Five Ways to Spend Martin Luther King Day

Americans are encouraged on Monday, Jan. 16, to have a "day on, not a day off" and to provide service to their communities as part of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Pine-Richland Patch suggests five ways on this national holiday that you can get involved in honor of the civil rights leader. 

1.  Read.  are closed, but is open. Celebrate the life of King by reading a book, especially to a child. 

Because King worked to integrate schools and to improve the lives of young people, his story can be especially meaningful to children.  

2. Volunteer.  In recent years, MLK Day has become synonymous with the National Day of Service.  If your workplace or school is closed for the day, consider donating your time to a cause. To find out where to volunteer, visit www.mlkday.org and follow the "Serve" link.

Another place to look for volunteer opportunities is St. Barnabas Health System, , , and houses of worship.

3.  Visit a museum.  Admission will be free today at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.  From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., explore the theme of "I Have a Dream Too!" with gallery exhibits, arts and crafts, movie screenings and performances that include poetry, spoken word, music and dance. For more information contact cultivation@augustwilsoncenter.org or call 412-338-8730. The center is located at 980 Liberty Ave. in Pittsburgh.

 
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will also have a special "King for a Day" programming today by the Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the MLK celebration includes a five-hour marathon of participatory readings of the speeches of King. 

At 12:30 p.m., actor Greg Kenney will portray King in a one-man show, "I Have a Dream: A Conversation With a Friend." At 1:15 and 2:15 p.m., the drum ensemble of Afrika Yetu will perform. 

The Children’s Museum is located at 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, on Pittsburgh’s North Side. For more information call 412-322-5058.

4.  Plan to attend a government meeting. What better way to exercise your civil rights than with civic engagement? Start making plans today to visit your township's Board of Supervisors meeting. The Pine Board of Supervisors meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Richland's Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 

5. Join a candlelight vigil. As part of MLK Week 2012, Robert Morris University is holding a vigil in honor of King at 5:30 p.m. at Rogal Chapel. The vigil will be followed by an MLK memorial service at 6 p.m. at the chapel, located behind the John Jay Center and across from the Nicholson Center on the Moon Township campus, 6001 University Boulevard. 

Pine-Richland Patch Local Editor Cindy Cusic Micco and Cranberry Patch Local Editor Jessica Sinichak contributed to this article.