Thank Goodness It's Monday #287 Another Legacy of MLK Jr.

Geoff Steck’s

THANK GOODNESS IT’S MONDAY  

TGIM #287

LIVE THE DREAM IN 2011

Martin Luther King Jr. said: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday.

After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986.

This Silver Anniversary milestone is a perfect opportunity to resolve anew to live the dream in 2011 as well as honor Dr. King’s legacy through service.

Here’s why: In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.

Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK observance is the only federal holiday also designated as a national day of service.

Because of Dr. King’s dedication to human rights and a better society, the holiday has become known as –

“A day on, not a day off.” And people are encouraged to perform acts that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions.  

The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, a governmental national “call to service” initiative. It encourages Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.

The MLK Day of Service empowers us individually and collectively to devise and implement solutions to social challenges and moves us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."

Let’s face it: We still have work to do to realize Dr. King’s dream. Just as he set big goals and focused relentlessly on results, we need sustained citizen action to address today’s social challenges. 

Just one example: While Dr. King preached about justice, empowerment, love and peace, in the final months of his life, his attention was turned to fighting poverty.

Sadly, more Americans live in poverty today than during Dr. King's lifetime. Forty-seven million Americans currently fall below the poverty line.

TGIM Takeaway: The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into action that helps overcome social trials and tribulations. That service may meet a tangible community need, or it may meet a need of the individual spirit.

TGIM ACTION IDEA: On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects. And the Corporation for National and Community Service makes it easy for you to get involved if you don’t already have a project in mind.

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: To locate a volunteer opportunity in your community or plan your own project, just fill in your interest area and zip code in the “Find a Project” box that's off to the right above this blog's Archive List. 

Already feel you do your part? Then share your dream in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy.

Everyone should live the dream in 2011. As Dr. King said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing
8 Depot Square
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com   

P.S.  MLK Jr.’s charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in this nation and around the world. His speeches, lectures and writings stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. Many of his great thoughts, compellingly expressed, live on today.

Among my favorites: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”

Got a favorite of your own? Share it today.

GEOFF STECK leads Alexander Publishing & Marketing, a company he formed in 1986. The core AP&M mission: To create and publish leadership, sales mastery, self-improvement and workplace skill-building resources and tools. The focus: Areas such as business communication, staff support, customer care and frontline management. Geoff also puts his corporate and entrepreneurial experience, independent perspective, and skills as a catalyst to work for other firms (ranging from multinational corporations to more modest operations), not-for-profits, and individuals who have conceived or developed programs or initiatives but are frustrated in getting them implemented.