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Twin Cities Mom Collective

5 Ways to Celebrate MLK Day in the Twin Cities

MLK Day

This year, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day falls on Monday, January 15th.  In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the federal holiday into law, and it was first celebrated three years later. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that it was officially observed in all 50 states.

MLK is known as the leader of activism during the Civil Rights Movement.  His actions and words shaped a generation and advanced the rights of people of color through nonviolence and civil disobedience. He remained a prominent leader in the movement until his assassination in 1968.

His legacy and work are important for all Americans to observe.  Below are two concerts commemorating and celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr Day in the Twin Cities. We’ve also provided a few other ideas to observe MLK’s life with your family.

5 Ways to Celebrate MLK Day as a Family:

Attend a Community Celebration

There are celebrations happening all around the Twin Cities metro area to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We’ve included a few below, but you may want to check with your local library, school district, or community government for additional celebrations.

Sunday January 14

43rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert | Ted Mann Concert Hall

1 City, 2 Realities- MLK Day 2024 | Online Event

Monday January 15

34th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast | Minneapolis Convention Center

38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebratio | Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration | Powderhorn Park

2024 Bold Conversation | Online Event

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration | Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center Minneapolis


Volunteer Together

Volunteering together as a family and serve others in your community. Pouring good back into our local communities through service is an important tenent of the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteering with kids is a great opportunity to put values into action, and raise kids who value giving back to their communities. We’ve got 20 Ways to Serve With Kids in the Twin Cities to get you started!

 

Read Together

Sometimes our intentions and words are best conveyed through stories. Colours of Us is an amazing resource for finding multicultural children’s books, and have put together a list of 14 children’s books about Martin Luther King Jr spanning from preschool to high school. The Conscious Kid also has a great list of  books honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for various ages and reading levels.

One of the best ways to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr is to read about his life with your kids.  Introducing children to the important work of MLK at an early age will help solidify his importance in their lives and in the world.  We recommend visiting one of the many wonderful independent bookstores in the Twin Cities to peruse their collection of books about MLK.  Here are a few we like.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World
I Am Brave: A Little Book About Martin Luther King, Jr.
Little People Big Dreams: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin’s Dream (Ana & Andrew)

Watch Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speech Together

Learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is not complete without watching him deliver the powerful words we have now read and referenced so many times. Watch his “I Have a Dream” speech here. After watching the video, discuss some of the things you heard on the video. Some questions for young kids might be “What is a dream? What was Dr. King’s Dream?” Discuss what peace and freedom means. For older kids, dive into how our country has changed–and ways it hasn’t changed–since 1963 when this speech was given. Together as a family, brainstorm ways that we can carry on his mission.

 


 

Make Peace Crafts

Explore the themes of peace, civil rights activism, anti-racism, courage, love, and community through an artistic lens together as a family. Kids love to create, and tapping into their creative spirit provides a great way to teach themes and make something amazing to hang up around home and keep the conversations going. Here are some Craft Ideas on Pintrest and Fun Family Crafts specifically for MLK Day as starting points for simple, fun projects you can do at home.

 

How do you and your family plan to celebrate Martin Luther King Day this year? Comment below to share with our community.

“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr., 1965

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