SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The 48th Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, set for Monday, will pay tribute to community leaders who actively uphold Dr. King’s enduring legacy.

This year, Moncello Stewart will be honored as the 2026 MLK Day Trailblazer. Stewart has been a dedicated volunteer at the parade for 15 years, exemplifying commitment to the cause.

“His unwavering dedication to fostering opportunities that uplift individuals and enhance the communities he serves is commendable,” stated The MLK Observance Day Association on its website.

Stewart’s journey in leadership began at the age of 16 while attending Beach High School in Savannah, where mentors inspired him to engage with his community actively.

He expresses gratitude to Liberty City President Ernestine Jones for encouraging his involvement, Tom Kohler for imparting lessons on diversity and inclusion, and Shirley James from the Savannah Tribune for being both a mentor and a cherished friend.

“They really showed me how to lead, and lead in the correct way,” said Stewart. 

Today, Stewart serves as the president of the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, where he works to empower Black entrepreneurs and connect them to the resources to help their businesses succeed. 

He is also the founder and CEO of Trident Strategy Group, leads the nonprofit One Seed, serves on the board of Visit Savannah and Step Up Savannah, is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and works at Savannah State University.  

Stewart said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy has guided him since childhood. 

“It really kind of tells me what kind of man I want to be, you know, what kind of character I want to have. Those things are what mattered to me as a young kid,” said Stewart. 

Now, he hopes to inspire younger generations to develop their own leadership spark and continue the legacy. 

“The dream starts with you,” said Stewart. “You’ve got to aspire to be great, you’ve got to aspire to be more, to want more. You’ve got to aspire to change your surroundings. That’s what the legacy is about.” 

Stewart said honoring trailblazers each year helps ensure Dr. King’s message continues to resonate for generations to come. 

“You know, we don’t want to lose the legacy. We don’t want to lose the memories, we don’t want to lose the hope. And so just keeping that name there keeps the dream alive,” said Stewart.

You can find more information about MLK Observance Day events hosted by the MLK Observance Day Association by clicking or tapping here.