Penn marks 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and Symposium
The Day of Service on Jan. 19 includes multiple volunteer and educational opportunities honoring Martin Luther King Jr., with more than 30 activities and celebrations continuing through Feb. 6.
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Students, faculty and staff assemble toiletry pouches for people experiencing homelessness at a previous MLK Day of Service.
A series of public events honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., focused on service to the West Philadelphia community, will begin next week.
Marking its 31st year, the Day of Service aims to mobilize Penn students, faculty, and staff “to participate in hands-on projects that directly benefit the West Philadelphia neighborhoods,” says Darin Toliver, associate director of the African-American Resource Center, which organizes the Day of Service and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change. “We want people to leave with a profound sense of empowerment, realizing that they possess the agency to continue Dr. King’s unfinished work in their community.”
The Jan. 19 Day of Service launches with a breakfast in the Hall of Flags at Houston Hall; doors open at 8 a.m. and the program begins at 9 a.m.
There are multiple volunteer opportunities in keeping with the Day of Service theme:
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers can begin work on a variety of projects in Houston Hall, including creating no-sew blankets for people experiencing homelessness and creating toiletry pocketbooks. Volunteers can register online to receive more details.
A free dog and cat wellness and vaccination clinic, from 9 a.m. to noon at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital. Visits by appointment at 215-898-6678.
A mobile CPR project in Houston Hall teaching the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation from 10 to 11:45 a.m.
A bookmaking and theatrical storytime for children by the Penn Reads Literacy Project from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children ages 3 to 8. The storytime begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center.
A virtual workshop for high school students on attending college from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Retired African-American Resource Center associate director Robb Carter will facilitate a virtual event on “MLK 101: The Man and His Legacy,” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The day will conclude with a candlelight vigil from 7 to 9 p.m., beginning at the W.E.B. Du Bois House and ending at the Penn Women’s Center.
The broader Symposium aims to foster “critical dialogue and education, offering a space to examine contemporary human rights challenges through the lens of Dr. King’s vision,” says Toliver. “Honoring Dr. King’s legacy requires sustained action and deep engagement rather than just passive observation or a single day of volunteering.”
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