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MLK Day of Service and Leadership

 


Watch Kayla Laws' (English and Africana Studies '24) experience of the 29th GW MLK Day of Service and Leadership.


MLK Day of Service and Leadership is on

January 18th, 2025! 

Registration has closed for 2025. Please see scroll down for a list of local opportunities to serve. Explore the full list of GW King Week events. 

 

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. 

Register now as an individual or a group to secure your spot! Registration closes Friday, December 20th, 2024.

 

Schedule At-A-Glance

  • 10:00 am - 10:45am: Check In

  • 10:45 am – 11:45 am: Opening Program & Keynote

  • 11:45 am – 12:30 pm: Lunch & Travel to Site

  • 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Service

  • 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Reflection & Closing Out 

 
What to wear:

  • Long pants, closed-toe shoes, and other weather appropriate gear

     

What to bring:
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Personal items (e.g. medication, small bag) 
     
Event check-in starts at 10am in USC Columbian square (1st floor across from Panera). Lunch will be provided.
 
For registered participants, they should be checking their emails next week for event details and service site assignments.
 
Registration has officially closed for 2025.

If you have already registered, we really appreciate your participation in GW’s 30th annual MLK Day on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Event check-in starts at 10:00am at the USC Columbian Square (1st floor across from Panera). Lunch will be provided. For registered participants, you should be checking your emails throughout the week for event details and service site assignments.

If you missed our registration deadline but would still like to serve, many of our partners across the District are hosting projects you can get involved with throughout MLK Day weekend. Here are some of the options:

After the MLK Day of Service and Leadership, you can explore other GW King Week events listed here.

King Week at GW

 

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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

 

Questions?

Contact us at [email protected].

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.