Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week Events Scheduled Across the Community
Jan 4, 2022
Benton Harbor Water Distribution Volunteer Opportunities, Jan. 17 to 21, 2022
Please consider volunteering in the effort to distribute cases of water in Benton Harbor due to the ongoing water situation. Click here to see dates & times
Service Opportunities, Jan. 17 to 21, 2022
"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Serving your community is one way you can honor the legacy of Dr. King now and throughout the year. Helping others doesn’t have to be time-consuming, it doesn’t require certificates or diplomas or degrees, and it doesn’t have to be costly. It only requires love in one’s heart for others.
Search for other volunteer opportunities on the Volunteer United website. More than 100 different local agencies post hundreds of volunteer opportunities in this one place.
United Way of Southwest Michigan Food Drive, Jan. 17 to 21, 2022
“I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education, and culture for their minds and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Through United Way, the MLK Celebration Community Committee has organized a community-based virtual food drive Jan. 17 to 21, 2022, to meet the immediate needs of our local community members who are struggling this winter.
The proceeds collected will support five food pantries in the tri-county area:
- We Care Inc. (Van Buren County)
- The Salvation Army, Niles Corps (Van Buren County)
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Cass County)
- Salvation Army of Niles (Berrien County)
- Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties)
Be sure to enter “MLK22” in the Memo field so the money is directed appropriately as part of the MLK Week event. To donate, please click here.
Your generosity is essential and greatly appreciated!
Electronic Messages for Active Service Members, Jan. 17 to 21, 2022
In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. and his passion for giving back to your community please take a moment to post positive thoughts, encouraging words, and/or well wishes for our active service members. Your contribution will be given to Blue Star Mothers to include in care packages that will be sent to active service members deployed throughout the world. To submit a message please go here. Select short message, meme, or picture and follow each step.
LMC will download and print the messages and deliver them to the Blue Star Mothers who will include them in care packages sent to active military service members throughout the world.
United Way of Southwest Michigan 21-day Equity Challenge, Jan. 17 to Feb. 5, 2022
Sign up at uwsm.org/21-day-equity-challenge by January 13.
This self-guided learning journey is a great way to learn about the history and impacts of racism and how it has shaped the lives of people in Southwest Michigan while inspiring participants with resources and tools to build racial equity in their work and lives. People from all over Southwest Michigan will participate in the Challenge, coordinated by United Way of Southwest Michigan to raise awareness, shift attitudes, and change outcomes.
The equity challenge will be 21 daily email prompts that will each include a short narrative and three options for learning. You can choose to do one, two, or all three. On the first day, along with your first prompt, you will also receive a Reflection log. This Reflection log can be used to document your insights and actions – as they will help you personally as well as your participation in any dialogue you choose to be a part of. In addition, on the first day you will be asked to complete a pre-survey and then again on the 21st day you will be asked to complete a post-survey.
MLK Jr. Art Activity Packets - Pick yours up while supplies last!
Krasl Art Center’s FREE Fundles (fun bundles) are perfect for children and artistically curious people of all ages. Each fundle includes all of the materials and a lesson plan for an art project.
This special project specifically designed for the MLK Jr. celebration week will teach the basics of sculpting and the importance of monuments. This project is inspired by the Unified Civic Monuments Project, an initiative to commemorate social justice and honor the historic legacies of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
Fundles are free and available for pickup, Jan. 17 to 21, from the Benton Harbor Public Library, Maud Preston Palenske Public Library, Niles Public Library, and Krasl Art Center, while supplies last.
For more information, email Emily from Krasl Art Center at emckenna@krasl.org
MLK Week Kickoff, Jan. 17 at 9 a.m.
Register online
Join us for a virtual kickoff event of a week celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will include remarks and presentations from community leaders and elected officials who will help us frame our week around the theme, " I Have a Dream 2022: The Fierce Urgency of Now," interspersed with musical performances and other meaningful experiences.
