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"Make
a career of humanity...and you will make a greater person of yourself,
a greater nation of the country and a finer world to live in."
-
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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History of New York State
Community Initiatives
In 1997, the NYS
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Memorial Observance created
the Community Service Initiative to
remember and honor Dr. King not just on one day, but every day
of the year.
The 1998 King Community Service Initiative urged New Yorkers
to reach into their communities, open their hearts and offer
their hands to feed the hungry, house the homeless, care for
those with debilitating diseases, stop violence, join the battle
against crime and drugs, help youth at risk, and promote
interracial cooperation, justice and peace. By doing so, we
change the way we think about ourselves and others, not just for
one day, but for a lifetime.
Each New York Celebration has urged communities and
individuals to remember and honor Dr. King. The philosophy
reflects his proposition that "everybody can be great because
anybody can serve."
Dr. King Statewide Canned Food Drive
 In
keeping with Dr. King's legacy,
this year will mark the 10th anniversary of the community
service initiative,
the Dr. King Statewide
Canned Food Drive. New York State Agencies and
several community-based
organizations helped to collect over 177,000
pounds of food, and $28,876.00 in
monetary donations. Donations were collected and distributed in
every region of the State; from the major urban areas of New
York City, Albany, and Buffalo, to the rural towns of Sherburne,
Ogdensburg, and South Kortright. The food drive is co-sponsored
by the Hunger Action Network and the New York State
Food Bank Federation. It will
be held from December 14, 2009
to January 18, 2010,
with the major drop off locations in the lobby of:
- Empire State Plaza - Albany
- The Mahoney State Office Building – Buffalo
- The Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building – New
York City
On Monday, January 18th, at the Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Observance, we will provide you
with an additional opportunity to contribute to this worthy
cause. We hope that you will join us in making a difference,
because as Dr. King said, "No one’s
plate should be empty."
10th Annual Empire State Dr. King
Essay and Fine Arts Display
(click flyer to enlarge)
THROUGH OUR YOUNG EYES:
A VIEW OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
During the King Holiday Observance, come and view the
Empire State Dr. King Essay and Fine Arts Display. The exhibit
will be displayed during the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday
Observance on January 18, 2010.
Each year,
students are invited to submit essays
and artwork based on
Dr. King's 6 Principles of Nonviolence. The students could choose from a
few different categories such as painting, drawing,
sculpting and photography. At last year's
Observance, more than 3,000
pieces, representing entries from over
150
schools statewide were submitted and
displayed.
The concept of the display
is:
- To encourage students to learn more about Dr. King,
his nonviolent philosophy and its application to current
issues.
- To introduce students to the concept and methodology
of Dr. King's "Six Principles and Steps of
Nonviolence."
- To encourage students to examine current concerns and
offer creative solutions using nonviolent means.
- To encourage the development and utilization of
creative skills in the arts as a means of illustrating
change.
- To empower students to pursue change through
nonviolent methods.
All entries are due
December 4th, 2009
Empire State King Quilts
(click on images
to enlarge)
During the 1999 New York State King Holiday Memorial
Observance, the Empire State King Quilts were unveiled
for all to enjoy. The six King Quilts were created as a special
tribute to the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. The concept for the quilt came about with these
thoughts in mind: that a community is a blend of ideas of men,
women and children from diverse backgrounds woven together like
threads in a colorful tapestry.
Come view the quilts during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial Observance on Monday, January 18,
2010. They will be
displayed on the walls of the Empire State Plaza Convention
Center during the event.
Dr. King Career Fair
The Governor’s Office, in conjunction with the New York
State Department of Labor,
will sponsor the
King Career Fair
on April 15, 2010, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in
Albany, New York.
Throughout the day, Career Workshops covering
topics such as resume writing, interviewing techniques,
newly developed websites for job seekers, such as the Career Zone, and job
search strategies will be held. Free and open
to the public.
"Be A King" Volunteer
Fair
The New York State Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Volunteer Fair will be part of the King
Memorial Observance.
The Fair will
consist of over 30 non-profit, community
based organizations from across the State. Booths will be set up
at the base of the Convention Center during the King Ceremony to encourage people to learn
about their organizations and volunteer efforts. Attendees who
wish to volunteer with a charitable organization are encouraged
to fill out the King Volunteer Pledge Cards.
The purpose of the Volunteer Fair is to introduce people to
ways they can become actively involved in civic and community
programs. The greatest tribute we can bestow upon the memory of
the beloved Dr. King is to invite people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate this
special holiday held in his honor by performing individual acts
of kindness through service to others.
