Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is rapidly approaching, and there are many opportunities to volunteer and celebrate starting this weekend. An hour or two of your time is all it takes to make a difference on this special day. If you know of any opportunities or events not mentioned on this list please take the opportunity to share in the comments below. And go to www.mlkdayofservice.org to find more events in your area.

 

MLK Day of Service at Bartram’s Garden

54th and Lindbergh Blvd.

Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Your volunteering will make a difference at Bartram’s Garden, where you will be inspired by the Garden. You will also get a free T Shirt and Lunch!

To register email tgreenberg@bartramsgarden.org

 

“What’s in your mind? What’s in your hands?”

Organized by the Philadelphia Community of Leaders

Harambee Charter School – 640 N. 66th Street

Bartram High School – 2401 S. 67th Street

Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

At these two locations you will find an organized community celebration with open discussion and teach-in, an opportunity to learn about the role people young and old play in creating awareness to social justice and consciousness raising. Everyone will be invited to learn about the legacy of activism by Dr. King. There will then be an opportunity to speak out about the agenda for increasing activism in 2015 as well as recognizing those who have been consistent in their efforts in our collective advancement and forward progress. 

 

“Clean-up/Fix Up” at Laura Sims (Ice) Skate House in Cobbs Creek Park

200 S. 63rd Street

Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Laura Sims Skate house will be holding a clean up and fix up with refreshments and MLK Jr. history. You will also find Voter Registration and Voter education, as well as receive a MLK T Shirt and MLK souvenir.

Facebook.com/LauraSimsSkate

 

MLK Day of Service with ACHIEVEability and Mission First

Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

5943 Race Street, 6121 Locust Street, 128-130 S 56th Street, 128-130 S 56th Street

Over 40 volunteers from Vanguard and UPENN School of Social Policy and Practice, along with staff from ACHIEVEability and Mission First Housing Group will be painting and cleaning units in the ACHIEVEability and Mission First portfolio of affordable rental housing. ACHIEVEability and Mission First Housing Group recently formed a strategic alliance to work together to serve at-risk, vulnerable and underserved individuals and families. Together, Mission First and ACHIEVEability administer more than 2,800 homes for low-income populations, including veterans, elderly and the disabled, and single-parent and homeless families, throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, and elsewhere in the Middle Atlantic states. For more information, visit: www.missionfirsthousing.org or www.achieveability.org.

 

MLK Weekend of Service with Repair the World: Philadelphia

Jan. 16-19, Various locations

Many volunteer opportunities are available. Click here to register.

Facebook.com/RepairTheWorldPhiladelphia

 

D.A.R.E March and Rally

440 N. Broad Street

Jan. 19, 1:30 p.m. Rally; 2 p.m. March

Philly is proud to be a part of D.A.R.E (Day of Action, Resistance, and Empowerment). Coalition demands include ending Stop & Frisk + empowered PD review board. Raising minimum wage to 15$ and the right to form unions. Finally, the march is for fairly funded, democratically controlled schools. Join 10,000 others in Philly to march for justice!

Facebook.com/ReclaimMLKPHL

 

New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Clean up / Reenactment March

7001 Woodland Avenue

Jan. 19, 10 a.m. Clean up; 4 p.m. March

Join Rev. Paul “Earthquake” Moore for a MLK Day of Service. The day will begin with a church clean-up at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Later in the day there will be a Reenactment March starting at 4:00 p.m. The march will begin at 6500 Woodland Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia starting at the 12th District Police Station. Rev. Moore will recite Martin Luther King’s – I Have A Dream speech after the march at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

 

Bible Way Baptist Church Commemorative Service

1323 North 52nd Street

Jan. 19, 10 a.m.

Celebrate the life, legacy and dream of Dr. King at their annual service. This year the church is honoring Kevin J. Bethel – Philadelphia Police Dept. Deputy Commissioner.

Shaka M. Johnson, Esq. – Managing Partner,  Johnson & Page Trial Partners

Bishop Dwayne D. Royster – Executive Director P.O.W.E.R.

“Help us celebrate the DREAM and IMPACT of Dr. King as well, as those that continue to pursue the Dream of equality for all.”

 

Penn’s 20th Annual MLK Symposium

Houston Hall’s Hall of Flags

3417 Spruce Street

Jan. 19-30

The University of Pennsylvania will remember Martin Luther King Jr. with its 20th Annual Commemorative Symposium on Social Change, a series of nearly 20 community events, Jan. 19-30. All MLK Symposium events are free and open to the public. They include film screenings, lectures, ceremonies, musical performances and panel discussions.

The centerpiece is the annual Day of Service, Monday, Jan. 19, which begins with a breakfast for volunteers at 8:30 a.m. in Houston Hall’s Hall of Flags. Service projects in Houston Hall will include creating books on tape to promote literacy and putting together personal care gifts for West Philadelphia shelters, homes, hospitals and charities. There will also be workshops on Financial aid and the college application projects.

Other service projects will be taking place during the day for community beautification, cleaning and painting. Another project includes volunteer work organized by Civic house to draw attention to hunger in Philadelphia by packing food to be sent to soup kitchens. The day of service will end with a candlelight vigil procession from W.E.B. DuBois College House at 39th and Walnut streets to the compass on Locust Walk. More information is available here.

– Andrew Foronda