Join the City of Bellingham, local organizations, and our entire community on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in commemoration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The City is honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year by co-hosting a virtual celebration and promoting volunteer outdoor stewardship activities on Jan. 18 and beyond.
30th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 30th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration, a virtual event scheduled from noon to 1:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021.
This virtual event features music by Kulshan Chorus, blessing by Lummi tribal member Darrell Hillaire and Children of the Setting Sun, remarks by Bellingham author and celebration founder Dr. Clyde Ford and Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood, and selections from Dr. King’s speeches presented in his own words.
The event is free of charge and open to the public. Sign up to receive a link to the celebration by filling out a form on the Kulshan Chorus website.
Day of Service stewardship activities for Jan. 18, 2021, and beyond
Dr. King was a champion for civil rights and helped inspire the environmental justice movement through his concern for the urban environment. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a federal holiday that encourages people to improve their communities through volunteer work.
The City is offering several options for people to give back to their community in honor of Dr. King’s legacy while following guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Community members can attend “micro” work parties of 5-10 people being held at 17 locations throughout Bellingham on Jan. 18. Registration is required. Face coverings are required and other safety guidelines must be followed.
Other Day of Service options include completing habitat restoration in individual backyards, with resources from City experts, or signing up to become a Park Steward and volunteer at City parks independently.
Participants are invited to submit photos of themselves restoring habitat on Jan. 18 to be entered to win one of three $25 Think Local First gift cards, a prize that also benefits local businesses.
Details for each stewardship option and the prize drawing are described on the Volunteer MLK event page on the City of Bellingham website.
Photo above licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
