Bodman Celebrates 2024 MLK National Day of Service
01/11/24
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Bodman’s offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024. 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 15th “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 15, 2024
DETROIT
- “Let Freedom Ring” MLK Birthday Celebration at the Fox Theatre
- Time: 5pm
- Location: Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave.
- Rainbow PUSH Coalition founder and civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., will host the. Five individuals whose work have shined the light on humanity and expound the life of Dr. King will be honored: Judge Greg Mathis; Big Sean; Bishop John Drew Sheard, presiding bishop of 6 million COGIC members; Maha Reij, president and CEO of ACCESS; and Amy Nederlander, co-founder of L!fe Leaders.
- Several elected officials will share remarks, including Mayor Mike Duggan, Senator Gary Peters, Congresswomen Debbie Dingell and Rashida Talib, Congressman Shri Thanedar, and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, II.
- The event is free to the public. More details here
- 21st Annual Detroit MLK Day Rally and March
- Time: 12pm-3pm
- Location: St Matthew’s & St Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 8850 Woodward Ave.
- The 21st Annual March and Rally will feature speakers and artists from the Detroit area highlighting the wealth of community organizers and cultural workers in southeastern Michigan. A broad coalition of these social forces is very much needed in the coming year to meet the challenging facing the people of the city, the country and the globe.
- More details here
- MLK Day at the Wright
- Time: all day
- Location: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
- Activities for the day include:
- Annual Prayer Breakfast
- Exhibitions (featuring Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, And Still We Rise, and Being Seen)
- Film Screening & Talkback featuring Selma by Ava Duvernay (and see the costumes from Selma too!)
- Workshops (hands-on family workshops with museum educators)
- Virtual Reality Experience (MLK Now is The Time: an immersive journey that explores key themes of Dr. King’s speech and what they mean today)
- Scavenger Hunt (family fun activity with prizes)
- Reading Rainbow (storytime for children and families)
- Tickets are $15 for adults and free for children. More details here
- Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament: Holy Mass for Justice and Peace
- Time: 11am
- Location: Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Ave.
- As a champion of civil rights, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams were much aligned with many 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 Day Celebration
- Time: 10am-2pm
- Location: Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave.
- This MLK Day, meet Sharon Elizabeth Sexton, Chair of the Black Historic Site Committee, who will read from and discuss her new children’s book MLK Jr.’s Detroit Dream. Based on her own experience of attending the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, the book describes the triumphs and tragedies of the American Civil Rights movement from a child’s perspective. Books will be available for purchase in the museum store.
- After the program, children are invited to make their own signs and join a peace march through the museum. The day will conclude with a birthday celebration for Dr. King with cupcakes and singing.
- Participation is free with registration. Presented in partnership with the Detroit Historical Society’s Black Historic Sites Committee.
- Admission is free with advance registration
METRO DETROIT
- Dearborn – Henry Ford Museum
- Time: all day (Sat., Jan. 13-Mon., Jan. 15)
- Location: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
- The Museum is celebrating the life and lasting legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by offering three days of new featured programs, performances and living history demonstrations, plus special tours and screenings in Giant Screen Experience.
- The celebration powerfully coincides with the final weekend of Mandela: The Official Exhibition. In recognition of Mandela’s values and commitment to making the world a better place, our thoughts turn to the American Civil Rights Movement and the inspiration to be drawn from individuals and communities.
- Museum admission and parking are free on the recognized holiday – January 15.
- The full three-day schedule is available here
- Cities of Royal Oak, Berkley and Clawson 2024 MLK Service Day
- Time: 8:30am
- Location: Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington
- The cities and school districts of Royal Oak, Berkley and Clawson are proud to announce a joint MLK Day event for the entire community to remember, participate, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- A full list of activities is available here
- City of Auburn Hills MLK Day Events
- Time: 9:00am
- 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. The theme is “Be love – our goal, our community.”
