progressive activism. 

Her latest book, “History Teaches Us to Resist: How Progressive Movements Have Succeeded in Challenging Times,” examines the successful tactics of movements that ended the Vietnam War, jumpstarted government response to the AIDS epidemic, championed the Americans with Disabilities Act and advanced civil, women’s and LGBTQ rights.

Her previous book was “Power in Words: The Stories behind Barack Obama’s Speeches.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Berry to Scottsdale as the keynote presenter for the 32nd annual MLK Jr. celebration. Our theme this year is Shaping our Future with Courage and Compassion,” said Dr. Scott Menzel, Community Celebrating Diversity Board president and Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent.

“Dr. Berry brings a wealth of lived experiences navigating some of the key civil rights issues of the past 40-plus years. Her insights are sure to inspire as she calls us to action to shape the future for the next generation.”

Berry is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches the history of American law and the history of law and social policy. 

She was one of the founders of the monumental Free South Africa Movement, receiving the Nelson Mandela award from the South African Government for helping raise global awareness of South African injustice. 

She also served as assistant secretary for Education in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

CCD is a Scottsdale-based nonprofit organization that sponsors educational and community events to celebrate and create a greater awareness of our community’s diversity. Its mission is to enhance the perception and understanding of diversity, provide opportunities for citizens to recognize our similarities and

to acknowledge our differences and seek respect for the values of others and the oneness of humanity. 

Berry will introduce Scottsdale’s “Diversity Champions” – who exemplify the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – who will be honored at the annual dinner celebration. 

The annual event begins with a 5:30 p.m. registration and reception, followed by a 6 p.m. program and 7:30 p.m. post-reception

Tickets are $75.

For more information and tickets, visit ccdarizona.org.