It can be hard finding family activities that honor the memory and the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Yet in a time when those teachings are so needed, we wanted to make sure you can find ways to do just that. Here are our top picks for virtual, at-home, and in-person plans you can make this year.
To Read
This MLK Day, consider introducing your little ones to Doctor King with a copy of I Am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Metzer. The bestselling novelist and comic writer teamed up with illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos for a series of biographical picture books ideal for a first meeting with historical figures such as King. Cute and accessible, the pages are also filled with detailed information.
Older kids may also enjoy the graphic novel trilogy March by the late MLK contemporary and former U.S. representative John Lewis.
To Watch
All things considered, it’s a lot easier to get multiple children to settle down on the couch for a movie than it is for joint reading time. While many of our MLK Day movie recommendations would be a bit mature for the whole family, we highly recommend 1999’s direct-to-video time travel classic Our Friend, Martin.
The story follows two sixth-graders with very little respect or understanding for the civil rights movement who end up traveling through time to meet Martin Luther King Jr. at various periods in the leader’s life. The all-star cast features appearances by Dexter and Yolanda King (portraying their father and aunt, respectively), as well as LeVar Burton, Jaleel White, Ed Asner, Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Whoopie Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, James Earl Jones, Ashley Judd, Susan Sarandon, John Travolta, and Oprah Winfrey.
At just over an hour, it’s an easy and excellent introduction into some of the more important events and goals of King’s life without feeling as emotionally heavy as films like Selma, and it’s readily available to stream online.
For the older crowd, King: A Filmed Record … Montgomery to Memphis is also available to stream online for free, via Kanopy, with any active Westchester library card or a University login.
To Do
Community Events
African American Men of Westchester will be holding its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Youth Awards Luncheon on Monday at 11:30 a.m. The awards ceremony honors King’s messages and legacy of hope and unity by recognizing four young Westchester students who represent these ideals through acts of service and leadership within their communities. Selected students will be awarded with $2,500 scholarships to recognize their contributions to the community. This year’s ceremony will be held at the Sleepy Hollow Conference Center in Tarrytown.
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On Monday at 1 p.m., Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon hosts an event with Professor Kristopher Burrell of Hostos Community College/CUNY. He will explore the civil rights struggles and triumphs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Burrell is currently working on a study of New York City’s civil rights movement titled Outsmarting Racism: New York’s Black Intellectuals and Theorizing Northern Racism, 1945-1968.
Yorktown for Justice hosts its third annual event to honor MLK Day with learning, music, and refreshments in Yorktown Heights on Monday at 1 p.m.
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On Sunday from 4-6 p.m., Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills will be hosting its 55th annual MLK Interfaith Community Worship Service and Youth for a Dream Awards Ceremony. The church will come alive with the uplifting voices of the community choir. Additionally, it will recognize tomorrow’s leaders at the Youth for the Dream Awards and award the prestigious Rufus A. Strother Award. Rev. Dr. Paul S. Briggs will be the guest speaker.
MLK Day of Service
If you’re looking to give back to the community yourself, Volunteer New York! has organized an interactive webinar on January 18 at 10 a.m. The hour-long webinar will guide you through a comprehensive understanding of how every action, whether big or small, contributes to societal change. Learn various ways to engage within the community, drawing inspiration from Dr. King’s legacy.
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The Shames JCC hosts a day of service in honor of MLK Day. Join the center for volunteer opportunities in 90-minute shifts throughout the day to pack meal boxes for the Sleepy Hollow High School Food Pantry.
Events for Kids
On January 16, the Mount Kisco Library hosts a peace symbol craft workshop at 4 p.m. in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Sign your child up for the Hartsdale MLK Jr. Day Camp for a full day of fun and learning on Monday. This program costs $159 per child and is ideal for those ages four to nine.
Over in Ardsley, kids can have a blast during the MLK Day of Non-stop Activities, which is suitable for those ages four to 11 and costs $175.
National Parks
MLK Day is also a free entrance holiday at all national parks. While we might be a ways away from the likes of Yosemite, “national parks” technically includes more local spots like the Old Croton Aqueduct, Sleepy Hollow’s Old Dutch Church, Philipse Manor Hall, the Elephant Hotel of Somers, and plenty more.
P.S. Looking for more things to do? Head to our online calendar.
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