Monday, January 17, 2022 is the federal holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — and there is no shortage of local commemorations, events and observances. For a look at what’s going on in our community, read below for highlights of local events, both in-person and virtual.

Also, in addition to a day of speeches and celebrations, MLK Day is widely recognized as a day of service. You’ll find some local opportunities and initiatives below as well, and general volunteer opportunities in North Carolina can be found by visiting VolunteerNC for virtual and at-home tasks to assist nonprofits, or reach out to local organizations for ways to help.

One of the two murals are the Town of Carrboro’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. (Photo via the Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department.)

Orange County

On Monday, Jan. 17, Orange County is hosting a drive-through parade in honor of MLK, beginning at Efland Cheeks School at 9 a.m. and proceeding to Hillsborough for another round starting at 10 a.m. prior to a commemorative program starting at 11 a.m. at Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Hurdle Mills.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a full suite of MLK Day events during its annual week of celebration, from banquets and speeches to movie screenings. This year’s theme is “What Are We Striving For?” and you can find a full list from UNC Diversity and Inclusion here, but here are a few events taking place:

In Carrboro — on Saturday, Jan. 15 — the town’s annual MLK Celebration was scheduled to be held at the Carrboro Century Center from 1 to 3 p.m., but the event has since moved from in-person to entirely virtual. To sign up for the broadcast of the event, click here or head to the Town of Carrboro’s website for details.

Durham

Durham Parks and Recreation will be holding a day of service on Saturday, January 8, from 2 to 5 p.m., at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville Street, Durham. Participants will be helping to create a community garden.

Additionally, Keep Durham Beautiful and partners at NC Wildlife Federation, Bull City Trailblazers and Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association are calling for volunteers to help protect the health of Durham’s watersheds by removing litter from streets, creeks and park grounds on Monday, Jan. 17. For details, see Keep Durham Beautiful’s website here.

On Monday, Jan. 17, Book Harvest will be holding its annual MLK Day Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration from 1-4 p.m. at Durham Central Park. There will be activities, performances and free books for all! Of course, the organization will also be collecting donations of new and gently-used children’s books — visit BookHarvest’s website for details and more information.

Duke University’s annual commemoration returns in 2022, with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor — a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University who is among 2021 MacArthur “genius grant” winners — delivering the keynote address for Duke University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration on Sunday, Jan. 16, in Duke Chapel

This year’s theme, “How Long Must We Wait: Striving for the Beloved Community,” will also be highlighted through performances by the John Brown Quintet and the United in Praise Gospel Choir, as well as greetings from Duke University President Vincent Price, Duke University Health System President Dr. A. Eugene Washington, Durham Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton and Black Student Alliance President Clarke Shead (Trinity ’22)

Other campus events at Duke include:

11 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 16, Duke Chapel: The Rev. Bruce Puckett, assistant dean of Duke University Chapel, is the preacher during the chapel’s regular worship service, which will include a litany of prayers related to the MLK commemoration. A livestream of the event will be available here.9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 17, Duke School, 3716 Erwin Road, Durham: The Duke community will join in the annual MLK Meal Packaging service event, in partnership with Triangle-area Rotary clubs, Interfaith Food Shuttle and Meals of Hope, striving to package more than 100,000 meals for North Carolina food banks. The Duke Office of Durham & Community Affairs lists additional service opportunities here.

Noon to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 17, a Unity Walk from the Mary Lou Williams Center near Duke Chapel to K-Ville with guest speakers, including Duke President Vincent Price, Duke University Head Softball Coach Marissa Young and Duke student-athletes.

Chatham County

In Pittsboro, the Chatham YMCA is mustering volunteers and donations for CORA Food Pantry, by gathering supplies for those in need. Most-requested items include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper and socks. Work begins at the Chatham YMCA on Monday, Jan 17., from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Online and Virtual Events

On Monday, Jan. 17, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP is hosting a virtual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., featuring UNC law professor Ted Shaw as guest speaker. The event begins at 11 a.m. on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP’s YouTube channel.

Governor Roy Cooper and the NC Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission invite everyone to the virtual 2022 NC State Employees’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Program and John R. Larkins Award Ceremony. The theme for this year’s event is derived from one of Dr. King’s most notable quotes: “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy,” and will be broadcasted live here and feature an address from Congressman G.K. Butterfield.

This year, volunteers with Rise Against Hunger will be working meal packaging events as the organization hosts events at workplaces, churches and community locations across North Carolina. You can find more information, and local opportunities to help, here.

 

Photo via the Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department.


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