cnn
—
January 15 is Martin Luther King Day. But any day is a good time to do good for the community. The Dr. King holiday celebrates the life of the civil rights leader by encouraging public service. Here are some creative ways people of all ages can help the world around them in honor of Dr. King.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is once again offering lesson plans for grades K-12 as part of its global “Teach-In.” Lesson plans include resources and activities that explore the work, teachings, and philosophies of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The King Center's theme for this year's festivities is “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems.”
Kelisha B. Graves, director of research, education and programs at the King Center, says the lessons will help “translate the general topic into concrete examples and demonstrations that students can absorb.”
“One of the things Mrs. King used to always talk about was being your best self and that is the essence of all the learning content we produce through the King Center, helping to encourage students to be their best,” Graves said. CNN.
Lesson plans include English and language arts activities, character development objectives, and even ways to help students identify and interrupt injustices. Graves says that last year more than 700,000 students in 22 countries accessed the lesson plans and they hope to continue spreading the philosophies of Dr. King and Mrs. King around the world.
MLK Day is a national day of service; “a day off, not a day off.” Tim Adkins of Hands On Atlanta expects an increase in in-person volunteers compared to recent Covid-affected years.
“This year's days of service really allow people to come back and do what they've done for years: go to the site and be able to physically do something with their hands.”
Hands On Atlanta is partnering with the King Center and many others on a series of community volunteer projects, but there will be ways to get involved in almost every major city. AmeriCorps has a searchable database of MLK Day volunteer opportunities available nationwide. Simply enter your zip code and click the “MLK Day” box to find available projects in your area.
If you're looking for something to do from home, help rewrite history. The Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress are seeking volunteers to digitally transcribe historical documents. Projects range from African American history and women's suffrage to personal letters and diaries of historical figures. Digital transcripts will help make documents more available to the public and more accessible to people with visual impairments.
If volunteering is not an option this year, consider donating to organizations that work year-round to support the social justice to which Dr. King dedicated his life.
The Equal Justice Initiative works to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality. The organization provides legal representation and promotes criminal justice reform. He is also heavily involved in public education about racial injustice in the United States. In 2018, EJI dedicated the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. The Museum and Memorial will be open on Monday and offer free admission.
The National Urban League has been fighting for African Americans and others for more than 100 years. The organization promotes civil rights and economic empowerment by providing education, job training, and community development.
If time is an issue, like digitally transcribing historical documents, there are many altruistic apps and websites available that allow anyone to volunteer and help others any time they can. There are “on-demand volunteering” apps and websites available to help those with vision problems, those who need help with language translation, or those seeking career advice or mentoring.
Tim Adkins of Hands on Atlanta believes that volunteering is a way to improve your community and yourself at the same time.
“I firmly believe that volunteering is a potential solution to many mental health issues that have become widespread in recent years,” Adkins said. “I really don't think it matters what you do, as long as you go out and the intention is, for lack of a better phrase, to do something good.”
