The City of Jacksonville proudly announces the 2026 Tomorrow’s Leaders competition presented by VyStar Credit Union. The Tomorrow’s Leaders competition is an annual highlight of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, recognizing and awarding youth in our community who exemplify the philosophies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through leadership, community involvement, volunteerism, and civic responsibility. The Tomorrow’s Leaders competition winners will be recognized at The City of Jacksonville’s 39th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on January 16, 2026, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Additional event and ticket sale details for the MLK Breakfast will be announced in November.
“At VyStar, we believe that leadership rooted in courage and compassion is the foundation for lasting change. The Tomorrow’s Leaders competition is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action for our youth to lead boldly, serve with empathy, and uplift their communities,” said Kemal Gasper, VyStar Vice President Community Engagement. “We’re honored to partner with the City of Jacksonville to spotlight these remarkable students who embody Dr. King’s legacy and inspire us all to do good.”
In 2025, the Tomorrow’s Leaders competition introduced new artistic components alongside traditional essay submissions. The competition expanded its submissions to include essays, visual art, and poetry to showcase further the talented youth across our city who are inspired by MLK, Jr. This exciting addition allowed elementary, middle, and high school students to express their understanding of Dr. King’s legacy through both written and visual mediums. Last year’s competition received three times the number of submissions from the previous year, eliciting strong essays, visual art, and poetry.
The 2026 Tomorrow’s Leaders competition prompts will be driven by two powerful MLK, Jr. quotes: “
Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles,” and
“I have decided to stick with love.” This year, we honor both convictions with a theme that challenges us to act:
When Courage Leads, Love Follows. This theme is a powerful reminder that bold leadership demands more than strength—it requires the courage to press forward, the conscience to do what is right, and the heart to lead with love at its center.
We invite students to explore this unique opportunity to showcase their talents and share their visions for social change. Detailed submission guidelines and criteria can be found on our website:
https://events.jacksonville.gov/special-events/martin-luther-king-jr-breakfast.
Join us in inspiring the next generation of leaders as we honor Dr. King’s legacy and empower young voices in our community.
About VyStar Credit Union: VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with 78 full-service branches across Florida and Georgia, 1 million members and assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the top mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,300 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. VyStar members have access to 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
About the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment: The City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment attracts, hosts, and creates opportunities that drive economic impact, accelerate the Jacksonville brand, and improve the quality of life and cultural engagement for visitors and residents. Jacksonville hosts hundreds of diverse events yearly, making Northeast Florida a premier destination with rich tradition and world-class hospitality. For more information, visit events.coj.net.