
MLK Candlelight Ceremony

The MLK Back to School Festival is a “one-stop-shop” for parents and students preparing for the new school year. On Friday, August 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can come to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (2922 MLK Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215) and receive free school supplies, backpacks, uniforms, shoes, and more. There will also be vendors, a children’s play area, free food, and snow cones.
This event is open to all families with children in grades Pre-K to 12. Parents must provide a photo ID and children must be present to receive supplies. There are no zip code restrictions or income requirements to receive supplies.
When: Friday, August 16, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, located at 2922 MLK Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75215.
Who: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center hosts this annual event. This year’s sponsors include the City of Dallas, Miles of Freedom, Carter’s House, Capital One, Reliant Energy, Turning Paiges, and Panda Cares. If you are interested in becoming a vendor or sponsor, please call 214-670-8418 or visit www.dallasmlkcenter.com/back-to-school.
(DALLAS / FORT WORTH) To honor this year’s Juneteenth Celebration of freedom, #BeGolden is bringing the values of respect, empathy and compassion into focus by contributing 16 Golden Tables to Dallas area community centers, including MLK Community Center where the celebration will take place.
Golden Tables are painted gold and feature a plaque that says “May we always be welcoming and gather around the table in the spirit of The Golden Rule: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”
#BeGolden is helping Dallas to build a more welcoming community, and these Golden Tables are a lasting way we can remind everyone that we are all neighbors and it’s up to us to make each other feel welcome. #BeGolden is based on The Golden Rule, a principle that rings true for every culture and every faith. #BeGolden began as an initiative of Bishop Edward Burns and the Diocese of Dallas and is supported by the Mayor’s office, The Richards-Lerma agency, Catholic Charities, The Belo Corporation and Dallas Morning News, and many other civic, faith, business, and school leaders. In particular, the City of Dallas’ Welcoming Communities office is a big advocate of #BeGolden, as it works so well with their mission to bridge the space between newcomers and existing Dallas residents, to find common ground, to foster informed understanding and to promote shared leadership.
Since it was launched in April, 2018, #BeGolden has been a part of conversations in many organizations across Dallas and has spread to Louisville, Kentucky and San Antonio, Texas.
#BeGolden exists to build a more welcoming community in the Dallas area and beyond. #BeGolden aims to educate, inspire and generate action helping to create a world where we treat immigrants and all people the way we’d like to be treated, and encourage others to do the same. #BeGolden is supported by City of Dallas Mayor Rawlings, Catholic Diocese of Dallas Bishop Edward Burns, The Richards-Lerma agency, Catholic Charities, The Belo Corporation and Dallas Morning News, and many other civic, faith, business, and school leaders. begoldenjourney.com, and #BEGOLDEN JOURNEY on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Please also include WCIA on social media #DallasWCIA, @Dallas_WCIA Twitter, @DallasWCIA Facebook.
Media Release #BeGolden Golden Tables
Reliant and the City of Dallas kicked off summer Beat the Heat centers on June 6 with a press conference at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Special guests included Andrea Russell, Vice President and General Manager of Reliant; Philip Huang, Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services; and Pamela Jones, Division Manager at the MLK, Jr. Community Center.
Reliant’s Beat the Heat centers keep Dallas residents cool as temperatures and electricity usage begin to rise. The centers are designed to provide residents with a safe and comfortable environment and to help reduce home electricity use during the hottest days of summer.
Beat the Heat centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the West Dallas Multipurpose Center (2828 Fish Trap Rd.).
For more information about Beat the Heat cooling centers, please contact 214-670-8418.
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On Thursday, May 30, we hosted “Can We Talk?” which was a free workshop to encourage social services professionals to rethink stress, avoid burnout, and implement more self-care practices in their daily lives.
Topics included mindfulness, health and wellness, and different ways to manage stress. Guests also learned about the health benefits of meditation and created vision boards to represent future goals and dreams.
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Thank you to our guest speakers and sponsors!
Angie Hoquang (Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration)
Sonia James (Founder, State of Mind Today)
Debra Mitchell-Ibe, LCSW
Elaine Maddox (Chaplain, Dallas Fire-Rescue)
Jacqueline Villegas (Case Manager, Family Care Connection)
Thien Dao (LCSW, Parkland Hospital)
Genevieve Eversley, MSW, LBSW-IPR, SHRM-SCP, IPMA-SCP (City of Dallas)
Dr. Joseph DuChene, DuChene Natural Health
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Community Council of Greater Dallas
Community Partner Program
Dallas 311
Flower Road
Gilead Sciences Inc.
MLK Branch Library
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Olive Garden
Patricia Whitfield & Chef Patrick
Prism Health North Texas
Regional Black Contractors
Pinot’s Palette
Sam’s Club
The Fairmont Hotel
The Henry
Theresa Beckwith-Davis
World Vision
On Monday, May 20, we hosted “Spring into Action,” an initiative to help the homeless by providing free care packages with toiletries, towels, snacks, and more.
Thanks to our donors and sponsors, we were able to give 75 care packages to our neighbors.
If you would like to donate any toiletries or snacks to the MLK Social Services Department, please contact 214-670-8442.
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Thank you to our sponsors:
Trusted World
City of Dallas Youth Commission
Foremost Family Health Center
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter)
Sons of Solomon
World Vision
Carter’s House
Walgreens
The Giving Tree
Mary LaJoyce White
Mary Macheru
Eunice Rodgers
Charda Greene
April is National Volunteer month and each year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center takes the time to honor volunteers who lend us their time and support throughout the year, making it possible to better serve our community.
On April 30, we hosted “Volunteer Appreciation Day,” bringing our volunteers together for lunch and recognizing their support and commitment to service.
Thank you to our volunteers! You truly make a difference!
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Mark your calendars! Attend a free workshop empowering social service professionals with tools to avoid burnout and reduce stress, by refocusing and transforming your outlook on life. Guests will have the opportunity to network and share resources, enjoy lunch and discussion, and win door prizes.
Topics Include:
RSVP via Eventbrite or by calling 214-670-8442.
Hosted by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Visit us online at http://www.dallasmlkcenter.com.