The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one that we want to share with our children, especially in today’s world. Even if we can’t attend a local march or spend the day volunteering in our community, there are many ways you can bring Dr. King’s legacy to your children while at home. From dramatic interpretations of Dr. King’s speeches to songwriting workshops where kids can write a song inspired by the civil rights movement, there are activities for all ages. Be ready to be inspired!
Stanford University’s World House Project Film Festival The World House Projectwill host a free, four-day webinar and virtual film festival featuring 30 documentaries, musical performances, interviews and panel discussions that speak to Dr. King's vision of the World House. Jan. 14-17, Event details
38th Annual MLK Celebration SF parks and recreation presents a virtual celebration of MLK featuring Dr. Joe Canton as keynote speaker. Jan. 14, 11:30 a.m. Event details
Rally for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2022 marks The 5th Avenue Theatre’s sixth year of proudly supporting the Kent School District’s Rally for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, the rally is led by a team of passionate teen leaders and features musical performances, community speakers and student reflections on the life, work and legacy of Dr. King. This year, you are cordially invited to join us as the rally is streamed for the Kent community and beyond. Jan. 17, 7 p.m.
LBJ Library photo by Yoichi Okamoto
Brooklyn Tribute to Martin Luther King The celebration brings together artists and civic leaders to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King. The 36th edition features speeches by civic leaders and activists. There will also be performances, including live appearances from singer Nona Hendryx with Craig Harris & Tailgaters Tales and Sing Harlem and a recorded dance piece by choreographer Kyle Marshall. Join us in hope and solidarity! Jan. 17, 7:30 a.m. Event details
Tacoma's MLK Day Celebration Join the city of Tacoma for its 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration. This year’s event theme is “Hope & Healing.” Activities will highlight the present and the future of Dr. King’s impacts on our community and feature local performers and speakers who work and volunteer to ensure our community represents equity, hope and healing. Jan. 17, 8 p.m. Event details
MLK Day Celebration 2022 The California African American Museum invites families to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day immersed in music, culture and community. This year’s virtual festival highlights MLK’s dedication to labor and workers’ rights with the importance of these movements continuing on today. Jan. 17, 10 a.m. Event details
Songs for Justice: 2022 Annual MLK Birthday Celebration The Rothko Chapel presents Songs for Justice in celebration of Dr. King’s birthday. Log onto the live stream to enjoy a series of concerts and conversations exploring the role that music plays to further social justice movements. Jan. 15, 3 p.m. CT. Event details.
MLK Celebration 2022 The New Haven Museum will present a day of family friendly virtual programming dedicated to celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Performances, storytelling, dancing, art workshops and more—all from your living room. Jan. 17, 10 a.m. ET. Event details.
Joy as an Act of Resistance This is the second annual virtual celebration presented by the Saint Louis Art Museum. This year will feature local Black performing artists, Robert Crenshaw, Alicia Revé, and Freeman Word, who will respond to photographs of Dr. King from the Museum’s collection through dance, music, and spoken word. Jan. 17, On Demand. Event details.
Celebrate MLK Day with MoAD Celebrate with MoAD on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service! Now being held virtually, the annual event will feature free programmings like art workshops, museum tours, and more. Jan. 17, 11 a.m. Event details
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with the Washington State Historical Society Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Washington State Historical Society. Highlights of this virtual event are a performance of his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, an art-making workshop, and more. Jan.17, 10 a.m. Event details
Your body has done some amazing things over the past few months, more than anything, it has created and give birth to a tiny human! As your baby grew, your body cleverly accommodated it but for many, even most women, the abdominal muscles will have accepted some degree of separation to allow for your growing bump. This is totally normal and with the right approach and the right exercises, these muscles will find their way back together.
Let’s start with breathing! For a lot of post natal mums, the art of breathing and engaging the core muscles correctly requires some reminding and retraining. It is hugely important to restore good breathing techniques in order to form a foundation for which to grow on. There are a number of disciplines of exercise that rely on correct and proper breathing techniques and this is by no means just about fueling the body with oxygen, it is actually to make sure that you can properly connect with the core muscles as day to day movement relies on correct core engagement. By starting with a good breathing technique, you will lay the foundations for a stronger core.
How to Breathe Correctly
Start by lying on your back with one hand on your tummy and the other hand on the side of your ribcage
Breathe deeply into your tummy and into the side of the ribcage feeling your tummy rise and your ribcage expand
As you breathe out, you should feel your tummy relax
Once you have mastered this and you are sure you are activating your pelvic floor muscles you can move onto movement based exercises below.
