Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service
Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 

Virtual Events 

Main Line Martin Luther King Association's Annual MLK Day Program | Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 | 3 p.m., EST

The Main Line Martin Luther King Association's 2021 annual MLK Day program will feature Judge Virgil B. Walker, of Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. There will be performances by Barry Sames and Lynn Willis. The recipients of the association's 2020-21 scholarships will also be introduced. Kim Cassidy, president of Bryn Mawr College, will give the welcome address, and Brian Turner, of Eastern University, will emcee.

This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click on the link above for a full description of the event and to access the Zoom link.  

26th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service | Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 | Various times 

The Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the largest King Day event in the nation, and Global Citizen have created an online portal to assist individuals and groups seeking service opportunities on MLK Day. Follow the link above and click on the “Volunteer” tab at the top of the page to find virtual service events celebrating Dr. King’s legacy of community commitment and direct service.   

Eastern State Penitentiary Observes Martin Luther King Day | Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m., EST 

Eastern State Penitentiary is a national historic site with a mission of interpreting the legacy of American criminal justice reform through innovative preservation, interpretation, and public programs designed to encourage participants to engage in dialogue and deepen the national conversation about criminal justice.   

On MLK Day of Service Eastern State Penitentiary commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Participants can engage in special virtual readings from the landmark text—led by students, educators, activists, and community members—and respond to its relevance today. Between each session, special guests will provide space for reflection and connection as they share music, poetry, and art. 

This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click on the link above for a full description of the event along with a link to the Facebook and Zoom webinar presentations.   

Martin Luther King, Jr., Tribute Concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra | Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 | 7 p.m. EST 

A musical tribute to Dr. King from the Philadelphia Orchestra. Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads the orchestra in an evening of musical performance and interviews that honor Dr. King’s legacy. From the website: “Between performances of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' and 'Go Tell it on The Mountain'—staged at Belmont Mansion’s Underground Railroad Museum, Harriett’s Bookshop, and other Black cultural and community sites in Philadelphia—notable Philadelphians discuss how they’re continuing King’s legacy.” 

This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click on the link for a full event description and to register for the concert.  

From Chaos to Community: A Conversation with Eddie S. Glaude Jr. on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, Legacy, Our Racial Reckoning, and the Path Forward | Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 | 12:45–1:45 p.m., EST 

Hosted by Rutgers University-Camden, nationally respected scholar, commentator, and author Dr. Eddie Glaude will lead a discussion guided by his book, Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, which explores the foundational perspectives set forth by Dr. King in his last book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community.   

This virtual event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please click on the link above for a full event description and to register. 

Educational and Community Resources

Will you be spending MLK Day of Service reading about Dr. King’s approach to community service and activism? Deepening your understanding of social justice theory? Reflecting with your favorite activist poetry? Consider buying your books at a local Black-owned bookstore: 

Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books | www.unclebobbies.com and bookshop.org/shop/unclebobbies  

“Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books is a coffee shop and bookstore located in the heart of the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Founded by Marc Lamont Hill in 2017, Uncle Bobbie’s was created to provide underserved communities with access to books and a space where everyone feels valued. In addition to our specially curated book selection, we also serve high quality coffee, food products, and other items like apparel and children’s games. We are also a community space that holds free author talks and dozens of other events included weekly story time for kids and back to school drives.” 

Harriett’s Bookshop | harriettsbookshop.com and bookshop.org/shop/harriettsbookshop 

“Named for historical heroine Harriet Tubman, our mission celebrates women authors, women artists, and women activists.”  Harriett’s Bookshop is located on Girard Avenue in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia. 

Dr. King: In His Own Words

Spend time meditating on Dr. King’s many powerful messages by listening to recordings of his famous speeches: Five of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Most Memorable Speeches compiled by PBS. Or explore The King Papers, “a comprehensive collection of Dr. King’s most significant correspondence, sermons, speeches, published writings, and unpublished manuscripts” compiled by Stanford University at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute.   

Additional Resources 

The Career & Civic Engagement Center
Phone: 
(610) 526-5174