The El Paso Parks and Recreation Department is joining with the 915 Tree Keepers Program to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a day of service.
MLK Day is a federal holiday that honors King, who was born Jan. 15, 1929. The holiday is celebrated on the third Monday in January. King was assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Volunteers are needed to help with a tree planting project at Washington Park this weekend.
The event will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, or until all the trees are planted. Volunteers will meet in the main parking lot of Washington Park, 4201 E. Paisano Drive. Carpooling is encouraged.
Participants will plant 24 trees at the park as part of the 915 Tree Keepers’ mission to improve Tree Equity in underserved areas, city officials said in a news release. The group has successfully planted nearly 200 trees since fall 2024 in collaboration with the city of El Paso’s Parks and Recreation and the Streets and Maintenance departments.
Volunteers are urged to dress in layers for cooler morning weather because the event will proceed rain or shine. They also should wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
Tools, gloves and light refreshments will be provided.
People can register online or by calling 915-337-2444. People younger than 18 years old must submit a signed consent form available online.
MLK Day, which was established as a National Day of Service in 1994, encourages Americans to strengthen their communities and serve others in honor of King’s life and work.
MLK Committee of El Paso honors MLK with Sunday observance
The MLK Committee of El Paso will honor the fallen civil rights leader at its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Observance, which is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan 19, at Temple Mount Sinai, 4408 N. Stanton St. This year’s event will be held both in person and online.
This year’s theme is “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365.” It will reflect on King’s legacy and the collective responsibility to uphold his vision of equality and peace, organizers said.
Pastor Joi Wilkes of Kingdom Full Gospel Ministries in Jonesboro, Georgia, will be the keynote speaker. Wilkes is known as a dynamic spiritual leader and social justice advocate with a deep commitment to equality and nonviolence. Her speech will focus on inspiring action and advancing freedom, justice and democracy.
The celebration is free and open to the public.
MLK Day commemoration at UTEP
The University of Texas at El Paso will celebrate MLK Day on the first day of classes this semester, which is Tuesday, Jan. 21.
To join the festivities, stop by the El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center at 500 W. University Ave., across from the library, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a commemoration and community building. A light lunch will be provided.
