This coming Monday, January 17th, is the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — a national day of service in the United States. Where will you volunteer your energy and time?
People across the country are kicking off the new year by creating, joining, or reporting on MLK Day service projects in their communities:
Already planning a project? Be sure to register it so that people in your community will find out how to support it!
Join others in a celebration called America’s Sunday Supper broadcast live online the night before MLK Day, bringing together thought leaders of public service.
Every year I try take part in a service project. This Monday, my family is going to carry out our second annual DIY project Continue reading →
A group of City Year Young Heroes during their 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service project at Emery Elementary School in Washington, DC
January 18th is Martin Luther King, Jr., Day — a national day of service. Where will you volunteer your energy and time?
For 15 years, MLK Day has been a national day of service, mobilizing projects that strive to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems — strengthening communities, bridging barriers, and empowering individuals.
The day of service, which is known as a “day on, not a day off,” typically enjoys a great deal of support and participation among national service corps—who volunteer for and often organize service projects.
This year organizers are launching a special initiative to connect schools in need with technology support. If you serve in a school that could use tech support — anything from a website facelift to blogging support for student clubs — you can post a volunteer opportunity on AllForGood.org:
When you create your volunteer opportunity, be sure to:
Use a descriptive title and make sure to include the “MLKTech” keyword – the keyword is necessary for search.
Set the date as January 18, 2010
Web professionals can search for opportunities on Serve.gov.
Already planning a project? Be sure to register it so that people in your community will find out how to support it!
Last year, inspired by Barack Obama’s call to service, MLK Day enjoyed the largest turnout in its history. On January 19, 2009, service projects numbered about 13,000 (compared to 5,000 in 2008), and the Corporation for National and Community Service estimated the total number of volunteers at a million.
Check out this video with more information about MLK Day:
From Engaged for Success: Service Learning as a Tool for High School Drop Out Prevention (PDF)
Youth Service America is looking to fund middle-school based service learning projects incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curricula.
Middle school teachers, administrators, service learning coordinators and after-school staff in select states can apply for $5000 in funding to engage kids in grades six through eight in a semester-long service-learning project geared towards environmental issues.
The grants, called STEMester of Service Grants, aim to address community problems in states with the highest school dropout rates while encouraging kids to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
According to the website, environmental concerns can include green space availability, health effects, climate change, and Continue reading →
President-Elect Obama’s Renew America Together campaign partners with Youtube to invite you to create a three-minute video about how you plan to volunteer for MLK Day.
Here are the guidelines and instructions from the contest webpage:
The goal: For individuals and organizations to create a three-minute or less YouTube video designed to tell the story of what they plan to do on MLK Day. The videos could be dramatic, heartfelt, comical, or narrative — whatever best captures the spirit of the Renew America Together campaign.
All submissions should be posted to the Presidential Inaugural Committee YouTube channel no later than 11:59pm EST January 15th, 2009. Three winners will be selected. The winning videos will be posted on www.USAService.org, and the creator of the single best video will get a personal phone call from First Lady Michelle Obama.
For more information and to upload your reply-video, please visit us at www.YouTube.com/Inauguration. Here’s how to enter:
Watch Kal Penn’s invitation video. (It’s the one to the right.)
Create your own video answering these questions: What does service mean to you and why is it important?
What will you do on January 19th to serve your community? Upload it as a reply to Kal.
After you’ve uploaded your reply video, you can also submit the information about it here. You do not need to take this extra step, but it provides a second way for us to find it. Email
Today, more than ever, projects are designed using principles of universal design, accessibility and accommodation strategies so that all people can serve. For example:
In Morrisville, NC the “Building a Ramp Into the Community” project will be underway. The Durham County Affordable Housing Coalition (DAHC) and Durham Habitat for Humanity and Merck have partnered with triangle MLK Day of Service to build ramps in the Durham community. Service members include 12 seniors and people with disabilities.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service sponsored by the University of Iowa’s Civic Engagement Program encourages the participation of people with disabilities and publicizes the availability of accommodations on their “Days of Service” website.
NSIP would like to know what inclusive service activities you are planning and or participating in! Please contact NSIP email at: NSIP [at] umb.edu, or call 888-491-0326 (V/TTY).
This coming Monday, January 17th, is the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — a national day of service in the United States. Where will you volunteer your energy and time?
The New Service 