Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Cover Photo
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023 by honoring and highlighting the contributions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose mission was to empower people to create a just, humane, equitable, and peaceful world. Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up to be a social activist and a minister who played a key role in the American Civil Rights Movement until his assassination in 1968. We encourage our community to study, observe, and celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on campus, within the Greater Worcester community, and beyond.
Read, Watch, Listen and Learn
- Read Call to Action for upcoming MLK, Jr. Day
- Explore AmeriCorps, MLKDay.gov to search for MLK Day virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities in the Worcester community and beyond.
- Explore The King Center | The Center for Nonviolent Social Change
- Explore the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Explore the National Civil Rights Museum
- Read Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech in its entirety (NPR)
- Read “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
- Read books that reflect and honor Martin Luther King Jr. (Book Riot)
Take Action
- Donate to Flourish at Thrive—a local food pantry (Worcester, MA).
- Donate or Volunteer with Food Banks and Pantries—Visit Feeding America or Food Pantries to find an organization near you.
- Deliver Meals and Groceries to Vulnerable Seniors—Contact local Meals on Wheels to learn ways to volunteer.
- Volunteer locally in Worcester at YMCA’s Greendale Family Branch or Central Community Branch on Monday, January 16, 2023 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST to assemble kits for foster children.
- Join the community for the 29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Breakfast on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM in the May Street Building located at 280 May St, Worcester, MA 01602.
- Register to Vote -OR- Check Your Voter Registration
- Everything you need to vote. Vote.org
- Become a Poll Worker
Thank you to all of the members of the MLK Day Planning Committee:
- Gregory Lane (Pre-Collegiate Outreach)
- Alesia LeSane (ODIME)
- Mackenzie Lipman (Student Activities Office)
- Erin Mayo (Office of Accessibility Services)
- Abdah St. Fleur (the Housing & Residential Experience Center)
The first push for a holiday that honored MLK took place only days after his assassination. For fifteen years, the advocacy for the bill’s passing continued (History.com). On November 2, 1983, former President Ronald Reagan signed into law House of Representatives Bill Number 3706 declaring January 15, the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a national holiday. It was not until 2000, that every state observed MLK Day (History.com). It is a day that is met with pause in remembrance, celebrated with parades, marches, and speeches, and the only federal holiday that is also designated by Congress as a national day of service, a “day on, not a day off” (DOI.gov).
Learn More: https://www.history.com/mlk
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees all student facing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.