MLK Day- any special plans? - PhillyBlog

peacemover · #1 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 10:44 AM

Does anyone have any special plans to commemorate Martin Luther King, jr. Day (this coming Monday)?

In the past, I have spent the day volunteering in the community- helping clean up, serve food to the homeless, etc., or working a project like helping wth a Habitat for Humanity house.

Anyone else planning to do any volunteer projects in the community or attend any special service in commemoration of Dr. King?

monavano · #2 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 12:23 PM

Those are great suggestions for MLK day PM. Good inspiration. I live in the DC area and it's generally a "day off" for most folks here. Does anyone in the Philly area have this day off?. I can't recall this being a holiday in Philly.

chrissayer · #3 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 12:34 PM

There is a large effort going on to do volunteer projects throughout the city.

Major sponsors include:

Citizens Bank, the Citizenship Project, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, William Penn Foundation, Wachovia, Comcast Foundation, Sunoco, Subaru of America, Western Union, Annie E. Casey Foundation,
PNC Bank, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, Verizon, School District of Philadelphia, Corporation for National and Community Service,
Points of Light Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia,
Philadelphia NAACP, Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, Philadelphia Coca Cola, FedEx Kinkos, PECO Energy, Weblinc, Wolf Block Schorr & Solis Cohen,
Independence Blue Cross, Public Financial Management, Blank Rome LLP,
Vanguard Group, MANNA, Philadelphia Housing Authority, GlaxoSmithKline,
Pleasant New/Relay Stores, PennSERVE: The Governor’s Office of Citizen Service, National Constitution Center, City Year, Institute for the Study of Civic Values, Fairmount Park Commission and StoneMedia.

Quote:

The King Day of Service highlights a sense of patriotism, of turning concerns about pressing needs into citizen action; of fighting on the front lines against domestic enemies, like homelessness, poverty, sub-standard housing, illiteracy, environmental problems, disparities in healthcare access and racism. We have seen a process of learning by doing.

Our theme-- Celebrating. Learning. Serving. Voting! highlights the importance not only of Dr. King's example of how everyone can make a difference by serving others, but also our duty to exercise our active citizenship by Voting!

Once again, we are expecting a tremendous turnout of tens of thousands of volunteers in more than 600 projects throughout the seven county Philadelphia region-- Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester Counties, Pennsylvania and Burlington and Camden Counties, New Jersey.

http://www.mlkdayofservice.org

Geno · #4 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monavano

Those are great suggestions for MLK day PM. Good inspiration. I live in the DC area and it's generally a "day off" for most folks here. Does anyone in the Philly area have this day off?. I can't recall this being a holiday in Philly.

Oh yes, 3 day weekend thank you. There is a big MLK Day of service event being held at my place of employment though, and I'm expected to attend.

sycamore · #5 (**permalink**) 01-15-2005, 03:33 AM

I just finished what has become an annual tribute to him at the Bosque. Admittedly, I don't participate in anything else on his birthday, though I try to do my part to help fulfill his dream every day.

peacemover · #6 (**permalink**) 01-16-2005, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamore

Admittedly, I don't participate in anything else on his birthday, though I try to do my part to help fulfill his dream every day.

:clapping:

That is really the most important message to take out of commemorating MLK Day- each day we can take positive steps toward making the world a better place in the way Dr. King envisioned.

peacemover · #7 (**permalink**) 01-17-2005, 02:09 PM

I was checking my e-mail over lunch today and saw this article about some of the commemorations happening today:

Quote:

U.S. Marks Martin Luther King Day

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...e_us/mlk_day_2

ATLANTA - Family members and those inspired by his legacy gathered Monday to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. at the historic church where he once preached.

The 37th annual observance of King's birthday began Monday morning at Ebenezer Baptist Church. King was preacher from 1960 until his assassination in 1968 at age 39.

King would have been 76 this year.

The U.S. Army Ground Forces Brass Quintet played as dignitaries including U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson and U.S. Rep. John Lewis (news, bio, voting record) entered the church's sanctuary.

King's sister, Christine King Farris, and one of his daughters, the Rev. Bernice King, presided over the service. His older son, Martin Luther King III, made opening remarks.

Martin Luther King III asked the congregation to remember his father's legacy and that people reach out to those caught in the tsunami disaster.

"Let us respond to this challenge by reaching out to help our sisters and brothers who are suffering because of the tsunami," he said.

Two of King's other children, Dexter and Yolanda, were absent at the event. Spokesman Antonio Stephens said Monday they had other engagements.

Chambliss, R-Ga., told the crowd that King has improved the country.

"The one thing we share in common relative to those times and today's times is the fact that because of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we live in a better America today," Chambliss said. "The dream of Dr. King will not be fulfilled until everyone who is uneducated is educated, everyone who is homeless has a roof over their head and all who hunger become fed."

And Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said King would be opposing the war in Iraq (news - web sites).

"I believe he would be saying today, 'End the war, end the war in Iraq. Bring our young men and our young women home.'"

Thousands of people were expected to participate in an afternoon march through downtown Atlanta.

In a proclamation, President Bush (news - web sites) praised King's work toward racial equality.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a visionary American and a dedicated leader who believed deeply in liberty and dignity for every person," the proclamation read. "His faith and courage continue to inspire America and the world."

In Washington, Bush was expected to attend events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and at Georgetown University honoring King.

On Sunday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson (news - web sites) told a church gathering south of Atlanta that war, poverty and social injustice were damaging King's legacy.

"It's easy to admire Dr. King," Jackson told the 650 people at the church. "It's a challenge to follow him."

Jackson, who was standing beneath the motel balcony where King was fatally shot in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, suggested a good birthday present to King would be for Americans to strive more for financial and social equality.

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