Hip Bridges: Aim to do 2 sets of 12 reps
Lying on your back bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor
Raise the hips off the floor squeezing your glutes (bum) and activating your pelvic floor muscles
Hold at the top for a few seconds then relax back down to neutral position
Squats: Aim to do 2 sets of 12 reps
Start with your feet hip width apart
Breathe in as you sit back into the squat as if to sit onto a chair
Keep a neutral back throughout with weight evenly distributed through your heels
Squeeze your bum to stand back upright to starting position
Half Press Ups: Aim to do 2 sets of 8 reps
Start on your knees with your hands under your shoulders
Knees, hips and shoulders should all be aligned
Breathe in as you bend your elbows wide and lower the chest to the floor
Keep your head aligned with your spine
Breathe out as you push yourself back to the starting position
Remember only even do as much as you feel you can do, listen to your body and ease into it.
Checking your tummy gap (Diastasis Recti): Understanding your own tummy gap, core and pelvic floor activation levels is key to fully restoring your postpartum strength and fitness. Remember that everyone is unique and everyone’s starting point is personal. For more physiotherapist led core series including Diastasis check and scar massage check out CariFit.
I have been helping new moms get back into exercise for over a decade. Dubbed the "baby man" after carrying the babies for moms whilst they exercised, I saw that by merging babywearing and fitness, we could remove the barriers to exercise and I launched CARiFiT 6 years ago!
The pandemic changed almost everything this past year, including everyone’s fave time of the year, Girl Scout Cookie season! With so many girls staying safe, cookie sales were far below their goal, which means one thing: lots of leftover cookies.
The Girl Scouts currently have 15 million boxes of cookies that have not been sold, most of which are at Louisville, Kentucky-based Little Brownie Bakers and Brownsburg, Indiana-based ABC Bakers. The famed cookies have a 12 months shelf-life which means there is still plenty of time to get those delightful treats into loving hands.
In a statement from the Girl Scouts of America, the organization shares “The outpouring of support for the cookie program has been overwhelming, so we’ve launched a donation-only site to support the Girl Scout Movement after an unprecedented year. Please visit Digital Cookie if you want to support the cookie program and donate cookies to first responders, food banks and other worthy causes.”
On the website, you can enter how many boxes you’d like to donate, which are still a steal at $5 a box. There’s no sweeter gift that a box of Girl Scout cookies!
You’ll find rainbows and inclusivity for days in the new Target Pride collection! This year the massively popular retailer has launched the broadest product assortment ever (150 products) to celebrate Pride in style.
Whether you’re looking for matching family t-shirts, a rainbow cat house, or a fun pool float, you’ll be tempted to buy multiple pieces from this colorful new collection. Most items are $20 or less, so they’re inclusive in the price department, too.
This year’s collection is available in every store nationwide and online starting now through the end of June. Target aims to make it easy to celebrate Pride however you choose this year, or simply show solidarity with your loved ones.
Target is also marking 10 years of collaborating with GLSEN, an organization leading the movement in creating affirming, accessible and anti-racist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students. Today, GLSEN’s national network is more than 1.5 million strong, with students, families, educators, and education advocates working to create safe schools.
Head to your local Target or shop target.com now for this limited-edition collection.
Family game night is always a fun time, but why settle for the basics when you can go big? Literally. A giant inflatable Twister exists and it looks like tons of fun.
Just imagine playing a game of Twister on top of a bouncy house without walls and you’ll get a pretty good idea of how awesome this inflatable Twister looks. Instead of trying to keep your self steady on the traditional plastic mat, you have to contend with the wobbly movement of a giant inflatable board.
photo: Hammacher Schlemmer & Company
Of course all of this massive fun comes at a pretty massive price tag. The Hammacher Schlemmer & Company Inflatable Outdoor Color Dot game is priced at a whopping $2,000. However, that price includes an AC-powered, 1-hp air blower that keeps the playing surface inflated for play. The inflatable also supports up to 1,500 pounds so the entire family can join in the fun.
The game is available to order online here and usually ships in three to four weeks.
Etsy is full of Black-owned shops with passionate artisans who are creating handmade dolls, jewelry and more, and we think you’ll love what they are offering. Whether you are looking for the perfect birthday or housewarming gift, or something to cheer up your home, these shops are full of great handmade crafts. Shop your favorite below!
We love this shop that offers beautiful dolls hand crocheted with natural hair inspired hairstyles. You can purchase the pattern to make one yourself, or reach out to the shop owner about having a custom doll made.
