Many local organizations and groups are hosting MLK Day events and volunteer projects throughout the city on Monday, Jan. 16. Here’s a list of events and volunteer opportunities in West and Southwest Philadelphia (please feel free to add your event in the comments below). More events can be found on the Global Citizen website.

MLK Job Fair

Parks and Recreation District 8 and the 16th Police District are hosting an MLK Job Fair on Monday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lucien E. Blackwell Center, 761 N. 47th St.

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Lancaster Avenue MLK DAY 2023 “Freedom Now Edition”

9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 4000 Lancaster Ave.

Mural Arts Philadelphia and Full Court Development are partnering to place the existing mural onto the facade of the new building, which would make it one of only a handful of lighted murals in Philadelphia. The mural was commissioned in 2010 to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Freedom Now Speech” which drew over 10K to 12k people to the site. In addition, there will be other events throughout the day at 40th and Lancaster, sponsored by local organizations. See the flyer for more details.

Day of Service at Hand 2 Hand Farm

11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 5317 Westminster Ave.

Hand 2 Hand Farm will be clearing debris, reconstructing stalls and fences, and tending livestock.

Day of Service at the Mantua Civic Association

8 a.m.-4 p.m. at 3543 Fairmount Ave.

The Mantua Civic Association will be cleaning, painting, greening, and plating in the morning. In the afternoon, they will host a fair with art, panels, resources, food, and giveaways.

Day of Service at Henry C. Lea Elementary

9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 4700 Locust St.

Lea Elementary will be painting bathrooms and hallways, as well as cleaning the interior and exterior of the building.

MLK Family Fun & Learning Day

10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Dornsife Center, 3509 Spring Garden St.

Drexel University Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships will be hosting an MLK Family Fun & Learning Day in Ryan Hall. Activities will include: an MLK Speech Re-enactment; Family Read-Along and social justice activities from the book “It Starts with Me,” written by Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and more. Go here for more information.

Clean-up at Bartram’s Garden

9:30-10:30 a.m. at 5400 Lindbergh Blvd.

Clean the streets and public spaces around Lindbergh Blvd. and Gray’s Ferry with Bartram’s Garden. Register at https://bartramsgarden.org.

Day of Service at Dimplez 4 Dayz

9 a.m. at 3509 Haverford Ave.

@Dimplez4dayzinc will spend the day repainting their resource center.

Lancaster Avenue Community Clean-up

9 a.m.-12 p.m. at 3301 Market St.

Join the Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association, Drexel University, West Philly Promise Neighborhood and other neighborhood organizations for a Lancaster Avenue community clean-up day.

March and Clean-up with the Redeemer Tabernacle Baptist Church

8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 219 N. 52nd St.

The Redeemer Tabernacle Baptist Church will be hosting a clean-up, march, and resource fair.

MLK Volunteer Workday with Fairmount Park Conservancy

9:45 a.m.-12 p.m. at 1800 Belmont Mansion Drive.

Join Fairmount Park Conservancy for their MLK Day of Service Workday. Help keep Philadelphia’s most scenic overlook, Belmont Plateau, beautiful for all to enjoy. Learn more and sign up at: https://serve.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3630151.jsp

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change at UPenn

January 16 – February 3, 2023 at various locations.

Each year, during the month of January, the University of Pennsylvania and the surrounding communities come together to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More information and the calendar of events are available here.