On Monday, Jan. 17, Desert Botanical Garden and the nation will honor and celebrate the legacy and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was a graduate of Morehouse College, a distinguished historically Black university in Atlanta. Dr. King was one of the prominent leaders who fought against segregation and for civil rights. He led the boycott of buses in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott lasted 362 days. He is known for his manifesto “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” He directed the peaceful march in Washington, D.C. of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. He was arrested upwards of 30 times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; and named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963. At 35, King, Jr. was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
King, Jr. is the symbolic leader for Americans and a world figure. He fought for the civil rights of people, and these rights have benefitted so many.
The Garden will give back to the community through service in honor of his legacy. Starting Jan. 17, employees will volunteer with local community organizations. In the spirit of service and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Garden will host a volunteer day for its staff, trustees and volunteers at Spaces of Opportunity in March. Spaces of Opportunity is located in south Phoenix and its mission is to enable all south Phoenix families to have affordable access to healthy food, active living and healthy roots in their cultures.
Visit spacesofopportunity.org to learn more about this partnership.
