MLK Day 2022 In SoCal: How You Can Get Involved

Michael Wittner
Updated ·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

LOS ANGELES, CA — On Monday, the LA area will celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who dedicated his life to the fight for civil equality. However, for the second year in a row, a dramatic winter surge in COVID-19 cases has greatly limited in-person observations of Dr. King’s legacy.

On Jan. 7, organizers of the 37-year-old Kingdom Day Parade announced that the parade - which was set to march from the intersection of Western Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Leimert Park with floats, drill teams, and marching bands - was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Still, there are plenty of virtual events and service projects occurring Monday, which is traditionally observed around the country as a “day of service.” Here’s a rundown of ways you can honor MLK in Southern California on Monday.

  1. King Day 2022: From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the California African-American Museum in LA’s Exposition Park is holding its annual King Day online. From 11-12, the museum is hosting a virtual community reading and discussion of King’s 1967 speech “A Christmas Sermon on Peace.” From 12-1, the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has been described as the “Black national anthem,” and a medley of spirituals and original compositions. Click here to RSVP to this free event. Ticket sales end Monday.

  2. MLK Day of Service: L.A. Works, a non-profit volunteer organization, is sponsoring a number of virtual service events that will last throughout Monday. At 9 a.m., hear from LAUSD educators about their ongoing challenges teaching during the pandemic, and learn how you can support them. At noon, march on Washington, 2022 style: through an interactive Minecraft march. Click here for a full schedule of events.

  3. Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra MLK Concert: The Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra will host a free hour-long performance Monday in a digital livestream, followed by a Q&A with pianist Leonard Hayes. The event will also feature remarks from LA Times columnist LZ Grenderson, spoken word from Get Lit, and the presentation of education awards to local students. Click here to register.

  4. West Hollywood’s National Day of Service: The City of West Hollywood is partnering with West Hollywood Elementary School for a two-week virtual donation event to benefit the city’s Homeless Initiative.

This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch