MLK Day of Service: Maine Events
Why a National Day of Service?
One of the six principles of Dr. King's vision of the future was that the "Beloved Community is the framework for the future." If achieved, the world would be reconciled, justice would prevail, and all persons would achieve their full human potential.
Building the beloved community takes a commitment to service by every citizen. The icon here is a link to a video produced by the federal agency charged with establishing MLK Day as a National Day of Service. This video featuring civil rights luminaries Congressman John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, and Ruby Bridges reminds us to keep Dr. King's legacy alive and to make service a part of our daily lives.
To view interviews with each of the people, visit the Corporation for National and Community Service site, mlkday.gov.
And for an overview of the 26 year effort to establish this National Day of Service, visit this Martin Luther King Jr. Center web page.
Maine Commission for Community Service support
MCCS is the state government partner of the Corporation for National and Community Service. It shares responsibility for developing active citizens who build their communities as volunteers.
Each year, MCCS supports MLK Day service projects that shine a light on a community issue by awarding mini-grants of $500. Many of the projects are organized by volunteers in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. Others are organized by educational institutions and community programs.
Maine MLK Service Projects this year
Highlights. Below are the projects supported by mini-grants this year. See pictures from the events in our gallery.
- MLK, Jr. Diversity Day – The University of Maine
Organized by: Bodwell Center for Service & Volunteerism + 13 community partner organizations
Event: Multicultural educational activities for children and families. Included mixed martial arts dance show, teambuilding activities, sign language workshop, and presentation from veterans.
9 volunteers took 8 weeks to plan this project.
127 people attended
Watch the video. - Walking in the Light: A Charity Fashion Show & MLK Day of Service Event
Organized by: Catholic Charities Maine + 5 community partner organizations
Event: Fashion show to raise awareness of need for affordable winter clothing and collect clothing donations for Catholic Charities Thrift Store. Teen volunteers got to meet mentors in the local fashion industry and learn about educational options in fashion.
15 volunteers took 6 weeks to plan this project.
465 winter clothing donations were collected for the thrift store.
150 people attended.
Watch the video. - MLK Day of Müvment: Reintroducing u to Movement
Organized by: Goodwill of Northern New England + 49 community partner organizations
Event: 19 activities around the state to decrease the incidence of obesity in Maine through nutrition and physical activity. Activities included: healthy cooking demonstrations, volunteering at food pantries, health screening, basketball tournament, exercise and dance workshops, and outdoor recreation.
44 AmeriCorps members took part in planning.
553 people attended.
526 pedometers were distributed. - Interior Storm Window Building
Organized by: Island Institute Fellows + 5 community partner organizations
Event: Island Institute AmeriCorps Fellows recruited volunteers to help build storm windows for community spaces in 4 towns.
31 windows were built and installed
33 volunteers participated. - 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Project
Organized by: Portland Housing Authority + 8 community partner organizations
Event: Youth from 3 Portland Housing Authority communities analyzed an excerpt from King’s “The Drum Major Instinct” and wrote short plays in response. The students performed their works at the NAACP Breakfast Celebration.
It took 12 weeks to prepare this project.
AmeriCorps members and Bowdoin College students volunteers provided support.
About 550 people watched the performances. - Bullying Awareness & Peaceful Conflict Resolution
Organized by: Southern Maine Community College, University of Southern Maine, Portland High School, and the Boys & Girls Club.
Event: Volunteers gave students the tools to stand up against bullying in a peaceful way.
2 AmeriCorps VISTA members spent 13 weeks planning this project.
16 volunteers were college students.
34 youth attended the activity. - Issue on Trial: Rum, Riot and Murder – Mock Trial
Organized by: The Game Loft: A community based organization of Spurwink + 7 community partner organizations
Event: The Game Loft hosted a mock trial developed by high school students based on Maine history. The annual event raises historical and contemporary issues as a way of understanding equality, tolerance, social justice, and service to others across generational divides.
103 people attended the mock trial.
9 students participated as witnesses or members of the jury.
3 attorneys volunteered to be judge and lawyers. - Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at York Middle School
Organized by: York Diversity Forum + 6 community partner organizations
Event: Included a speaker on the history of nonviolent community action, a concert by the Sandpipers (the Seacoast's Children's Chorus), and service activities.
8 volunteers took 18 weeks to plan this project.
75 people attended the event.
36 jars were filled with beans for a local food pantry.
