On the third Monday of January each year, the United States honors the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK). Those of us living in the US have all heard his speeches and experienced firsthand the changes he and other civil rights leaders fought so hard to create in the world: the desegregation of public transportation and schools and the passing of landmark legislation including the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. You can read more about his life and work here.
Dr. King’s story not only reminds us of our nation’s history and how much work has been done to advance the rights of all people but also of what remains to be done. This is not only a day to remember one of our nation’s most passionate activists – it’s also the only federal holiday designated by the US government as a national day of service. On MLK day, we can carry on Dr. King’s legacy by working to improve our communities.
There are a number of service projects happening on and around January 16, 2023, which you can join to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy. PDX Parent has compiled a detailed list of events and suggestions for serving your community, which you can read here. You can also find MLK Day volunteer opportunities through AmeriCorps.
However you choose to commemorate this important holiday, we hope it serves as a reminder to all that change is possible when we come together for a common goal.