- More details here
- City of Westland MLK Celebration Freedom Walk
- Time: 9am
- Location: Westland City Hall, 36300 Warren Road
- Join us as we celebrate and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the message he preached to the world. 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
- University of Michigan 2024 MLK Symposium
- The University of Michigan community is invited to explore “Transforming the Jangling Discords of Our Nation into a Beautiful Symphony” as the theme of its 2024 symposium honoring civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
- As one of the nation’s largest celebrations of King’s life and legacy sponsored by higher education, the annual symposium’s theme will call on the community to grapple with the nature of ongoing discord around the globe, and to examine the role of individuals and members of society to create a world where harmony is possible.
- MLK Memorial Keynote Lecture
- Time: 10am
- Location: Hill Auditorium (825 N. University Ave.) and streaming online
- Author of the acclaimed bestseller The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander, legal scholar, social justice advocate, New York Times columnist and visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary, peels back the curtain on systemic racism in the prison system and offers insights on how to end the racial caste in America.
- MLK Children and Youth Program
- Time: 8:30am-3pm
- Location: School of Education Building, 610 E. University Ave.
- We aim to expose K-12 students to the legacy, ideals and forces of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an emphasis on aiding young people to act on these ideals today. In addition to focusing on events of historical authenticity and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, we discover and discuss contemporary issues regarding race, class, social justice, diversity and societal change as it affects and applies to current K-12 students.
- Throughout the day, students enjoy a mixture of entertainment and enriching learning through a range of cultural and educational activities. We will feature performances by Jamall Bufford, Chandler Park Academy Choir, Christine Dixon (Harriet Tubman impersonator), Elizabeth James, Robert Jones, Sr., Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, and Rockim Williamson.
- Pre-registration is required
- History & Healing: Reparations and Repair in Detroit & Beyond
- Time: 4pm-6pm
- Location: Michigan Union, The Pendleton Room, 530 S. State St.
- How do we maintain and encourage an authentic commitment to Afrourbanism by utilizing the knowledge to be found in resources such as storytelling, oral histories and archives? How does a project like the Black Bottom Archives, a Detroit non-profit organization, help us think about the possibilities of reparations as a form of remembrance and healing?
- A full list of UM’s 2024 MLK Symposium events (continuing throughout the month of January) is available here
- Ypsilanti District Library – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
- Time: 2:30-4pm
- Location: Ypsilanti District Library, 1900 Harris Rd.
- Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a performance by Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Reflect on Dr. King’s work through activities before and after the performance.
- More details here
GRAND RAPIDS
- Urban League of West Michigan MLK Day 2024 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
- MLK Day Celebration at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
- Time: 10:30am-12pm
- Location: 3441 Bradford St NE
- Join us in a fun and educational morning, celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. with music, story time and a craft. First, stop by the story time room to sing and listen to stories about the life and dreams of Dr. King. Then explore what the word “freedom” means to you through the work of Black artist and activist Richard Hunt, with a torn-paper collage.
- The event is free. More details here
- 38th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. Commemoration with Grand Valley State University, Davenport University and Grand Rapids Community College
- Time: 6pm
- Location: Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St NE, and streaming online
- Melissa Harris-Perry will deliver a keynote address that aims to reflect on Rev. King’s message of unity and equality. Harris-Perry is a writer, columnist, TV host and professor who focuses on race issues in America. She hosted her own weekend news show from 2012 to 2016, has written two award-winning books and is now a regular columnist for The Nation
- MLK Silent March
- Time: 11am-12:30pm
- Location: Calder Plaza and Heartside Park, 320 Ottawa Ave NW
- This is an expressive speech/march to shine light and combat the aggression and violence experienced by the BIPOC Community.
- More details here
MLK Day Celebrations on Alternative Days
DETROIT
- Wayne State University’s 2024 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute
- Time: January 12 from 10am-12pm
- Location: WSU’s Hilberry Gateway (4715 Cass Ave.)
