News

The Unified Civic Monuments Project announces that Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will visit the Twin Cities community as the honored guest and speaker at a celebration of the double unveiling of monuments dedicated to his father. Double Unveiling Schedule November 19 10:30 …

Martin Luther King III to join UCMP at unveiling and celebration November 19 Read More »

The Unified Civic Monuments Project (UCMP) will continue its Unity Walks every third Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. for the rest of 2024: October 20, November 17, and December 15. The group meets at Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park in Benton Harbor and walks to Margaret B. Upton Arboretum in St. Joseph, the …

Third Sunday Unity Walks Read More »

The West Michigan Chapter of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 355, has donated $60,000 to the Unified Civic Monuments Project (UCMP) to help raise the twin cities’ monuments to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The monuments – the only collaborative, multi-city project in the country honoring Dr. King – will …

$60k donation from LiUNA and special guest at Sunday’s Unity Walk Read More »

The Unified Civic Monuments Project is inviting the public to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new monuments to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, at 4:30 p.m.

Benton Harbor, Mich. – The only collaborative, multi-city monuments in the country honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are being raised in two small communities in southwest Michigan.  A river separates Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, but their demographic and economic makeup are even more effective at keeping the residents separate and unequal. St. …

Small community has big goals to overcome racial divide through the power of public art Read More »

Benton Harbor, Mich. – LANSING, Mich. – A public art project 16 years in the making will soon come to fruition and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while also recognizing the unique historic legacies of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The Unified Civic Monuments Project will be completed through the anticipated …

Crowdfunding Campaign Launched! Read More »

The UCMP’s summer and fall Unity Walks were such a success, we’re going to keep going through the winter! Come snow or sleet, Al from Zoy! Adventures will host all the brave adventurers who want to join in fellowship and good news about the progress of the monuments in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. Please …

Winter Unity Walks announced Read More »

The Unified Civic Monuments Project (UCMP) will continue its Unity Walks every third Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. this fall: September 17, October 15 and November 19.Meet us at Dwight Pete Mitchell City Center Park in Benton Harbor and walk with us to Margaret B. Upton Arboretum in St. Joseph, the sites of the …

Fall Unity Walks Scheduled Read More »

Story by Herald Palladium/Louise Wrege; photo credit: Don Campbell/HP staff. Time is growing short to be a part of bringing two Martin Luther King Jr. monuments to the Twin Cities a reality. “We’ve been saying, ‘Now is the time’ for the last two years,” said Sharon Brown, one of the founders of the African American History & …

HP: The Time is Short Read More »

UCMP has engaged Rootbound, a local landscape design firm, to create a beautiful backdrop for each monument. The site designs each feature long-lasting plantings specific to the local environment, ADA accessible hardscaping, and well-organized flow around the monument elements.