Download
Volunteer Brochure with Pledge Card (in PDF
format)
If you
click on the above link and get an error message or the page
doesn't load, you will need to install the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click on the button to get the Reader. You will then be able to
view and print.
The Dr. King Healthy Community Expo
The
Dr. King Healthy Community Expo II was held on
Wednesday,
June 26, 2002 at the Empire State Plaza
North East Gallery (on the Concourse)
in Albany, New York. This public health expo helped to
increase public and |
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intergovernmental awareness of the critical and
challenging health issues facing New Yorkers.
Both the Salvation Army and UnitedHealth
Group were presented with Humanitarian Awards in
recognition of the hard work and dedication
that they provide to improvee the
lives of many New Yorkers.
There were also over
forty (40) community-based
organizations awarded special recognition certificates for being in the forefront of
improving the health and quality of life for all New Yorkers.
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New York State Dr. King Employee Honor Roll
The Governor has encouraged all State residents to
observe the King Holiday by performing community service on a
voluntary basis in tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. King.
As a way of thanking State Employees, who have embraced his
principles by volunteering or performing some service to the
benefit of their surrounding communities, the State has
compiled an Honor Roll in recognition of their efforts. Those
individuals' names can be seen on the TV monitors located
outside the Convention Center during the King Memorial
Observance. In addition to the scrolling of
the employees' names on the TV monitors on the day of the
Observance, each receives an Honor Roll Booklet listing their names.
Governor’s Dr. King Leadership Forum
I
 The Dr. King Leadership Forum
was held on May 16, 2001 at the Empire State Plaza
Convention Center in Albany, New York. The forum helped
participants to gain an understanding of the
characteristics and essence of leadership, as well as
examine their own personal leadership strengths and
community improvement opportunities.
The workshops offered a hands on opportunity for many
to learn from the experts. The dynamic panel of National
and State leaders were able to stimulate critical thinking
and excite participants to action.
Governor’s Dr. King Interfaith Summit I
Held on May 24th, 2000 and hosted by the Executive Chamber.
The Interfaith Summit was based on recommendation #14 from
the1999 Lt. Governor’s Task Force Report on School Violence.
There were over eight hundred participants.
The Summit helped to promise the well being and safety of
children, families, and communities. It presented a distinct
opportunity for faith-based organizations and institutions to
exchange ideas on the prevention of school violence, review
and revisit current roles and formulate new approaches for
community service growth and development in their respective
areas. This event was free and open to the public.
Governor’s Conferences on School Violence Prevention
 First
held on March 5, 1999, this event
was a new component to ensure a positive school culture and
physical safety in the elementary, middle and high schools in
New York State. A place where all students can thrive and
develop in a healthy environment conducive to learning. It was
hosted by national TV talk show host and actor, Montel
Williams.
Building upon the success of the last
Conference, it was decided to revisit the issue of violence in
our schools. The 2002 Conference was phenomenal, with a
theme based on the concepts of character, conduct and courage,
which were derived from the 17-point plan,
Project SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education).
Project SAVE is a comprehensive plan which details actions to
be taken to ascertain that all students in New York State will
receive their education in a safe and appropriate environment.
With his massive insight into the world of violent teens, Dr.
James Shaw, keynote speaker was a great source of
information for the attending audience.
In addition, workshops
were held throughout the day that gave the audience an
intense look at the crisis that the youth of today face. Among
these workshops was the teacher certification course,
"School Violence Prevention Training for Educational
Professionals Seeking Permanent NYS Certification."
The
Governor's 2004 Leadership Symposium on
School Violence Prevention III was an
interactive program which included school violence prevention
workshops and presentations, information booths and an award
ceremony to recognize outstanding service by community-based
organizations. It provided opportunities and
challenges for participants to exchange ideas; review
current roles of individuals, institutions and
organizations; maximize community involvement; and develop
new approaches to address critical school violence issues.
The
Conference:
- Engaged parents and
students in the development of strategies to identify
and implement solutions for school violence, prevention.
- Assisted schools with their
practices and procedures established for response to
incidences of school violence, bullying, and problems
related to peer pressure.
- Heightened awareness of the
scope of the school violence problem and the resources
available for prevention and intervention.
- Identified the issues on
which school and faith based community leaders can
collaborate to introduce and sustain team approaches.
- Provided an infrastructure
to support partnerships and develop action plans.
- Disseminated information on
government, institutional, and corporate grants and
other resources to assist community and faith-based
organizations in service delivery to at-risk children
and families.
- Equipped teachers, school
administrators, and community leaders with the
information and capability to recognize and address
issues related to youth violence and families in crisis.
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