On Monday, January 20, 1986, people across the country celebrated the first official Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the only federal holiday commemorating an African-American. In Colorado, many will commemorate the life and legacy of the slain civil-rights leader across the Front Range.
once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"
According to the ,
- In recognition of Dr. King鈥檚 incredible legacy of service to all, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service in 1994 and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.
- Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service 鈥� a 鈥渄ay on, not a day off.鈥�
You can find local ways to as well as a few 2014 highlights of events below.
The annual combination celebration and march, dubbed by former Denver first lady Wilma Webb as a "Marade," will gather at the King memorial site in City Park at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., participants will journey 3 miles down East Colfax Avenue to Civic Center.
Starting at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Boulder's celebration will have slam poetry, music, and MLK service pledges in front of the Boulder County Courthouse on Pearl Street. At 12:30 p.m., the Youth Opportunities Advisory Board will lead a march from the courthouse to the CU-Boulder University Memorial Center.
From 1 p.m.-4 p.m., celebration activities at the CU-Boulder UMC will feature a 2:00 p.m. performance of Do You Know Who I Am? by Motus Theater. In addition there is a human rights fair featuring community organizations, Reading to End Racism and other children鈥檚 activities, and MLK鈥檚 birthday cake provided by Lexmark at 4:00 p.m.
Parking is free on streets and in the CU Euclid parking lot.
The Community March will be at 11:00 a.m. Meet at Old Town Square and join the march to the University Center for the Arts at 1400 Remington Street. Following at 11:45 a.m. at the University Center for the Arts - in the Griffin Concert Hall - there will be a celebration featuring Poudre School District Winners from an essay/poetry contest.
'Loveland Celebrates Diversity' featuring speaker Dr. Ryan Ross, Dean of Student Development and Retention at Community College of Denver will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Mountain View High School.
The celebration and march begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, 7th Ave & 9th St.
