Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.  Dr. King, was a Baptist minister, civil-rights activist, humanitarian, and a leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.  He had a tremendous  impact on race relations in the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s. Among many efforts, Dr. King headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Through his activism, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the nation, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. Dr. King was assassinated in April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded African-American leaders in history, often referenced by his 1963 speech, “I Have a Dream.”

This year our nation will celebrate and honor the memory of Dr. King on Monday, January 19th.  Communities will come together to serve others and make a difference to remember Dr. King and the imprint he left on humanity.  Some suggested ways to serve are:

• Organize a food drive for a local food pantry.
• Spend time with someone who is shut -in.
• Volunteer at a local homeless shelter.
• Read to children at a local after school program.
• Mentor a youth.
• Get involved with a literacy program in your area.

As Dr King once said, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.”

To learn more about Dr. King’s life and legacy, please visit:

www.thekingcenter.org