Merced residents and UC Merced students prepare to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Merced County residents are preparing to honor the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend. While most opportunities are open to the public, some are geared toward UC Merced students.
King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work in the Civil Rights Movement. Themes of service and unity that characterize the holiday resound as burning wildfires and immigration enforcement operations unfold in the state, said Tamara Cobb, chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee in Merced.
The holiday will be observed Jan. 20 but some events will unfold in the days surrounding the date.
Here are some opportunities to plug in.
Jan. 18
Stephen Gray Park Clean Up: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service. The City of Merced invites all Merced residents to attend a clean-up event at Stephen Gray Park and the surrounding Bear Creek area. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Stephen Gray Park, 1755 W. N. Bear Creek Dr.
Jan. 20
Unity March: The annual Unity March is hosted by Merced’s Martin Luther King Jr. Committee. Attendees will gather at the Amtrak depot at 10 a.m. and walk toward The Merced Theatre at 11 a.m. The event’s theme of “Living the Dream” focuses on modeling unity for Merced’s children and youth, Cobb said. People with mobility restrictions, such as disabled and elderly residents, can participate by driving behind the marchers. 10 a.m. at the Merced Amtrak Station, 324 W. 24th St.
MLK Celebration: Following the march, a program featuring awards, food, and gift bags will continue at the Merced Theatre until 2 p.m. Among those scheduled to be honored are the Rev. Ella Luna-Garza of the United Methodist Church of Merced, who will receive the highest honor, the Spirit Award for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Families can also learn about county services and organizations at the tables of the Boys and Girls Club of Merced County and First 5 California. 12 p.m. at The Merced Theatre, 301 W. Main St.
MLK Jr. Day of Service: Staff at UC Merced’s Community Engagement Center are providing multiple volunteer opportunities for students at local community organizations. The event requires registration and some opportunities have limited space so students are encouraged to sign up early. Opportunities include Park Merced Assisted Living, where students read to senior citizens, play board games and offer them manicures. Students on campus can write letters to individuals affected by the justice system when they volunteer with the Central Valley Women’s Facility.
The Community Center aims to develop “meaningful relationships” between UC Merced students and the larger Merced community, said Vernette Doty, director of the Community Engagement Center at UC Merced. Most volunteer opportunities will be coordinated from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various volunteer sites.
Jan. 21
MLK Jr. Day of Service: This evening volunteer opportunity, hosted by the Community Engagement Center, is for UC Merced students to prepare and serve hot meals for unhoused residents sheltering at D Street Shelter. Nearly 70% of unhoused county residents, both sheltered and unsheltered, live in the City of Merced. 4:30-7 p.m. at D Street Shelter, 317 E 15th St.