This weekend we celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, he died right as I was coming of age so my most vivid memory of him is his assassination. However my defining image of Washington DC is the rally at the reflecting pool and the “I Have a Dream” speech. Aside from the Watergate building, that is Washington, DC to me.
In the Philadelphia area we are asked to “Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off” by performing some kind of community service. Todd Bernstein, the director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service describes the genesis of MLK Day:
In the Philadelphia area we are asked to “Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off” by performing some kind of community service. Todd Bernstein, the director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service describes the genesis of MLK Day:
In 1994, former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, both veterans of the civil rights movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act, which calls on Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by transforming the federal holiday into one of turning community concerns into citizen action. This federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, creating the national Martin Luther King Day of Service.
The organization coordinates many opportunities throughout the region and from what the website says, it is not too late to register.
VolunteerMatch is a robust on-line directory of volunteer opportunities nation-wide. Punch in your zip code and select from a large list of needs right near you. Good news: there are so many good organizations doing important work in the world. Bad news: there is a need for so many good organizations to do important work in the world.
Local churches and synagogues are partnering to provide community service for community members. Check out some programs near you.
I am grateful that our culture honors Dr. King’s legacy and that this long weekend is designed to be one of reflection and action. President’s Day, Veteran’s Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day all provide us with fabulous sales as we are encouraged to shop for linens and washing machines. Martin Luther King Day encourages us to provide for others.
Amen.
VolunteerMatch is a robust on-line directory of volunteer opportunities nation-wide. Punch in your zip code and select from a large list of needs right near you. Good news: there are so many good organizations doing important work in the world. Bad news: there is a need for so many good organizations to do important work in the world.
Local churches and synagogues are partnering to provide community service for community members. Check out some programs near you.
I am grateful that our culture honors Dr. King’s legacy and that this long weekend is designed to be one of reflection and action. President’s Day, Veteran’s Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day all provide us with fabulous sales as we are encouraged to shop for linens and washing machines. Martin Luther King Day encourages us to provide for others.
Amen.
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