Get ready to inspire your kids with this unique coloring book that features all types of people and promotes urban gardening, women in technology, science, healthy eating, positive body image, Black history, kindness to animals, physical fitness, love, literacy and so much more!
Stunning African prints are used to make one-of-a-kind lampshades, pillows and throw blankets. There are even some fun bangles for all the jewelry lovers out there.
Give your personal space a refresh with these fun and relatable printable quotes. Whether you want to brighten up your office space or decorate throughout the home, these digital delights are an excellent choice. This shop also offers fun motivational tees and sweatshirts.
Not only does this hand-poured soy candle smell great, but proceeds from its sale goes to support the Black Lives Matter movement. In June 2020 alone, this Black woman-owned Etsy shop donated over $6,000 to the movement!
Have you ever wanted to try African love and affection in a box? Try this African sampler box that includes plantain chips, chin chin (achomo), flour chips, peanut brittle (nkate cake), traditional pound cake and other Ghanaian Treats (surprise!).
We love this print by artist Cathy Charles that's available in a number of different sizes ready to hang in your home. Her shop is full of other colorful art depicting Black women.
The winter is the perfect time to cozy up to a little local lit with your kiddos by one of the following authors who hails from our home state. From the familiar Pete the Cat to the lesser known Listening Me, these books are awesome, no matter where you’re reading them. We just think it’s really cool that the authors have spent their fair share of time traveling Peachtree. Keep reading for our favorite children’s books by local authors, below.
Lift as You Climb by Patricia Hruby Powell & R Gregory Christie
Caldecott Honor winner—and Atlantan—R. Gregory Christie’s powerful pictures pair with the narrative of Patricia Hruby Powell in this children's book about the civil rights activist Ella Baker. Long before the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, Ella Baker worked to lift others up by fighting racial injustice and empowering poor African Americans to stand up for their rights. Her dedication and grassroots work in many communities made her a valuable ally for leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and she has been ranked as one of the most influential women in the civil rights movement. In the 1960s she worked to register voters and organize sit-ins, and she became a teacher and mentor to many young activists.
Have you ever thought how it must feel to be the day that follows a holiday? Atlantan Natalie Nelson’s ingenious characterizations of the days of the week will delight readers in this story that pokes fun at how set in our ways we can be and how we might instead choose to be open to change and embrace the unexpected.
Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles by Karen English and Laura Freeman
Originally from New York but currently living in Atlanta, illustrator Laura Freeman knows a thing or two about moves, and making new friends, and learning how new places work—just like the main character in The Carver Chronicles. This series starts as a young boy moves to a new school, where everything that could possibly go wrong seems to do just that.
This mother-son duo collaborate to bring colorful stories about from India alive on the pages of children's books. In Thread of Love, readers learn about the Indian festival of Raksha Bandhan—a celebration of the special lifelong relationship between brothers and sisters—in a literary reinterpretation of the song Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping).
This picture book by Atlanta author McDaniel celebrates Black joy by reclaiming a charged phrase and showing readers how resistance can be part of their everyday lives. In it, a young Black girl lifts her baby hands up to greet the sun, reaches her hands up for a book on a high shelf, and raises her hands up in praise at a church service. She stretches her hands up high like a plane’s wings and whizzes down a hill so fast on her bike with her hands way up. As she grows, she lives through everyday moments of joy, love, and sadness. And when she gets a little older, she joins together with her family and her community in a protest march, where they lift their hands up together in resistance and strength.
What six-year-old doesn't wrestle with patience and sharing? This Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019 and Asian/Pacific American Award Winner for Literature Honor Book in 2019 explores patience, teamwork, community, and sharing through the eyes of six-year-old Bilal. He's excited to help his dad make his favorite food of all-time—daal—but the slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia requires lots of ingredients and a whole lot of waiting.
When you can have everything you want, it's easy to get lost in what you have. This story about a young King Jasper who can order his wizard to conjure up anything at all is a modern fairy tale that shows how always wanting more can ultimately lead to less...happiness, that is.
Editor’s note: Due to COVID-19, visiting some of the following places may not be possible but we encourage you to look into virtual programming on the website, read up on social-distanced attendance and/or plan your trip for the bright, bright future.
During Black History Month, it’s a wonderful time to teach our youth about the African-Americans who paved the way for civil rights in America. You don’t need to be African-American to appreciate the intense efforts those before us made to help make a positive impact on our country.
With today’s times being more volatile than ever, it’s important to reflect upon the past to keep moving forward. That being said, I have loved exploring black history with my daughter, Reese, to learn more about our heritage and how to go into the future with positivity.
