63: Sitting In With Our Future - Martin Luther King Junior's Only Grandchild, Yolanda Renee King
Sun Feb 01 2026
17-year-old Yolanda Renee King shares her experiences, hopes and dreams with Pikes Peak Women. She sat down with us in a hotel lobby in downtown Colorado Springs on the eve of Martin Luther King Day 2026, where Yolanda was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. She is the only grandchild in the MLK legacy.
Think about this. She is taking charge with her generation to lead the way on equity, climate change, education and ending gun violence. At 15, she wrote a children's book and last year started a nonprofit focused on taking action and getting engaged in community change and leadership.
Pikes Peak Woman Melissa Marts shares this interview with another 17-year-old, Eve Walker, daughter of Pikes Peak Woman Deb Walker, to ensure these young voices are sharing their hopes and dreams for a united future. We want to thank the Pikes Peak Diversity Council and newly organized MLK Legacy Preservation Society for help in this momentous opportunity.
MORE:
We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents – Yolanda Renee King’s book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124932718-we-dream-a-world
Realize the Dream - Nonprofit founded by Yolanda and her parents
https://www.realizethedream.org/
Meet Martin Luther King Jr.'s Only Grandchild Yolanda Renee King! All About the Young Activist (and Why She Still Feels His ‘Presence’ Despite Never Meeting) – People Magazine story
https://people.com/all-about-martin-luther-king-jr-granddaughter-8763562
We’ve got another great episode coming to you soon! Be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Reach out to us on Facebook, comment at this episode’s webpage, or send an email to let us know what you thought of today’s episode.
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Email: pikespeakwmn@gmail.com
Elevating Pikes Peak Women is produced by Pikes Peak Women. Our mission is to provide a platform where women in the Pikes Peak region can become engaged and discuss civic issues about which they care deeply.
We’ve provided platforms to address healthcare reform, pay equity, community innovation, and investment, along with facilitating the meaningful contribution of women at all levels of business, government, and community. Issues may include women’s health and safety, challenges with career and family, or the actions of politicians for or against women’s rights. While such issues may be emotionally charged, we expect and maintain civility among all.
We are committed to the deliberate recruitment and support of women in leadership positions and actively work on issues that make a difference. Pikes Peak Women is an independent organization, coordinated by volunteer effort.
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17-year-old Yolanda Renee King shares her experiences, hopes and dreams with Pikes Peak Women. She sat down with us in a hotel lobby in downtown Colorado Springs on the eve of Martin Luther King Day 2026, where Yolanda was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. She is the only grandchild in the MLK legacy. Think about this. She is taking charge with her generation to lead the way on equity, climate change, education and ending gun violence. At 15, she wrote a children's book and last year started a nonprofit focused on taking action and getting engaged in community change and leadership. Pikes Peak Woman Melissa Marts shares this interview with another 17-year-old, Eve Walker, daughter of Pikes Peak Woman Deb Walker, to ensure these young voices are sharing their hopes and dreams for a united future. We want to thank the Pikes Peak Diversity Council and newly organized MLK Legacy Preservation Society for help in this momentous opportunity. MORE: We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents – Yolanda Renee King’s book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124932718-we-dream-a-world Realize the Dream - Nonprofit founded by Yolanda and her parents https://www.realizethedream.org/ Meet Martin Luther King Jr.'s Only Grandchild Yolanda Renee King! All About the Young Activist (and Why She Still Feels His ‘Presence’ Despite Never Meeting) – People Magazine story https://people.com/all-about-martin-luther-king-jr-granddaughter-8763562 We’ve got another great episode coming to you soon! Be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Reach out to us on Facebook, comment at this episode’s webpage, or send an email to let us know what you thought of today’s episode. Pikes Peak Women on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakWomen/ Pikes Peak Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikes_peak_women/ Email: pikespeakwmn@gmail.com Elevating Pikes Peak Women is produced by Pikes Peak Women. Our mission is to provide a platform where women in the Pikes Peak region can become engaged and discuss civic issues about which they care deeply. We’ve provided platforms to address healthcare reform, pay equity, community innovation, and investment, along with facilitating the meaningful contribution of women at all levels of business, government, and community. Issues may include women’s health and safety, challenges with career and family, or the actions of politicians for or against women’s rights. While such issues may be emotionally charged, we expect and maintain civility among all. We are committed to the deliberate recruitment and support of women in leadership positions and actively work on issues that make a difference. Pikes Peak Women is an independent organization, coordinated by volunteer effort.