Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service Opportunities

Join the Career & Civic Engagement Center in celebrating MLK Day!

In celebration and recognition of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., organizations across the region and the county participate in a day of service and learning. Join in one of the opportunities below or connect with a local organization in your neighborhood.

Virtual Celebration of the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

• The Main Line Martin Luther King Association in conjunction with Bryn Mawr College will hold its virtual celebration of the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at 3 p.m. The program includes a Welcome by President Kimberly Wright Cassidy as well as a Keynote address by Joi Dallas, Assistant Dean for Intercultural Engagement.  

• Learn more and access the event link here.

Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service 

• The Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the largest King Day event in the nation, and Global Citizen, promotes year-round volunteer service and civic engagement. Local organizations across the region are hosting service and civic engagement opportunities and include a wide variety of issues.  

• Find an opportunity that matches your interests and availability on their website.    

African American Museum in Philadelphia 

• In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and through the generosity of Citizens, the African American Museum is hosting a weekend of activities including performances, meaningful discussions, family activities, and access to exhibits. This year’s theme, "Shifting the Cultural Climate," illuminates our need to be change agents in confronting a culture of violence and injustice and celebrates the power of the individual and the collective to inspire change for their communities and the next generation, while embracing love for our community, humanity, and ourselves. 

• Learn more about these events and reserve your museum entry on the organization’s website.   

Bethel AME Church of Ardmore: A History of the Civil Rights Act, a virtual teach-in 

• Participate in a morning of virtual teach-ins in observance and recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Sessions will include: 9:00am - A Historical Perspective of the Civil Rights Act from 1866 to 1964 (Presenter: Dr. Anthony Johnson); 10:00am - Housing: Tangled Titles (Presenter: Charles Burrows); 11:00am – Health Inequalities: The Impact of Structural Racism on People and Communities (Presenter: Rev. Dr. Miriam Burnett); and 12:00pm – Black Maternal Health and a Call To Action! (Presenter: Jamiylah Miller, M.Ed – Montco Mamas). 

• Learn more and access the event link here.   

Interfaith Philadelphia 

• Join Interfaith Philadelphia in partnership with Gesu School, St. Joe’s Prep, and others for a day of service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The morning’s program will include service activities as well as discussions around social justice and gun violence.  

• Monday, January 15 – 9:00am – 12:00pm, Interfaith Philadelphia 

• For more information or to register, Contact River Mason: rm@interfaithphiladelphia.org 

Beth Am Israel 

• Join Beth Am Israel in meaningful hands-on service projects for all ages and engaging conversations around the Civil Rights Act. Events include hands-on service projects and Live Learning Opportunities at BAI in Ardmore.  

• Learn about the variety of events and opportunities on their website.  

Questions about these events? Please contact Amanda Moser-Shick at amosershic@brynmawr.edu .

Educational and Community Resources

Will you be spending MLK Day of Service reading about Dr. King’s approach to community service and activism? Deepening your understanding of social justice theory? Reflecting with your favorite activist poetry? Consider buying your books at a local Black-owned bookstore: 

Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books | www.unclebobbies.com and bookshop.org/shop/unclebobbies  

“Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books is a coffee shop and bookstore located in the heart of the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Founded by Marc Lamont Hill in 2017, Uncle Bobbie’s was created to provide underserved communities with access to books and a space where everyone feels valued. In addition to our specially curated book selection, we also serve high quality coffee, food products, and other items like apparel and children’s games. We are also a community space that holds free author talks and dozens of other events included weekly story time for kids and back to school drives.” 

Harriett’s Bookshop | harriettsbookshop.com and bookshop.org/shop/harriettsbookshop 

“Named for historical heroine Harriet Tubman, our mission celebrates women authors, women artists, and women activists.”  Harriett’s Bookshop is located on Girard Avenue in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia. 

Dr. King: In His Own Words

Spend time meditating on Dr. King’s many powerful messages by listening to recordings of his famous speeches: Five of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Most Memorable Speeches compiled by PBS. Or explore The King Papers, “a comprehensive collection of Dr. King’s most significant correspondence, sermons, speeches, published writings, and unpublished manuscripts” compiled by Stanford University at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute.   

Additional Resources 

• The King Center 
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Biography 
• Volunteer Match—an online hub for finding volunteer opportunities across the U.S.