In the 1990s Dr. Alonzo B Patterson, Jr had a vision to establish an Alaskan memorial honoring the contributions the late Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. made to our country.

In 1995, Dr. Patterson spearheaded the establishment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation of Alaska.

Soon after, he galvanized a team of Alaskans to form a Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Memorial Committee that raised more than $250,000 in community contributions to build the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on 9th Avenue (Anchorage).

The committee enlisted artist Jerome Meadows to create bronze panels describing Dr. King’s accomplishments. The memorial includes a brick plaza, bronze panels, and a bust of Dr. King, all designed to inspire visitors to reflect on Dr. King’s message and mission to build the Beloved Community.

In 2010, Dr. Patterson, along with other community leaders, worked with, then, Mayor Mark Begich, to realize the naming of a southeast Anchorage road after Dr. King.

In 2012, Dr. Patterson resurrected the Living Memorial Committee comprised of Jim Barnett, Rick Mystrom, Connie Jones, Elvi Gray-Jackson, Eleanor Andrews, Jim Posey, Darrel Hess, Marilyn Stewart-Richardson, and Joy Green-Armstrong.

In partnership with The Anchorage Park Foundation, public and private funds were raised to restore and revise the monument. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the occasion.

Today, the Foundation continues the universal mission to build a monument of equality, brotherhood, and sisterhood in the hearts of Alaskans of all ages.