Mobile, Ala. (BuzzReport) — The Port City of Mobile is preparing to host one of its most anticipated civic traditions: the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast, a powerful and enduring observance honoring the life, legacy, and leadership of Dr. King.
Hosted by the Port City Chapter of Blacks In Government (BIG), the breakfast will take place Monday, January 19, at 8 a.m. in Mobile. The event has already generated significant excitement, with tickets selling out as early as October, underscoring its importance as both a community gathering and a nationally relevant tribute.
This year’s program carries heightened significance with the selection of Congressman Shomari C. Figures as the keynote speaker. A proud Mobile native and graduate of LeFlore Magnet High School, Congressman Figures brings a distinguished record of public service, having served in the White House under President Barack Obama, at the U.S. Department of Justice, and now in the United States Congress. His historic election to Alabama’s newly created congressional district, formed following a landmark federal ruling addressing racial gerrymandering, places him at the center of a pivotal moment in American democracy—making his voice especially meaningful for this year’s observance.
Founded in 1975 by African American federal employees in Rockville, Maryland, Blacks In Government® was created to confront racial discrimination in the workplace and to promote fairness, equity, and professional advancement within public service. What began as a grassroots effort quickly grew into a national, nonprofit organization incorporated in 1976, representing Black public servants at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels across the country.
For nearly 50 years, BIG has remained anchored in its core principles of Equity, Excellence, and Opportunity. Nationally, the organization is recognized for its leadership development programs, workforce training, mentorship initiatives, youth engagement, and community service—efforts that strengthen both public institutions and the communities they serve.
In Mobile, the Port City Chapter of Blacks In Government was formally organized on April 16, 1988, following an organizing meeting at City Hall–North. That meeting, called to order by Vernon A. Coleman, Sr., was convened to address the need for a local chapter serving government employees across all agencies and levels, regardless of workplace.
With motions introduced by Arthur J. Barnes and seconded by Clinton L. Johnson, the chapter was officially established pending national approval. Johnson also played a key role in shaping the chapter’s governance, moving to adopt bylaws—along with critical amendments, including the addition of the Parliamentarian role—helping to build a strong organizational foundation that continues to guide the chapter today.
The founding officers of the Port City Chapter were:
- Vernon A. Coleman, Sr., President
- Arthur J. Barnes, Vice President
- Janice Smiley, Financial Secretary
- Betty Houston, Secretary
- Mia Gill, Assistant Secretary
- Loretta Holliman, Treasurer
- Clinton L. Johnson, Chaplain
- Merceria Ludgood, Parliamentarian
Together, these leaders established a chapter rooted in advocacy, inclusion, professional excellence, and community service—values that remain central to its mission.
Today, the Port City Chapter of Blacks In Government continues to support government employees, foster leadership development, promote civic responsibility, and serve as a trusted resource for professional growth and community impact throughout the Mobile area.
As Dr. King’s legacy is honored nationwide, the annual commemorative breakfast offers a meaningful local lens—demonstrating how one community continues to honor, apply, and advance his teachings through civic leadership, public service, and collective action.
Nearly five decades after its founding, Blacks In Government remains as relevant as ever, evolving to meet modern workplace challenges while remaining steadfast in its mission to promote equity, excellence, and opportunity at every level of government.