UNITED STATES — Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 marks the 29th celebration of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (MLK Day), the first ever National Day of Service designated by Congress in 1983.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), MLK Day holds a special significance as it is not just a federal holiday but also a commemoration which encourages Americans to actively contribute towards bringing about meaningful change in their communities.
The NPS urges U.S. citizens to “engage in a purposeful experience by seeking out large impact community-based service initiatives, contribute to environmental justice projects or simply take the time to educate yourself on the significance of this civil rights leader’s life and legacy.”
“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), as well other National Park Service (NPS) sites, will honor the legacy of MLK Jr. by offering free admission on Monday, Jan. 15.
The U.S. Forest Service states on their website that their programs actively engage rural, urban and historically marginalized communities in the stewardship of the national forests and grasslands. “We take Dr. King’s legacy and make it our responsibility to continue carrying it forward. We do this in our hiring, how we serve our public and how and where we deliver our mission.”
Locally, the Jackson Hole Community School will host diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) research and training professional Domanick Walker at a free event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