- The theme for 2024 is Arts, Culture and Music of the Movement. Santita Jackson, political analyst, radio and TV host, and internationally recognized vocalist will serve as special guest. Ms. Jackson continues the legacies of Rev. Dr. King and her father and mother, Rev. and Mrs. Jesse Jackson, by educating about voting rights and advocating for civil and human rights. The lessons she learned as a child growing up under these influences are still relevant today.
- On Friday, January 12, Arts, Culture, and Music of the Movement will feature presentations, music, and dance followed by a conversation with Ms. Jackson. We also will present the Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Community Leadership Awards honoring an individual and an organization exemplifying Dr. Johnson’s commitment to community and making a positive difference in Detroit and beyond.
- The event is free with registration. More details here
- Detroit Public Library – Wilder Branch MLK Day Activities
- Time: January 13 from 12-1pm
- Location: DPL Wilder Branch, 7140 E. 7 Mile
- Learn about how Dr. King’s life impacted the world and how you can bring it forward in today’s society.
Detroit Children’s Fund 2nd Annual MLK Legacy Town Hall
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- Time: January 17 from 4:30-7pm
- Location: Detroit Edison Public School Academy, 1903 Wilkins Street Detroit, MI 48207
METRO DETROIT
- West Bloomfield United We Walk 30th Annual Event
- Time: January 14 from 1-3pm
- Location: West Bloomfield Middle School, 6000 Orchard Lake Rd
- Our Shared Mission: To celebrate annually the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by embracing the continuing influence and impact of Dr. King’s dream of creating a beloved community that values diversity, promotes unity, and underscores the worth of every person. This year’s theme for our 30th celebration is “The King in Me: We Walk in Unity, Equality and Community.”
- More details here
- Continuing the Dream: 30th Celebration Honoring MLK
- Time: January 14 – Reception at 2:30pm and Service at 3:30pm
- Location: Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, 320 W 7th St
- The Greater Detroit District of the United Methodist Church presents, Continuing the Dream, the 30th Celebration Honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hosted by Royal Oak First UMC. Bring a NEW Children’s books geared for Kindergarten-3rd grade as part of a way to honor Dr. King’s legacy.
- More details here
ANN ARBOR
- 40th Annual MLK Brunch Celebration – Ann Arbor Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.
- Time: 11:30am-2pm
- Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Ann Arbor North, 3600 Plymouth Road
- NANBPWC, Inc. – the Ann Arbor Club (aananbpwc.org) is extremely pleased to announce its 40th Annual MLK Jr. Brunch Celebration. This momentous event salutes Dr. King’s memory and his legacy. Come together with friends, family, community members and leaders to honor the legacy of Dr. King and his tireless fight for equality and justice.
- The keynote speaker is Victoria Burton-Harris, Chief Assistant Prosecutor for Washtenaw County. The entertainment planned to get everyone grooving in and out of their seats will be provided by the amazing Alise King Experience (MotorCity Detroit band). There will also be a silent auction and a few other surprises along the way.
- More details here
- Ypsilanti District Library – Jazz Concert Celebrating MLK Jr.
- Time: January 14 from 2-3:30pm
- Location: Whittaker Branch, 5577 Whittaker Road
- Join jazz musician and educator Sean Dobbins and some exceptional musicians for a musical reflection on the lasting legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This all-ages show will include original music and some by the jazz masters of the past. Everyone welcome.
- More details here
GRAND RAPIDS
- GVSU Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration: TaRita Johnson keynote
- Time: January 18 from 5-8:30pm
- Location GVSU-Downtown Grand Rapids, 401 W. Fulton St, Suite 210
- This event continues Experience Grand Rapids’ partnership with the GVSU Office of Inclusion & Equity as part of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Week. They will welcome TaRita Johnson, Senior Vice President of Talent & Diversity at The Right Place. With a professional journey spanning education, social work, business, and community engagement, she joins us to weave together her story with the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- More details here