Please join us January 16\, 2012 f
or our annual MLK Day of Service event!
Dr. Martin Luther Ki
ng\, Jr. devoted his life to advancing equality\, social justice\, and op
portunity for all. He challenged us to build a more perfect union and ta
ught us that everyone has a role to play in making America what it ough
t to be. With his leadership\, our nation made great strides against raci
al discrimination and toward increased civil rights.
More t
han 40 years after his death\, Dr. King’s examples can continue to guid
e us in addressing our nation’s most critical issues today. Each of us c
an contribute to strengthening our own communities by serving in Dr. Ki
ng’s honor on the King Holiday and throughout the year. And\, by making
service part of our daily lives\, we can help realize Dr. King’s dream.
Together\, we can ensure that more young people graduate from high schoo
l\; that Americans of all ages have healthier futures\; consume less ener
gy\; support our military families and veterans\; and that we increase em
ployment\, financial stability\, and affordable housing for vulnerable ind
ividuals and families.
After a long struggle\, legislation w
as signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King\, Jr. The federal holiday was first observed in 1
986. In 1994\, Congress designated the holiday as a national day of servi
ce and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service(CNCS) w
ith leading this effort. Taking place each third Monday in January\, the
MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day
of service – a “day on\, not a day off.” The MLK Day of Service em
powers individuals\, strengthens communities\, bridges barriers\, address
es social problems\, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “B
eloved Community.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent
question is: What are you doing for others?”
Dr. Martin Luther Ki
ng\, Jr.
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