The 42nd
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Human Dignity Award Breakfast
Friday, January 15, 2027
Join us as we pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His words and selfless actions continue to be an inspiration and call to action for peace with each new generation.
2026 Human dignity award Winners
Congratulations to our 2026 Human Dignity Award Winners Dr. Leonard Thompson III and Rev. Walter G. Wells who exemplify the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through their character and service.
DR. leonard Thompson III
Dr. Leonard J. Thompson III is a visionary leader whose life reflects his love of God, family and community. Labeled a special needs student early in life, his faith and work ethic enabled him to graduate as his high school’s first African American valedictorian. He attended UC Berkeley as a Regent & Chancellor Scholar, earned a B.S. in Business Administration from San Diego State University, and an M.S. in Education from Point Loma Nazarene University. Dr. Thompson is an ordained Elder in the Church of God in Christ and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Theology.
Founder of M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records Inc., San Diego’s long-standing record label, he has produced 100+ music and video projects, tours and concerts. In 2014, he launched Mandate Project Impact, a nonprofit training inner-city youth in music, TV, film, radio and event production.
A Christian radio advocate, he founded GODRadio1.com, a two-time Stellar Award-winning station with 100,000+ listeners in 71 countries. Retired after 39 years in education, Dr. Thompson continues as a consultant, creating programs to uplift youth and African American students.
He has worked with artists including Kirk Franklin, Chante Moore and The Clark Sisters, and served on boards such as the San Diego Urban League and NAACP. He shares his life with his wife Dr. Michelle R. Thompson, daughter Kierra, granddaughter Amari Michelle and family.
Dr. Walter g. wells
Dr. Walter G. Wells is a pastor, teacher, and community leader whose faithful service spans more than five decades of transformational ministry. In March 1973, while recovering from a serious car accident and preaching on crutches with his leg in a cast, he delivered his inaugural sermon proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation in Christ Jesus. Despite early naysayers, his divine calling, spiritual discernment and unwavering commitment to prayer, leadership and growth were recognized by the congregation.
Founder of Mt. Erie Christian Academy, he also established early childhood centers, daycare programs and appreciation services celebrating preaching, biblical study and servant leadership. He expanded youth engagement through revivals, retreats, seminars and Bible study programs that grew into Men’s and Women’s Retreats impacting multiple generations.
Committed to community advancement, Dr. Wells led initiatives including the George Stevens Senior Center, children’s church, summer literacy programs, health fairs, fitness events and educational partnerships. In 2010, he introduced the Kaiser Permanente Internship Program mentoring sixth-grade students. He also established a multimedia “Stream Team” in 2019 and led virtual worship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Wells has received numerous honors including the 4th District Shepherd’s Award, the Living Legacy Award and appointment as President of the California Baptist State Congress on Christian Education. He shares his life with his wife, family and community.
2027 Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Kelly Elmore
Born in Chicago and raised between Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Diego, Dr. Elmore ultimately found home and identity in Southeast San Diego. Her connection to the 42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award Breakfast is deeply personal. She serves on the YMCA of San Diego County Board of Directors, and her family are proud members of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA. The legacies honored by this gathering—Dr. King’s call to service, justice, and human dignity and Jackie Robinson’s courage to break barriers while opening doors for those who followed—reflect values that have guided her own life.
A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Mira Mesa High School and The Xavier University of Louisiana, who received a full academic Naval scholarship to the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where she earned her medical degree. She later earned her MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Dr. Elmore served 26 years in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Captain and living and serving around the world. Her career culminated in senior healthcare executive leadership at Naval Medical Center San Diego and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Yet after traveling the world, she made an intentional decision to come home. Dr. Elmore and her family live in Southeast San Diego, where they volunteer their time, spend their dollars, and invest their resources in the communities that helped raise her and shape her identity. Alongside her husband, CEO of Logan Heights Community Development Corporation, they work to reinvest directly into our neighborhoods. For the family, giving back is not philanthropy from a distance—it is stewardship, responsibility, and gratitude in action.
Today, as Founder and CEO of KOE Medical Consulting, with offices in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Dr. Elmore is at the forefront of solutions to reduce maternal and perimenopausal morbidity and mortality, integrating medicine, remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics to help women live healthier and longer lives.
Her journey—from Chicago to Southeast San Diego, from student to physician, from Navy officer to Captain and healthcare executive, and ultimately back home—reflects the enduring power of opportunity, service, and returning to lift the community that helped lift you.
Success is not measured only by how far we go, but by what we bring back to the communities that first gave us the opportunity to dream.
For questions on advertisements or for more information on sponsorships, email Paula Dunn at pdunn@ymcasd.org. Deadline for artwork submission is December 10, 2026. Please send high resolution images (minimum of 300 dpi) of any file type as an email attachment to Justin Nietes at jnietes@ymcasd.org.
Dream Sponsor | $20, 000
- Two tables of 10 seats with premier seating
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA social media - Logo recognition in event program
- TV Display at Jackie Robinson Family YMCA
- Premium full page, color program ad (8″x10″)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA for 20 people - Table signage
- 30 second video message to be aired on livestream and in-person at event — (Video due to Justin Nietes no later than December 10)
Courage Sponsor | $15,000
- One table of ten seats with premier seating
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA social media - Logo recognition in event program
- TV Display at Jackie Robinson Family YMCA
- Premium full page, four-color program ad (8″x10″)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA for 10 people - Table signage
- 15 second video message to be aired on livestream and in-person at event — (Video due to Justin Nietes no later than December 10)
Legacy Sponsor | $10,000
- One table of 10 seats with preferred placement
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA social media - Logo recognition in event program
- TV Display at Jackie Robinson Family YMCA
- Full page, black & white program ad (8″x10″)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA for 10 people - Table signage
Freedom Sponsor | $5,000
- One table of 10 seats with preferred placement
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA social media - Logo recognition in event program
- Half page, black & white program ad (8″×5″)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA for 10 people - Table signage
Equality Sponsor | $2,500
- Five seats with preferred placement
- Logo recognition in event program
- Half page, black & white program ad (8″×5″)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA for five people - Table signage
Inspiration Sponsor | $1,200
- Two seats, preferred placement
- Logo recognition in event program
- Quarter page, black & white program ad (4″×5″)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family
YMCA for two people - Table signage
Program Ad Opportunities
- $500 – Full-page Black and White Advertisement
- $300 – Half-page Black and White Advertisement
- $200 – Quarter-page Black and White Advertisement
- $150 – Eighth page, Black and White Advertisement
- $50 – Single-line Name Recognition
Be the change contest
The Jackie Robinson Family YMCA invites San Diego youth to join the 2027 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Poetry & Art Contest and express how Dr. King’s legacy inspires joy and unity within themselves and their communities. Students from grades K-12 can submit original work as art, poetry, essays, or spoken word to compete for prizes, with first-place winners earning a $100 gift card. Don’t miss this chance to share your voice and creativity!
TAKE A LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S CELEBRATION
Get a glimpse of what makes this event so special. Watch last year’s program to experience the unforgettable moments and community impact that make this breakfast one to remember.
