In Colorado, giving back to our communities is simply a part of our culture. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our neighbor and leaving the state even better for generations to come. Three times a year, Coloradoans unite in service to honor the legacy of important people who inspire us to improve our communities and ourselves. Our Days of Service, which include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Cesar Chavez Day of Service, and September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, help make Colorado what it is - a community of people dedicated to improving the lives of others. Days of Service are marked with both service activities and a reflection component.
To learn more about each Day of Service, click the name below:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service | Occurs in January
-
Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, he encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by applying the principles of nonviolence. MLK Day of Service is a way to honor his life and teachings by engaging in community action that continues to positively affect social problems.
Legislation signed in 1983 marked the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a federal holiday. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) with leading this effort. Each year, on the third Monday in January, MLK Day of Service is observed as a "day on, not a day off." MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."
Click here for more information.
- Cesar Chavez Day of Service | Occurs in March and April
-
Cesar Chavez gave our nation and each of us a unique example to live our lives by. His selfless dedication for farm worker and worker rights, economic justice, civil rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence, empowerment of the poor and disenfranchised, is a monumental legacy that will inspire all and the generations to come.
Honoring the life and legacy of civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, we celebrate his birthday, March 31, with a Day of Service. Activities for this day often span into April as well.
- September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance | Occurs in September
-
September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of efforts originally launched in 2002, to promote community service on 9/11 as an annual and forward-looking tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, or who rose in service as a result of that tragedy.
In 2009, Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under bipartisan federal law, and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with helping to support this effort across the country.
Click here for more information.