St. Louis' civic health: A public forum also honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy

United Way of Greater St. Louis
invites the public to be involved in the community in three ways in January to
honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First is by attending a forum about the
region’s civic health from 9-11:30 a.m. on January 18. Second is to attend an
agency fair immediately following the forum, and third is dozens of ways to
volunteer throughout January.

Creating a Beloved Community − A Public Forum to Present the Findings 
of the Missouri Civic Health Index

On January 18, a year-long study by
National Conference on Citizenship, Missouri State University, St. Louis
University, University of Missouri Kansas City, Washington University, Park
University and University of Missouri-St. Louis on the civic health in the St.
Louis region and the state of Missouri will be presented to the public. Similar
to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Sunday Suppers, this event will allow attendees
to share a meal and discuss the findings and learn how they can make a
difference in our community.

The forum will take place from
9-11:30 a.m. at the Center for Global Citizenship, 3672 West Pine, St. Louis,
63108 (where Dr. King, Jr. spoke in St. Louis on October 12, 1946). To
register/learn more go online to stlvolunteer.org/MLK.

United Way of Greater St. Louis, in
collaboration with Washington University, Saint Louis University, University of
Missouri -St. Louis, and Missouri State University will have representatives
present the findings.

Agency fair

Immediately after the forum, an
agency fair with 20 organizations will take place. The fair will connect
attendees to community resources and opportunities to volunteer and learn about
more opportunities to be involved in the community.

Volunteer opportunities throughout January

In collaboration with nonprofit and
for-profit entities, United Way requests 7,500 volunteers to help with
educational, economic, and environmental projects. These projects include
beautification of streets and alleyways; facilitation of financial stability
and technology workshops within low-income neighborhoods with an emphasis on
serving veterans and military families; and opportunities to engage at one’s
home, school or workplace through stl250 and United Way’s volunteer program.

Working closely with stl250, United
Way hopes to engage 250,000 volunteers in 1 million hours of service throughout
the year which embodies Dr. King’s teachings and passion to ignite, inspire and
take action through service to others.

Millions of Americans will come
together around the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in a day of service and
dialogue to honor the memory of Dr. King. United Way of Greater St. Louis
received funding from Points of Light and the Corporation for National and
Community Service, to create new and meaningful ways to harness the passion of
our nation’s citizens in honoring the memory and promoting the vision of Dr.
King.