Martin Luther King Day 2012 with NYC Kids: Celebrations and Volunteer Opportunities

Monday, January 16, 2012 is Martin Luther King Day, a day off from school (and hopefully work) when families can explore the life, legacy and lessons of the iconic civil rights leader. In New York City, there are many wonderful ways to introduce your kids to Dr. King, including walking tours of Harlem and Seneca Village, a big no-cost bash in Brooklyn, a free concert on the Upper West Side and interactive museum programs.

Martin Luther King Day is also known as a Day of Service, when citizens are encouraged to help out in their communities. If you're interested in volunteering with your children, we have info on a few opportunities on MLK Day, as well as organizations that could use your help throughout the year.

Martin Luther King Day Celebrations

Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr – Fort Greene
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Avenue between St Felix Street and Ashland Place
10:30am
FREE
The Brooklyn Academy of Music holds its 26th annual celebration of Dr. King. Schools chancellor Dennis M. Walcott is the keynote speaker (let's hope no disgruntled parents show up to heckle him). There will also be live musical performances by Toshi Reagon and the Institutional Radio Choir C.O.G.I.C. of Brooklyn, and a screening of the Black Panther doc The Black Power Mixtape 1967—1975. Best for older kids.

MLK March with Manhattan Country School Students – Harlem
Meet at the Schomburg Center, 135th Street and Lenox Avenue
10am
FREE
Eighth graders from the Upper East Side private school lead a peace-minded march through Harlem. The students do it every year, and it's really moving as they sing songs and read speeches at notable stops like St. Philip's Church, the Apollo Theater and the Memorial to Harriet Tubman.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Historic Harlem – Harlem
Meet in front of the Schomburg Center, 135th Street and Lenox Avenue
1pm
$18
If you'd like a more formal experience, try this two-hour Big Onion walking tour. Along the way, you'll learn about African-American history and see historic homes, streets, churches and theaters including the Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Apollo Theater and sites associated with Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X. Advance reservations aren't required. Just show up with cash.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration – Upper West Side
Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway
Free with admission: $11
Although CMOM is usually closed on Mondays, it will be open 10am-5pm today in honor of the holiday. Young children can celebrate NYC’s diversity by creating collages of their neighborhoods, while older kids can pledge to make a difference in their communities. All visitors will be treated to a concert by the famous Harlem Gospel Choir. Check the museum's calendar for the day's schedule.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Birthday Bash – Crown Heights
Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue between St Marks Avenue and Prospect Place
11am
Free with admission: $7.50
BCM celebrates MLK throughout the three-day weekend with interactive activities that explore the contributions he made to our society. Young kids can add their wishes to the big birthday cake of dreams or create a peace wreath. School-age children can explore the symbols and slogans associated with Dr. King or make a living legacy collage. On Monday, veteran civil rights activist Yolanda Clarke will talk about what it was like to participate in the famous march on Washington D.C. in 1963, when Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Check the museum's calendar for a complete schedule.

The American Place Theatre’s Literature to Life Stage Presentation of Zora – Upper West Side
The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street
Free with admission: $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for children ages 7-13, free for kids under 7. Save $5 off adult admission by downloading a coupon at NYCgo.
If you've been meaning to check out the museum's new DiMenna Children's History Museum, this is a great day to go. You'll also get to see this theatrical biography of famed African-American author Zora Neale Hurston.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Special: Seneca Village Tour – Upper West Side
Meet at the southeast corner of 85th Street and Central Park West
12:30 and 2:30pm
FREE
The Central Park Conservancy hosts a pair of no-cost tours of the area that used to house Seneca Village, Manhattan's first-known community of African-American homeowners, which was demolished in the mid-19th century to make way for the park. We admit, we don't know how much there is to see in terms of relics, but spending an hour in the park hearing about this unique settlement sounds fun to us (but we are a little geeky).

Artists Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Upper West Side
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street
6-9pm
FREE
The JCC in Manhattan sponsors this annual performance, which commemorates Dr. King in his own words of peace, tolerance and civil rights. There will be readings, playlets, songs and more, all honoring his legacy. Visit the JCC's website for a complete lineup.

Martin Luther King Day Volunteer Opportunities

2011 marked the 25th anniversary of MLK Day as a federal holiday, so there were a ton of organized volunteer opportunities. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find too many that are suitable for families this year. All of the slots at the New York City Coalition Against Hunger’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Serve-a-Thon are already filled. However, the organization encourages volunteerism throughout the year and even has a volunteer matching tool on its website so you can find the project that's right for your family.

The official Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service website, sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, is the place to go to find a project in your 'hood. Just put in your zip code and you'll see a list of opportunities along with registration information. If you are a community organizer, you can also list your MLK Day event in the database for others to find.

The JCC Manhattan will announce its volunteer offerings later this week, but there should be lots of family-friendly options. Last year Raven and her then-five-year-old daughter and some other families prepared sandwiches that were later distributed to homeless people on a midnight run. Although the JCC's volunteering event has been free in the past, this year there is a $5 registration fee per person to help cover costs. Visit the JCC website for more information or to register.

If you've got very young children, check out our post about ways you can help others from home. The post isn't MLK specific, but most of the activities can be done at any time of year.