“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verbs agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Like the Civil Rights movement in general, creating the holiday was a long and dedicated effort. The fact that the holiday celebrated a prominent African American leader of the Civil Rights movement was significant when it became a national holiday in 1983. In 1994, it was officially established as “a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives.”
Dr. King found meaningful engagement with numerous nonprofits throughout his life. On Monday, MLK Day will serve as a call to action for hundreds of thousands of people from all 50 states providing myriad services to their communities. Dr. King also found meaningful engagement with numerous nonprofits throughout his life. If you are personally interested in finding volunteer opportunities, check out United Way’s local volunteer needs or the 10 Good Things list of recommendations.
It seems appropriate to take MLK Day as an opportunity to reflect on all of those who serve and work for justice in their communities and throughout the nation: the grassroots organizers, the volunteers, the nonprofit staff and board members. Thank you.