Monday, Jan. 15, Idaho joins with the nation to recognize the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to celebrate MLK / Idaho Human Rights Day. Organizations throughout Idaho are holding events and offering activities to celebrate.

MLK Day marks the recognition of the birth and life of the Baptist minister and noted civil rights leader. National legislation passed in 1994 encouraged Americans to transform the annual holiday into a day of citizen action in honor of King. Those who have the day off from work are asked to “make it a day on, not a day off” by participating in one of the many day of service activities across Idaho. All events take place Jan. 15 unless noted otherwise.

Southwestern

• MLK Day of Greatness March and Rally, sponsored by Boise State University starts with a poster-making session on campus followed by a march to the state capitol arriving at 11:30 a.m. for a rally.
• MLK /Idaho Human Rights Day at the State Capitol Rotunda at noon, immediately following the Boise State march and rally. A keynote address from Francisco Salinas, director for student diversity and inclusion at Boise State University, will be followed by poetry and entertainers. Several community organizations will staff information tables about how their groups support King’s philosophy of actively participating and volunteering in communities through nonviolent campaigns.
• Keynote address at Boise State’s Jordan Ballroom Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. Speaker is Melissa Harris-Perry, the Maya Angelou presidential chair, faculty director of the Pro Humanitate Institute and founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Center at Wake Forest University.

North Central

• Multiple service projects and diversity panel discussion with Lewis Clark Service Corps and Lewis-Clark State College. Volunteer sign-up begins at 2 p.m. at the Lewiston YMCA, 300 Main St. Volunteer projects run from 2:30 to 4:30 followed by a community meal and panel discussion. At 6 p.m. there will be a candlelight walk from YMCA to the LCSC Center for Arts and History followed by performances from the LCSC and the Palouse Chorale Society Chamber choirs. The LCSC Living Voices Theater Company will then stage a production of “Our Revolutions,” a one-person play dramatizing the role of African Americans in the American Revolution.

South Central

• Free half-day kids garden camp at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden with Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call (208) 726-9358 to reserve a spot.

Southeastern

• Annual Idaho State University Martin Luther King Jr. march and program. Begins at 1 p.m. at ISU’s Holt Arena, ending at the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. Event features speeches and entertainment.

Learn about more volunteer opportunities throughout the year at Serve Idaho.