When it comes to teaching history to kids, black history or any form of history, it can be hard to captivate their attention. But, taking your kids to these seven places will surely keep them entranced while they learn all about black history this February.
While it talks about some heavy tragedies, it focuses on triumphs too that happened in the modern Civil Rights Movement. With kids, it’s important to be positive. You can’t cover up the past but you can show them how even in difficult times, there were people that didn’t give up to make America a better place. The exhibits are interesting, plus there’s a short film about the power of activism. You can add your name to the Wall of Tolerance too. Additionally, the museum is close to the Alabama State Capitol and the Rosa Parks Museum.
Stop in here for a lively sermon if you can to show your kids that despite the evil and negativity in the world today, there is much joy to be found. During the Civil Rights Movement, this church was the meeting point for organized marches and other activities. It was bombed in 1963, a tragic event, yet one that has served as the catalyst for pushing the government to take action and lead the way for civil rights.
I promise you that it’s impossible to walk into this museum, no matter who you are or what your age is and not be completely captivated by the exhibits. The 12 inaugural exhibitions here are centered around history, culture and community. Black or not, you’ll have a better understanding of American history and culture and how it affects all of us regardless of skin color for liberty and equality, something every American deserves.
Of all the places we’ve visited that focused on black history, this was Reese’s absolute favorite one. The interactive exhibits that you can explore here are quite possibly the best reason to visit because it brings the stories to life. From the beginning of slavery through the Civil War and on to through today, it’s a museum that not only showcases artifacts from these times but brings hope by focusing on those that stood up for equality.
Because this one is close to home, it’s one Reese and I have been to many times. Any lover of art can appreciate the stunning collections here which focus on African-American works of art that include paintings, films, photographs, sculptures, artifacts and historical documents from the 1800s on to present-day. It’s a beautiful place to see black history through an artful eye, plus there are always workshops and interesting lectures you can catch to make it an even better place to see!
Reese and I have yet to make it here, but as soon as we get a chance, we’ll tell you all about our visit! You can tour the Visitor Center, Dr. and Mrs. King’s Gravesite, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Historic Fire Station No. 6 and the Freedom Hall all on your own. There’s a guided tour led by a ranger for Dr. King’s Birth Home which is first-come, first served, so you’ll have to arrive early for your best chance to catch one. On the tour of the home, you get to see where Dr. King was born and where he lived for the next 12 years.
Park rangers only permit 15 people maximum per tour and with no reservations accepted, you may find yourself waiting a while to take the 30-minute tour. The good news is you don’t have to stand around all day waiting for your chance. You can sign up as soon as you get to the information desk in the Visitor Center and enjoy the rest of the sites while you wait for your turn to tour.
Another place on our bucket list of things to see in Atlanta is the Human Rights Museum. In the heart of downtown Atlanta, this museum focuses on the achievements of the civil rights movement in America as well as encompasses the entire worldwide human rights movement for all. It’s been described to me by those who have been as one of the most inspiring places in the country. There are interactive exhibits, like the Lunch Counter, where you get to feel what it was like for the non-violent protestors in the 1960s.
Each of these places offers children the chance to explore one of the key pieces of American history in ways that are exploratory and inspire them to take a stand against inequality.
I’m Courtney! A 30-something-year-old travel, food, lifestyle and family blogger for The World In Four Days. In addition to being a jet-setter, I’m also a wound care nurse and mommy to the cutest little eight-year-old on earth.
One of my favorite quotes about service is from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In one of his final speeches, given two months before his death, he said, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” While most parents with school-aged children know that the third Monday in January has been designated as a holiday honoring Dr. King’s birthday—and providing a day off from school—not many people are aware of the history of this commemoration, and the way it has been transformed into a day of service over the last 25 years.
The campaign for a federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights activist began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 1983, and it was first observed in 1986. However, in 1994, two veterans of the Civil Rights Movement who had worked with Dr. King, Representative John Lewis of Georgia and Senator Harris Wolford of Pennsylvania, co-authored legislation to create The National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, a nation-wide effort to transform the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a day of community service to help solve social problems. It was their hope that a national day of service, inspired by Dr. King’s ideals, would galvanize volunteers to create meaningful change and uplift local communities. They wanted to honor Dr. King’s legacy by making the observance of his birthday a “day on” rather than simply a “day off.”
While some may only recognize the long weekend in the middle of January as an opportunity to take a road trip or go skiing, the movement behind the MLK Day of Service has grown in recent years, and acts of service are now carried out in all 50 states. AmeriCorps (a federally supported volunteer program) and the Atlanta-based King Center for Nonviolent Social Change lead the MLK Day of Service in partnership with numerous national nonprofit organizations, faith-based and community groups, state service commissions, and other government agencies. Thousands of volunteers across the county deliver meals, refurbish schools and community centers, collect clothing and food, build homes, and provide services for veterans and military families, among many other acts of service and kindness.
