How to Share Dr. Martin Luther King’s Legacy from a Transformational Perspective

As we show up for MLK Day of Service we want volunteers and partners to understand the rich history of the day and see it as a direct opportunity to connect people to causes that impact their community while equally appreciating how Dr. King’s message embodied neighboring, belonging, social justice and racial equity. We want to help you create spaces of transformation instead of just a transaction. Here are some ways to be able to incorporate that sentiment into this day of service as you lead volunteers.

In the introduction, be transparent about your own understanding of the day and information from the prep training that was had. Communicate that you do want them to look at the Legacy of MLK from a perspective that will prompt them to serve in varying ways through the year. As an organization and leader it is important to mirror that transparency and vulnerability so that others are invited to go there as well as they reflect.

Have a set of goals in place and communicate what those goals are. Goals for the day may include:

To learn something new about the legacy of Dr. MLK and the Beloved Community
To be introduced to a new way of thinking when it comes to the volunteering experience (coming to partner vs coming to save)
To have an introduction to the organization and the ways in which it is focused on social justice and racial equity.
Highlight BIPOC partners that are also doing the work in the community.

From Fast Facts to Learning the Legacy

You’d be surprised what it took to make this day recognized across the country. Oftentimes during MLK Day of Service, organizations can gloss over the hardship it took to make this day a reality. In order to move from transactional facts to a connection with the legacy, share the work and dedication that was required by Coretta Scott King and others to make it happen. Volunteers must be able to hear the hardship and heart work it took so we don’t take the day for granted. Here are a couple of points to discuss as an introduction to the day of service.
It took a total of 32 years for all states to acknowledge the day as a holiday
6 million signatures were submitted by Coretta Scott King in support of the day.
Resource: Reading Partners did a great job of a short but comprehensive write-up of the struggle to make this a recognized day. Link: https://readingpartners.org/blog/martin-luther-king-jr-day-of-service/
Within this write up is an excellent article of how everyday folks supported the law to pass: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/working-class-hero/

From Fixing People to Addressing Systems

Openly talk about what partnering with the community means in the context of volunteerism. Communicate they are not serving to save or to rescue the community but help alleviate barriers so they can live the life they choose to without harm and injustice.
Introduce the concept of community-centered volunteerism, where the community is at the forefront and are leaders in the decision-making, goals and future of their community and it’s a volunteer’s role to support them in that.
Talk about the actual systems you are trying to dismantle through the volunteer opportunity vs. centering it around people with problems who need to be helped (people who are homeless need your support vs. some of these populations have been historically excluded from resources that would have supported them)
Explicitly communicate how the volunteer opportunity supports the dreams and decision-making of the community they are partnering with. How is the volunteer opportunity creating an avenue for advocacy and increased communal support? Connect them to the transformation that would take place because of the work done.

From Surface Reaction to Deep Reflection

It’s okay to challenge the volunteers about some perceived biases they may carry about those whom the organization is serving. Feel free to ask some of the following reflection questions:
What preconceived notions did you carry about those you partnered with today? How has this opportunity reshaped that?
What do others stereotypically say about this community? How can we combat those stereotypes and make a new narrative?
What are some new ways you are thinking about Dr. King and his legacy?
In what ways can you incorporate transformational service (and not just leaving it here) as a lifestyle?
Resource: Here was a training created that connects Dr. MLK quotes to transformational change and how to discuss them through the lens of community-centered partnership. Feel free to use this as a tool for reflection: 4 Quotes That Will Reintroduce You to Dr. MLK to Volunteers and Yourself