“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by human beings for breaking down injustice.”

On January 17, 2022, Health & Medicine’s office will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national day of service that allows us to honor and reflect on the life, legacy, and dreams of Dr. King — and our role in fulfilling these dreams. Dr. King’s family recently called for “no celebration without legislation,” stressing the need to pass national voting rights legislation:

“MLK Day has always been a day on, not off,” Martin Luther King III stated. “We’re not urging Americans not to honor this day — we’re asking people to honor Dr. King through action to protect the right to vote.”

As we approach the MLK Jr. holiday, we hope the words of Dr. King and his family will inspire you to challenge yourself to be brave and act in ways that matter. As the King family prepares to march for federal voting rights legislation in D.C., we urge our supporters to explore opportunities to honor Dr. King’s legacy at home. Please join us in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

• Free Martin Luther King Day Chicago Events
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2022 Guide for Chicago Families
• MLK Commemoration: Celebrating the life and legacy
• 19 Resources and Ideas to Celebrate the MLK Day of Service
• 4 Chicago concerts and events in celebration of MLK Day
• Where to learn, volunteer and celebrate on MLK Day, online or in person

We also encourage our Schweitzer Fellows and Fellows for Life to participate in our MLK service days at the Pilsen Food Pantry.