Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Building a Beloved Community Through Service
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared his vision and commitment to a better world for us all: "Our ultimate end must be the creation of the beloved community." Today, all of us at Ford and Ford Fund are committed to seeing his dream of stronger communities come to life.
For 30 years, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service has continued to grow, engaging people across America to create lasting change in their communities.
Ford Fund supports a variety of causes across our impact areas – essential services, education, entrepreneurship, and mobility solutions – honoring the civil rights leader's lifelong vision and impacting communities across the globe. We are proud to continue a history of supporting the King Center in Atlanta, where Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King's, social impact work continues today.
In the spirit of service, together, we have an opportunity to join hands and make a meaningful difference this Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On Monday, Jan. 15, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect on and learn more about Dr. King's legacy. Join us at events across the country, and right here in southeast Michigan:
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On Monday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m ET, The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., will host ‘The People’s Holiday: The Many Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’ The day will include student artists from the Cinematic Arts & Media Production Department in the Duke Ellington School of the Arts performing an original piece that reimagines and reinterprets the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, service projects will take place throughout the day. You can find more information here.
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On Monday The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, will host a series of events to honor Dr. King including a Beloved Community Service project, where volunteers will assemble care kits for unsheltered and homeless neighbors from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET. A commemorative service will be held in Ebenezer Baptist Church (101 Jackson St NE, Atlanta, Georgia) from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET. Also, a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Rally will take place. Participants are asked to gather at the corner of Peach Tree & Baker in Atlanta at 1:45 p.m. ET. View a full list of activities here.
- In Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. between Saturday and Monday by offering three days of featured programs, performances, and living history demonstrations, plus special tours and screenings in Giant Screen Experience. The museum is offering free admission and parking on Monday. Find the full list of activities here.
Whether you take time this Monday, during Black History Month in February, or any other time throughout the year, join us in making a meaningful difference in our communities.