Philadelphia Area Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events

Below is an extensive list of ways to give back to your city either by learning, donating time or contributing money to a great cause.

The Philadelphia Orchestra Honors Martin Luther King Jr.

Who: The Philadelphia Orchestra

What: Free MLK Jr. Tribute Concert

When: Monday, January 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Girard College Chapel, 2101 S. College Ave.; Free tickets available Wednesday, January 7 at noon

Cost: Free; must reserve online at www.philorch.org

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the 25th year of the orchestra’s Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute. The 90-minute concert includes the world premiere of the first movement of composer Hannibal’s One Land, One River, One People, a work commissioned by the orchestra which will debut in its entirety in November 2015.

The concert will also feature guest vocalists Laquita Mitchell and Rodrick Dixon, choirs from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, a reading Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech set to Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and more.

 

MLK Day and Inauguration Day

Who: National Constitution Center

What: Day-long commemoration, activities; part of a series of Macy’s Family Days

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street

Cost: $5, courtesy of Macy’s Inc.

Visitors will receive access to the museum and all activities in connection with the important civic holiday. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Legacy show, visitors can learn about Dr. King’s vision of himself as an agent of service, how that understanding led him to the use of nonviolence, and how other leaders from around the world were influenced by his legacy. Visitors will also discover ways they can serve their own communities. At Craft Activity Tables, visitors can create “I Have A Dream…” mobiles and express their dreams for their communities, the country and the world.

National Constitution Center Service Projects

Donate: In the spirit of service emulated by Dr. King, the museum will serve as a drop-off point for those who wish to donate school supplies including pens, pencils, crayons, copy papers, hand sanitizer and folders for Philadelphia public schools. The collection will begin in late December. On January 19, guests will be invited to help museum staff sort the supplies in preparation for delivery to the schools.
Volunteer: Also part of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the museum will serve as the host location for a quilting and sewing service project that benefits Women Against Abuse. This activity is available to participants who have pre-registered with the Greater Philadelphia Day of Service. Visitors are invited to sew pillows for the shelter in the museum’s Grand Hall Lobby. Women Against Abuse is a local nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, legal services, behavioral healthcare, advocacy, and education to victims of domestic violence.

Special Performances:

What: Two of a Kind
When: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Where: F.M. Kirby Auditorium
Children and their families can sing along with “Two of a Kind,” an award-winning, nationally touring, husband-wife duo, during an interactive musical program. Focusing on themes related to Dr. King, the performance will encourage audience participation through songs, sign language, movement and stories.

What: “I Have a Dream” Speech
When: 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: F.M. Kirby Auditorium
A diverse ensemble of local actors will join students from local colleges to perform a passionate reading of the “I Have a Dream” Speech.

What: Unity Choir Performance
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Grand Hall
A Unity Choir will perform, comprising voices from congregations around New Jersey: Antioch Baptist Church, Congregation M’kor Shalom, Har Sinai Temple, H.E.R.I.T.A.G.E., Inc., Kerygma, First Baptist, Morningstar Baptist Church, and Bethel Baptist Church. The ensemble will sing music that ranges from the most high-spirited gospel music to stimulating songs of freedom and uplifting Jewish folk music.

Online Activities
Those who are unable to honor Dr. King in person on January 19 are encouraged to tune in to a special episode of the Constitution Center’s popular educational video series Constitution Hall Pass titled “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Legacy of Service.” Have a question about Dr. King’s impact or how you can become civically engaged? Educators and museum staff members will be available to answer questions via live chat, Thursday, January 15 to Friday, January 16, 2015, and Monday, January 19, 2015 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST at constitutioncenter.org/hallpass.

Air Date: January 14 – 19, 2015

Live Chat: Thursday, January 15 – Friday, January 16, 2015, and Monday, January 19, 2015 from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST at constitutioncenter.org/hallpass.

 

Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Who: Philadelphia Museum of Art

What: Long weekend of special events and the opening of their new exhibition

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, January 21; Friday, January 16, an extended Art After 5 with live music from Sound Reformation followed by a dance party in the Great Stair Hall until midnight

Where: Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Cost: Pay-What-You-Wish admission on MLK day

The museum is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a long weekend of special events and the opening of their new exhibition Represent: 200 Years of African American Art. On MLK Day, the museum features a variety of family-friendly workshops and projects throughout the day.

 

MLK Family Day

Who: National Museum of American Jewish History

What: Live music, an art project led by Fleisher Art Memorial and a screening

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2015

Where: National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East

Cost: Free admission all day

Admission to the National Museum of American Jewish History will be free all day as the museum commemorates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Enjoy live music, an art project led by Fleisher Art Memorial and a screening of the PBS documentary series Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Movement.

