Resources for MLK Day of Service 2009

Posted by on November 17, 2008

MLK Day of Service 2009

With just eleven weeks to go until January 19th, there is a great deal of planning and organizing to do to create the largest MLK Day of Service for 2009.   The Corporation for National and Community Service (http://www.nationalservice.gov) has established a number of resources that can assist in your efforts.  We hope you will make sure that your community is aware of these resources and encourage teachers, students, community based organizations, colleges and universities, etc to take advantage of all tools and resources.

* Mobilization Memos
o Each Monday morning thru January 19th, an e-communication is disseminated to a wide range of individuals and organizations interested in advancing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: “a day on, not a day off.”  These Mobilization Memos provide action focused tips, best practices, and resource links.  They connect readers to online forums, the MLK Day website, and the Project Registration Tool.  The memos also encourage readers to spread the word and forward the message to others in their networks, to expand participation.
o The Memos are archived on the MLK Day website.  If you want the weekly memo sent directly to you or others in your community, please sign up at http://www.mlkday.gov.  There is a link to the memos on the home page and once on the memo page you will see a button to sign up.

·         My MLK Day

o        My MLK Day is a customizable electronic tool that allows you to manage both projects and volunteers for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

o        The tool is customizable – When you create an account at My MLK Day, you will get a unique URL that you can use when promoting your local projects or doing volunteer outreach.  You may customize this webpage with your own local message.  You may also share stories, photographs, and videos about the planning and implementation of the event.

o        The tool helps you recruit and manage volunteers – Community members go to your unique URL at My MLK Day to find opportunities to volunteer for the service projects in your community.  This feature allows you to track volunteers that have signed up for a particular project and the number of volunteers still needed.

o        The tool helps you generate visibility and media attention – When you list your projects at My MLK Day, it becomes part of a national database of MLK Day of Service projects.  This information is used by the Corporation for National and Community Service (http://www.nationalservice.gov) in promoting the Martin Luther King Day of Service to national, regional and local media outlets.  It is also used by national and local media to identify newsworthy projects.

o        To access My MLK Day, visit http://www.MLKday.gov and click on “Register Your Service Project.”

Philadelphia area projects are also encouraged to visit and register projects at http://www.mlkdayofservice.org

* Martin Luther King Day Toolkit
o Available at: http://www.mlkday.gov/resources/toolkit/mlkday_toolkit.pdf. This tool is a step by step guide to planning the Martin Luther King Day of Service.  Hard copies of this publication may be acquired at http://www.nationalservicepubs.org.
* MLK Day Fundraising Toolkit
o Available at:  http://www.mlkday.gov/resources/funders/mlkday_funders.pdf.  This tool is designed to assist users in building financial and in-kind support for the Day of Service.
* The “Sizzle Reel”
o This video of highlights from MLK Day 2008 is a great resource for getting others excited about what could be done in your community.  The video of MLK Day 2008 activities are located at:  http://www.mlkday.gov/about/newsroom/video.asp.  Hard copies of the sizzle reel are also available at http://www.nationalservicepubs.org.

Thank you for making the 2009 MLK Day of Service the largest in history!