Bishop L. Kirk and Pastor Karen Sykes to Receive 2026 MVC MLK Legacy Award
Bishop L. Kirk Sykes and Pastor Karen Sykes have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the Moreno Valley College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award in recognition of their decades-long commitment to education, community leadership, and social justice in the Inland Empire.
The honor will be presented during the 13th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Award Ceremony on Friday, Jan. 23, held under the theme Blueprints for Change, Living the Legacy of Dr. King.
The MLK Legacy Award recognizes individuals whose service reflects a sustained commitment to the college and the broader community through leadership, stewardship, and advocacy. Bishop and Pastor Sykes were selected by the college’s Executive Cabinet following nominations from the MVC community.
Founder and Lead Pastor of CrossWord Christian Church, Bishop L Kirk Sykes, along with Associate Pastor Karen Sykes have supported Moreno Valley College for more than two decades through scholarships, sponsorships, student programming, and consistent engagement with campus and community initiatives. Their leadership has also sustained the regional Black Baccalaureate Celebration for 15 consecutive years, honoring more than 2,250 high school graduates across the Inland Empire.
Bishop Sykes is a Navy veteran, author, preacher/teacher, and business leader. He is the founder of Family and Community Empowerment CDC, the former Today Magazine, both of which focus on strengthening communities through access to education, economic opportunity, and information. Pastor Karen Sykes is an author, childbirth educator, and mentor to many. She is also the founder of CaliSis Doulas LLC and an advocate for maternal and infant health. Her work includes involvement with organizations such as the National Black Doula Association, Sankofa Birthworkers Collective of the Inland Empire, MaternityWise International, Postpartum Support International, the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color, and the National Council of Negro Women.
Together, the couple has led initiatives addressing food insecurity, financial literacy, mental health, and wellness by converting their church gym into a twice-monthly distribution and resource center for local families. Their work emphasizes meeting immediate needs while encouraging long-term educational and economic stability.
The MLK Legacy Award is part of the college’s annual scholarship competition, which has supported Moreno Valley College and local high school students since 2014. This year’s competition drew 187 high school essay submissions, 15 speech entries from MVC students, and five spoken word submissions. Scholarship recipients will be recognized alongside the Legacy Award honorees during the January ceremony.
Past recipients of the MLK Legacy Award include James Banks (2025), Kym Taylor (2024), Cleveland Johnson (2023), Cordell Briggs, Ph.D. (2021), Judy White, Ed.D. (2020), Hardy, Sr. and Cheryl Brown (2019), and inaugural honoree Woodie Rucker-Hughes (2018).
To learn more about the MLK Legacy Award and how you can attend the ceremony, visit the MLK event and scholarship webpage.