SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The federally recognized Martin Luther King Jr Day is more than just a day free from work. It’s a day of honoring the late Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy as a social activist, celebrate his work towards racial equality and justice, and to do so by volunteering in various community services to “unite” and come together to build a better society.
In honor of MLK’s legacy, and this tradition, several organizations across Snohomish County will be hosting their own idea of what this means in various capacities. Below is our comprehensive guide for those wanting to take a ‘day on,” with their ‘day off.’
Greater Everett MLK Community Celebration
The Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee’s Greater Everett MLK Community celebration will be held at the First Presbyterian Church – located at 2936 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett – this year on Sunday, January 18, at 4 p.m.
This years’ theme is “Building Community: The Dream and the Work” and will feature music, speakers, the MLK Celebration Choir, and Prodigies for Peace Youth Award Winners.
On MLK Day proper, Monday, January 19, the celebration continues with a Community March and Rally beginning at the Everett Memorial Stadium (2900 Broadway in Everett) and marches to the Volunteers of America Carl Gibson Center (3025 Lombard Avenue), spanning from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Edmonds College’s MLK Tribute at Lynnwood’s Black Box Theater
Edmonds College hosting a free, family-friendly tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. on January 21, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. This event will be engaging, inspiring, and a reminder of the importance of taking action to create a more just and equitable society.
Edmonds Waterfront Center MLK celebration
The Edmonds Waterfront Center will be hosting a MLK Celebration on January 19 from 9:30 AM to noon featuring dancing, games, children’s book readings, youth performances, and arts and crafts. The event is free and located at the Edmonds Waterfront Center at 220 Railroad Avenue in Edmonds.
Marysville Day of Service
The City of Marysville encourages residents to participate in a “day on, not a day off” by volunteering for various service opportunities. No registration is required for several park cleanup and historical society projects.
Volunteers will gather at Twin Lakes Park from 9 a.m. until noon to clean the park of litter and invasive species, with a separate MLK gathering at the Marysville Historical Society from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. which will include both indoor and outdoor projects including organizing historical files and complete landscaping and maintenance projects around the building.
Marysville Community Food Bank also needs volunteers to stock food, support clients and clean the building from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on MLK Day. Interested volunteers can register at www.marysvillefoodbank.org/volunteer
YMCA of Snohomish County Day of Service
All six YMCA branches in Snohomish County will host local service projects for volunteers of all ages and abilities to give back to the community.
The Y says it is dedicated to turning this day into one of action, reflection, and impact. Across the county, the Y will mobilize hundreds of volunteers, bringing together individuals, families, and community partners to give back through the YMCA MLK Day of Service. These meaningful projects are identified and facilitated by Y staff, civic leaders, and passionate community volunteers who share the goal of building stronger, more connected neighborhoods.
You can register for these at: https://www.ymca-snoco.org/mlk/
Lynnwood Day of Service
The City of Lynnwood will hold its annual MLK Day of Service on January 19, including a project at the Lynnwood Senior Center. Similar to last year, this will involve cleaning the Mesika Trail of invasive species, planting trees, and picking up litter.
The Mesika Trail was constructed in 1995 by the City of Lynnwood in cooperation with students at Meadowdale High School. Its name (pronounced mee-sye-kah) is a Chinook word that means “yours” and was chosen to denote ownership, as if to say “this is your trail,” according to the City’s website.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
