Honor MLK Jr. and His Legacy of Service to Others this Monday
Join us as we kickoff Anacostia Park’s centennial year!
NPS Photo: 2015 MLK Day of Service volunteers in Anacostia Park.
WASHINGTON- You can help kick off the Year of the Anacostia and the centennial of Anacostia Park this Monday, January 15, by joining hundreds of other volunteers for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at several different events along the Anacostia River corridor.
“2018 is such an exciting time as we all come together to restore the Anacostia River, uplift our parks, and inspire community unity” Anacostia Park Superintendent Tara Morrison said. “For the centennial of Anacostia Park, I challenge everyone in the surrounding communities to visit the park to make lasting memories, learn something new and have fun!”
The Year of the Anacostia is your yearlong invitation to honor history, celebrate progress, enjoy the Anacostia River and its surroundings while envisioning an inspiring future, and the service volunteers perform will help improve the watershed and increase stewardship of our precious shared resources.
MLK Day of Service in Anacostia Park
You can join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the National Park Service from 9 a.m through 12 p.m. in Anacostia Park. Be fulfilled and join fellow community and park stewards in a massive collective cleanup effort to help restore the Anacostia River watershed during the Year of the Anacostia!
Volunteers who come out to the MLK Day ConSERVE event will participate in invasive plant and trash removal and shoreline cleanup. They can expect a free breakfast, work gloves and supplies for their tasks.
"With support from our friends at American Express and Southwest Airlines, SCA looks forward to bringing local youth and families together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and promote the practices of giving back to our communities and stewarding our natural resources" Jaime Matyas, Student Conservation Association President and CEO said.
MLK Day of Service in Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Join the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to celebrate MLK with a day of volunteer service at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! This incredible national park site showcases historic ponds with spectacular water lilies and lotus, tidal marsh and habitat for abundant wildlife. Help protect, restore and promote this jewel along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. Learn more and RSVP here.
MLK Day of Service at Pope Branch Park
Join the Anacostia Riverkeeper this MLK day to brave the cold and do your part to leave our local parks cleaner and more beautiful! This collaborative event celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the memory of Joseph Glover, Founder and Chair of Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance. Weather won't stop us, we'll be hosting rain, snow, or shine! Everything you'll need is provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and get-dirty clothing that will protect you from brush. Hot coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company, snacks, and water from Deer Park Natural Spring Water will be provided!
Learn more and RSVP here, or for more details, check out our event flyer here: http://bit.ly/2B15FNF. For any questions, shoot us an email at: info@anacostiariverkeeper.org
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
About the Student Conservation Association: The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is America’s largest and most effective youth conservation service organization. SCA conserves lands and transforms lives by empowering young people of all backgrounds to plan, act, and lead, while they protect and restore our natural and cultural resources. Founded in 1957, SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders, and 70% of its 85,000 alumni are employed or studying in conservation-related fields. For more, visit www.thesca.org.
About the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: The Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that connects people to the park through volunteer service, education, and recreation. This unique park, only a few miles from the Nation's Capitol, reveals the only remaining tidal marsh in Washington, D.C., natural riparian environments along the Anacostia, and breathtaking historic water lily and lotus in ponds. We encourage public discovery of the park through community events, volunteer activities, and educational programs for youth. Learn more at: www.friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.
About Anacostia Riverkeeper: Anacostia Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization working to protect and restore the Anacostia River and create opportunities for the community to connect to the river. Learn more at: www.anacostiariverkeeper.org.