Make it a day on, not a day off. 

Since 1994, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday has been celebrated as a national day of service — a “day on” instead of a day off. Dr. King, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, is someone who Dr. Goodall often discusses as one of her reasons for hope. His indomitable human spirit, compassion and persistence helped him achieve many goals, against many odds, and blaze trails for so many other civil rights leaders who have followed in his footsteps. 

On Monday, January 18, spend the day bettering your community, your planet, and yourself. Here are a few things you can do before then to get ready:

1. Join Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots! Register for a free membership on rootsandshoots.org. Read about projects being done by other Roots & Shoots groups and gather together your friends and family to start your own service campaign.
2. Learn how you can earn a $200 Roots & Shoots mini-grant. Turn your MLK Day service project into a long term Roots & Shoots campaign. U.S. students and teachers can apply for a $200 mini-grant to support their Roots & Shoots campaign. Click here to find out what you need to do before the next deadline on February 19.
3. Find a place to serve. Enter your zipcode on nationalservice.gov to find volunteering opportunities near you. You can always add these things to your Roots & Shoots community map and take note of where you made a difference this MLK day, and every one in the future. 
4. Take the MLK Day Challenge. Serving your community, and helping to make it a better place for people, animals and the environment can start on January 18, and continue all year long. Make the pledge to serve on MLK Day and throughout 2016. 

Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” We’re proud to know that Roots & Shoots groups around the world can answer that question every day.

Tell us about your service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @rootsandshoots.