Friday (8th) – Labouré College hosts Danielle Legros Georges, Poet Laureate of Boston will speak at Laboure College in Milton as part of the Labouré Lecture Series and in commemoration of Haitian Independence. Free. 1:30 p.m. in room C112 at the College. Parking is available in the rear lot.

Saturday (9th) – The Haitian-Americans United, Inc. (H.A.U.) hosts its 17th Annual Haitian Independence Gala at Lombardo’s in Randolph starting at 7 p.m. The Keynote Speaker for the Gala is Valery Numa, one of the most seasoned and most listened to Haitian radio host and political commentator in Haiti and in the Haitian Diaspora, currently affiliated with Haiti’s Radio Vision 2000. Honorees include Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito will be honored, alongside with Boston Haitian Reporter editor Bill Forry, EDEM Foundation director Patrick Lucien and young Haitian American TV host Jacie Calixte. For more information see hauinc.org

Sunday (10th) – Martin Richard Challenger Basketball program opens first season at Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, 35 Deer St., Dorchester. This free basketball program is designed for developmentally and physically challenged youth to participate in a team sport meeting their abilities while in a safe and structured environment. Sundays from January 10 through February 21 (excluding Feb. 14th). Ages 5-11 from 12-1 p.m. and ages 12-18 from 1-2 p.m. To register, please contact Dianne Lescinskas at: 617-288-7120 or dlescinskas@bgcdorchester.org.

Monday (11th) – Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services convenes a Neighborhood Response Team meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Mildred Avenue Community Center, 5 Mildred Ave., Mattapan. Representatives from Boston Redevelopment Authority and city’s Dept. of Neighborhood Development will be on hand to discuss housing and commercial development. Contact Ruth Georges at 617-635-2677 or ruth.georges@boston.gov for more information.

Tuesday (12th) – FEMA and city officials will host an informational meeting for the public from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Boston Teachers Union Hall at 180 Mt. Vernon St. on Columbia Point regarding flood insurance mandated for certain properties in FEMA designated flood zones.

Saturday (16th) – Open enrollment fair for the Health Connector at Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Plan, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 617-822-5555 for an appointment.

Monday (18th) – 46th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Lither King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, 8 a.m. at Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston. Tickets online at mlkbreakfastbostomn.org or call 617-536-0872. Keynote address by Dr. Ruth Simmons, president emerita of Brown University.

• St. Katherine Drexel Parish on Blue Hill Avenue hots its 31st annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer breakfast sponsored by the Office of Black Catholics. Tickets are $15 and on sale through Jan. 14. Contact Pat Smith at naynapat@comcast.net for tickets, which are not available at the door. Rev. Dr. Gloria E. White-Hammond if the featured speaker.

Benkadi Drum and Dance African Journey performs in a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrate event at the JFK Library, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. See jfklibrary.org or call 617-514-1644.

Tuesday (19th)
Mayor Martin Walsh delivers his State of the City address at Symphony Hall, 6 p.m.