Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, acting as a call to action for Americans far and wide to make a positive impact in their communities in honor of the legacy of Dr. King.
To help promote the day of service each each year, AmeriCorps has a helpful search tool that allows you to find volunteer opportunities near you. It also promotes a volunteer pledge, to help prospective volunteers commit to serving and gain quick access to volunteer opportunities.
Here are just a few of the volunteer opportunities offered by AmeriCorps in New York City and beyond as well as commemorative events across the Tri-State area to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.
Manhattan
Jackie Robinson Museum MLK Day Celebration
January 20, 2025, 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Honor the legacy of Dr. King and the fight for civil rights at the The Jackie Robinson Museum presents a special program that highlights Jackie Robinson and Dr. King’s close friendship and how they collaborated throughout the Civil Rights Movement.
MLK Day of Service
Icahn Stadium, 10 Central Road, Randall’s Island
January 18, 2025, 9:30 – 11:30 am & 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Aid the Urban Farm team in putting together seed packets for distribution.
MLK Young Changemakers: Feeding Our Future
January 20, 2025 3:00 pm
The Apollo Theater presents MLK Young Changemakers, a series of important conversations about environmental advocacy and the impact that environmental and food justice has our lives and the community at large.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House - Peter Jay Sharp Building
January 20 at 10:30 am
Attend the 39th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Brooklyn Academy of Music featuring a speech by Carlotta Walls LaNier of the Little Rock Nine, a compelling presentation by Ailey II, a musical performance with The Fire Ensemble led by Troy Anthony, and more.
Queens
Martin Luther King Family Day at Museum of the Moving Image
January 19 at 2:00 pm
Come together for a community event celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. featuring meaningful conversation with local teen advocates about conflict resolution, opportunities for digital media making, and a scavenger hunt exploring the connections between the civil rights movement and moving image history.
Staten Island
MLK Day of Service Coastal Clean-Up at Snug Harbor, Staten Island
January 20th, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Give back to the local community of Snug Harbor by participating in a coastal clean up of the shoreline to improve the overall heath of the area’s coastal ecosystem.
