We have seen much racial strife in America of late. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the treatment of immigrants to the recent spate of anti-Semitic acts, we as a nation continue to struggle coming to terms with our diversity. 

This is sad as we prepare to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday. 

He ignited and led a movement that changed this nation for the better. However, he only started us on the path towards tolerance and understanding.

We still have a long ways to go. 

America has only become more racially complex. It is no longer just a matter of black and white any more as Hispanic and Asian populations grow.

Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the president’s national call to service initiative. 

It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”

This is a grand vision, and a ground-breaking concept.

Other federal holidays honoring titans of our nation’s past consist of days off from school or work, and that’s about it.

MLK Day is different. With the slogan “Make it a day ON ... Not a day off!”, there is a chance to not only remember the legacy of the great civil rights leader, but also perpetuate his lofty goals.

There are many opportunities in our community to get involved. We just have to keep our eyes open.

Let’s use MLK Day as a chance to ignite our own movement to give back.

— Dale Hogg