MLK Day of Service and Leadership
MLK Day of Service and Leadership will return in January, 2026.
Looking back at the GW Students and Community members celebrating 30th GW MLK Day of Service and Leadership 2025 through service.
Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, "Everyone can be great because everybody can serve." GW’s MLK Day of Service and Leadership is a day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a day of service, workshops, and reflection.
This day of service is a unique opportunity for hundreds of GW students, faculty, staff, alumni, and DC community members to strengthen their service values, create positive and impactful contributions to our communities, and commit to continuing acts of service as exemplified by Dr. King.
2025 Recap
Saturday’s event began with an opening program at Lisner Auditorium. Outgoing AmeriCorps CEO, Michael Smith moderated a student panel with Nashman Center students where Haleigh Chan, Brooke Moses, Bongani Ndebele, Lauren Patrick, and Zoe Singleton, who shared their inspirations, connection with Dr. King's vision, and stories of service.
Then, around 550 GW volunteers left campus and gave their time to various organizations throughout the city. Service participants contributed about 1,200 service hours in total on the day of service.
Participants served at five off-campus sites with projects including at Francis on the Hill in Northwest Washington. Volunteers also worked in groups at the University Student Center on projects for GW Jumpstart, Miriam’s Kitchen, A Wider Circle, the Sasha Bruce Network, the D.C. Prevention Center and the AARP Foundation, where President Ellen M. Granberg also served. Other volunteers from GW were welcomed to Horton’s Hub and Community Resource Center, an after-school tutoring program in Southeast Washington.
Past projects include...
Social justice and anti-racism workshops.
Cleaning, painting, and organizing classrooms.
Transcribing historical documents.
Packing safe sex and harm reduction kits.
Museum cleanup and outdoor beautification.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
- Will lunch be provided?
- Yes, a boxed lunch from Wawa will be provided. We will have meat, vegan, and non-gluten options. Beverages not included, so please bring a refillable water bottle.
- Allergy information:
- No seafood, red meat, or nuts will be included in any lunches.
- A salad option will be provided that includes no gluten products.
- **Please note: if you have severe allergies, you may want to consider packing your own lunch. These lunches were made in a facility that has nuts and gluten products, so cross-contamination is possible.
- What do I need to bring?
Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants that can get dirty. Bring a reusable water bottle and any personal items needed for a full-day event (e.g. weather appropriate gear, personal medication).
- Can I transport myself to the service project / can I leave early?
Transportation by bus will be provided for participants serving off-campus. We strongly encourage you to use the transportation provided for safety reasons and to stay the entire time to ensure the completion of the projects our community partners have asked us to complete.
If you need to transport yourself or leave early, we will ask that you sign a Self-Transportation Waiver. Please email mlkdos
gwu [dot] edu (mlkdos[at]gwu[dot]edu) if you need one in advance or on the day of the event you can ask your service site leader for a physical copy.- How do I know what service project or workshop group I’m in?
You will receive email communications leading up to the event from your service site group leader and the MLK DoS team. These communications will have your service site assignment.
Additionally, when you check in on the morning of the event, you will get a personalized nametag with your group assignment details on it.- Who do I talk to about special accommodations?
Email gwserves
gwu [dot] edu (gwserves[at]gwu[dot]edu) if you will need any accommodations to participate in this event.
2024 Recap
In 2024, GW's 29th annual MLK Day of Service and Leadership event was held on Monday, January 15th. This day was “a day on, not a day off” for participants. The day began at 11:00 a.m. in Lisner Auditorium with an opening program on the values of Dr. King and a panel on the importance of voting. Over 300+ GW students, faculty, staff, alumni and DC community members served contributing a total of 1,360 service hours!
Read more about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2024 here
Watch Kayla Laws' (English and Africana Studies '24) experience of the 29th GW MLK Day of Service and Leadership.
Questions?
Contact us at gwservesgwu [dot] edu.
MLK Day of Service and Leadership is sponsored by the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement & Public Service, with support from the Multicultural Services Center and the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement.