MLK Day of Service

In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which transformed Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a day dedicated to volunteer service in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. Since then, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has coordinated the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, funding independent service projects as well as mobilizing its AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to serve in various ways in their local communities. The day is now a day “on” rather than a day off.

I served with the AmeriCorps State and National program for nearly two years before I left the program to begin my law teaching career in 2008. My experience with the AmeriCorps program was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, as I helped to develop and teach new educational programs within the American Red Cross and for the communities they assist.

For current and former AmeriCorps volunteers, MLK Day is a major deal. It’s the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. AmeriCorps has been charged with leading this effort for the past quarter century.

I encourage you to take a short break from your studying and do something for your community today, no matter how small. Clean up a public space, donate canned items to organizations who help those who are food insecure, or even just call a friend or family member you haven't spoken to in a while.

If you can’t do anything for today’s MLK Day of Service, consider celebrating those who serve in the various AmeriCorps programs during AmeriCorps Week from March 12 to 18, 2022.