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Symposium

Who: University of Pennsylvania

What: Experts in health policy, Veterans’ health, LGBT health, child health, and global women’s health

When: Thursday, January 15, 2015 from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Arthur H. Rubenstein Auditorium, Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Blvd.

Cost: For questions, please email upenn.mlk@gmail.com
Experts in health policy, Veterans’ health, LGBT health, child health, and global women’s health will engage in a dialogue with the university community about strategies to achieve health equity over the next 250 years. Keynote Address: Dr. David Satcher.

 

Screening of ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech

Who: Franklin Institute

What: The “I HAVE A DREAM” speech in its entirety

When: Monday, Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Franklin Hall, Key Hall

Cost: Free with general admission

Listen to the powerful and inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he made his speech to hundreds of thousands of civil rights supporters at the 1963 March on Washington. The “I HAVE A DREAM” speech, in its entirety, will be featured throughout the day on four large screens in Franklin Hall. Also in the Key Hallway, a Scavenger Hunt featuring some of the most famous African American Scientists and I Have a Dream Coloring Activity for youth. Prizes for the scavenger hunt are available while supplies last.

 

‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ readings

Who: Eastern State Penitentiary

What: Special readings of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” during the weekend

When: January 17-19, 2015

Where: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue

Cost: Free and open to the public; tickets are available online or at the door subject to availability

Eastern State Penitentiary honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with special readings of King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” during the holiday weekend. Listen to excerpts read from Dr. King’s letter–written 50 years ago three times a day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Children ages 7-12 can create artwork in response to the letter from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day.

 

Marching to honor MLK legacy

Who: MLK Day of Action, Resistance and Empowerment

What: Thousands will be marching to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and demand racial justice

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.

Where: March to assemble at 1:30 p.m. at the School District on 440 N. Broad St. and march to Independence Mall for a rally

Cost: Free; donations encouraged

The MLK Day of Action, Resistance and Empowerment has brought together the movements on the ground that are fighting police abuse, poverty wages and the attacks on public education to make the statement that Black Lives Matter and to demand an end to stop and frisk and an independent police review board, a fifteen dollar an hour minimum wage and the right to form a union and fully funded, democratically controlled schools. The march will assemble at 1:30 p.m. at the School District on 440 N. Broad St. and march to Independence Mall for a rally.

 

Day of Consciousness Raising – Going Beyond ‘The Dream’

Who: State Rep. Roebuck at West Philly high
What: State Rep. Roebuck and West Philadelphia High School Student Government sponsored event

When: Monday, Jan 19, 2015; coffee reception from 9:15 – 9:45am, Program begins promptly at 10 a.m.

Where: West Philadelphia High School, 49th & Chestnut streets

Cost: Contact Rep. Roebuck’s office for details at 215-724-2227

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Commemoration & Day of Service

Who: African American Museum

What: Sharing the heritage

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: The African American Museum, 701 Arch Street

Cost: Free admission

Celebrate with special events and activities including hands-on service projects, a Community Celebration with live performances, readings and more.

 

Civil Rights Achievement Awards 2015

Who: African American Museum

What: Civil Rights Achievement Awards Ceremony/Reception; film screening, panel discussion, awards ceremony and reception

When: Saturday, January 17, 2015, from 10 a.m. to noon film screening at the Pearl Theatre, 1600 N. Broad Street; award ceremony/reception from 6 to 10 p.m. at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

Where: Pearl Theatre, 1600 N. Broad Street and The African American Museum, 701 Arch Street

Cost: Free

The distinguished award is bestowed upon those that have clearly exhibited the noble characteristics of courage, tenacity and altruism in their endeavors to secure and preserve the basic civil and human rights of our people. By all accounts, they have been described as one such individual and the PLBC would like to duly recognize these individuals for their invaluable efforts.

 

MLK volunteer service in Germantown

Who: Historic Germantown

What: Martin Luther King Day of Service

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Historic Fair Hill, 2901 Germantown Ave.

Cost: For more info or to schedule a volunteer group, call 215-870-8348.

Outdoor clean up, hot chocolate around the campfire, read Dr. King’s writings and sing Protest Era songs.

 

Martin Luther King Day of Service 2015

Who: SoLo/Germantown Civic Association /Trolley Car Helping Hands/Fitler Academics

What: A general cleanup of the school

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: Fitler Academics Plus Phila. Public Magnet School Grades 1-8

140 W Seymour St., Phila. PA. 19144 Southwest central Lower Germantown

Cost: Free; donations encouraged; RSVP by return email awfromhh@gmail.com

A general cleanup of the school including; painting the cafeteria, building planters, cleaning up utility rooms, and other general cleaning projects. Skilled supervisors will be overseeing all projects. The school wishes for a surveillance system to be installed and is trying to raise funds for hardware ($1,800.00) at this time. Installation time and labor is being donated. Anyone wishing to contribute can do so tax free to the Trolley Car Helping Hands. https://trolleycar.wufoo.com/forms/donate-fitler-elementary-security-cameras/ We will also attempt the cleanup of the school yard including a vacant lot across from the school on Keyser St.

