Dear Friend,

 

Welcome to a New Year, hopefully a much better one for all!  From the global pandemic, including a heightened awareness around racial disparities in the delivery of health care; political and social polarization; massive unemployment; food insecurity and numerous issues around systemic racism, there are many challenges AND opportunities for better days ahead. 

January for Global Citizen, with hundreds of terrific community partners, and hundreds of thousands of active citizens, includes the annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service, celebrating Dr. King’s legacy through citizen action, which for many includes a year-round commitment to community involvement.

But, unlike any other year, the 26th annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service will be much different, mostly virtual. In 1966, Dr. King said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman." On January 18, Global Citizen, in partnership with the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, area physicians, frontline healthcare workers and institutions will present Justice & the COVID-19 Health Crisis.

The King Day of Service will be highlighted at our traditional Girard College signature site, from 

9 am-Noon, with drive-through and walk-in COVID-19 testing, focusing on vulnerable populations from underserved communities. Learn more about the opportunity in this newsletter and help us spread the word.

In addition, many virtual options will include a 3 pm reflection and discussion on COVID-19 and Racial Disparities in the Healthcare system, a 10 am training of volunteers for the City of Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps, our 10th annual Jobs and Opportunity Fair and Civic Engagement Expo, and in-person food distribution project at several locations throughout Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 31st annual King Tribute Concert will be carried on King Day at philorch.org.

 

Please join us virtually, along with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, on Wednesday, January 6, 10:30 a.m. for our King Day of Service kickoff news conference. Highlights will include an announcement about our theme and Mayor Kenney presenting the winner of the 23rd annual Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award. The Zoom link for the news conference is here.

 

Please go to mlkdayofservice.org to learn more about King Day of Service opportunities, including our COVID-19 testing initiative. As always, please register your projects, especially so others throughout the community may participate. Let us know if we can be helpful by email at info@globalcitizen365.org.

Best to all for a happy and healthy New Year.

 

All the best and stay healthy,

Todd Bernstein, President, Global Citizen
Founder and Director,
Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service

THANK YOU TO OUR GREAT SPONSORS:

Campus for the City

 

Campus for the City, a service-learning program for high school students at Girard College, seeks to match junior and senior students with community partners, virtually to enhance the organization's impact and fulfill their objectives. Students will build their professional skills and address community needs, all while increasing their sense of civic engagement. If your organization is interested, or you would like to recommend a partnership, please contact:

 

Livia Popko, Campus for the City Coordinator 

PHENND Fellow with Global Citizen at Girard College 

lpopko@girardcollege.edu / lpopko@girardcollege.net 

609-968-5087

 

Food will be distributed on King Day at the following locations:

• Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church: 2800 W Cheltenham Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19150
  
• Keep It Real CDC: 5906 Lansdowne Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19151
• Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association: 3000 Master St. Philadelphia, PA 19121

You can contribute to a virtual food drive here. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter's drive is open until Jan 31st.

Volunteer training with the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a group of more than 2,500 volunteers who serve the City of Philadelphia during public health emergencies and large-scale events. This unit is part of the national MRC program, which is run through the Office of the Surgeon General.

The Department of Public Health trains the Philadelphia MRC and coordinates its response in times of need. Volunteers may be deployed during major emergencies, such as COVID-19 and natural disasters, as well as events like political rallies and marathon races. All volunteers must participate in at least one training, exercise, or deployment per year. A training will also take place as part of the January 18, 26th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.

Members may also choose to support communities in need in other areas of the state or country, as many did during hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

By volunteering for the Philadelphia MRC, you can contribute to a healthier, more resilient Philadelphia.

Anyone over 18 years old may apply to join online. After attending an orientation session, volunteers will be invited to optional trainings and contacted for deployment.

Campus response teams and other student groups can also join as sub-groups of the Philadelphia MRC.

A Reading Captain is a person over the age of 18, who is committed to sharing literacy resources with the members of his/her community.
To attend a orientation session to learn about Read by 4th, understand what your role as a Reading Captain requires, and receive resources and swag, then join us on King Day!
Read by 4th is a citywide coalition of partners managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia.

The Impact of Racism on Black bodies - COVID-19, and Self-Care

 

When: January 18, 10AM - 11:30AM

 

In this workshop, Dr. Donnay will go beyond the narrative of lowered economics and frontline workers to discuss how experiences of discrimination can assault Black bodies; therefore, all Blacks can be vulnerable to poorer outcomes when they contract pathogens like the coronavirus or other diseases. Dr. Donnay will also discuss preventive steps that Blacks can take to improve their body’s ability to withstand discrimination assaults and thereby improve physical and emotional health.

 

Sandra Donnay, P.h.D., C.P.A.

Join us for the 2021 King Day of Service Virtual Kids' Carnival. All opportunities for this event are family-friendly and safe activities to join for the 26th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.

 

Opportunities offered include programming from:

• The African American Museum in Philadelphia
• Dreamline
• Wagner Free Institute of Science
• American Red Cross
• Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ
• and more!

Virtual Jobs and Opportunity Fair

 

When: January 18

 

This year's Jobs & Opportunity Fair looks different. Programing will include various workshops that explore virtual job hunting, finding employment, resume and interview prep, and career path success.

Calling All Partnering Organizations!

 

When: January 18

 

We want to highlight local non-profits that offer year-round volunteer opportunities. We are hosting a virtual Civic Engagement Expo. Please sign up below to be featured as a civic engagement organization.

If you represent an organization in need of volunteers or service support opportunities, let us know! We'll work with you to develop an outreach plan, workshops on community engagement, volunteer recruitment mailings, or direct support for a service event. From there, we'll feature your organization in our newsletter to help spread the word. Please contact us here.

 

Click here to go on Repair the World's website for even MORE volunteer opportunities!