Re-posted for MLK Day
Saturday, January 15 is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and we will celebrate him and his achievements on our national holiday this Monday, January 17.
This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. In 1994, Congress designated the holiday a day of service, asking Americans to observe it as a “day on–not a day off” in honor of King’s words, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”
You can find ways to serve on the Day of Service website here, and we have put together more ways your family can celebrate and/or serve on MLK day:
10th Annual MLK Interfaith Worship Service
Who: All ages.
What: Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy in a variety of forms, including a dance interpretation of the “I Have a Dream” speech performed by Columbia High School Special Dance Company; spoken affirmations and selected readings from various faith traditions; songs by the local Voices in Harmony choir led by Jason Asbury and Cantor Perry Fine and reflections on Dr. King’s “Beloved Community” shared by author and speaker, Dr. Patrick Swift.
Where: Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, 432 Scotland Rd., South Orange NJ.
When: Monday, January 17 at 3 pm.
Cost: Free.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Who: All ages.
What: Celebrate the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King with live performances of The Right to Dream, film screenings of Dr. King’s “I Had a Dream” speech, and yours of the narratives of African-American Art gallery.
Where: Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.
When: Monday, January 17 from 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm. Click here for a full schedule of events.
Cost: Free with suggested museum admission. Call 973.596.6550 for more information.
Celebrate Dr. King, Explore the Dream Through Art
Who: Kids ages 4 – 10.
What: Learn about Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement through art. Children will create art exploring the themes of Peace, Equality and Friendship. All participants are asked to bring a canned or boxed non-perishable food item to be donated to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
Where: Express Yourself Studios, 1912 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ.
When: Monday, January 17 from 11 am – 3 pm.
Cost: $15. Register here.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Who: All ages.
What: Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by making a symbolic peace collage. Information about Martin Luther King Jr. will be available.
Where: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ.
When: Monday, January 17 from 12 pm – 2 pm.
Cost: $10 Adults / $7 Children / Under 3 years of age FREE.
Tomorrow’s Leaders
Who: Ages 7-14.
What: Learn to lead a group on the trails then listen to campfire stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and other revolutionary leaders. Dress warmly.
Where: Essex County Environmental Center, 612B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ.
When: Monday, January 17 at 10:30 am or 2:30 pm.
Cost: $6 per child. Advance registration is required as space is limited. Call 973.228.8776 for information and to register.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration
Who: Older kids and adults.
What: Annual community celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The keynote address will be given by Marc Dashield, Montclair Township Manager, and there will be music by community MLK Mass Choir and Cantor Meredith Greenberg of Temple Ner Tamid. This event is co-sponsored by the Montclair NAACP, the Montclair African American Clergy Assn. and the Montclair Clergy Assn.
Where: Montclair High School Auditorium, 100 Chestnut Street, Montclair, 07042.
When: Monday, January 17 at 12 pm.
Cost: Free.
Raising Citizens: Martin Luther King, Jr Festival
Who: Little Kids
What: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is commemorating Dr. King’s life and work with a full weekend of celebration and activities. Kids can create collages, make "Make a Difference Medals," and enjoy performances by the Harlem Gospel Choir at 3pm.
Where: CMOM, The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, NYC.
When: Monday, January 17 from 10 am – 5 pm.
Cost: Activities free with paid museum admission- Children and adults $10.
The following celebrations and day of service events are closed to the public, but deserve some recognition:
Michelle Turner Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March
Who: Students and staff from Maplewood Middle School
What: A silent peace march in honor of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Michelle Turner, a longtime advisor of Maplewood Middle School MLK Club.
Where: The march will begin on the sidewalks of MMS, go through Maplewood Village and return to the school.
When: Friday, January 14 from 9:17 am – 10: 07 am (Period 2)
Bradford Elementary School Day of Service
Who: Bradford students and families.
What: A full day of service activities, such as: Making fleece blankets for children at St . Joseph’s and Beth Israel Hospitals, preparing care packages and writing letters for deployed service members for Soldiers ’ Angels, creating cards for seniors, fun and educational activities for kids such as coloring, creating a MLK timeline, and more.
Where: Bradford Elementary School, 87 Mount Hebron Road, Montclair, NJ, 07043.
When: Monday, January 17 from 9 am – 12 pm.
Cost: Free.
Charles H. Bullock School Day of Service
Who: Bullock students and their families.
What: Through partnership with the Red Cross, families will prepare and deliver meals to home-bound elderly neighbors all over Montclair. From 10 to 12 that morning, pack prepared food and enjoy musical performances. The children will make crafts, write and illustrate stories, and conduct interviews related to Dr. King and community service. The event concludes as families take the meal packages to the seniors.
Where: Bullock Elementary School, 55 Washington Street , Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Monday, January 17 from 10 am – 12 pm.
Cost: Free.
Third Annual Mt. Hebron MLK Day of Service
Who:Mt. Hebron students and families.
What:Students will be assembling “health kits” for the homeless, collecting food , coats, hats, mittens and bedding for the Human Needs Food Pantry, and books for local day care centers and hospitals.You can donate toothbrushes, small tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap, washcloths, trial size mouthwash, hand lotions, shampoo etc. as well as gently used children’s and young adult books, and pasta, peanut butter, cans of tuna fish and spaghetti sauce at school. Boxes will be available in the front hall and in homeroom. Coats and bedding can be brought to school and donated only on January 17th. Parent help is very important to the success of this event. They need parents to chaperone and to help deliver the donated items to Toni’s kitchen and the food pantry. They also help getting pizza, sandwiches and bagels donated to feed the student volunteers. Please contact Mary Emanuelli here with questions or to volunteer to help.
Where:Mt. Hebron Middle School, 173 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ.
When: Monday, January 17 from 10 am – 1 pm.
Cost: Free.
(Photo: Wikipedia)
Ugh!! I hate this “Day of Service” stuff- 9/11 is the same thing.
Why can’t King Day just have a sale at SLEEPY’S, PLANET HONDA or a MACY’S ONE DAY SALE, like every other holiday?
Why, I’ll say it, must we work on a Black Man’s holiday???
Me? I’m CHILLIN’!!! My service is dedicated throughout the year, I don’t need a day.
Most people are not as selfless and magnanimous as you, prof. They need explicit instructions to act like you do each and every day of your blessed life in your palatial estate in UPPER Montclair.
And while in jest, you are closer to the truth than you know.
Moreover, it’s not instruction folks need, it’s the ability to LIVE and WORK everyday to be more like MLK. Sadly for too many, they are only worried about themselves and their status.
This is true in UPPER Montclair, and Montclair.
But you knew that already.
(btw: The snow, looking out the bank of windows in the East Wing, the ones overlooking a nearby organic garden, is very beautiful.)