Celebrate MLK Day 1/15 in Three Easy Steps - Dine, Donate, Demand

Greetings My Neighbors!

First and foremost, Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was very, very good! As we move from this time of focusing on family and friends, it's also time to get ready to celebrate the next big holiday of 2018 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day on Monday, January 15.

What is MLK Day?

In recognition of Dr. King’s incredible legacy of service to all, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service in 1994. Against what seemed like impossible odds, Dr. King and scores of his fellow citizens of all races came together and, ultimately, helped bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice. The upcoming commemoration of the MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 15, is an opportunity to remember that history and re-commit ourselves as citizens by volunteering in service to one another. It is also a time to consider how much work still remains to fulfill Dr. King’s dream.

Ready to celebrate MLK Day? You can get going in three easy steps:

1) Dine
Register now to join with your neighbors at the Northwest area's first and only MLK Day Dinner on Monday, January 15 from 6:30PM - 8:30PM. Once again this year we'll be at the Wildwood Tavern**, 6941 W. Touhy, Niles. Cost is only $15/person. We've set the price right to make it affordable for as many citizens as possible to attend. The price includes Wildwood's award winning chili bar, soup, salad and breads. Taxes and tips for our servers are included in the price. Beverages are up to each person.

To register today for the 2nd Annual Unity in Community MLK Day Northwest Dinner, you can 1) simply reply to this post with your name and email or 2) send an email to jac.charlier@gmail.com or 3) go to the Patch event listing here https://patch.com/illinois/nil... 3) send an email to us at jac.charlier@gmail.com or 4) do so by clicking here https://www.facebook.com/events/380722305718681/ for the Unity in Community MLK Day Dinner Facebook Event. Easy!

**Wildwood Tavern has ample, free parking and is easily accessible via CTA (Central 85A from Blue Line Jefferson Park) and Pace (Touhy Avenue 290) bus stops at Caldwell and Touhy.

2) Donate
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Through the MLK National Day of Service, you can answer that question. Locate where you can donate your time through the act of service to our neighbors at https://www.nationalservice.gov/mlkday and be part of all those taking part in the the MLK National Day of Service.

3) Demand
The single word that best describes the work of Dr. King is justice, and while he was singularly focused on demanding an end to the horrendous and persistent racism, exclusion and violence endured by black Americans, over the years the message has expanded and we correctly seek a justice that includes full equality for women, welcoming of immigrants, and the affirmation of diversity as a core American value.

Of course, the work of demanding justice does not occur on just one day but instead is done throughout the year. To that end, this year Unity in Community is proud to support the Chicago Women's March 2018 taking place on Saturday, January 20. You can easily learn more and sign-up to attend here: http://womens121marchonchicago.org/

Note that men are also welcome to support The Women's March.

Still have questions? Want more info? Contact Jac Charlier at jac.charlier@gmail.com.

See you on Monday, January 15 at 6:30 PM for year 2, MLK Day Dinner Northwest.