National Days of Service

Building a Beloved Community: Unite, Serve, and Transform on MLK Day

The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change. His example is our call to action. 

MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. For nearly 30 years, the MLK Day of Service has grown, and its impact has increased as more Americans embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving communities. 

The MLK Day of Service is Monday, Jan. 15. You and your partners are encouraged to host, partner, and engage in service on this day and the days surrounding.   

Visit AmeriCorps.gov/MLKDay to find all you need to take action: 

• How to add your MLK Day volunteer opportunity to the AmeriCorps search tool. 
• How to find in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities on MLK Day. 
• Tools, resources, and informational webinars for participating and planning MLK Day of service projects in your community. 

Looking for a way to participate?    

1. Share the PSA. The MLK Day video is available in vertical and horizontal formats in 15, and 60-second lengths for easy sharing. Radio spots are also available. Find video and audio in the fourth tab of this toolkit.
   
   
2. Become an MLK Day Champion. Show your support in honoring the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service and Remembrance with AmeriCorps. Champions receive invitations to webinars, early access to national marketing materials, and more! Find out more. 
   
   
3. Promote MLK Day on social media. Use the #MLKDay tag in your organization’s social media content and our ready-to-use shareable posts (found in the tab below) on your Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram accounts.   
   
   
4. Send a newsletter or write a blog. Add our language to your next organization newsletter to help spread the word. Use our MLK Day communication templates to get started.   
   
   
5. Declare MLK Day as a day of service in a state or local proclamation. Help secure Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service and Remembrance proclamations from your city or county council, state legislature, or governors. Use the sample proclamation in the Communication Resources tab of this toolkit.
   
   
6. Help inspire more to serve. Help spread the word that service can extend beyond MLK Day. Below in the communication resources section, you will find helpful tips to recruit AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers during your MLK Day event. Recruitment posters are available in this toolkit too. You can also utilize our recruitment toolkit to share why others should choose AmeriCorps. 

Follow the digital conversation about MLKDay and the days leading up to it on AmeriCorps’ Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to follow the #MLKDay hashtag. 
 
Click through the tabs below to find communications resources, messaging, sample social media, and graphics. Check back in at the end of November to find more updates to the toolkit.

AmeriCorps and the King Center are co-hosting an X Chat to amplify the following three messages to the general public:  

1. raise awareness about MLK Day of Service and why answering Dr. King’s call to service is vital to building a stronger, more united America in 2024;

2. highlight the positive impact that’s possible when we unite in service to others on MLK Day; and 

3. share the many ways Americans can take action in honor of this MLK Day and where to find resources/opportunities to get started. 

Tune in and Participate 

Tune in to the X Chat by following the hashtag #MLKDay24Chat and the handles @AmeriCorps and @TheKingCenter on Twitter. Please email socialmedia@americorps.gov to RSVP and receive the prepared chat questions and instructions. You can also join the chat in real time on Friday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. ET. 

Promotion 

Please share with your networks that you are participating. We've provided assets including social media copy and graphics for you to use, below in the first tab. Please make sure you share the date, time and hashtag with your followers.