During the event we will announce the 2022 Spirit of MLK Spotlights, shining a light on an individual, organization, and student who embody MLK’s spirit of brotherhood/sisterhood and love in our own community through their direct action.
Invocation
Pastor Mcafee, New Bethel Baptist Church City of Refuge
Keynote
Dr. Lynn Todman, Executive Director for Population Health, Spectrum Health Lakeland & special guests
This event is only the beginning of the MLK Community Celebration Week. We will share many other ways to keep the momentum going throughout the week and beyond!
Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
MLK Kickoff Watch Party (Niles District Library), Jan. 17 at 9 a.m.
Register online
Niles District Library
620 E. Main Street
Join community members at Niles District Library for a watch party of the MLK Kickoff event. After the event you are invited to stay for a live reading of the book I Have A Dream (Nelson, 2012) suitable for ages K-5 children.
MLK Live Read (Bridgman Public Library), Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m.
Register online
Bridgman Public Library
4460 Lake St.
Please join us for a live reading of the book I Have A Dream (Nelson, 2012) suitable for ages K-5 children.
MLK Live Read (Niles District Library), Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m.
Register online
Niles District Library
620 E. Main Street
OR VIRTUAL
Please join us for a live reading of the book I Have A Dream (Nelson, 2012) suitable for ages K-5 children. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Bridging the Gap in Service, Jan. 17 at 4 p.m.
Register online
A virtual discussion about better utilizing all of our available resources as we all work together for the community of Benton Harbor. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Dream Update 2022, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
Register online
A panel of professionals from Benton Harbor will discuss what I Have a Dream 2022 encompasses.
Panelists include Chief Judge Mabel Mayfield – Judge in Benton Harbor; Ashley Hines – Founder of Benton Harbor Community Development Corporation; Diane Young – Program Manager at Michigan Works!; Mary Jo Schnell – Director of Outcenter of Southwestern Michigan. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Unified Civic Monuments Project, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m.
Register online
It’s been a year since this community grassroots project was first announced. Join them as they celebrate the accomplishments of this first year and learn more about where they are now and where they are heading. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Neighbors Organizing Against Racism, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
Register online
The organization Neighbors Organizing Against Racism will lead a virtual discussion about their work and initiatives. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Community Blood Drive, Jan. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Lake Michigan College Gymnasium
2755 E. Napier Ave.
Each year, approximately 6.8 million people in the U.S donate blood. Annually, this adds up to about 13.6 million units of blood collected for donation in the U.S. Donated blood helps people who have lost blood in an accident or who have an illness such as cancer, anemia, sickle cell disease, or hemophilia.
Face masks are required on campus. Registration is required. Proof of identification is required. Individuals must wait 2 days AFTER Covid-19 vaccination to donate blood. Individuals that have had Covid-19 may donate blood 14 days AFTER being symptom free.
MLK Live Read, Jan. 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Register online
Please join Dr. Leslie Kellogg, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Lake Michigan College, in a live reading of the book I Have A Dream (Nelson, 2012) followed by engaging and thought provoking questions.Suitable for ages K-5 children. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Juneteenth Discussion, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.
Register online
Whirlpool and the Benton Harbor Juneteenth Committee will discuss the importance of the commemoration and celebration in Benton Harbor and how the community can be involved. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Race Relations Council Panel Discussion, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
Register online
Join a panel discussion that will use the New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee, as a springboard for open and honest conversation. Panelists include Larry Feldman, Beth McCree, Sid Mohn, Harold Bragg, and Charmae Sanders. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
MLK Live Read, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m.
Register online
Please join Major Cooper, Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Lake Michigan College, in a live reading of the book I Have A Dream (Nelson, 2012) followed by engaging and thought provoking questions. Suitable for ages K-5 children. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.
Spirit of MLK Spotlights: A Call to Action, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m.
Register online
Join us as we celebrate and shine the light on the Spirit of MLK 2022 Spotlight recipients and engage in dialogue with current and past recipients. Zoom details will be provided in a confirmation email after registration is complete.