To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you might take a cue from Barack and Michelle Obama and spend this Monday volunteering to serve the urgent needs in our communities. On his last day as President-elect, the Obama family is volunteering to help their new neighbors in Washington, D.C.
Since many have the day off, it's a good day to help out at food banks, shelters, and other institutions that hold our communities together. Here's nifty web site that can locate events and opportunities. For instance, putting in my Madrona zip code and limiting events to 10 miles or closer, I leaned of a Squire Park cleanup at 9 am, The MLK Day march at 9:30, the Friends of Madrona Woods work party at 9:30, and a neighborhood cleaunup and food call at 2 pm.
With millions of Americans energized about Obama's inauguration, it seems like a fitting day to spend with neighbors — not to mention all the viewing parties for the inauguration itself. Here's a list of some venues, but be warned that many are already sold out or registered-out.