Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
35 results for "martin luther king jr."
When the power goes out in Spokane's East Central neighborhood, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will now stay online thanks to a new solar-powered microgrid. The system keeps lights on, food cold, and doors open during emergencies.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fdb%2F05%2Fdb059581-3108-4fd6-abfc-22f0d86b5428%2Fsharon_and_dad_charles.jpg)
A merry-go-round that witnessed a brave Black toddler's first ride at a newly desegregated Maryland park in 1963 is spinning again on the National Mall after a stunning restoration. The same day Sharon Langley made history on this carousel, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech 45 miles away.
Florida's 42nd Annual King Celebration brings together students, community leaders, and entrepreneurs for 10 days of service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision. A high school senior will deliver the keynote at the Hall of Fame Gala.
Jesse Jackson, the legendary civil rights leader who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and spent decades fighting for equality worldwide, has passed away at 84. His voice and vision inspired millions and helped shape the United Nations' work against racism and apartheid.
Jesse Jackson, who died February 17 at 84, transformed leadership skills from the football field into a lifetime of fighting for civil rights and economic justice. The quarterback turned activist helped secure jobs for thousands and inspired millions through five decades of tireless advocacy.
More than 5,000 volunteers in Orange County, Florida, came together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to pack over one million meals for families facing hunger. The massive effort will help feed thousands across Central Florida.
Nearly 200 Oakland County families spent their Saturday teaching kids about food insecurity while packing meals for hungry neighbors. The volunteer event honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of service while celebrating Jack and Jill of America's 88th anniversary.
A packed church in Winchester, Kentucky turned Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream into action as students, leaders, and neighbors gathered to celebrate unity through service. Award-winning educator Paul Howard reminded hundreds that real change happens in daily choices, not just annual events.
More than 40 volunteers turned Martin Luther King Jr. Day into action, packaging 16,000 diapers for Indiana families who can't afford them. One in two Hoosier families struggles to buy enough diapers to keep their children in daycare.
AmeriCorps volunteers across West Virginia are collecting thousands of items to refill 18 food, baby supply, and pet pantries this January. Their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day project has grown bigger each year, jumping from 6,000 items in 2024 to 6,800 in 2025.
Hundreds of Alabama Power volunteers worked across the state on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, serving breakfast to hundreds, beautifying historic districts, and filling backpacks for families in need. The effort shows how one company's culture of service can strengthen entire communities.
Dozens of volunteers packed food and stocked shelves at a Virginia foodbank to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of service. The annual event has brought communities together for 14 years to help feed families in need.
Hundreds are expected to gather Monday night in Topeka for a free community dinner and celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. The event brings together diverse voices to explore how his dream continues to inspire action today.
Volunteers gathered at Washington DC's historic Langston Golf Course on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor his legacy through service. The community came together to restore and improve the beloved public course.
After more than three decades of separate celebrations, Houston brought thousands together for one historic Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. The unified event marks a new chapter in the city's commitment to community and togetherness.
Students, faculty, and staff at Fort Lewis College came together Monday for a unity march celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. The Black Student Union organized the event to emphasize that creating positive change requires continuous community effort, not just one day of remembrance.
Over 200 volunteers spent their Martin Luther King Jr. Day serving at Christian City, a Georgia nonprofit supporting vulnerable children and seniors. For some, like Stephen Farrell who received his first bed from the organization as a child, giving back has become deeply personal.
Volunteers spanning multiple generations gathered in Sparks to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day by packing food for seniors in need. The community service project brought together young and old to serve those who built their community.
Over 1,200 volunteers gathered at Iowa's UNI-Dome to pack meals for students facing hunger, crushing their goal by filling 70,000 backpacks instead of 60,000. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day tradition brings together college students, faith groups, and community members to turn service into action.
Over 1,000 community members filled Greater Young Zion Baptist Church for the 39th annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial service in Augusta, Georgia. The "Together We Win" theme sparked a week of celebrations connecting schools, artists, and neighbors across the region.
Showing 20 of 35