Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday often regarded as another day off from work or school, yet the legacy Dr. King left has opened doors for many people in this nation. Here are some events Southern California residents can attend as they remember the ways he advanced civil rights in America and his incredible "American Dream" speech.
Sunday, Jan. 15
San Diego's 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, one of the largest celebrations in the United States coordinated by the Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, starts at Harbor Drive at 2 p.m. on Jan. 15. The parade features floats, high school marching bands, drill teams, college groups, fraternities and sororities churches, and peace and youth organizations. Free admission.
The University of California, San Diego will also host a service day at Oneonta Elementary School in Imperial Beach. Breakfast, snacks and lunch provided. Projects include planting, gardening, and releveling school books.
The University of Redlands School of Music King's Singers will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Service at the university's chapel that is free and open to the public.
Monday, Jan. 16
The Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches present the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast beginning at 7:30 A.M. at California State University, San Bernardino. This year's theme is "Remember, Celebrate." The celebration will recognize residents' community service, include activities, and end with a walk around the MLK Jr. statue at City Hall. Tickets available online for $25.
Help out the community during the 18th annual OneOC MLK Jr. Day of Service. The organization will partner with local agencies and address critical community issues. Individuals, families, groups, and organizations can all participate. Participants can choose from three different shifts — 830-10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m, and 1-3 p.m. Volunteers will help at the Orange County Food Bank and help pack food boxes to distribute around the community.
Love Anaheim, a OneOC partner, will also hold a multi-sector servathon with various projects geared towards the City of Anaheim. Here is a list of projects volunteers can register for.
The Congress of Racial Equality California (CORE-CA) will host the 32nd annual Kingdom Day Parade. The parade will appear on ABC-7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The California African American Museum in Los Angeles will hold a couple different events. The museum provides free music by DJ Melquan and J Williams and food from the following food trucks: Postcards, Peaches Smokehouse and Southern Kitchen, and Grilled Fraiche. During this time, LA organizations will also pass out information and answer questions visitors may have about supporting the local community. From 1-3 p.m., members from different local organizations will marathon read from "The American Dream" sermon in 1965 and "The Other America" speech delivered at Stanford University's Memorial Auditorium in 1967.
The Dr. MLK 24th Annual Walk-a-thon in Riverside registration starts at 7:30. The walk starts at 10 a.m. from the Stratton Center and ends at White Park around noon.
The WorldBeat Center in San Diego will host a free event with various vendors, food, and multi-cultural dance performances.
