January 19th marks two important events that are closely intertwined: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and our national day of service. Although many people are familiar with the former (some only because it’s a day off from work or school), most aren’t as hip to the latter.
In 1994, Congress made the MLK, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service to honor Dr. King and his commitment to helping others. This year, president-elect Obama is taking this call to action a step further. On the eve of his inauguration, he is asking all Americans to follow in the steps of the great Dr. King and commit not just a single day of service, but to make an ongoing pledge to our neighborhoods, towns, communities, and cities.
With our nation facing unprecedented economic and social problems, Obama’s call to service summons the same sentiment made by John F. Kennedy during his 1961 inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
What Can I Do?
I was inspired to volunteer on the 19th because in my community—Oakland, California—the streets are less safe, the traffic medians dirtier, and the businesses less prolific than they were when my grandmother moved here over sixty years ago. Our communities should be getting better, not worse.
But knowing where to direct your good efforts is sometimes the hardest part about making change. However, the national organizing efforts made by the president and vice president-elect make it easy. USAservice.org is a repository of events that you can participate in on the weekend and day of the 19th. You can create a volunteer event in your community and ask others to join, or you can search by zip code for the events happening in your ’hood.
What’s Going On?
Quickly searching for activities near my home, I found quite a few that were attractive to me for somewhat selfish reasons. I like to garden, so helping plant seeds for future vegetables for low-income senior citizens was my first pick. I waited too long, and the event filled up (some have a quota).
