By Marvis Herring

UM communications

The University of Mississippi community will honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. through its annual MLK Day of Service and a memorial dinner and celebration.

The UM Division of Access, Opportunity and Engagement invites students, staff, faculty and community members to improve the community together on Jan. 20.

Volunteers will check in at noon at the Jackson Avenue Center for a free lunch and kickoff event. Then they will be dispatched to various sites around the city and Lafayette County to participate in service projects until 5 p.m.

The goal is to inspire participants to uphold King’s ideals through meaningful service to their community, said Kathryn Kidd, DAOE assistant director of community partnerships.

“MLK Day of Service is a meaningful way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of love, service and community,” Kidd said. “This event encourages active engagement and empowers individuals to make a positive impact. It also promotes a culture of service, inspiring participants to carry these values forward long after the day is over.”

This year’s service projects include:

• Making teething bracelets for new and expecting mothers
• Installing raised beds for a new community garden
• Walking dogs, socializing rescued animals
• Cleaning and organizing the Career Center closet
• Writing letters of appreciation to UM Facility Services staff.

Anyone can register as a volunteer here.

On Jan. 17, the university is also hosting its memorial dinner at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union ballroom. The free event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and features Gloria J. McEwen Burgess, an award-winning poet and civic leader, as the keynote speaker.

Advance registration is required for the dinner by clicking here.