Realize the Dream is more than a tribute – it's a call to action.
Over three days in April, changemakers from across the country joined Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King in Atlanta, Selma, and Montgomery to honor Dr. King’s legacy by stepping into it through Realize the Dream. Realize the Dream is a new movement and service initiative that honors Dr. King by calling all citizens to a life of service.
This photo essay captures the spirit of a growing movement rooted in service, powered by community, and open to all who are ready to carry the dream forward.
The gathering marked two historic milestones: the 57th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination and 60 years since the Selma to Montgomery marches, when peaceful protesters were met with brutal force on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a moment seared in history as “Bloody Sunday.”
With each step of the gathering, participants contemplated the courage, determination, and sacrifices of those who spoke up against injustice, inspired action, and turned ideas about equality for all people into lasting change. Despite being denied basic rights that others took for granted – like voting, getting fair treatment in court, or sitting at the same lunch counter, civil rights leaders and other members of the movement alive during “Bloody Sunday” dared to imagine – and advocate for – the promise of freedom and dignity for all when doing so came at great personal cost. Reflecting on that unwavering commitment and the lasting change it inspired decades later, the Realize the Dream group engaged in difficult conversations about our nation’s past and how Americans can work together today for a better future.
The immersive journey showed that we can still come together across different backgrounds and beliefs, inspired by the ability of every person to make a difference in their community and country. Rooted in that principle, Realize the Dream aims to mobilize individuals and organizations to contribute 100 million hours of service by 2029, the 100th anniversary of Dr. King’s birth. Through this initiative, people across the country will contribute to the enduring legacy of unity, compassion, and active citizenship that Dr. King championed in his lifetime.
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Realize the Dream: How to Get Involved
Honoring Dr. King’s Courageous Legacy
Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King are helping to inspire today’s movement for justice and unity.
The journey began in Atlanta, Dr. King’s birthplace and the city where his vision for justice began. It was here that Dr. King was raised, educated, and began preaching — assembling a movement that would spread across the country. Atlanta's streets now echo with Dr. King’s legacy, from the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he once led services, to the King Center, where his life’s work is immortalized.
At an opening dinner reception hosted by Stand Together partner Café Momentum, Stand Together Chairman and CEO Brian Hooks spoke about the vital role leaders like Dr. King are still playing in building a future America rooted in dignity, mutual respect, and community:
“We believe that when we invest in people and help to remove the barriers that are standing in the way of every person realizing their potential, not only do those people and those around them benefit, but we all benefit,” he said. “That’s ultimately how we move society forward. The notion that we should succeed by helping others to succeed is very much in the spirit of Dr. King’s Beloved Community.”
Building Community through Acts of Service
At the heart of Realize the Dream is a simple but powerful idea: that every act of service brings us closer to Dr. King’s Beloved Community.
He imagined “a society where all people are treated with dignity and respect, and where social justice and equality prevail, a community characterized by peace, belonging, and a shared sense of responsibility for one another, free from prejudice and injustice.” Realize the Dream launched in 2024 with the goal of advancing service and action across the U.S. through its three pillars – Community Service, Movement Building, and Connections & Engagement.
A Powerful History
On April 5, Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda Renee King addressed a crowd gathered at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of “Bloody Sunday” in 1965.
On that day, marchers were attacked with billy clubs, dogs, and tear gas – all seen on national television. Standing where courageous individuals once faced brutality for the right to vote, the Kings spoke about the power of remembrance, the urgency of service, and the shared responsibility to carry on Dr. King’s legacy.
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Crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge
The bridge, which still bears the name of a Confederate officer and a Ku Klux Klan grand dragon, now stands as an enduring symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.
As participants retraced the steps of those who marched six decades ago, the weight of history met the urgency of the present.
Evan Feinberg, senior vice president at Stand Together and chairman of Stand Together Foundation, reflected on the moment’s meaning: “Dr. King’s dream is really about our shared humanity,” he said. “Each of us has a role to play in living up to that vision.
“I hope that each of us thinks about the walk that was made over this Edmund Pettus Bridge 60 years ago and asks themselves, ‘What can I do to take action in my life, in my community, in my family, to make even the smallest of sacrifices to further that dream?’” he continued.
The Voice of a New Generation
Yolanda Renee King, Dr. King’s only grandchild, played a pivotal role in the event.
A youth activist who is also the author of the children’s book “We Dream a World,” Yolanda uses her voice to inspire young people to engage in their communities.
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Linking Arms: A Powerful Symbol of Unity
Realize the Dream is supported by Stand Together Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering individuals to reach their full potential through community-driven change.
Learn more about Stand Together’s efforts to build strong and safe communities and explore ways you can partner with us.
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