Monday, Jan. 17, is a day to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. Here in Dublin, there are several ways to honor and remember Dr. King. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the following celebrations and activities have been adapted to allow for physical distancing while still staying connected. Click on the drop downs below for more information.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday Supper at Home
More than 120 people attended Dublin’s first annual Sunday Supper in 2017, hosted on the eve of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday. Launched by three members of Dublin’s youth community, the evening brought together neighbors, leaders and students to discuss the strengths of our diversity. Inspired by the original evening, fellow residents have volunteered to continue the tradition.
This year, since we cannot be together in one space to celebrate the spirit of the Sunday Supper, the idea is to have an MLK Sunday Supper at Home, within your own family and circle.
Read. Together, read Dr. King’s legacy and iconic “I Have a Dream” speech or his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
Talk about it. Here are some great conversation starters to have at the dinner table:
- Have we transformed our words of support for our community of color into action that supports them?
- Have we been willing to engage with people of different backgrounds even if they don’t agree with us?
- Have we made a legitimate effort to create an equitable and inclusive environment to be able to welcome engagement from our diverse neighbors?
- What plans can we lay out to ensure that our drive for a more equitable and inclusive community for our neighbors is not a short-term, momentary goal, but instead a consistent long-term change we want to create?
- What’s our reaction to these historic moments?
- How are we “includers” to our diverse neighbors?
- How are we included as diverse members of this community?
- Have we learned of other cultures?
- Have we asked what it feels like for others to feel more connected to our community?
- How have we, as family, made deliberate actions to be inclusive?
Sunday Supper was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of people from diverse backgrounds interacting on personal levels to embrace and celebrate our differences while cultivating racial and cultural understanding through conversation. People are encouraged to share a meal and discuss issues that affect their communities, such as unemployment, homelessness, education and hunger. The events often happen around MLK Day, but you can hold them any time of the year for groups big and small to promote service to others.
In 2017, three Dublin teen residents launched Dublin’s first Sunday Supper to come together to discuss our diversity and inclusion. The evening brought together neighbors, leaders, students and community members to discuss the strengths of our community and areas where we can come together more than ever. Since then, the community has continued to host a Sunday Supper, with approximately 150 people in attendance at a potluck style dinner to continue the tradition.
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Take a “Hike for Hope!”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech continues to serve as a call for equality and freedom, first spoken in 1963, and still relevant today.
To honor Dr. King, the City of Dublin invites residents and visitors to participate in a self-guided “Hike for Hope” at Thaddeus Kosciuszko Park from Jan. 13–30.
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Make It A Day “On” Not A Day “Off”
Looking to give back to your community with impactful at-home service projects that are fun for the whole family to get involved? Check out this great list we’ve rounded-up including sending cards to seniors, picking up litter in your neighborhood, ways to support wildlife and more!Serve your community! Volunteer engagement is a hallmark in Dublin. While the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily limited in-person service, there are other ways to get involved. E-mail volunteer@dublin.oh.us to learn more or inquire at any organization that is seeking volunteers throughout Central Ohio.
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Visit The Dublin Link
Dublin’s iconic bridge will be illuminated with red, white and blue the evening of Monday, Jan. 17, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. See the bridge’s 2022 lighting calendar. -
Visit the Culture Corner at the Dublin Community Recreation Center
The Culture Corner display at the DCRC was created by Dublin volunteers to highlight various multicultural holidays throughout the year. This month’s display at the DCRC is in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Visitors can learn more about Dr. King’s life and legacy, pick up an MLK Jr. Day Service Project guide that can be done at home, as well as a Kindness Craft Pack that includes supplies to make Valentine’s Day cards to spread love in anticipation of the upcoming holiday. There will be a limited number of Kindness Craft Packs available and are first come, first serve. -
Attend the City’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Meetings
The City of Dublin formed diversity, equity and inclusion groups in 2020 in response to calls for racial equity and inclusion in our country. Anyone attend an upcoming Dublin Police Chief’s Advisory Committee meeting. Look for the Community Inclusion Advisory Committee meeting schedule as this newly formed group comes online. Read more about Dublin’s DEI initiatives.
Learn more about the City of Dublin’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives.
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Reminisce and Recall
Discuss with older adults in your family or neighborhood who may remember Dr. King and the movement. Ask where they were, what their reactions were at the time, and how things have progressed, regressed, or changed since then. -
Read
Discover the great books recommended by our good friends at The Columbus Metropolitan Library Dublin Branch or follow the Community Reads program. -
Discover
Learn more about Dr. King’s legacy at the following sites:
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University
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Connect
Follow organizations with the mission of serving diversity, equity and inclusion in the Central Ohio community. Search the Central Ohio community for organizations that serve specific missions of inclusion in all communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community, those who are aging, other faiths and cultural inclusion organizations. -
Be Kind
Dublin kids of all ages are welcome to join the Kids in Dublin Service (K.I.D.S) Winter Kindness Challenge! Complete kind gestures and keep track using a handy challenge card. Complete 10 challenges and be entered to win a prize!
Another way to be kind is to discuss action steps to express kindness. Some suggested conversation starters about kindness are the following:
- Is kindness our habit? What are some examples of our kindnesses toward each other, our neighbors, our school and work mates, and strangers?
- What could we do tomorrow that would be a random act of kindness to someone?
- How does an act of kindness matter a month from now? A year from now?
- Who is especially isolated during this pandemic? How can we connect them with kindness?
- How do we express kindness in ways other than gifts?
Share
Did you hold your own Sunday Supper at Home, volunteered in your community or took the Hike for Hope and more? Share how you honored Dr. King using the entry form below!
