Photos: MLK Day of Service kicks off Black Future Fest in Iowa City

Monday’s activities included a community potluck, collaborative mural project and a food drive

Jan. 19, 2026 3:36 pm, Updated: Jan. 19, 2026 4:21 pm

Elizabeth Becker of Iowa City (right) and Iris Tsouris of Iowa City (left) paint murals together during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center in Iowa City on Monday. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iris Tsouris of Iowa City paints a small mural that will be combined with other murals for a collaborative art piece during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center in Iowa City on Monday. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A finished mural sits out to dry during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center in Iowa City on Monday. The small murals were painted by community members and will be combined into a collaborative mural project. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa City Senior Center social work intern Angela Porter (left) pours paint out for volunteer Linda Mitchell of Iowa City to prep for painting murals during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa City Senior Center social work intern Angela Porter works on a painting a small mural for a collaborative community mural art piece during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa City Senior Center social work intern Angela Porter works on filling in the background of her mural for a collaborative community mural art piece during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. The MLK Day of Service included a community potluck, collaborative mural project and a food drive. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa City Senior Center volunteer Linda Mitchell of Iowa City (right) laughs as she works on painting a small mural for a collaborative community mural art piece during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Elizabeth Becker of Iowa City (right) and Iris Tsouris of Iowa City (left) paint murals together during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A sign stating, “We are practicing the future today,” sits on display as Iowa City Senior Center social work intern Angela Porter works on a painting a small mural for a collaborative community mural art piece during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa City Senior Center social work intern Angela Porter sorts through donated canned goods during the MLK Day of Service event at the Iowa City Senior Center on Monday. The MLK Day of Service included a community potluck, collaborative mural project and a food drive. The event is part of Black Future Fest, which is a month-long citywide celebration in Iowa City that highlights Afrofuturistic art, literature, fashion and community imagination. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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