Taken this summer at the My Block My Hood My City walk for racial justice, where neighbors from all of Chicago’s 77 communities marched together across Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in support of Black Lives–it was a very cool moment I’m grateful to have been apart of. M3 is a great organization to get involved with if you’re local to Chicago. And this monday, they’re hosting a PPE for seniors drive, a bridge commemoration, and cleanup at MLK gardens. See details on their website if you’d like to get involved!
Happy Friday!
I know we’re all staying at home these days. So sometimes I feel silly saying things like, “what are you up to this weekend?!” But at the very least, I hope you have something fun planned to look forward to going into the long weekend!
As you probably know MLK day is this upcoming Monday (and if you didn’t, now you do!)–designed to be a day of service in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. Today, I’m rounding up some thought starters on how to do just that.
4 Ways to Honor Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy
Listen to this collection of Storycorps stories about Dr. Martin Luther King and his legacy from Americans around the country.
Including John Lewis, sharing his experience on how Dr. King shaped his life and career, inspiring him to join the Civil Rights movement. (If you’re new to Storycorps, it’s one of my absolute favorite things to listen to on NPR.)
Donate to grassroots civil rights groups
Like Color of Change or the Movement for Black Lives fund on ActBlue, which funds the larger M4BL ecosystem and splits donations between 150 organizations that coordinate actions, messages and campaigns.
Volunteer in your community.
Whether that’s at an outdoor event in person (socially distant, with a mask, of course), or from afar. If you live in Chicago, I highly recommend these three organizations: My Block My Hood My City (they’re organizing a drive to deliver PPE to seniors on Chicago’s south side! Sign up here!), The Love Fridge. (Pick up some goods at the store to stock your community fridge! Better yet, get your friends involved and make it a group effort!) Or iGrowChicago (so many opportunities to get involved!)
Facilitate conversations at home.
Whether that’s watching a movie or documentary solo or with family on Dr. King or on racial justice, (like Ava DuVernay’s Selma, or 13th), reading books to your kids (this is a great roundup–check your local bookstore!), or joining a book club focused on racial justice (iGrow Chicago has one–sign up here!).
My alma mater, Indiana University created these printable coloring sheets. Which are a great activity to do with your kids. Or even over facetime with nieces or nephews while discussing what the quotes mean.
Chicago’s Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church, where Dr. King preached during his time living in Chicago, is also hosting a virtual service and celebration in conjunction with the Jewish United Fund, if attending church services is something your family likes to do together!
The Chicago History Museum is also putting together an amazing lineup of virtual programming this Monday–including a virtual tour of all the places and spaces where Dr. King was active in Chicago!
No matter how you choose to celebrate, MLK day is a good reminder of ways we can be doing more, not just for the day, but ongoing throughout the year! I hope this post gave you some good thought starters, and I hope you have a lovely weekend. See you back here on Tuesday!
