A Huber Heights commission task group announced plans for a Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon and dialogue to be held Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, and asked commission members and city staff to help finalize logistics.

Task-group members said the event will run about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., feature a lunch and small-group discussions under the theme “Keeping the Dream Alive: Building a Unified Community, One Conversation at a Time,” and emphasize dialogue between residents and city leaders about local inequality and disparities. The task group expects about 150 attendees and is soliciting quotes from caterers, including a recommendation to use local minority-owned businesses. Options mentioned included local eateries such as Sam’s, Miss Ella’s Soul Food and others.

Organizers said they plan to involve Wayne High School students and middle- and elementary-school students for brief reflections and to include small-group discussions so residents can identify challenges in their wards and propose actions for city leaders. The group also plans to honor Lucille Dale, the city’s first African American female vice mayor and long-time educator; members said they will seek reflections from people she influenced.

The task group will meet again on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at City Hall to refine program details. Staff said they are working to reserve the Wayne cafeteria for the event, are re-submitting city insurance documentation, and plan for a Zoom backup in case of inclement weather. The task group discussed charging a modest fee for lunch — a suggestion of $5 per attendee was raised as a way to offset meal costs or to seed a scholarship program, but members said no final decision had been made.

Budget and capacity: the group discussed an estimated catering range of $1,000–$1,300 for meals and said a registration system can be handled via the city website with a QR code linking to signups. Staff said they are prepared to collect attendee information and manage up to 150 registrations online.

Next steps: staff will draft and circulate a “save-the-date” or flyer for review, provide a draft to the task group before the Oct. 28 meeting, confirm the venue reservation with Wayne and finalize catering quotes. The task group will also meet to develop small-group discussion prompts and identify potential youth participants.