The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and longstanding legacy. Spend this upcoming holiday engaged in RVA while exploring local history and serving the community! From panel discussions, volunteer opportunities, performances and more, there are many ways to spend this Day of Service in RVA. Plan ahead and check out these five ways to remember and serve this MLK Day.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service Clean-Up
Monday, January 17th, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join the Enrichmond Foundation at Historic East End and Evergreen Cemeteries for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service Clean-Up! Historic East End and Evergreen Cemeteries are historic African-American cemeteries. Evergreen, created in 1891 and East End Cemetery established in 1897, are both located in Richmond's East End. They are the resting place for many of Richmond’s African-American leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Maggie L. Walker, John Mitchell, Jr., Rev. J. Andrew Bowler, Rosa D. Bowser, Hezekiah F. Jonathan, William Custalo, and Dr. Richard F. Tancil. For more important volunteer information and COVID-19 safety protocol, click here. (Source: HandsOn Greater Richmond)
"Mending Walls" Facebook Live Panel & Breakout Discussion
January 16th, 2022 | 2:00 PM
Tune in to a live conversation with Mending Walls RVA lead artist, Hamilton Glass, where he will discuss the experience behind this groundbreaking public art project with artists Kevin Orlosky and Sir James Thornhill. Following the live panel, join the conversation through small group Zoom discussions to explore the impact that public art has on sparking conversations and shaping communities. To learn the story behind this public art project, you can watch "Mending Walls: The Documentary" prior to the Facebook live panel here. This event is co-hosted by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, the University of Richmond Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, and VPM. Find breakout registration and panel information here. (Source: HandsOn Greater Richmond)
University of Richmond MLK Celebration: "We Cannot Walk Alone"
Various Dates
Join in on University of Richmond's 2022 MLK Celebration beginning with a free workshop on January 14th where you can create your own MLK Celebration print with the Book Arts Studio. Stop by at any time during the 2-hour event from 12 PM to 2 PM. While visiting the campus, reflect on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders as you walk around Westhampton Lake and read a series of panels. You can find more events as part of University of Richmond's 2022 MLK Celebration, including community discussions, workshops, virtual seminars and more, here. (Source: www.Engage.richmond.edu)
Get Up, Stand Up: The Other Part of the Dream
January 16th - 26th, 2022 (Select Dates)
Virginia Commonwealth University & Various Locations
As part of their 2022 MLK Celebration, Virginia Commonwealth University will host a keynote performance and talkback honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Delivered by The Conciliation Lab, this show explores Dr. King's lesser known speeches, sermons and writings, illuminating his call to action and what it means for us as a community today. The show will also be performed during additional dates at various community events throughout Richmond. For more information, click here. (Source: mlkday.vcu.edu)
Guided Tours: Black History Museum & Cultural Center
Witness the inspiring stories of African American history in Virginia while visiting the Black History Museum and Cultural Center. Explore the famous and untold stories of inspiring African American legacy leaders who contributed to the history of Richmond and beyond. Schedule a tour with museum staff and spend your MLK Day of Service learning and celebrating the inspiring African American change-makers from Virginia. For more information on current exhibits, tours and museum admission, click here.
Share with us on social as you engage, remember and serve this Martin Luther King Jr. Day using #MLKDayRVA!
For more ideas on how to spend your MLK Day in RVA and additional RVA Black history resources, head to the VisitBLKRVA website!
