Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2022: New Orleans-area events observe with service, wellness, panel discussions, more

NEW ORLEANS (NOLA WEEKEND) - Activities around the New Orleans area to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. kick-off over the weekend and culminate with special events on Monday, Jan. 17. This year, the holiday is being observed with activities such as service days, panel discussions, wellness events and free admission at local museums.

Below is a list of community events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2022. Check back for updates as we get them.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Cesar Chavez Call To Action: This virtual event hosted by the Ashé's Cultural Arts Center evokes the revolutionary spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez through the wisdom of keynote speakers – Jasmine Araujo (Organizer, advocate for the unhoused, and co-founder of Southern Solidarity) and Carlton Turner — (Performing artist, organizer, policy shaper, and co-founder of the Mississippi Center for Cultural Production), the artistic offering of performers, and collective community-building. The virtual event launches as a Facebook Live at noon Friday, Jan. 14 on Ashé's Cultural Arts Center Facebook Page. Suggested admission is $25 or pay-as-you-can in the spirit of equity and access. Get tickets via the Eventbrite website.

Ogden Museum Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: The Ogden Museum of Southern Art honors Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a special event and free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 17. The event features family-friendly art activities, school group performances, a museum scavenger hunt and an interactive “I Have a Dream” wall. A panel discussion exploring the history of social justice activism in New Orleans starts at 3 p.m. Take-home art activity bags including art supplies and an instruction booklet will also be available throughout the day. Ogden Museum encourages patrons to reserve free timed tickets online at www.ogdenmuseum.org.

25th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Art Exhibition: A gift of Love: The Ashé's Cultural Arts Center hosts a virtual opening of its 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art Exhibit at 5 p.m. on Jan. 15. As the central theme for this year’s exhibition, artists have been asked to explore “A Gift of Love: Sermons From ‘Strength To Love’ and Other Preachings” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The virtual opening is free and open to the public and will be streamed live on Facebook and Youtube.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Wellness: Ashé Cultural Arts Cente hosts a day of wellness in the parking lot featuring free vaccinations, health screenings and healing work from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 17. The event is presented in partnership with the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, The Blood Center and New Orleans East Hospital. RSVP at ashenola.org.

City of New Orleans Wreath Laying: The City of New Orleans will host a memorial wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue at South Claiborne Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at 11 a.m. on Jan. 17.

MLK DAY at NOMA: The New Orleans Museum of Art celebrates Dr. King’s legacy with activities and free admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participate in a collaborative inspiration wall and family mindfulness and movement workshops throughout the day. There will also be family-friendly takeaway art activities to continue the experience at home. Register at the NOMA website, noma.org.

United Way MLK Day of Service: The United Way HandsOn Entergy Volunteer Center is rallying volunteers over the holiday weekend for its Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service projects from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 15 and Jan. 17. Service projects include outdoor beautification projects in the Desire Neighborhood and Hoffman Triangle. Volunteers will build an urban garden, breathe new life into a park playground and clean up public spaces to create safer environments for children and families. The service daysThe public can register online at UnitedWaySELA.org/Volunteer.

Lower 9th Ward MLK Day of Service: The Lower 9th Ward Homeownership Association and SOUL are seeking volunteers of all ages to help pick up trash in the Lower 9th Ward from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Jan. 17, during the Annual National Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service. The meet-up location is 5234 N. Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. Volunteers must call 504-943-6000 to register for projects or go to www.l9wha.org; Registration deadline is Saturday, Jan. 15.

New Orleans City Park Day of Service: New Orleans City Park will kick off 2022 with a Park-wide volunteer event coinciding with the National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 17. This year, Friends of City Park will connect hundreds of New Orleanians with volunteers to help care for City Park by lending a hand to beautify the community’s green space. The Annual Day of Service provides opportunities to give back by cleaning, painting, weeding, planting and more. All volunteers must register in advance at https://bit.ly/Service_22.

FSRIA MLK Day of Service in St. Roch: Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Association hosts a day of service in the St. Roch Neighborhood at 10 a.m. on Jan. 17. Participants will meet at St. Roch Community Church to share donuts, coffee and fellowship before starting projects. Service projects include planting flowers on the neutral ground and neighborhood cleanup.

Contemporary Arts Center “JUST US” Celebration: The Contemporary Arts Center hosts “JUST US,” its annual celebration and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event features art, thought-provoking discussions and activities. Admission is free with RSVP at the Contemporary Arts Center website, cacno.org.

MLK Day of Service on the Greenway: The Friends of Lafitte Greenway commemorates Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and work through community projects. Volunteers can help tackle some maintenance projects to make the Greenway a more beautiful space. Meet at Greenway Plaza, 500 N Norman C Francis Parkway. Parking is available off Galvez at the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 93rd Birthday Celebration: The City of Covington commemorates the 93rd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a march and program. The 2022 celebration begins with a March for Peace at 9:30 a.m. starting at Rev. Peter Atkins Park, at 28th and Tyler Streets. The procession travels to 29th St., turns right to N. Madison and Columbia St., then down Jefferson Ave., ending at Fuhrmann Auditorium in the Greater Covington Center, 317 N. Jefferson Ave. A program to commemorate Dr. King begins at 11 a.m. All events are free and open to the public.

MLK Day : Saturdays @ NOAAM: Admission to the New Orleans African American Museum is free, with the traditional Saturday market added. Local vendors, farmers, artists and teaching artists will be present.

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