Bodman Celebrates 2023 MLK National Day of Service
01/13/23
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Bodman’s offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2023. This national day of service celebrates the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his commitment to social justice, service, and peaceful activism. We encourage everyone at Bodman to consider the 16th “a day on, not a day off” by participating in educational events or volunteer opportunities that honor Dr. King’s legacy.
Below are details on a number of MLK Day events statewide. The State Bar of Michigan also has a comprehensive MLK Day of Service website that provides some great activities and resources. We encourage our clients, friends, and followers to join us at these events.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrations on Monday, January 16, 2023
Detroit
- MLK Celebration at the Fox Theatre
- Time: 4pm
- Location: Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave.
- Rainbow PUSH Coalition founder and civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., will host the “Let Freedom Ring” MLK Day 2023 event. Six individuals whose work have shined the light on humanity and expound the life of Dr. King will be honored: Rabbi Daniel Syme, emeritus leader of Temple Beth El; Bishop Charles Ellis, III, senior pastor of Greater Grace Temple; Rev. JoAnn Watson, associate pastor of West Side Unity Church and former executive director of Detroit Branch NAACP; Shamayim “Mama Shu“ Harris, a Highland Park advocate for the forgotten; Blake Corum, the phenomenal running back from the University of Michigan; and Kem, Detroit’s iconic vocalist.
- Several elected officials will share remarks, including Mayor Mike Duggan, Senator Gary Peters, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congressman Shri Thanedar and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, II.
- More details here
- 20th Annual Detroit MLK Day Rally and March
- Time: 12pm-3pm
- Location: St Matthew’s & St Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 8850 Woodward Ave.
- Schedule:
- Rally and Cultural Program: 12-1
- March: 1:30-2
- Meal: 2:30-3
- The 20th Annual March and Rally will honor six decades of mass movements in Detroit and beyond. This event will feature speakers and artists active in the movements for social justice, peace, and self-determination. Listen to the speakers and cultural workers as they share their experiences from other social movements taking place in Michigan, nationally, and around the globe.
- More details here
- MLK Day at the Wright
- Time: all day
- Location: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
- Schedule:
- Prayer Breakfast: 8-11am
- Workshops and Programming: 11am-3pm
- Feature Film: Who We Are: A Chronicle on Racism in America: 1-3pm
- President’s Lecture Series: 4-5:30pm
- The day will begin with a buffet prayer breakfast that features an invocation from Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson from West Side Unity Church and a keynote from Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd. Educational programming that includes poetry work led by poet Tawana Petty and interactive workshops on Dr. King’s march in Memphis, current issues, and the dreams of the participants follows. There will also be a screening of Who We Are: A Chronicle on Racism in America as well as a collection of lectures featuring speakers chosen by the President of the museum.
- More details here
- Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament: Holy Mass for Justice and Peace
- Time: 10am
- Location: Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Ave.
- As a champion of civil rights, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams were much aligned with many of our Catholic teachings: the life and dignity of all people; care for the poor and vulnerable; solidarity of our one human family, regardless of race, ethnicity, religious, or economic differences; fair wages and treatment in civic matters; peace, equality, and justice among all; and discipleship of Christ. Please join us in praying for continued progress on the work begun by Rev. King.
- More details here
- Detroit Historical Society: MLK, Jr. Day: 60th Anniversary of the Detroit Freedom March
- Time: 10am-2pm
- Location: Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave.
- Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 60th anniversary of his Great March to Freedom in Detroit on Monday, January 16 at the Detroit Historical Museum! Kids are invited to march through the museum’s galleries to pay tribute to the day when Dr. King led 125,000 people down Woodward Avenue on June 23, 1963. Detroit attorney Elliott Hall, who drove King around Detroit on many of his visits during the 1960s, will speak at 11:30 a.m. about the impact of King’s 1963 march, and footage of King’s actual speech will be shown. Before and after the program, participants will be able to make peace signs to wear during the mini-march, which starts at 12:30 p.m. Alumni from the Detroit Mosaic Youth Choir will also teach the audience the Civil Rights freedom song, “We Shall Over Come.”
- Admission is free with registration
- MLK Day of Service with Bamboo Detroit
- Time: 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
- Location: Destined for Greatness Facility, 5555 Conner St.
- MLK Day 2023 is a time to look for ways to make the community stronger by volunteering at amazing organizations. Join Bamboo Members to volunteer for the Destined For Greatness MLK Day event and giveaway. This community organization empowers and motivates at-risk young women ages 11-21. Help provide resources like food, diapers, baby bottles, clothing for all, senior incontinence, and hygiene kits for men & women to Detroit residents in need.
