“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘what are you doing for others.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. is a global symbol of peace and love. Dr. King was a social activist who had one of the most significant impacts on the civil rights movement of the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. He was driven by his strong Christian values and became an advocate for change through nonviolent civil actions.
Dr. Martin Luther King spent his life serving others. He devoted his efforts to gaining equal rights for African Americans and other minorities. This included leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Birmingham campaign, and The Great March on Washington, helping found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, delivering the famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, and much more! In 1994, congress designated MLK Day a national day of service to ensure his legacy will live on forever.
3 Unique Ways to Spend Your Day “On”
- Hold a coat drive. MLK Day falls in January, one of the coldest months of the year. People in your community may struggle to afford the appropriate clothing to stay warm. To conduct a coat drive, pick out a nonprofit or shelter you’d like to support, place collection bins around your workplace or convenient areas around town, and promote the initiative on social media to gain participation. This month, CSI Gives Back is hosting a coat drive to support the Sulzbacher homeless shelters in Jacksonville.
- Continue to educate yourself. Martin Luther King Jr. was the driving force behind many incredible accomplishments. To help break down his vast achievements, take a deep dive into just ONE of his involvements. Doing so will provide a better understanding of the adversity he faced during his mission to create change. Continue learning with CSI by searching educational videos, articles, viewing parties, tours, keynote speakers, and more to gain knowledge about Dr. King’s impacts, both big and small.
- Give your time. This might seem obvious, but volunteering has many benefits. It not only provides improvement to your community but a sense of pride and identity. Volunteer work usually requires working with others, which can spark new conversations and perspectives. Ultimately, acts of service can form a new level of creativity, fulfillment, and motivation that can carry over into your personal and professional life. Click here to check out nationwide volunteer opportunities.
