Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Day of Service

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, also referred to as MLK Day, is celebrated on the third Monday in January. This year, it is taking place on January 17. In honor of the holiday, we've compiled a list of activities and resources for your family! But first, let's learn a little bit more about the meaning behind the holiday.

Who is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister from Atlanta, Georgia, leader in the American civil rights movement from 1955 to 1968 and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Dr. King led marches and nonviolent protests in support of Black voters' rights, desegregation, labor rights and other basic civil rights. Dr. King was instrumental in organizing the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Why do we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

The holiday was created to honor the life and accomplishments of Dr. King. The first holiday was celebrated in 1986.

Books for the holiday

CDM will be featuring three books in Discovery Library over the weekend leading up to MLK Day. 

• ‍A Place To Land by Barry Wittenstein
• Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport
• A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David. A Adler and Robert Casilla

If you're interested in additional titles, click here for 22 Children’s Books about Martin Luther King Jr. organized by Colours of Us.

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Day of Service

Jan. 17 marks the 27th anniversary of the National MLK Day of Service, a day dedicated to honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and serving the community. Locally, the MLK Day of Service launched in 2014. Here are some ways you and your family can get involved in the Chattanooga community on Day of Service:

• Donate new or gently-used clothing, non-perishable food items, art supplies, and personal hygiene products such as toilet paper, paper towels, soap, and disposable masks. These donations will support Whiteside Faith Manor, Arts Build, The Community Kitchen, the Maclellan Shelter for Families and Patten Towers residents. Donations can be dropped off on January 17 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at City Hall, 101 E 11th St, Chattanooga, TN 37402.
• Hamilton County Schools will be opening a Teacher Store and Resource Center this spring semester at the former Hillcreset Elementary. They need volunteers ages 10 and up to help us sort and organize donated materials and get items placed on the shelves. Registration is required. To sign up, click here.
• Crabtree Farms is hosting MLK Service Day at the Farm. Spend the day of service volunteering at the farm by helping with greenhouse work, adding compost to community gardens and more. For more information or to register, click here.
• You can also make a difference in your neighborhood! Grab the family and pick up trash or assist a neighbor with a task.