- More details here
- 11th Annual MLK, Jr. Memorial Bike Ride
- Time: 10am
- Location: Ride begins and ends at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center on the Wayne State University campus
- Hosted by Tour de Troit, the MLK Memorial Bike Ride is an approximately 10-mile route that features several historical sites relevant to Dr. King and other local activists that were integral to the March in Detroit and the impact of the “I Have a Dream” speech which was first delivered at Cobo Arena.
- More details here
Metro Detroit
- Dearborn – Henry Ford Museum
- Time: all day
- Location: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
- The Museum is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by offering a free day of inspiration alongside a number of featured exhibits, events and programs.
- Featured Events:
- Pop-up Exhibit: “How Long?” Revisiting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and His Legacy
- All day; located outside of With Liberty and Justice For All
- Deepen your understanding of Dr. King’s life from his beginnings as an unknown Baptist minister to American civil rights leader and international human rights spokesperson
- Lift Every Voice: Creating Bridges to Belonging
- 10am-3pm: hands-on activities
- 11-11:25: morning workshop, “Lift Every Voice: What Science Tells Us About Belonging”
- 1-1:25: afternoon workshop, “Lift Every Voice: Putting It Into Practice”
- Words of Freedom: Excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 10:30am and 11:30am
- Join us in the Museum Plaza for 2 live performances by actor Tony Lucas, reciting some of Dr. King’s most famous speeches
- Pop-up Exhibit: “How Long?” Revisiting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and His Legacy
- Full schedule available here
- Cities of Royal Oak and Berkley 2023 MLK Service Day
- Time: 9:30am
- Location: Berkley High School, 2325 Catalpa Dr.
- The cities and school districts of Royal Oak and Berkley are proud to announce a joint MLK Day event for the entire community to remember, participate, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Events include a freedom walk, donation drive, and various service projects.
- More details here
- City of Auburn Hills MLK Day Events
- Time: 8:30am
- Location: Auburn Hills Community Center, 1827 N. Squirrel Road
- Community-wide celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Operation Cover Me for Grace Centers of Hope. Theme for 2023 is “HOPE”.
- More details here
- City of Farmington/Farmington Hills MLK Celebration
- Time: all day
- Location: Farmington Community Library Auditorium (unless otherwise noted), 32737 W. 12 Mile Rd.
- Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration includes activities and events for all ages:
- 10am – Make peace signs and banners – Main Library browsing room
- 11am – Peace walk down 12 Mile Rd
- 11:45am – Remarks from Officials
- 12pm – Keynote Speakers: Tom Marsh and Tom Daniels, co-authors of Black and White Like You and Me
- 2pm – The Movement of Freedom Performance
- 3:30pm – FPS Dance Co Performance
- 6:30pm – Student Community Challenge Showcase and Award Ceremony
- More details here
- City of Westland MLK Celebration and Remembrance Walk
- Time: 9am
- Location: Westland City Hall, 7550 Woodview St.
- The City will start with a remembrance walk to commemorate his life and legacy followed by our annual ceremony to express how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had inspired us, what his message means to us, and to help inspire people to continue with his message and help make the world a more inclusive and righteous place for us and our children to live in.
- More details here
Ann Arbor area
- University of Michigan 2023 MLK Symposium
- MLK Memorial Keynote Lecture
- Time: 10-11:30am
- Location: Hill Auditorium (825 N. University Ave.) and streaming online
- This year’s theme, The (R)evolution of MLK: from Segregation to Elevation, will explore King’s activism after 1964, highlighting the evolution of King’s primary focus on segregation to a broader, more radical, and revolutionary platform that included health, economics, and education.
- Featured speakers include Dr. Aletha Maybank, Physician, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Vice President of the American Medical Association, Mr. Edward Buckles, First-Time Director and Best New Documentary Director Winner of The Albert Maysies Award for the documentary, Katrina Babies, and Mr. Jalen Rose, Founder, Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, ABC/ESPN Analyst, Former NBA/UM Basketball Star.
- More details here
- “Critical Race Theory: American Law and Racism”
- Time: 12-1pm
- Location: Zoom
- Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, J.D., breaks down critical race theory’s origin, from Harvard Law School and the pioneering work of legal scholar Derrick Bell to today. Learn how it offers a lens to identify opportunities for change in law and society.
- RSVP is required; more details here
- 33rd Annual MLK Health Sciences Lecture: (R)EVOLUTION from Segregation to Elevation: The Quest for Health Equity
- Time: 1-2:30pm
- Location: School of Dentistry Kellogg Auditorium (1011 N. University Ave.) and Zoom
- This event led by the deans of our seven health science schools and colleges, staff, faculty and students joins our community in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The 2023 theme is “The (R)evolution of MLK: from Segregation to Elevation: The Quest for Health Equity”. The keynote lecture will be delivered by Dr. George W. Taylor, Associate Dean, for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at University of California-San Francisco, School of Dentistry.
