It is Friday. Many people will have a three-day weekend due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday. Obviously, the life and legacy of Martin Luther king, Jr. has many different aspects to it. Today, I would like to focus on two aspects—hope and service.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was striving for the systemic, fair treatment of people of all races resulting in equitable opportunities and outcomes for everyone. His message was a reminder that all people can achieve their full potential in life, regardless of race, ethnicity, or the community in which they live. A racial justice framework can help move us from a reactive posture to a more powerful, proactive, and even preventative approach. That is reason for hope.
Information about the National Day of Service can be found in multiple locations on the internet. Here is the message on the AmeriCorps website:
“The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make our communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change. His example is our call to action.
Observed each year on the third Monday in January, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. AmeriCorps has been charged with leading this effort for the past quarter century.
Making time to volunteer for MLK Day of Service is a great way to engage with your community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King. Whether you plan on cleaning up a public space, mentoring a young person, or assisting those who are food insecure, what you do makes a world of difference.”
https://americorps.gov/newsroom/events/mlk-day
How will you make Laramie County stronger through your acts of service?
Vernon Dobelmann
Executive Director