Ames/Story County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Ames Story County MLK Day Celebration

The City of Ames is joining the Ames/Story County MLK Celebration Committee in honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, at Ames City Auditorium, 520 Sixth St. (north side of City Hall). Birthday cookies will be served at 6 p.m. The event will also be available virtually via Facebook Live or live on YouTube.

  • Humanitarian Award Presentation
  • Sixth Annual High School Essay winner presentations
  • Musical Selections
  • Keynote Speaker Quentin Hart

The event will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Mayor Quentin Hart will be the keynote speaker. 

Quentin Hart served five terms as Waterloo’s first African American mayor, leading the city through a period of major transformation from 2016 to 2025. His leadership has earned statewide and national recognition, including induction into the Iowa League of Cities Hall of Fame, the 2024 Iowa Mayor of the Year title, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus. 

Person sitting in front of Iowa flag and U.S. flag.

Hart has driven inclusive growth, infrastructure modernization, and innovation. Under his direction, Waterloo joined Honeywell’s Smart City Accelerator, expanded high-speed access with the $120M Waterloo Fiber network, and advanced landmark developments such as the $100M Lost Island Theme Park, University Avenue, and major bridge reconstructions, the Veterans Way Art & History Corridor, the Convention Center remodel, and the Cedar River Lighting Experience. He is active in national leadership organizations and previously served as Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs at Hawkeye Community College.

Hart holds degrees from Minnesota State and the University of Northern Iowa. He is currently working on two books, the first titled, “The Heart of Hart: A Mayor Who Loves His City," and a memoir on how he became mayor of his hometown and the obstacles he’s faced. He and his wife, Cassandra, have three children.

When

  • Monday, January 19, 2026 | 06:30 PM

Location

City Auditorium, 520 6th Street, 50010, View Map

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