Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

CenTex Sustains with Christine Luciano Episode 28, which aired January 17, 2022 The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make our communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed…

Gary Emmert
3–4 minutes

CenTex Sustains with Christine Luciano

Episode 28, which aired January 17, 2022

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make our communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change. His example is our call to action.

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Observed each year on the third Monday in January, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

  • A Day of Service can come in many forms and is something you can do throughout the year. Here are some ideas:
  • Volunteer in your community or for an organization with merit.
  • Be a mentor. Help a youth or another professional to gain new skills.
  • Make a donation to a charity with meaning to you.
  • Say a kind word of support to someone who is struggling.
  • Put your skills to work. Sometimes our hobbies can bring joy to others in ways we least expect it.

Another idea to celebrate a Day of Service is to go plogging. It is the act of picking up trash while you walk, jog or run. Picking up litter is a good way to make your outdoor adventure more purposeful and has many positive impacts on the environment, particularly on waterways. The trash or litter in the neighborhoods could make its way into storm drains and those drains could enter into a body of water, whether that be a stream, creek or Belton or Stillhouse Lake.

  • Here are some tips for staying safe while plogging:
  • If you’re walking or running on a road, follow traffic safety rules and go against traffic.
  • Bring a small trash bag or plastic bag with you to hold the trash.
  • Wear gloves at all times. 
  • Alternate which arm you’re carrying your bag of trash. This will help keep your body evenly distributed, keeping muscles balanced and strong. 
  • Consider asking a local business along your route if you could use their dumpster or bin—this prevents you from needing to bring your bag of picked-up litter back to your starting point.
  • Be careful not to bend from your back when you pick up items. Instead, squat down to pick them up. 
  • Don’t feel that you have to do it every time you go out for a walk or jog. Make it a monthly or weekend tradition.
  • Bring a friend or organize a group!

If you are in Belton, here are some opportunities to consider with Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

  • Check out the historical marker in front of the Harris Community Center, a former segregated schoolhouse.
  • Enter the Nolan Creek Hike and Bike Trail at Harris Park and enjoy the story walk toward the south featuring “All Are Welcome” by Alexandrea Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman.
  • Enter the Nolan Creek Hike and Bike Trail at Harris Park and head north. Cross over the Nolan Creek Bridge and walk to Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Remember, making time to volunteer for MLK Day of Service is a great way to engage with your community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

To learn more about the Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership and for local event updates, check out our Facebook page Centex Sustains. Feel free to send questions and topic suggestions for this show to centexsustains@gmail.com. Join us next week on Monday at 6:15 pm on KNCT-FM 91.3 to learn more about environmental and sustainable practices.

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