Free legal, health, and employment services will be offered to hundreds of South Los Angeles residents at Crenshaw Plaza in honor of King Day.
On January 16, 2016, Crenshaw residents will receive free immigration and landlord/tenant legal services, health, dental, vision screenings, HIV/AIDS testing, and employment services at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Community leaders and volunteers will serve a crowd of approximately 200 people, in celebration of Dr. King’s National Day of Service. Holman United Methodist Church, in partnership with the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, and the Los Angeles Sentinel, will host the community event, which is open to the public, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community leaders, local business owners, and volunteers will help bring vital services to the members of the Crenshaw District. “It’s not what we have that makes us great. It’s what we give,” said Dr. Cassandra Bailey, founder of the Day of Service program.
Organizers of the event have declared it a “day on,” rather than a day off, to dispel the notion of using the holiday for personal leisure. Free immigration and landlord/tenant legal services, health, dental, vision screenings, HIV/AIDS testing, and employer services will be offered during the event. Fruits and vegetables, sponsored by Trader Joe’s, will be offered at no cost to participants. Games and activities will be available in the children’s corner.
In 2013, President Obama observed a National Day of Service in support of the Martin Luther King Day of service. His call to action was met with the support of thousands of people across the country. Their pledge to serve communities in need has continued throughout the years. To learn more, visit: http://www.serve.gov/?q=site-page/mlkday.
Since 1983, the King Holiday has been observed in remembrance of Dr. King’s social justice work. The holiday was also established to encourage community service in support of underserved populations throughout the country. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service website, “It is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service.”
