Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day With Special Brooklyn Events

This Monday, January 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which makes for lots of city service suspensions and closures–but also some incredible Brooklyn events to honor a Civil Rights hero. Whether you’re celebrating this weekend or Monday itself, here are some worthy offerings close to home.

A Tribute to Martin Luther King at BAM
Now until Monday, January 20
This year’s celebration of Dr. King includes presentations by Medgar Evers College and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a screening of Free Angela and All Political Prisoners and keynote address by Angela Davis herself, modern jazz performances, and a Picture the Dream exhibition featuring work by NYCHA Saratoga Village Community Center students. BAM is located at 651 Fulton Street between Ashland and Rockwell Places.

Poetry Reading at the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch
Saturday, January 18 at 1pm
Kids and families are invited to join young poets and the Noel Pointer Foundation for readings in the Central Library’s (10 Grand Army Plaza) Dweck Center.

Three Days of Events at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Saturday, January 18-Monday, January 20
From a celebratory march to collaborative crafts to a screening of Our Friend, Martin, the museum (145 Brooklyn Avenue between Prospect Place and Saint Marks Avenue) has a range of educational activities for kids of different ages to enjoy.

Community Conversations with Kids at the Lefferts Historic House
Monday, January 20 from 1-3pm
The New York City Council for Humanities is sponsoring Community Conversations with Kids: A Conversation About Service and the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an event to discuss the themes of freedom, service, and democracy with elementary and middle school-aged children, as well as to read the award-winning Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Map the Lefferts Historic House here.

Volunteering with the MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 20
Inspired by Dr. King’s famous saying,”Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'”,  the MLK Day of Service bills itself not as a “day off,” but as a day on. There are tons of opportunities to be found via the Day of Service site, including these local ones near zip code 11226.

Photo via the Library of Congress