From service projects and scholarly symposia to oral history workshops and community cleanups, New Jersey residents will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a wide-ranging slate of events spanning the state this January and into early February.
The programs reflect Dr. King’s enduring call to service, justice, and civic participation. Schools, libraries, faith institutions, universities, and grassroots organizations are hosting volunteer initiatives, educational forums, artistic performances, and youth-led conversations—many centered on translating Dr. King’s ideals into action within local communities.
Friday, January 17
MLK Day of Service
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Two Academy Drive, Westampton
Organizer: Burlington County 4-H Leaders Council
Community members are invited to take part in hands-on volunteer projects designed to meet local needs and strengthen neighborhood connections.
🔗https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mlk-day-of-service-youth-serving-others-in-burlington-county-tickets-1976635169000
City of Bridgeton MLK Day Cleanup
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Bridgeton
Organizer: American Littoral Society
Volunteers will help restore a wooded area along Pamphylia Avenue, contributing to environmental stewardship and community pride.
🔗https://www.littoralsociety.org/
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 11th Annual Read-In & Luncheon
2:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Noyes Arts Garage, Atlantic City
Organizer: Atlantic City Free Public Library
An afternoon of reading and reflection centered on Dr. King’s words and legacy, featuring musical performances by Atlantic City High School students and a live jazz ensemble, followed by a community luncheon.
🔗https://noyesmuseum.org/all-noyes-events/2026/mlk-read-in
Sunday, January 18
MLK Unity Run 2026
8:00 a.m.
📍 Montclair
A community 5K run/walk promoting wellness, unity, and service. Participants are encouraged to donate toiletries for local organizations.
🔗https://www.facebook.com/events/nishuane-park-montclair-nj/mlk-unity-run/4263460243887390/
Monday, January 19 (MLK Day)
MLK Day of Service for Youth
9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, Ewing
Organizer: Mercer Street Friends
Youth volunteers will package food for families in need while learning about food insecurity through stories and data shared by staff and guest speakers.
🔗https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125542201036287/posts/4411687242421760/
“Visions of Freedom” MLK Day Symposium 2026
8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Bethany Hall, Seton Hall University, South Orange
Organizer: Seton Hall University
Faculty and students examine the nation’s 250th anniversary through the lens of Dr. King’s ideas, drawing from Africana studies, history, and social justice scholarship.
🔗https://www.shu.edu/arts-sciences/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-symposium.html
MLK Jr.: 1968 Through 2026 — Oral Histories
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 Tenafly Public Library, Tenafly
Organizer: Eloquence Academy
A day-long oral history project paired with roundtable discussions exploring civil rights struggles, progress, and lived experiences.
🔗https://www.eloquenceacademy.org/
Breakfast for Freedom
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 Gibson House, Marlton
Organizer: Township of Evesham
A youth-led program featuring panel discussions, interactive workshops, and creative presentations linking Dr. King’s legacy to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
🔗https://evesham-nj.org/
Cleanup at Cramer Hill Nature Preserve
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 Camden
Organizer: AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors with South Jersey Land and Water Trust
A volunteer environmental cleanup focused on preserving natural spaces. Registration required.
🔗https://dep.nj.gov/wms/bears/americorps-nj-watershed-ambassadors/
Cleanup in Northeast New Jersey
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 Location TBD
Organizer: AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors with Hackensack Riverkeeper
A regional service project aimed at improving local waterways and public land. Registration required.
🔗https://dep.nj.gov/wms/bears/americorps-nj-watershed-ambassadors/
Dr. King’s Dreams for “We the People”
6:30–9:30 p.m.
📍 Temple Emeth, Teaneck
Organizer: Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Committee of Bergen County
An evening program connecting Dr. King’s vision with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, featuring music, poetry, and scholarship and award presentations.
🔗https://www.themartinlutherkingjrbirthdaycommittee.com/
Community Day: “Martin Luther King Jr. — Stronger Together”
12:00–5:00 p.m.
📍 Newark Museum of Art, Newark
A unity-centered celebration with performances, family activities, and opportunities for community connection.
🔗https://newarkmuseumart.org/event/community-day-martin-luther-king-jr-stronger-together/?date=202601191200
Jersey Cares MLK Day of Service
📍 Locations statewide
Jersey Cares is coordinating volunteer opportunities across New Jersey, from coat sorting to community outreach, open to participants of all ages.
🔗https://www.jerseycares.org/MLK_DAY?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Tuesday, January 20
MLK Jr.: 1968 Through 2026 — Oral Histories (Day Two)
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 Tenafly Public Library, Tenafly
Organizer: Eloquence Academy
A continuation of the oral history initiative and facilitated civil rights discussions.
🔗https://www.eloquenceacademy.org/
Thursday, January 22
Cleanup at South Riverwalk Park
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 Trenton
Organizer: AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors with Mercer County Parks
Volunteers will assist with park cleanup efforts along the riverwalk. Registration required.
🔗https://dep.nj.gov/wms/bears/americorps-nj-watershed-ambassadors/
Friday, January 23
Inclusive Excellence Law Student Summit: MLK Justice & Leadership Boot Camp
9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick
Organizer: Garden State Bar Association
An in-person leadership and professional development program for law students, emphasizing mentorship, career readiness, and advancing justice in the legal profession.
🔗https://njsba.com/dei-initiatives/inclusive-excellence-law-student-summit/
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Carrying the Dream Forward: An Introduction to Dr. King’s Nonviolence Legacy
2:30–4:30 p.m.
📍 Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Princeton
A participatory workshop exploring Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence through discussion, reflection, and practical exercises for today’s challenges.
🔗https://www.rustincenter.org/
Saturday, February 7, 2026
From Declaration to Dream: A Statewide Assembly of Freedom & Democracy Through Art
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Montclair Public Library
Organizer: Friends of the Howe House with the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center
An arts-based civic gathering featuring creative expression and dialogue around democracy, the Constitution, and Dr. King’s enduring influence.
🔗https://www.friendsofthehowehouse.org/
Echoes of Movement: Remembering, Reflecting, Reclaiming
11:00 a.m.
📍 Pennington Avenue, Trenton
Organizer: Greater Mt. Zion CDC
A community storytelling event examining the Civil Rights Movement and Trenton’s Free African Society through history, memory, and creative expression.
🔗https://www.gmztcdc.org/