Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: An Opportunity to Serve
•“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Jan. 16, 2012, we will celebrate the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a national holiday. Dr. King sought to unify people to support each other, speak out against wrongs and lend a hand when needed. At a time in which many people across the country are suffering, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day presents an opportunity to bring together members of the community to make change.
To help you be a change-maker in your community, Points of Light created the America’s Sunday Supper program. Through America’s Sunday Supper, Points of Light invites you to gather together with your community on the Sunday before MLK Day, Jan. 15, to watch a film, share a meal, discuss issues and take action. We provide all the resources you need at www.handsonnetwork.org/events/mlk.
If, for example, you’re concerned about hunger in your community, you can invite people to meet at a coffee shop over a light meal to discuss how the community can come together to meet needs, or gather within your church over a potluck. Even better: invite people to bring a non-perishable food item and donate the items to your local food bank. (Find your local food bank here.)
Use Opportunity Nation’s recently released Opportunity Index to inform your conversation about expanding opportunity and mobility in your community. The Opportunity Index provides county- and state-level information to capture the quality of education, jobs, community organizations and other measures of mobility.
To sweeten the deal, we are offering $25 Restaurant.com gift certificates to hundreds of people who register their Sunday Supper online.
Dr. King set a great example for us. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to host a Sunday Supper to set the example for your community.
