Martin Luther King Jr Day events and service opportunities in Oakland
on January 15, 2011
Plant a tree, help clean up a neighborhood, or attend a peace celebration or film festival in honor of the 25th Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Here’s a list of events going on in Oakland — if you know of some we left out, please feel free to add them in the comments!
Saturday, January 15
East Oakland Clean Up
Led by Mayor Jean Quan and members of the City’s Public Works Agency. Bring gloves, clothes that can get dirty, a water bottle, and rain gear if necessary.
Location: Meet at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Boulevard.
Time: 8:30 – noon
More info here or by calling 510-816-1475.
Sunday, January 16
The Art of Storytelling: From Martin Luther King Jr. to President Obama
An afternoon of activities includes a performance of Let Freedom Ring: Civil Rights Tales by the Stagebridge theater company, storytelling workshops, performer Susheel Bibb’s presentation of Before Martin, There Was Mary. Events included in price of museum admission.
Location: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland
Time: 1 – 6 pm
More info here.
In the Name of Love: 9th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Musical performances by Goapele, Linda Tillery & Terrance Kelly, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and the Oakland Children’s Community Choir with Oaktown Jazz Workshops. General admission $12, children 6-12 $5, under age 6 free.
Location: Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
Time: 7 pm
More info here or by calling (800) 836-3006.
Breaking the Silence – Dr. Martin Luther King
There will be two lectures in the series. Al Sargis will give “Resistance to Racism of African-American Soldiers, Marines, and Sailors During the Vietnam War,” and Gary Hicks will present “Against Militarism, Racism, and Exploitation: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the National Security State.”
Location: Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
Time: 2 pm
More info here.
Monday, January 17
East Bay Regional Park District 3rd Annual Day of Service
Volunteers can help park staff do habitat restoration work and remove invasive plants. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Registration required for this event. You can register online or by calling 1-888-EBPARKS, (1-888-327-2757), option 2, 3. Civicorps Schools is a partner for this event and hopes to organize 50 volunteers; you can sign up with Civicorps by contacting Ursula at 510-992-7841.
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Park, Oakland
Time: 8:30 am – noon
More info here.
MLK Day of Service 2011 at Lake Merritt and Garden
Volunteers can help care for the lake and the nature gardens with tree planting, pruning and other garden work.
Location: 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland
Time: 8:30 am – 1 pm
More info here.
MLK Day of Service 2011 – Shepherds Canyon Park
Volunteers will work to establish a butterfly habitat area, plant wildflowers and milk weed, remove invasive species and paint out graffiti.
Location: Escher Dr., Oakland CA
Time: 9 am – 1 pm
More info here.
The Dream Lives On: Multicultural Peace Celebration & Rally
Speakers include Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts, Mayor Jean Quan, and YMCA of the East Bay President Rev. Robert Wilkins, as well as youth speakers.
Location: ILWU Warehouse Hall #6, 99 Hegenberger Rd.
Time: 10 am-2 pm
More info here or by calling (510) 798-5535.
Celebration Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Hosted by the NAACP, the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce and Acts Full Gospel Church
Location: 1034 66th Avenue, Oakland
Time: 11 am
More info by calling (510) 213-8297
Make the Dream Real 2011
Speakers include author and lecturer Marianne Williamson, Kokomon Clottey, founder of the Attitudinal Healing Connection, and Dr. Matthew Fox. Event is free but donations are welcome.
Location: Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, 1188 12th Street, Oakland
Time: 10 am – noon
More info here.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Film Festival
Location: African American Museum & Library, 659 14th Street, Oakland
Time: 11 am – 4 pm
More info here or by contacting 510-637-0200 or aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org. Note: Other Oakland public library locations will be closed for the holiday.
The 2011 MLK Jr. Birthday Celebration
This year’s celebration is entitled, “Sustaining the Dream: Through Community and Service.”
Location: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: 701 Mission Street, San Francisco
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Schedule of Events:
9 am – 4:30 pm: Mind, Body and Soul Festival in The Forum
9 am – 4:30 pm: San Francisco Literary and Children’s Reading Festival in the Grand Lobby
10 am – 5 pm: Free museum entry at Contemporary Jewish Museum and Museum of the African Diaspora
11 am: March and Parade. The parade begins at the Caltrains Depot and 4 St. and Townsend Ave. and ends at the Yerba Center
12:15 – 2 pm: “King in Five Vignettes” special presentation in the Novellus Theater
More info here.
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