 

Festival for Youth Training

Who: Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation Partners with North Broad Film

What: Partnership to begin training youth in North Central Philadelphia on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) skills

When: Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 10 a.m. and runs for four months

Where: UEDC, 2227 N. Broad Street

Cost: Visit http://www.philadelphiauptowntheatre.org/ for more information

The curriculum will include introduction to filmmaking, training on equipment, developing critical skills in film and film-making techniques. The program will be geared to youth 13 to 18 years old. The Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation is a non -profit organization that provides neighborhood planning and programs for revitalization of underserved areas.

 

King Luncheon at Presidential Caterers

Who: Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown

What: King luncheon at Presidential Caterers

When: Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Presidential Caterers, 2910 DeKalb Pike in East Norriton

Cost: Tickets can be purchased at Salem Baptist, 610 Summit Ave. in Jenkintown, or by calling 215-884-7664.
Salem Baptist Church, along with Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro, will host its King luncheon at Presidential Caterers, 2910 DeKalb Pike in East Norriton, on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The keynote speaker is scheduled to be Rahiel Tesfamariam, founder of UrbanCusp.com, an online magazine that highlights progressive urban culture, social change and global awareness. “The Eternal Flame” coordinators are expecting 500 to join them at this inaugural event, including members of the Cheltenham NAACP and other local groups. Tickets to the luncheon are $55 and can be purchased at Salem Baptist Church, 610 Summit Ave., Jenkintown, PA or by calling 215-884-7664. For additional information, contact Deaconess Malessia Dennis at 215-659-2853 or Deaconess Karen Harvey, 215-646-1676.
‘How the Police and Minority Youth Can Improve Their Interactions’
Who: Jewish Social Policy Action Network

What: First part of its Inequality in Criminal Justice series

When: Monday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m.

Where: Arcadia University in the University Commons Great Room

Cost: For more information, call 215-292-9575 or visit www.jspan.org.

JSPAN will hold its “How the Police and Minority Youth Can Improve Their Interactions” co-sponsored by the Cheltenham NAACP. The 2015 agenda includes aging, church and state, economic justice, education, election law, gun control, health care and bioethics and immigration.

 

33rd annual Awards and Benefit Luncheon

Who: Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolence
What: 33rd annual Awards and Benefit Luncheon

When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at noon

Where: Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia, 17th and Race streets

The Philadelphia chapter lunch be followed by the invitation-only National Bell Ringing Ceremony to be held at the Liberty Bell in Independence Mall. This year’s Drum Major honoree will be Ernest “Chubby Checker” Evans, a former East Germantown homeowner. Featured at the bell ringing will also be the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Cadet Choir.

 

Youth Kick-Off Program

Who: Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolence

What: The group’s “Youth Kick-Off Program”

When: Friday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: La Salle University Ballroom on the La Salle Union Building’s second floor, 1900 W. Olney Ave.

Cost: For further information, please call: (215) 751-9300

Highlighting performances, presentation of our future leaders and lunch.

 

‘Salute to Greatness’ awards dinner

Who: Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolence

What: Awards dinner to honor local persons who are promoting social justice

When: Monday, Jan. 19, from 6 to 11 p.m.

Where: Flourtown Country Club, 150 McCloskey Road

Cost: Tickets $70 per person; for ticket information, please call: (215) 751-9300 or (215) 247 0609; Email: sombox@aol.com 

The Renaissance Orchestra will provide the live entertainment. “Outstanding Contributions and Efforts to Promote Peace, Justice, Human Rights, Service and Our Heritage.”

 

‘Rebuilding Together’ program

Who: Rebuilding Philly

What: Service projects throughout the area

When: Monday, Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Wissahickon Boys & Girls Club, 328 W. Coulter St.

Cost: Free

Service projects throughout the area will be held on the King holiday. Skilled volunteers should email RTP Operations Manager Jim Coburn in advance for planning purposes (jim@rebuildingphilly.org).Volunteers should wear work clothes that can get dirt and paint on them and working indoors.

 

‘Our Mission is Love: Saving Youth from Violence’

Who: St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church

What: Town hall-style forum

When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.

Where: St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church, 1350 Vernon Road, in Mount Airy’s Cedarbrook section

For more information and events, visit visit www.mlkdayofservice.org to register or find an event near you.