Many schools, houses of worship, and community organizations encourage volunteerism on the MLK Day of Service by providing opportunities and events, sometimes extending these throughout the weekend and pairing them with workshops, discussions, or speakers. If you haven’t had a chance to experience one of these events in the past, this may be the best time to get involved. After the difficult year we’ve all experienced, we are reminded of the countless acts of kindness and sacrifice that helped to get us through and will continue to inspire us in the months ahead. A day of service in the first month of this new year feels especially powerful and motivating. If you and your family want to kick start your kindness practice from home, or you want to learn how to give back in your local community, the MLK Day of Service is the perfect opportunity. There are so many small, actionable ways that you can turn an ordinary day off from school or work into a meaningful day ON in service of others and the greater good.
If you are looking for ways to help in your local community, check out these resources:
Explore the official website for the MLK Day of Service for information and to search for opportunities in your local area
Color printable sheets for veterans, hospitalized children, nursing home residents, or anyone in need of a smile through Color a Smile
Create blankets and donate them to children in need of comfort through Project Linus
Write letters of gratitude and support for our active-duty military and send them to Operation Gratitude
Back cookies or make cards for your local first responders, to show them how much your family appreciates all they’ve done for us this past year
However your family is inspired to get involved, take the MLK Day of Service (this year celebrated on Monday, January 18th) as the perfect opportunity to start a conversation with your children about service, empathy, and civic duty. Create a new family service tradition around the holiday, and start this new year with a positive intention and a sense of purpose which might just move us all closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “beloved community.”
Natalie Silverstein, MPH, is the NYC coordinator of Doing Good Together. She is a writer, speaker and consultant on the topic of family service. Her first book Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back was published in 2019 and her second book for teens will be published in 2022.
There’s nothing like a warm meal delivered to your doorstep, especially in times of need. Lasagna Love is a national grassroots movement of kindness and support that connects neighbors through homemade meal delivery.
The idea came about in the spring when Rhiannon Menn began delivering homemade lasagnas to families in her community who were struggling when the pandemic hit.
In just under eight months, Lasagna Love has spread across 47 states in America (including major metros: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, New York, San Diego and San Francisco), delivered over 8,000 meals and is supported by 4,000+ “Lasagna Mamas” and “Lasagna Papas.”
“To accomplish these milestones in such a short window of time is a huge testament to the impact of Lasagna Love,” said Menn. “We are reaching more families at a time when food insecurity is skyrocketing and with non-profit status, now have the ability to gain additional funding through employer matching, Amazon Smile, and countless other avenues. All of this has been achieved organically along with personal passion from our volunteers who share a profound desire to give with purpose. Lasagna Love is highlighting a level of overlooked humanity that crosses every boundary.”
Lasagna Love came about from a desire to help others without expectation of gratitude or reciprocation. Menn said, “Kindness has a network effect, which in turn, strengthens our communities. If we’re able to shift our perspective, to give grace and see possibility instead of focusing on what we’ve lost or what we wish we had…the entire fabric of our being is changed. Lasagna Love volunteers are setting a renewed tone around giving without judgement or divisiveness. Their generosity of spirit is seeding a behavior shift with neighbors focusing on the needs of community members without qualification, and empowering others to ask for help without fear of being deemed undeserving.”
It’s easy to become a Lasagna “Mama” or “Papa” and there is no commitment or expectation for giving. Signups and donations can be managed directly from Lasagna Love’s website.
Lasagna Love isn’t exclusively focused on delivering home-cooked meals. It aims to normalize asking for help which is something that doesn’t always come easily. “The more frequently we message that it’s OK to ask for help, the more likely we are to shift the narrative around asking when we need it,” said Menn.
To establish additional funding to support meal deliveries to families in need, the Lasagna Love online store features Lasagna Love-branded merchandise including aprons, hats, face masks, onesies, stickers and car signs.
“Our volunteers are embracing a reality of zero judgement, open heart, and giving without any expectation of appreciation,” said Menn. “When our volunteers deliver a meal, it doesn’t just have an impact in that moment. What we’ve learned over time is that recipient families are often inspired to pay it forward and help those around them when they can. Some are even inspired to become Lasagna Mamas and Papas themselves.”
To join the Lasagna Love movement, donate, or to purchase Lasagna Love-branded merchandise, visit www.lasagnalove.org.