Clients in the News – January 2017

Many Avalon clients kick off the new year by celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16 this year) as our national day of service. Here are some of the volunteer opportunities and special events they are offering around that time.

• On January 16 at 6 pm, the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University present Let Freedom Ring!, featuring the incomparable Gladys Knight and the Let Freedom Ring Choir in a musical tribute to Dr. King. Tickets are free and going fast, so visit the Kennedy Center’s website for details on how to pick up a pair.
• The Student Conservation Association holds volunteer events every year on MLK Day weekend. This year, join ConSERVE NYC on Saturday, January 14, as they bring together hundreds of New York volunteers to restore native forest land in Morningside Park. In Washington, DC, on January 16, ConSERVE DC will conduct a massive cleanup along the Anacostia River to improve the health of DC’s urban waterfront. For more information on SCA events this weekend, including where to go, what to wear, and what to bring—visit SCA’s website.
• The High Museum of Art in Atlanta has a small but impactful photography exhibition honoring Dr. King on display now through March 12. The exhibition features images of Dr. King speaking and leading marches, as well as enjoying life at home with his family. On Sunday, January 15, the Museum holds a family day to celebrate Dr. King’s life and work by showing children how they can be catalysts for change. Events include art-making workshops, Civil Rights story times, and a screening of The Children’s March. Visit the High Museum’s website for more information.
• In its inaugural year, the National Museum of African American History and Culture offers ongoing events and programs that expand on the Museum’s theme: “A people’s journey, a nation’s story.” One example comes on January 11 at 7 pm: Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul — a conversation between Michael A. Fletcher and Eddie Glaude, Jr., with musical and spoken word artist Jasiri X. Check the Museum’s website for more information on this presentation and previews of what else is to come. 

• The Maryland Food Bank considers its volunteers the heart of its operation, so MFB offers flexible volunteer opportunities to give people lots of options. Whether you’re an individual looking to lend a hand, or have a group of kids who want to get involved, MFB will have you sorting food, harvesting crops, or flash-freezing healthy meals in no time. Visit MFB’s website to learn more, register, and find the volunteer slot that works for you.
• And finally, a heads-up about an inspiring exhibition opening on January 21 at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces tells the remarkable history of the brave American Indian and Alaska Native men and women who have served in the United States military and whose contributions have been largely unrecognized. Visit the Museum’s website for more information.