The year, as for the past 11 years, the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is inviting the entire community to reflect on and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a service at a local house of worship.

All are invited to Prospect Presbyterian Church, 646 Prospect St., Maplewood on Monday, January 16, 2012 from 3 to 4 p.m. The guest speaker is Khalil Gibran Muhammad, current director of the Schomburg Center in Harlem and new resident of South Orange. The service also includes a musical selection by the Voices in Harmony Choir, dance performance by members of Columbia High School Special Dance Company and selected readings from faith communities represented locally.

But there is more.

The Coalition is working to expand awareness of the weekend-long opportunities to perform service to the community in honoring the memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

A Volunteer Fair and reception will immediately follow the observance in Fellowship Hall at Prospect Church on Monday, Jan. 16. There will even be “instant impact” projects available on site that attendees can complete on the spot.  

Various other short term projects that can be completed over the holiday weekend from Saturday, January 14 through Monday, January 16, are listed on the Coalition web site at www.twotowns.org, including:

• A Blood Drive sponsored by South Orange Rotary on Jan. 16 
• A Book Drive for Kids
• Letters to Soldiers
• Teens Reading to Kids
• BackPack Pals

Residents are encouraged to select projects that fit their interests and their schedule and to bring items like old shoes, coats, non-perishable food and food coupons for donation to the various projects on site. 

If your organization would like to be added to list and/or participate in the weekend of service, contact the Coaltion by e-mail at info@twotowns.org or call 973-761-6116, X4. You can participate in one or more of the following ways:

• Share your mission and recruit new volunteers by setting up an informational table at our Volunteer Service Fair immediately following the Coalition’s annual MLK Observance on January 16. This event regularly draws over 400 residents.
• Serve as a donation drop off site at any point throughout the MLK weekend. Send the Coalition the location, the date(s), the time period, the donation need (books, canned goods, coats, etc.), and the intended recipients of the donation (local homeless shelter, food pantry etc.), and the Coalition will advertise your donation effort on our flyers and in print and electronic media. 
• Sponsor a volunteer project that weekend (blood drive, clean up, knitting circle, letter writing to troops, etc.), and send the Coalition a description of the project to be included in all MLK weekend promotions.
• Teach people of any age about the legacy of Dr. King — Let the Coalition know if you plan to sponsor a discussion group for adults on a Dr. King speech, a story or craft time for children, or any other learning events. 

The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization of more than 200 volunteers working to build a community that fully exemplifies thriving racial integration and true inclusion in housing patterns, schools, businesses and community involvement. For more information, visit www.twotowns.org or call 973-761-6116.