The Clinton Township Diversity Committee and Sterling Heights African American Coalition are teaming up to encourage community to safely recognize and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy by performing acts of service within the community.
Residents, along with City staff, are encouraged to highlight the acts of service on social media. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed each year on the third Monday in January, which will be Monday, Jan. 18 this year. This national day of service is recognized as a way we can all achieve greatness as we serve our communities in big or small ways.
Those who participate in this year’s MLK Day of Service will have a chance to win one of 10 gift cards to local restaurants and retailers. In order to qualify, participants simply need to post a photo of themselves on social media performing their act of service and include the hashtag #MLKMacombGiveBack.
“Dr. King has charged us to act. Everybody can be great because anyone can serve,” said Carol Sullivan, Clinton Township Diversity Committee Chair and Sterling Heights African American Coalition Member. “He calls us to recognize that all you need is a heart full of grace, a soul full of love. His message is a timely reflection of how we all can build a beloved community through our acts of service.”
“The best way to honor Dr. King’s legacy is by taking direct action to better our communities,” said John Myers III, a member of the Sterling Heights African American Coalition. “We can start by participating in the national day of service created in his honor and continue to build stronger, better communities through intentional acts of service throughout the year.”
MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Although the circumstances of this year have been challenging, there are still ways residents can improve their community by performing random acts of kindness. Ideas include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Call an isolated senior to keep them company and check up on their wellbeing.
- Send a thank you card to an essential worker.
- Thank a veteran.
- Shop for a homebound neighbor.
- Clean up a park, public space or the yard of a neighbor in need.
- Deliver baked goods to first responders.
For additional volunteer opportunities in the Sterling Heights and Clinton Township area, visit mlkday.gov.
“Jan. 18, 2021 marks the 26th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day being celebrated as a day of service to help improve our community,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor. “The goal is to recognize this day as a ‘day on, not a day off,’ and I can’t think of a better way to commemorate the life and legacy of a man who gave the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to make his dream of equality a reality.”
“Our Clinton Township Diversity Committee has made it a priority to provide employees and residents with safe ways to honor and learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s mission and legacy in the time of COVID-19,” said Clinton Township Trustee and Diversity Committee member Mike Keys. “The initiative also provides residents an opportunity to support and promote local restaurants during this difficult time.”
Participants who cannot highlight their acts of service on social media may also submit online at sterling-heights.net/mlkdayofservice or clintontownship.com/diversity-committee, by email at photos@sterling-heights.net or mlkday@clintontownship-mi.gov. Ten winners will be chosen by random and notified of their prize.