City Hosts Day of Service to Honor MLK

Highland Park will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday with its at the .

Sponsored by School District 112 and the Highland Park Human Relations Commission, the event, which goes from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m., will include an array of community service activities for people of all ages to participate in, according to event organizer Cheryl Levi.

"It's really a special day for me, for the community and for everyone involved," Levi said. "It's very heartwarming."

Activities include decorating squares on quilts going to hospitalized children, writing letters to soldiers and children of soldiers and making pine cone bird feeders for birds at .

Don Miner, the staff liaison for the city's Human Relations Commission, explained that the community service activities restore meaning to what many see as little more than an day off from work and school.

"I've heard comments from teachers that were very politically progressive people but had a hard time with the holiday because they felt like the meaning was lost," Miner said. "I see this as a really good solution to that."

In addition to the activities, the event includes a multimedia program about the civil rights leader's life. Last year, this presentation attracted people from throughout the North Shore and even a family from Alabama, according to Levi.

Both children and parents will participate in the activities together, and Miner explained that parent participation helps bring the importance of community service home.

"They're getting out and really walking the walk," Miner said.

About 500 people attended last year's event, and Levi is hoping for an even larger turnout this time around. 

"It just seems to grow every year," Levi said. "I'm hoping it will become a tradition and keep going."

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