Baylor and Waco Community to Commemorate MLK Day with Day of Service

WACO, Texas (Jan. 15, 2021) – As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" 

Every year, Americans answer this call by coming together on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service to serve in their neighborhoods and communities. To celebrate the life and legacy of the late Civil Rights leader, the Baylor University and Waco communities will join others across the nation to participate in events honoring Dr. King and by serving in the community on MLK Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 18.

MLK Day of Service is observed every year as “a day on, not a day off” and is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. While celebrating Dr. King’s legacy, the day provides Americans the opportunity to empower one another, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions for social problems and continue to move towards Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many events are virtual or have limited in-person elements that follow local social distancing guidelines and health protocols.*

Full details on events and volunteer opportunities are available on the Baylor cultural events webpage.

2021 Calendar of Events

Friday, Jan. 15, 2021

34th Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony     

Individuals may place a wreath at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument from Jan. 15-18 at MLK Memorial Park, 300 MLK Blvd, Waco. Please adhere to City of Waco social distancing guidelines and health protocols. 

Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021

Church Under the Bridge will hold "Reconciliation Sunday" Worship Time at 10:30 a.m. at the Magnolia Silos, 601 Webster Ave.

Monday, Jan. 18, 2021

MLK Day of Service at Baylor University

Baylor's Office of Community Engagement & Service and Academy for Leadership Development is providing opportunities for Baylor students, staff and faculty to “serve where they are” virtually in a variety of ways listed on the CES website. Volunteers also will be accepting donations for One Warm Coat Campaign and Pet Supply Drive (ABC Clinic) at a campus drive-thru donation site, 719 Baylor Ave., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact CES@baylor.edu for more information about how to donate to the drive as well as how to take part in service opportunities.

Other MLK Day of Service opportunities and events:

• Mission Waco's free lunch, prayer and service projects, noon to 3 PM, parking lot at 1505 N. 15th Street. Contact groups@missionwaco.org to register for projects.

• Brazos River Cleanup hosted by Keep Waco Beautiful from 1 to 3 p.m. at 201 S. University Parks Drive. Spaces are limited at this registration website. Contact kwacob@gmail.com for more information.

• Beloved Community Commemorative Service, hosted by The King Center, live streamed on Facebook and The King Center's website from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM (CT).

• Virtual 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Waco beginning at 6 PM. Contact Coque Gibson at 254-722-1274 for more information and/or to request the link to attend.

• MLK in the News: MA Publication. Follow Baylor's Department of Multicultural Affairs on Instagram for daily MLK content and activities. Contact Multicultural_Affairs@baylor.edu for more information.

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021

• Trivia Tuesday: Celebrating Dr. King, sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs, on Instagram.

• MLK Lunch & Learn, sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs and Student Activities and open only to Baylor students, faculty and staff, will include food trucks, fun and more about Dr. King and his legacy from 11 to 1 PM on Fountain Mall. Contact Multicultural_Affairs@baylor.edu for more information.

• Webinar: Disparities in Healthcare in our Community panel discussion, sponsored by Waco's Community Race Relations Coalition, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.  

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021

• MA's Turn Up the AC: Following Dr. King's Example, sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs. This discussion on Instagram will feature Baylor alumni reflecting on the importance of Dr. King's life and work.

• MLK Lunch & Learn, sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs and Student Activities and open only to Baylor students, faculty and staff, will include food trucks, fun and more about Dr. King and his legacy from 11 to 1 PM on Fountain Mall. Contact Multicultural_Affairs@baylor.edu for more information.

Monday, Jan. 25, 2021

• MA's I Love Music Mondays: Honoring the Civil Rights Movement, sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs, invites the Baylor community to tag them on Instagram with favorite songs that honor those who fought during the Civil Rights Movement.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021

• MA's Taking a Road Trip, sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs, invites the Baylor community to take a virtual road trip together by tagging them on Instagram with photos of visits to famous places from Dr. King's life.

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021

• The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Affairs, details forthcoming.

*The volunteer opportunities listed on this page are offered by churches and organizations unrelated to Baylor University. These opportunities are offered as a public service to entities that could benefit from the volunteer efforts of Baylor students. Baylor University does not inspect or approve the activities of these entities and is not liable for any injuries or damages that may occur. Baylor recommends that students comply with all COVID-19 related recommendations by government health officials, including those related to wearing of masks and social distancing. 

Special thanks to the following departments: Academy for Leadership Development, Anthropology, Baylor Police Department, Campus Recreation, Environmental Health & Safety, External Affairs, Health Management Team, Institutional Events, Multicultural Affairs, Office of Community Engagement & Service, Office of Governmental Relations, Parking Services and Student Activities.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.