'For me, it's personal': Valley 101 shares why Mesa hosts a Martin Luther King Jr. parade

Nearly 60 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to more than 250,000 people in Washington, D.C. Today, the nation recognizes his birthday to honor his life and commitment to the civil rights movement in America.

For the city of Mesa, this celebration is close to home. They've been hosting a parade and festival in his memory for 24 years after a long battle to get the holiday recognized at a city level.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by Keisha McKinnor to discuss the state's history with MLK Day and why this celebration feels personal to her.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Valley 101 shares the relationship between Mesa and MLK Jr.