The university will be the host of the event’s regional signature project. The Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service is the oldest and largest King Day of Service in the nation.
Temple will again serve as the host for the 32nd annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project, which will be held Monday, Jan. 18, 2027.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
Last January, thousands of volunteers came together at Temple University to support the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project. The day was a resounding success, and the university was deeply proud of the role it played.
For a second straight year, Temple University will serve as the host for the 32nd annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project on Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. The Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service was founded in Philadelphia in 1996, and it is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the nation, with more than 2.8 million volunteering throughout the region over the last three decades.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and put his ideals of equality, justice and nonviolence into action,” said Temple President John Fry. “Last January, it was inspiring to see thousands of Temple and Philadelphia volunteers come together in service and civic engagement. We are proud to host the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s signature project again.”
The national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service was created through the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994, a piece of federal legislation that was co-authored by Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressperson John Lewis and signed into law on Aug. 23, 1994. It embraces King’s legacy of civil rights and social justice by transforming the day into a call for citizen action, which then serves as a springboard to year-round community involvement
“Few places could be more fitting to serve as the 32nd annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service signature site than Temple University,” said Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen and founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. “Dr. King spoke at Temple in 1965 and challenged this community to transform the ideals of justice and equality into action. Sixty-two years later, that call to action continues to resonate on this campus and throughout our region, on King Day and beyond. Temple has become a national leader in civic engagement, empowering students to see themselves as citizens with a responsibility to strengthen their communities. Bringing the nation’s largest King Day of Service event to Temple is a powerful continuation of that legacy—a moment when history, education, and service come together to turn Dr. King’s legacy of social justice into citizen action.”
The overarching theme for the 32nd annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is Health Equity: Turning Challenges into Solutions. Speaking in Chicago 40 years ago, King said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.”
More than 100 initiatives or activities will be held at Temple’s Pearson-McGonigle Hall on Jan. 18. Activities will include hands-on service projects; a kids carnival for young people; a Health and Wellness Fair, which will include information, presentations and testing for community members; workshops presenting opportunities for ongoing engagement in the community; and a concluding reflection and rally for peace and justice.
Temple will also host the King Day of Service 15th annual Jobs and Opportunity Fair, which will include some 50 local employers interviewing candidates for available positions. The Temple event will conclude at noon with a special session that highlights the history of the local Civil Rights Movement and social activism, with music and cultural presentations organized by the Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters.
In total, up to 3,000 participants are expected to attend the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Temple. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker are both expected to join the day’s activities.
“I have been associated with the King Day of Service since its inception more than 30 years ago and it’s a privilege to host it here for the second consecutive year,” David W. Brown, executive director of community impact and civic engagement at Temple. “Honoring the spirit of service in this educational setting embodies the spirit of Dr. King in a powerful way.”
“Health equity is fundamental to our mission at Temple Health, and we are proud to partner with Temple University in this important effort. We believe everyone deserves access to exceptional care, regardless of ZIP code, income or circumstance, and that means meeting people where they are, removing barriers to care and investing in the health of the communities we serve. Dr. King’s challenge to confront injustice in health remains deeply relevant today, and it calls on all of us to turn that commitment into meaningful action,” added Abhi Rastogi, president and chief executive officer of Temple Health.
Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Global Citizen and Temple University will partner to host a kickoff news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 10:30 a.m. in the Temple Performing Arts Center. Mayor Parker is expected to attend the event and announce plans for the King Day of Service. A dramatic mural painted by local students will also be presented during the kickoff event, and Parker will present the 29th annual Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award.
For more information, including how to register a project or volunteer, visit globalcitizen365.org.
