It begins with me: Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion honors Dr. King

The holiday honoring Dr. King gives us the opportunity to educate ourselves and practice following his example of courage and commitment. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (MLK Day) is Monday, Jan. 15. This year’s holiday falls on what would have been the slain civil rights leader’s 95th birthday. It is a poignant and powerful reminder of how much there is left to do in realizing his vision of a just and peaceful world.  

While his stirring speeches touched on a wide array of themes, Dr. King's central message remained that an equitable society is not truly unachievable until every person has the same opportunity to grow and thrive. He challenged us to reflect on our part in the collective work of building a wholly emancipated society when he affirmed that “life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”

The annual MLK Day holiday, which we observe on the third Monday in January, is an opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s life, learn about his work and practice his example of courage and commitment. Here are just some of the MLK Day 2024 events you and your family can participate in to learn about Dr. King’s work and his dream of an America for all:  

Volunteer your time. Take the time to help those in the community. 

• United Way of King County is offering a host of MLK Day volunteer opportunities. These include volunteer work parties for clean-up and painting at local organizations like El Centro de la Raza, planting parties with City of Bothell and Mercer Island, supporting community meals for the Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition, and much more. 
• Students in grades six through 12 and their families are invited to participate in Student Advocacy Day at the Washington State Capital in Olympia. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislators to discuss youth mental health and the prevention of underage substance use. 

Educate yourself. There are abundant resources for those who want to learn more about Dr. King’s life and work. 

• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change Center in Atlanta offers a vast collection of online resources and virtual events for students, educators and researchers. The King Center was established on June 26, 1968, by the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King approximately two months after the assassination of her husband Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4th of the same year.
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University is home to a large collection of Dr. King's papers and other significant King-related material, including this compelling multi-media exploration of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  

Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. There are many local and national events on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to educate ourselves and celebrate his life. Following are just a few:

• The Seattle MLK Organizing Coalition’s MLK Day 2024 theme is MLK Jr.’s Dream Unfinished. The organization is supporting several different events this year, including a community dialogue, youth event, job fair, workshops and a rally and march at Garfield High School on MLK Day, Jan. 15. See the full list of events and download the flyer at their website.  
• The Northwest African American Museum is celebrating King Day with a program entitled “Unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word,” which is a quote from Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. The day includes a new exhibit entitled ‘Interrupting Privilege,’ hosted by the Center for Communication Difference and Equity. Attendees can learn about the history and methods of interrupting privilege. Register here.
• The Washington State Historical Society is hosting a King Day Commemoration on Jan. 15 at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. The day will include several performances that help bring to life Dr. King’s legacy. Learn more at their website.
• The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy with events throughout January 2024. Learn more at their website.
• The Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee’s MLK Community Celebration, which includes a Sunday service and march and rally.
• The Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration at Edmonds College. "Civil Rights in the 21st Century: Arts, Activism, and Community" is this year's theme.
• The Imagine Children's Museum in Everett is open on King Day and offering events throughout the day to help kids learn about Dr. King and his work.

About Providence Swedish

Providence Swedish has served the Puget Sound region since the first Providence hospital opened in Seattle in 1877 and the first Swedish hospital opened in 1910. The two organizations affiliated in 2012 and today comprise the largest health care delivery system in Western Washington, with 22,000 caregivers, eight hospitals and 244 clinics. A not-for-profit family of organizations, Providence Swedish provides more than $406 million in community benefit in the Puget Sound Region each year. The health system offers a comprehensive range of services and specialty and subspecialty care in a number of clinical areas, including cancer care, cardiovascular health, neurosciences, orthopedics, digestive health and women’s and children’s care. 

_{Photo credit: Getty Images. Michael Ochs Archive.}