Service Day: Make it a day on…not a day off
January 19, 2009 by Katie Skow
Filed under Biz
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Make it a day on…not a day off!
Do you have the day off? If so, what are you doing to help your community?
During the 1950s and ’60s, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals.
Here’s how it all began:
In 1994, Congress started the King Day of Service to build on his legacy by turning a federal holiday into a national day of community service. This holds true to King’s teachings of nonviolence and social justice. The idea is that people from all walks of life (socio-economic backgrounds, races, religions, sexual orientation, etc) come together to improve lives and bridge barriers. It’s about creating Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”
What are you doing to help your community on your day off? If you’re like me, you’ve been too busy with everything on your plate to even contemplate participating in King’s Day of Service (I’m in the office!).
Good news. We don’t have to make it a one-day-only deal!
Here are some ideas:
TODAY, make a commitment to help your community.
TODAY, contemplate how you can be of service to your community for the rest of the year.
TODAY, find organizations or projects to volunteer your time, services, or money.
TODAY: Make a plan of service and action for the next year.
TODAY, go out of your way to help someone in need.
For more information, visit the MLK Jr. Service Day website.
