Rothko Chapel : 31st Annual MLK Birthday Observance : “We Got Us: Health & Care Beyond Capitalism”
December 17, 2025
In 1979, the Rothko Chapel started an annual MLK Birthday Observance to connect the contemporary implications of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy to the ongoing struggle for civil…
In 1979, the Rothko Chapel started an annual MLK Birthday Observance to connect the contemporary implications of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy to the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights, captured through artist Barnett Newman’s sculpture Broken Obelisk (1968) on the Plaza dedicated to Dr. King. From 2024-2026, Rothko Chapel Public Programming focuses on health justice and equity, including conversations, performances, and meditations on community wellness. As we navigate a world that is increasingly violent, stressed, sick, isolated, and divided, we explore our unique responsibilities and skills to contribute to our collective physical and spiritual health.
Dr. King emphasized that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, and he demonstrated how
systematized poverty and worker exploitation serve as governmental policies of disease and violence. This year’s
program will explore the relationships between health accessibility and economic systems, noting barriers to care under capitalism, as well as creative community-based efforts offering collective health services outside of traditional models. Dr. Ricardo Nuila will provide a keynote address, followed by a panel conversation with Houston-based advocates for supporting broader health ecosystems beyond the medical industrial complex including: moderator Josie Pickens, Program Director, upEND Movement; panelist Krish Gundu, Executive Director, Texas Jail Project; panelist Kay Matthews, Executive Director, Shades of Blue Project.
