St. Charles Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have turned 82 on Sunday. King received the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35, making him the youngest man to have received the award. 

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at his hotel in Memphis where he planned to lead a protest march to help the striking garbage workers.

There are several events being held in St. Charles County to honor Dr. King and his life’s work.

Celebrating the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• ’s Black Student Union will present The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 3 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the Emerson Black Box Theatre, located in the . The free event is open to the public and will include student performances, music from Lindenwood’s vocal group and a keynote presentation from motivational speaker Tyrone Flowers.
• The St. Charles Ministerial Alliance will sponsor a on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. The service will be hosted by the , located at 131 Gamble St. and will feature Rev. Emory Washington, a retired Episcopal priest. The theme is “Building a More Just and Beloved Community.” For more information, call 636-947-8778.

• will host a community celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King. Their program, titled “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On Not a Day Off,” will feature a keynote speech from William Jenkins as well as a performance from the Rhema Dance Ministry. The free event is open to the public, and refreshments will be served after the performances. For more information, call ’s office at 636-327-5101 or Barbara Love at 314-591-8468.
• Kids in Wentzville are invited to Monday at the , located at 1200 Corporate Pkwy. Kids can make crafts and will hear stories that reflect King’s message of peace and friendship. Registration is required. Visit the library’s website or call 636-327-4010 to register or for more information.

Give Back: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Several organizations in the area will gather for community service, rather than taking a day off on Monday. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service efforts are a part of United We Serve, President Obama’s national call to service initiative that calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to come up with solutions to the most urgent national problems. 

 Here are some service opportunities in and near the St. Charles County area.

• Volunteers will meet at the on Monday, Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. They will create tissue paper and origami flowers and decorate cards to be distributed to residents who live in local care facilities on (Feb. 14.) To pre-register (required) call 636-379-5408 or email the O’Fallon Volunteer Services Department at volunteer@ofallon.mo.us. You can visit the O’Fallon website for more information.

To find other service locations and events, visit the All for Good website to search for opportunities nearby.

Other Items of Note for MLK Day

• All federal, state, county and city offices and services, including the U.S. Post Office will be closed, as well as all public and most private schools and libraries.
• O’Fallon senior citizens can enjoy billiards and pinochle at 9 a.m. and bingo at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the .