Penn will celebrate the life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Day of Service, Monday, Jan. 17 and a Commemorative Symposium on Social Change featuring talks, events and musical performances, from Monday, Jan. 17 through Feb. 2.

The day of service begins at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, with a community breakfast for volunteers at Hall of Flags in Houston Hall. Penn President Amy Gutmann will address the volunteers before they begin a day of community service in West Philadelphia. Bilal Qayyum, co-founder of Philadelphia's Father’s Day Rally Committee, will be the keynote speaker.

Day of service volunteers will participate in a variety of projects from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on campus and throughout the surrounding West Philadelphia community. One group will participate in painting and sprucing up Sayre High School and the Community Education Center in West Philadelphia. Another group will be at the Houston Hall auditorium at 34th and Spruce streets painting a “Seat of Justice” for students to reflect on King’s life and achievements.

Other volunteers will be on campus mentoring students, creating books on tape to promote literacy for youth in Philadelphia, or creating gifts to be donated to area shelters, nursing homes and hospitals.

The day will conclude with a candlelight vigil that will commence at the W.E.B DuBois College House at 39th and Walnut streets and will end at College Green on Locust Walk, near 34th street.

A list of other events and programs scheduled throughout the month is available here.