Communities across the nation will dedicate their time to service on Monday, Jan. 15 to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Dr. King’s mission was a moral one: from bridges and ballot boxes to pulpits, protests, and courthouses, he courageously stood for the sacred idea that embodies the soul of our Nation — we are all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” said President Joe Biden in a proclamation from the White House.

This past week, South Alabama students and faculty began their celebrations of Dr. King’s legacy with a special showing of “Rabbi on the Block” at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center on Jan. 10 and an “It Starts With Me” panel on Jan. 11.

On Thursday, Jan 11 and Friday, Jan. 12, tables in the Student Center Mall were dedicated to creating posters for Monday’s MLK Community March and Rally.

In the evening on Jan. 12, a performance of “Gee’s Bend” took place at the Joe Jefferson Playhouse. The story followed the Pettway women, quilters from Gee’s Bend, Alabama, who continued to create quilts through segregation, family struggles, and the Civil Rights Movement. Tickets were free for South Alabama students.

Community cleanups took place at numerous locations across Mobile on Jan. 13, spearheaded by the Mobile United Natural Resources Taskforce and People United to Advance the Dream.

Coming Up

Dr. Alexandra Jones and the USA Archaeology Museum will be at the historic Africatown (Plateau) Cemetery from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to assist with documenting cemetery markers. The group will be meeting in the parking lot across the street from the cemetery, which is located at 459 Bay Bridge Road, Mobile, Alabama, 36610.

Volunteers for this event are still needed, and they are asked to bring a cell phone or tablet. Any questions should be sent to Jen Knutson, USA Archaeology Museum Assistant Director, at jenknutson@southalabama.edu.

The MLK Community March and Rally will take place tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 15 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations to ride on the charter bus from campus have been filled as of Jan. 14, but any community members who are interested in marching can meet the rest of the group at Dearborn YMCA by 12 p.m. More information, including a required march and rally waiver, can be found on their Event page on South Serves.

These events were brought by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement as part of the Cultural Awareness Collaborative. For more service opportunities happening throughout the year, both on and off campus, visit South Serves.