MLK Day of Service

MLK Day image of student

In honor of Dr. King’s spirit of service and peace, the MLK Day(s) of Service are designed to engage Oxy students, staff, faculty, and alumni in community-based projects. 

Join the 2023 Initiative with Oxy and Hunger Free America

Due to the current health and economic crisis, more than 54 million people in America are struggling with hunger. But seasonal and charitable work can’t end hunger alone. Higher impact work, like volunteering professional skills at an anti-hunger organization or advocating for a stronger safety net or higher wages can make a bigger difference in the fight to end hunger.

This year, SLICE is partnering with Hunger Free America for the MLK 2023 Serve-A-Thon. For 20 years, Hunger Free America has honored MLK's life work with action-oriented service and we are proud to be a supporter. The 2023 Serve-A-Thon will focus on a series of virtual workshops addressing the intersectionality of food insecurity and social issues, such as racial justice, environmental justice, or public health. Additionally, there are virtual service opportunities offered by non-profit partner organizations. The virtual MLK Serve-A-Thon will take place January 12-16. CLICK HERE to learn more and sign-up for workshops/activities that most interest you.

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the Rev. Dr. Susan Young, Director of the Office for Religious & Spiritual Life, offers a reflection on how Dr. King's prophetic words in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" are just as important for us today as they were when he first wrote them in 1963. As we reflect upon the events in Washington, D.C., we encourage you to read Rev. Dr. Young's address and access Dr. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by clicking here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. called himself a democratic socialist. He believed that America needed a “radical redistribution of economic and political power.” He challenged America’s class system and its racial caste system. He opposed US militarism. Click here to read the article by Peter Dreier, E.P. Clapp distinguished professor of politics at Occidental College.

The community partners we work with have well-established relationships with SLICE or other offices (such as the UEPI and the CCBL). Because these connections are so important, we strive to sustain our partnerships by creating mutually beneficial projects and community engagement opportunities.

Traditional MLK Day(s) of Service Collaborators

Virtual/Remote Service Resources

Support Los Angeles from the comfort of your own home. The opportunities offered by LA Works are fun and flexible ways to serve LA remotely and in-person. Click here for more information.

Volunteer from anywhere with Volunteer Match. Explore hundreds of virtual volunteer opportunities in cause areas like health and medicine, education, and community building—that you can do from a computer, from home, or anywhere. Click here for more information.

Use this SEARCH TOOL to find a volunteer opportunity in your area. Yup, it's as easy as that!

When you think about volunteers, the typical image of a team or community group planting a garden, revitalizing a local park or painting a lively mural at a school comes to mind. Yet all around the globe, at any given time, thousands (if not millions) of engaged citizens volunteer virtually — using their computers, the Internet, even their smart phones.

Virtual volunteers can complete short-term or long-term tasks, in whole or in part, typically off-site from the organization or person being assisted. If you’ve got access to a computer, thousands of different volunteer projects and roles are available to you—from your home, the library, a coffee shop, anywhere with an Internet connection.

Click here for a robust resource list categorized by activity, impact area or beneficiaries.

Resources for Food Insecurity & Economic Hardship

ORSL has compiled a list of resources for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity or economic hardship due to the pandemic. CLICK HERE for more information about Food and Nutrition Assistance, Emergency Loans, and Rental Assistance Grants.

The MLK Day of Service In-Person Experience

Join us on February 11th to celebrate MLK Day of Service. We’ll be working with multiple community partners throughout the day across the City of Los Angeles. This includes gardening, food distribution, building supply bags and more! Stay on the lookout to sign up for this in person experience! If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to Aadhiya Jeharajah at ajeharajah@oxy.edu.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., social activist and minister

Contact SLICE
Johnson Student Center
Phone: (323) 259-2989
slice@oxy.edu

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