Can’t Miss Alabama reflects on Martin Luther King Jr. through service opportunities, celebrations
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Honoring MLK’s extraordinary life and service.
Hands On Birmingham
For the past 19 years the residents of Birmingham and surrounding areas have come out by the thousands to give back to their community on MLK Jr. Day of Service. Hands On Birmingham, now United Way Hands On, has refurbished schools, built homes for the needy, fed the homeless, cleaned up neighborhoods, socialized with seniors and more. This year’s event includes a variety of community projects beginning Saturday, Jan. 16 through Monday, Jan. 18. Stay connected at unitedwayhandson.org.
Negro Southern League Museum
Join the Negro Southern League Museum as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues. The virtual celebration will take place Sunday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. and will feature special guests. To register, visit bit.ly/NSLM100. Follow along on Facebook. Hashtags for the event are #NLBM100, #NegroLeagues100 and #NSLM #NLBM.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will present its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration virtually Monday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Included in the virtual commemorative will be performances by orators and dancers, an encore presentation of BCRI’s community reading of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and messages from collaborative partners. Virtual presentations will help protect the community and provide an avenue for engaging programming. Tickets are free but must be reserved online. For more information, contact cwoods@bcri.org.
Stardome
The Stardome will host Rickey Smiley on Monday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. The event will be livestreamed nationwide. Grab your virtual tickets and watch the show on the go. Enjoy karaoke performances, surprise guests and a good time as only Smiley can provide. Link here for virtual tickets.
Promise Exhibit 2021
Commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through art on Friday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. Given the times we are experiencing, this exhibit is relevant and aims to keep the ideals of justice and humanity a reality. There will be a $5 fee to access the Promise Exhibit 2021 at studio25.gallery/virtual.
Birmingham Public Library
Join the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) for “Brothers and Bow Ties” on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. A panel of men from across metro Birmingham will share words of encouragement for males between ages 11 and 18. The event will be on the library’s Facebook page. Cedric Sparks, chief of staff for the city of Birmingham, will be host and moderator of the event. BPL is seeking donations for hats, gloves, coats, masks, tote bags, soup, sandwiches and other items to be distributed to those in need on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. while supplies last. The event will be in the downtown library as part of the MLK Day of Service. Cars will need to drive through to collect the donations. For more information, call 205-226-3741 or visit the website.
Sidewalk Film
“One Night in Miami …” (2020) and “Wonder Woman 1984″ are playing at Sidewalk. “One Night in Miami …” will be shown Jan. 15-17 and “Wonder Woman 1984” will be shown Jan. 14-15. Link here for tickets. Before attending a show, click this link for updated safety protocols. Tickets will be sold in advance online or over the phone. Credit and debit cards are the only acceptable form of payment that can be used at the bar and concessions. Seating capacity is limited to 18 per theater, which provides ample space for social distancing. Assigned seating will be in place to allow for a unique seating pattern for each screening, preventing reuse of any seats within a 24-hour period. Customers will be expected to wear masks at all times in common areas, including concession stand, bar and restrooms and in the theaters when not consuming concessions. For more information, visit sidewalkfest.com.
Birmingham Restaurant Week
The Winter Edition of Birmingham Restaurant Week (BRW) is underway through Sunday, Jan. 31. It will feature to-go and curbside pickup options as well as the traditional, but limited, dine-in, as pandemic health precautions are still mandated. With a variety of options, food and drink lovers with a taste for adventure can enjoy special two- and three-course breakfast, lunch and/or dinner menus ranging from $5 to $50 per person, making it easy and affordable for everyone to enjoy a taste of Birmingham’s diverse dishes and sips. Participating restaurants and menus are listed on the Eat/Drink page of the BRW website bhamrestaurantweek.com.
Virtual 5K Drum Run
On the mark, get set, go. Plan to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and our diverse culture while feeling fit. Take your favorite running course and run any time you want Saturday, Jan. 16 for the fourth annual MLK Day 5K Drum Run. Registration is $30.
Birmingham Zoo
In the spirit of service, the Birmingham Zoo will host a food drive in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable or canned food item to receive half-price daytime admission. Limit one admission ticket per guest. Tickets cannot be combined with other coupons, discounts or offers. For more information about Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, visit www.feedingal.org.
Auburn University
An eight-day donation drive to benefit nursing homes in the community will kick off this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week activities at Auburn University.
- Jan. 14-20 Donation Drive: Acceptable donations for nursing home residents include hand sanitizer, soap and body wash, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, flushable wipes, floss, shampoo, conditioner and lip balm. Items will be collected at the Cross Cultural Center for Excellence in Suite 2104 of the Melton Student Center. Anyone interested can register via this link.
- Jan. 18 MLK Scholarship Breakfast: OID, University Outreach and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators will host the MLK Scholarship Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. A virtual gathering themed “Honoring the Dream: Exploring 21st Century Civic Engagement and Advocacy” will feature Auburn alumnus chef Justin Robinson and Lee County leaders and organizers. “Chef JRob” will kick off the event with a cooking class. Participants have the option to purchase breakfast from Lucy’s or Jahvon’s for pickup to enjoy as they join the online panel discussion and scholarship awards ceremony. The first 30 registrants for the breakfast will receive a free copy of Robinson’s new cookbook, “Justin Time,” and participants may become event sponsors with donations that support Lee County high school students.
- Jan. 20 self-care session with Blaze Wellness: Auburn alumna Noelle Lucas will lead up to 50 participants in a safe, at-home essential oils workshop that will offer an opportunity to explore the impact of racial battle fatigue on physical, mental and emotional well-being; examine the concept of weathering and how it affects quality of life; unpack ally-ship and its connection to racial battle fatigue; and identify opportunities for cultivating spaces for rest. Anyone interested in participating can register here.
- Jan. 22 Nursing Home Drive Packing Day: Volunteers interested in participating are required to social distance and wear a mask. Follow this link to learn more.
