MLK Day
Monday, January 16 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. and honoring his achievements toward racial equity. Dr. King dedicated and sacrificed his life advocating for civil rights and nonviolent resistance against racial injustice.
As a college community, we know well that education is part of the solution to threats to an equitable and just democracy. MLK Day presents an additional opportunity for us to reflect and act in our communities.
"Observed each year on the third Monday in January as ‘a day on, not a day off,’ MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities " – AmeriCorps, MLK Day
For the past two years, we have organized and participated in incredibly successful EdTerpsVote and EdTerpsEngage campaigns as part of a larger effort to support sustained civic engagement among our college community. In the same spirit, this year we will celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and the national day of service on the holiday; we are also extending our commemoration, reflection, and action throughout the school year.
During our 2023 College of Education Retreat, we will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his memory by kicking off a season of service. The COE Senate will lead a discussion on how to promote service and keep MLK’s memory alive through events this semester. The discussion will focus on five core principles: Learn, Care, Sustain, Share and Reflect.
We invite you to engage with, learn about, and serve in our communities by volunteering to make a positive difference.
On MLK Day
Near College Park
- The City of College Park has several activities and events planned to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including:
- a virtual panel discussion about Dr. King’s teachings and legacy
- a book giveaway
- a food drive
- Protect trees with the City of Greenbelt as they celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Nationwide
The AmeriCorps Volunteer Search provides a database of volunteer opportunities across the country, with a special filter for MLK Day activities.
MLK Day and Beyond
Our goal this year is to integrate the MLK Day spirit of service into our work throughout 2023. Join us in this initiative by using following resources to find ongoing service opportunities:
- AmeriCorps Volunteer Search
- Maryland’s Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteering
- Services 24/7 is run by UMD’s Office of Leadership and Community-Service-Learning and it connects students with opportunities to learn and serve with nonprofit organizations throughout Prince George’s County.
Teacher Resource Guide
We also created a guide designed to help educators create lessons about Dr. King, his legacy, and his call to service that can be incorporated into the curriculum throughout the year. There is also a section designed to help teachers support their students participating in service.