Natick's 21st Annual MLK Community Celebration

Natick MLK Day Community Celebration

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through connection, service, and justice. This annual community event brings neighbors together for inspiration, learning, and action toward a more inclusive and caring “beloved community.” Learn more about the event's history here.

Join us at 9:30 a.m. at the Natick High School (auditorium) for a Community Connection Event with free Starbucks refreshments, community resource tables, and time to connect. The performance program begins at 10:00 a.m.

Help "Fill The Van" with nonperishable food, personal care items, or diapers for Natick Service Council and A Place To Turn (drop-off 9:30–11:00 a.m.). Scroll below for a list of items most needed.

What To Know Before You Go:

• The event is free with live ASL interpretation and additional accommodations available upon request.
• All ages welcome, with a special focus on families with school-aged children.
• View the "Know Before You Go" with location and parking details here.
• The program will also be livestreamed on Natick Pegasus (www.natickpegasus.org/) or watch through Natick Community Television channels: RCN 3, Comcast 99, and Verizon 29 beginning at 10am.

Building A Beloved Community Together

This year's program will feature:

• Keynote presentation from Audi Lynch, METCO Director at Natick Public Schools
• Student musical performances from Natick High School West Street Jazz Combo and the Walnut Hill Jazz Ensemble
• Middle School Creative Contest winners
• Community leaders and partners
• Interfaith Clergy representatives, and more!

Registration is encouraged but not required to attend this special event. Please contact the Natick MLK Day Dream Team at dreamteam@firstchurchnatick.org with any questions. We strive to host inclusive and accessible events, welcoming to all. Live ASL interpretation will be provided thanks to Partners Interpreting. We can provide a 15 minute early arrival and/or reserved seating for you/your group. To request this or another accommodation or access inquiry, please reach out to Michele Marotta at mmarotta@sparkkindness.org.

Past MLK Day Community Celebrations

View pictures, videos, and more from past MLK Day Community Celebrations here!

Support This Event - Your Donations Are Appreciated!

About Our 2026 Keynote Speaker:

Audi Lynch is a progressive, faith-driven leader with a multifaceted career spanning pastoral ministry, education, counseling, and the arts. With over 15 years of impact across spiritual and civic arenas, he is deeply committed to the holistic development of individuals, families, and institutions; blending theological insight, educational leadership, and cultural engagement.

Audi serves as the Pastor of the Faithful Church in Boston and as Associate Pastor at The Refuge Temple Church, building ministries that merge biblical fidelity with emotional wellness, community empowerment, and social relevance. A third-generation Pentecostal preacher, he answered the call to ministry at 19 years old..

In the realm of education, Audi is the Director of the METCO Program for Natick Public Schools, where he oversees the academic and social success of K-12 students, spearheads family engagement initiatives, and collaborates with district leaders to promote equity, belonging, and culturally responsive practices. Formerly a METCO Social Worker in Lexington, he has brought strategic, data-informed leadership to one of Massachusetts’ most vital educational programs.

Audi holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music, where he developed as a world-class musician and educator, touring internationally across the United States, Germany, Israel, and the Caribbean. He later earned a Master of Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, equipping him to serve as a clinician, spiritual advisor, and educational advocate. He holds multiple professional licenses in counseling and school-based support services, and is actively involved in advancing equity and achievement across educational systems.

He is the founder of Musician Connect, a platform that trains and mentors aspiring musicians through clinics, workshops, and private instruction. He also leads Faith Readers Press, a growing Christian publishing and printing enterprise committed to empowering voices of faith, culture, and transformation.

Audi is a sought-after speaker at youth summits, educational conferences, church leadership forums, and Christian worship events. His areas of expertise include: spiritual identity, emotional health in leadership, cultural restoration, educational equity, and family discipleship. His work is grounded in the belief that true change begins with identity, spiritually, socially, and structurally.

He is married to his best friend and ministry partner, Jacquelyn Raye Lynch, and together they are raising three sons: Audi II, Aiden Joshua, and Brandon Alexander. In his spare time, Audi enjoys family travel, arranging music, writing, and building systems that make ministry more accessible, sustainable, and impactful.