Johnson County recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15
The Board of County Commissioners presented its MLK Day proclamation on Thursday, Jan. 11.
On Thursday, Jan. 11, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed Jan. 15, 2024, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Johnson County.
“Today, we celebrate a man whose clarion call stirred our nation to bridge our differences, and whose legacy still drives us to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, peace and good will,” Chair Mike Kelly said.
Accepting the proclamation on behalf of the Board were Kendra Neal Wright, representative of Johnson County’s VIBE Team, Henry Lyons of the Olathe NAACP, Jay Holbert of the Northeast Johnson County NAACP, and Saaliha Khan of Johnson County’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coalition.
This year, MLK Day, a federal holiday, falls on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. In observance of the holiday, Johnson County Government offices will be closed.
Events and activities to honor MLK in Johnson County
A variety of events are planned across the Kansas City metro this holiday weekend to honor MLK. Note: Some events may be affected by the weather. Please check the event’s status before attending.
The 3rd Annual Prairie Village Event Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. at the Village Church, 5541 Mission Road.
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, MidAmerica Nazarene University is hosting its 17th Annual MLK Community Celebration, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the College Church of the Nazarene, 2020 E. Sheridan, Olathe.
Kansas City Parks and Recreation’s Nature Walk on Monday, Dec. 15 was canceled due to weather. The speaker will now be virtual from noon to 1 p.m.
Additionally, several local green spaces celebrate King’s legacy. The City of Overland Park’s Strang Park features inspiring words throughout the park from MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The park, located at 88th and Farley, is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
In December, the City of Leawood dedicated its pedestrian bridge behind City Hall to MLK. The bridge features a plaque, which recognizes MLK's legacy as a “bridge builder” and visionary who pursued social justice through nonviolent means.
MLK Day: A day of service
Aging and Human Services relies on volunteers to help with programs such as Home-Delivered Meals.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” -Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is also known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a “day of service.” Whether it’s cooking meals or fixing up a home, service is a way of honoring King’s legacy of community, bringing together people of diverse backgrounds to give back to others.
If you’re looking for a way to give back on this Day of Service, there are a variety of volunteer opportunities available with Johnson County. Aging and Human Services has several volunteer opportunities, including:
- Catch-a-Ride
- Home-Delivered Meals
- Food Pantry
- Office Administration
- Special Delivery
You can also volunteer with Johnson County Library, Johnson County Museum, Johnson County Park and Recreation District and many other county departments.
Find a full list of volunteer opportunities in our Volunteer Guide. Thanks for doing your part to serve the Johnson County community on this Day of Service.