Monday, Jan. 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Nashville organizations are hosting events, volunteer opportunities, and celebrations of life.
The annual Nashville MLK Day begins Sunday, Jan. 12 with daily events held through Monday, Jan. 20, including presentations, a youth symposium, a march along Jefferson Street, and a convocation at TSU’s Gentry Center. Author and professor Dr. Daniel Black is this year’s keynote speaker.
Here are a few other events commemorating the life, work, and legacy of Dr. King:
Listen to a lecture
Vanderbilt University will host filmmakers Karen Hayes and Pamela Tom as they discuss “A Better Way: James Lawson, Architect of Nonviolence” on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. They’ll take a look into the filmmaking process, as well as speak about their time with Dr. James Lawson and the impact of his work.
Be moved by music
The Nashville Symphony performs a free community concert at Schermerhorn Symphony Center the evening of Sunday, Jan. 19 with special guest Mickey Guyton. Reserve your spot.
Get creative
During the National Museum of African American Music’s free MLK Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 20, visitors are invited to craft civil rights posters inside the Community Education Center before closing out the day with the unveiling of the Shannon Sanders exhibit.
Donate your time
MLK Joint Day of Service, the day of volunteering for students, faculty, and staff at Nashville-area colleges, begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25.
Bonus: Lean into learning. Nashville Public Library’s ongoing Civil Rights Collection features over 100 oral history interviews with those active during the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville, in addition to photos, documents, and manuscripts.