Remembering King In Spite Of Covid
Community and Faith Leaders Work to Keep The Memory of Love and Service Alive in a No-Contact World
Compiled by Kia Lisby
The pandemic has slowed most of the traditional activities held on the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday but not all of them.
Some of the events include:
The Prince George’s Office of the Poet Laureate presents “From A Poet’s Point of View – An MLK Tribute”– Sat. Jan. 16. 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Glenarden MLK Day Service – Mon. Jan. 18. 10: a.m.-11: a.m.
Council Member Sydney J. Harrison in partnership with Purposeful Living and Giving presents District 9 Virtual Day of Service Awards – Mon. Jan. 18. 6:00 p.m. “Only In Darkness, Can You See the Stars” Poetry Open Mic featuring Collective Voices with Poet Brenda Bunting – Mon. Jan. 18. 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Capital Area Food Bank, Prince George’s Community Marketplace - Landover, MD Sat, Jan. 16. 8:00am-11:30am. Available to Individuals and Groups. Volunteers will help provide emergency groceries and nutrition education to residents of the Prince George’s County at the CAFB Community Marketplace. This volunteer experience involves some heavy lifting and lots of standing and walking.
Register to volunteer at - Capital Area Food Bank and Thursday Network
PGCPS Students:
Maryland Multicultural Youth Center (MMYC) and the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) host MLK Jr. Day of Service Virtual Event. Mon. Jan. 18. 10:00 AM- 12:00 p.m. Virtually through Zoom (students can earn community service hours). Register at: https://forms.gle/6n8bMvjCVfpyrpQe9
Thursday Network: Make Sure You Have Fun Host. Virtual Day Party With A Purpose for MLK 2021. Mon. Jan. 18. 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Streaming on Twitch at: TWITCH.TV/MAKESUREYOUHAVEFUN. Honoring MLK Jr. Day Virtual Panel on Philanthropy & Advancing Racial Equity by United Way of King County Thur. Jan. 21 9:00 p.p.- 10:30 p.m. Free via Eventbrite
About Dr. King:
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, (Jan 15, 1929- April 4, 1968), lived a legacy that left an impact for people around the world. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, King was the middle of three children. From an early age he was very intellectual, skipping ninth and eleventh grades before enrolling into Morehouse College in age 15. In his junior year of college, King took a Bible class which helped to restore his faith and lead him to envision a career in ministry. After earning his sociology degree from Morehouse in 1948 and then attending Crozer Theological Seminary, King graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1951. He earned a fellowship for graduate study where he pursued his doctoral study at Boston University. In 1954, King become pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama while completing his Ph.D. to earn his degree in 1955. In December of the same year, the Rosa Parks incident led King to help orchestrate and lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Throughout King’s lifetime, he endured a lot of adversities from racism, politics, the justice system, and much more. He wrote letters, led movements, and gave prominent speeches such as his most notable “I Have A Dream”, to get people to understand the harsh realities of a society built on racism, discrimination, and prejudice. For his courageous and heroic efforts, we commemorate and observe his birthday each year during the national holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Day. With the pandemic still prevalent, this years’ efforts to have events for the holiday have been altered to a virtual platform instead of in-person.
