Getting Ready For Obama's Big Day...Of Service

Communities and non-profits across the country are gearing up for what will undoubtedly be a record number of volunteers on this upcoming Martin Luther King Jr holiday, declared by Obama to be a National Day Of Service.

The Obama inaugural committee has launched a new website, contest and all, Michelle Obama has reached out via email and video, and Colin Powell took the stage to announce his call to action.

But the most important aspect of all this is: What can you do?

According to CauseCast.org:

* Public service ads that feature Dr. King's voice and Isaac Newton Farris, Jr., CEO and President of the King Center, have been distributed to more than 4,000 radio stations. The National Association of Broadcasters is sponsoring a "radio roadblock" when stations are encouraged to air the spot on January 15, Dr. King's birthday.

* The Corporation has launched a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Fan page on Facebook and is working with Facebook and Facebook Causes to encourage users of the highly popular social networking site to volunteer or organize their own service projects to mark the King Holiday and Inauguration weekend.

* The King Day of Service website at http://www.mlkday.gov has a wealth of tools for planning and promoting projects, including new "do it yourself" action guides.

* The Corporation has enlisted entertainment, business, nonprofit, and sports leaders to serve as Ambassadors of Service including Jordin Sparks, Tony Dungy, and Michael W. Smith.

* ServiceNation, a coalition of more than 120 organizations campaigning to make service core ideal in our democracy, will host a service project to beautify a Washington D.C. elementary school.

CauseCast also recommends the Corporation for National and Community Service, "a federal agency that has led the national effort to transform the King Holiday into a national day of service since 1994," for more information.

ServiceNation, another great resource, has a host of events planned for January 19th, including a breakfast panel featuring Martin Luther King Jr. III, Mayor Fenty of DC, actors Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, and Ashton Kutcher; the renovation of the Simon Elementary School in Anacostia, DC, at which over 300 volunteers will spend the day painting classrooms and hallways, creating murals, and renovating the school library; as well as a live broadcast via MTV of official Inaugural Youth Ball, celebrating the the large youth voter turnout this year and the continued community improvement.

You can visit ServiceNation for more information...

What are you planning on doing? Have some great community outreach plans that you would recommend to others? Know of other great service resources that we undoubtedly have missed? Share them all in our survey here, and we may just feature them on the Huffington Post!

Comments

[betweenextremes]

My oldest daughter has spent countless hours quietly volunteering when many of her peers were seeking glory on the athletic fields (not that there's anything wrong it that!). For her and all the others for whom life has been about trying to make a difference, it's wonderful that there's finally a President who recognized and appreciates their efforts, but most importantly, who can inspire all of us to do more.

[conniedogs]

Glad he's teaching the kids about compassion­....

[lisa12345]

I hope he does more photo ops if he is engaging in these kinds of activities. We need a role model, someone to provide some direction and leadership. We want him to set a certain kind of tone. This is a tone for a better society--more cooperative, with a focus on common good and pulling together to help others.

[jazzycafe]

Good point about photos. A different tone indeed - how great is it going to be that we'll have a president setting a good example? People of all ages can get involved, be part of a solution to problems. I'm excited particularly for my kids, that they'll have a president to look up to.

[curiousasheck]

Where's all the groundbreaking product innovation in the 'gotta have it' category?

[philosopherkingtomas]

love ya Q

[BeFairNow]

Hmm, another photo op you say? Yes, I can see your logic...be­cause calling people to a national day of service in honour of a man who lived and died in the service of others is just so darned illogical and inappropriate isn't it? Barack Obama is grasping an opportunity to use the enormous influence he now has to run with the baton that has been passed to him. By the way, people would take a photograph of him if he stopped to eat a sandwich because he is possibly the most photographed person on the planet right now anyway, so why not let himself be photographed leading others in service? What is the crime? Sorry, I just don't see it. If you were in his shoes, I would like to think that you would do exactly the same instead of hiding your beacon under a bushel to serve some misplaced sense of modesty and miss an opportunity to influence others, particularly young people, in a positive way.

[pc51]

Oh goody! Another massive Obama photo-op! I wonder how many magazine covers he will get for this one! What a celebrity! He is soooo popular!

[VOTER]

Bush Made the Cover of The War Crimes Court, Netherlands.

[LaurieAnn]

Beats flying a jet onto an aircraft carrier for a photo-op hands down.

[StillweRise]

OOOHHHH No you di'int !!!

HA !


Beautiful response

[Peachie49]

Obama's Day of Service? The 3rd Monday in January has a name, it is DR MARTIN L KING JR DAY,
a day to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr King. Why aren't people wise enough to see that this man has no intention of honoring Dr King, this is solely to rid the nation of "MLK" holiday. President Obama is no different than Sen John McCain who did not support the passage of the King holiday. Obama has absolutely NO CONNECTION to the history of either slavery or Black people and their struggles in the segregated south. That is NOT OBAMA'S HERITAGE. He sends so many messages that he does not support black people or the issues and causes that affect their lives. His heroes-Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagon? Reagon, whose economic policies were most brutal to not only black people but middle class whites as well. Lincoln, who did not free one slave, who made it plain his sole interest was to Save the Union. What presidents do he ignore from his own Party? LBJ, the signor of the 64 & 68 Civil Rights Acts & 65Voting Rights Act, Bill Clinton, who truly was more of a "Black" President than Obama could ever be. For whatever one may say about Pres Clinton, he was not afraid to associate with Black people. He certainly was not afraid to attend our churches, Obama won't go inside a Black church except to insult the congregation.

[pokemon]

Take a pill.

[ladyelect08]

Don't need one.

[ladyelect08]

What do you mean he don't care about black people? You really need to take a chill pill. Bill Clinton will never understand a black person. Don't get it twisted. You need to pay attention.

[etcetc]

Most people don't reflect on MLK day. They go the the mall or out to eat, or see a movie. It's a paid day off work.

There is nothing wrong with Barack asking people to give time to their communities on this day. MLK would have been proud.

MLK served the people. Barack is asking all people to serve people. More power to him.

[jillsond]

Great picture. That's pretty much how I'd behave, as well.

[ccairnes]

What a great guy.

[NHMOM63]

This is such a good thing for America..i­t is time we help each other. We can still help other places but let's do what we can here. Way to go Obama and Powell