"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve"
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
About 8 years of service...What began in 2019 with 200 volunteers and 9 service projects in Bronzeville has grown into one of Chicago's most impactful MLK Day community-building traditions. Over eight years later, the Annual King Day of Service has mobilized thousands of community members across Bronzeville, Englewood, Woodland, and Fuller Park — raising funds, transforming schools, beautifying spaces, and keeping the Dream Alive!
Watched our recap video from the 6th annual event to get a glimpse of the magic and scroll below to see the evolution throughout the years. |
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How it all started and the process to get it done...
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Read the Word in Black article to find out about Kelsey's experience during MLK Day and how he gained "his freedom to fully propel the spirit of Dr. King’s message into tangible actions." |
See United We Build by Interfaith America to learn about the community-building process that influences the implementation of the Annual King Day of Service. |
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8th Annual King Day of Service 2026
Read our Newsletter Recap to see what happened on January 19, 2026 with approximately 400 volunteers, 28 sponsors, 19 co-creators, and 12 artists at 9 service sites in Bronzeville, Englewood, Woodlawn, and Fuller Park. The morning program was blessed with performances by Mayambo, African Dance and Music Institute, Bronzeville Drum Team, and Zion Ali.
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7th Annual King Day of Service 2025
On January 20, 2025, 350 volunteers gathered at King High School for the morning program with Fiona Zion Ali, King High School Drumline Team,for the 7th Annual King Day of Service to honor the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.. Co-created and funded by local organizations and community sponsors, this initiative was hosted at service sites in Bronzeville and Englewood.
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6th Annual King Day of Service 2024
On February 3, 2024 approximately 250 volunteers, 14 local organizations and 27 sponsors came together to co-create and fund this initiative raising $75,000 for 12 service sites located in Bronzeville with an expansion to Englewood. During the day, participants were asked, "What is needed to keep the Dream Alive" and "What does life look like beyond racism?". What the video to hear their answers of how we can make this world a better place for everyone. WGN also capture activities at Woodson Elementary.
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5th Annual King Day of Service: Bronzeville 2023
Let's Keep the Dream Alive!
On January 16, 2023 over 500 participants joined us for the morning program and 300 for service projects. The biggest one yet! Participants listened to the words of Dr. King, heard Bronzeville Classical Choir, and the Mollison African Drumming Class. Watch the recap video to see people working together. Morning America and LeeAnn Trotter on Channel 5 also helped capture the day in addition to amazing pictures by Nancy Wong.
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4th King Day of Service: Bronzeville 2022!
On Monday, January 17, 2022 from 9am until 12:30pm, approximately 175 volunteers of all ages gathered to hear and reflect on the words of Dr. King before they began their service projects at five different Chicago Public School buildings. For three hours they painted classrooms, cleaned and organized libraries, created 500 "Blessing Bags" for people without homes, and painted murals under the guidance of professional artists: Rahmaan “Statik” Barnes, Damon Reed, and Luthando Mazibuko. Vaccination were also offered resulting in 20 people being vaccinated. As part of the morning program, volunteers watched an uplifting video on how Bronzeville organizations are keeping the dream alive!
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3rd King Day of Service: Bronzeville 2021!
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In honor of Dr. King’s fair housing movement, event partners created an amazing online experience to learn, reflect, and take action. Approximately 200 people joined us to view the documentary The Color Tax: Origins of the Modern Day Racial Wealth Gap that brings awareness to the racial and economic unjust acts around Black home ownership.
The celebration opened with a video of Bronzeville organizations stating how they are keeping the Dream alive. Alderman Pat Dowell of the 3rd Ward and Alderman Sophia King of the 4th Ward gave inspirational statements. Ari Brown from The Jazz Institute lifted our spirits and provided time for the audience to reflect on the documentary. A panel discussion concluded the evening with scholars and community members to emphasize the modern-day gap and what people can do to promote equity with housing. About The Color Tax: Origins of the Modern Day Racial Wealth Gap This episode 3 of the five-part documentary series, Shame of Chicago. The Color Tax tells the story of how a system of predatory home contract sales during the 1950s and 60s plundered enormous sums of wealth from the pockets of Black families seeking the American dream of home-ownership. In a compelling narrative format, The Color Tax documents who peddled the contracts, how and why they were allowed to do it, and what happened when Black families organized to fight back in one of Chicago’s most heart-wrenching and perilous campaigns for racial and economic justice. If you would like to show a private online screening of The Color Tax please leave your information on the Shame of Chicago website. Thank you everyone for helping make this event happening, participating, and especially for keeping the Dream alive! |
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2nd King Day of Service: Bronzeville 2020!
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Organic Oneness, Engage Civil, and community partners organized over 250 volunteers of all ages to conduct 12 service projects in three Chicago Public Schools and community centers in Bronzeville.
Watch the energizing 60 second video recap everyone serving and having fun celebrating together! Thank you The Community Builders, Mollison, Donoghue, DooLittle, and Project I am, for providing spaces for acts of service to occur. |
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1st King Day of Service: Bronzeville 2019!
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Watch the beautiful memories of our first annual King Day of Service in Bronzeville. Organic Oneness, Engage Civil, and community partners organized over 200 volunteers of all ages to conduct 9 service projects in two Chicago Public Schools and community centers. Channel 7 News and Fox32 caught us in action! Thank you to all sponsors that helped make this happen, you are all recognize in the video!
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“When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men seek to perpetrate an unjust ‘status quo’, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.