- RSVP is required; more details here
- A full list of U-M’s MLK Symposium 2023 events (continuing throughout the month of January) is available here
- MLK Memorial Keynote Lecture
- Ypsilanti – MLK Day Service Project – Hats for Homeless Persons
- Time: 11am-1pm
- Location: Ypsilanti District Library, 1900 Harris Rd.
- Did you know that MLK Day is the only National Day of Service? Help us sew warm fleece hats to give to Delonis and Hope Clinic. Donate trial size hygiene products to put together for giveaway kits. All items to make fleece hats will be provided. Hygiene kit items to donate include trial sized toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, combs, disposable shavers, menstrual products, etc.
- More details here
- Ypsilanti – MLK Day Celebration with Akili Jackson
- Time: 2-5pm
- Location: Ypsilanti District Library, 1900 Harris Rd.
- Please join us for a celebration of the life and vision of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. Local artist, Akili Jackson, will perform an interactive and family-friendly concert of spoken word and hip-hop. There will be a display of Dr. King related historical records from the National Archive. We will also make buttons with vintage designs from Civil Rights movement marches and have a kids’ craft
- More details here
- Chelsea – 2023 City of Chelsea MLK Days of Service and Social Action
- 10am-12pm: Making Blankets for Refugees at First United Methodist Church, 128 Park St.
- 2pm: Storyteller as Coretta Scott King at the Chelsea District Library
- More information is available here
Grand Rapids
- Urban League of West Michigan MLK Day 2023 Corporate Breakfast
- Time: Networking at 7am; Breakfast at 7:30am
- Location: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW
- Every year the Breakfast is an opportunity to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service and be inspired to live out his dream today in our homes, the community and throughout the world. It is also a time to celebrate and honor trailblazing leaders in business and throughout the community who personify the Urban League’s mission of a more just, peaceful, equitable and thriving Grand Rapids.
- More details here
- Grand Rapids Community College 37th Annual MLK Celebration
- Time: 5:30pm
- Location: Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE
- Keynote speech by Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., New York Times Bestselling Author & Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University. Combining a scholar’s knowledge of history, a political commentator’s take on the latest events, and an activist’s passion for social justice, Dr. Eddie Glaude challenges all of us to examine our collective American conscience, “not to posit the greatness of America, but to establish the ground upon which to imagine the country anew.”
- More details here
MLK Day Celebrations on Alternative Days
Detroit
- Wayne State University’s “A Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
- January 12 at 5pm at WSU’s Industry Innovation Center Auditorium: a panel discussion on the Economics of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- January 13 at 10am at the Mike Ilitch School of Business Lear Auditorium: the formal program, “Economic Freedom through Social Justice,” featuring keynote speaker Randy D. Williams, founder and president of Talley & Twine, the largest black-owned watch company
- More details on both events here
Metro Detroit
- City of Farmington Prelude to MLK Day
- January 15 at 2pm at the Farmington Community Library and Zoom: “The History and Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen”
- Join us for a special prelude to MLK Day celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America’s first black military airmen. Retired Lt. Col. Lawrence Millben, member of the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, and others will discuss the history of the Airmen and his own experience as the first African American B.O. Davis Graduate and first African American Base Commander of the former Selfridge Air National Guard Base
- More details here
Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colloquium
- January 13 from 4-5:30pm: “Historically Black Phrases: Musings on the Black Church’s Influence on Black Language & Popular Culture”
- Speaker jarrett hill will consider Dr. King’s use of language to influence the Civil Rights movement, paired with how the Black church has influenced Black people and, in turn, broader popular culture. This colloquium will be followed by a Q&A session with jarrett hill, moderated by Department of Linguistics Associate Professor Jessi Grieser.
- More details here
- 2023 City of Chelsea MLK Days of Service and Social Action
- January 19 at 6pm: Movie about Dr. King and discussion on discrimination. At St. Louis Center.
- January 21 at 2pm: Activism Movie: Berkeley in the Sixties. At Dancey House Theater at United Methodist Retirement Center.
- More details here
Grand Rapids
- Grand Valley State University MLK Day of Service and Solidarity
- Time: January 21 from 8am-2pm
- Location: various sites
- The goals of this event are to educate participants about the Civil Rights movement; inspire people to engage in their communities by listening, learning, and advocating for social change on campus and beyond; and to learn from one another through intergenerational conversations as people work side by side. Community members are welcome to participate.
- Full schedule of events available here