Miami Soul – your ultimate source for places to go, people to see, and things to do in the black social scene. Check out this week’s weekend guide from Miami Soul. For a list of weekly reoccurring events, check out miami.com/miami-soul.

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is just as relevant today as it was during the Civil Rights movement particularly as race relations and tensions have been high with the recent cases of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and others. In our own community where violence, economic disparities, and educational achievement continues to stunt our growth and cripple our progress, Dr. King’s legacy and fight for civil liberties and justice should be a celebration of the progress we’ve made but a reminder of the long walk we still have to go if only we would all walk together.

Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy with service and any of the number of local celebrations in Miami Soul’s guide of events around South Florida, and if you haven’t seen the Oscar worthy film, Selma, by director Ava Duvernay, put that on your list of things to do this weekend as well.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Food Distribution

Saturday, January 17, 10AM – 1PM – Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50th St, Miami

State Rep. Cynthia Stafford, Commissioner Keon Hardemon, State Senator Dwight Bullard, and School Board Member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall partner with Farm Share for a food distribution event. Food supplies will be distributed on a first come, first served basis and volunteers are needed. Call (305) 953-3086 for info.

MLK Day of Service

Saturday, January 17, 8:30PM – 2PM – Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Park, 6000 NW 32nd Ct, Miami

FIU hosts a day of service with students, faculty, staff, and community members participating in beautification projects at two parks – MLK Memorial Park and Gwen Cherry Park (7090 NW 22nd Ave). Projects include painting, clean up of debris, and restoration of a baseball diamond and park pavilions. Register free at leadserve.fiu.edu

City of Miami Gardens Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration

Saturday, January 17, 2PM – 6PM – Betty Ferguson Center, 300 NW 199th St, Miami Gardens

Mayor Oliver Gilbert of Miami Gardens and Rick Party of Hot 105 host a day of honor, edutainment, and fun for the City of Miami Gardens to include community resource information, live entertainment, bounce houses for the kids, food trucks, and more. Free admission. For more information about the celebration, call (305) 622-8000 or visit www.miamigardens-fl.gov.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Worship Service

Sunday, January 18, 9AM – Church of the Incarnation, 1835 NW 54th St, Miami

The Beta Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. presents a worship experience in celebration of the legacy of Dr. King featuring guest speaker Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President, Florida Memorial University.

FIU MLK Parade

Monday, January 19, 8AM – 1PM – NW 54th St and 10th Ave, Miami

This annual parade celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



YMCA Day of Service Beautification Project

Monday, January 19, 9AM – 1PM – YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr Preschool, 2000 NW 62nd St, Miami

YMCA is participating in a day of service with a beatification project to upgrade and improve indoor and outdoor areas for preschool students. To volunteer, contactL Vanessa Fernandez, vfernandez@ymcabroward.org or (954) 334-9622.

ServiceWorks Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day

Monday, January 19, 8AM – 2PM – Easter Seals-Jackson Dade, 801 NW 17th St, Miami

Volunteers will participate in beautification projects consisting of painting and other minor construction projects at Easter Seals-Jackson Dade Head Start for children. To sign up, email ServiceWorks Miami at ServiceWorksMiami@gmail.com.

Hallandale Beach MLK Parade & Festival

Monday, January 19, 9:30AM; Festival at 12PM – 5PM – O.B. Johnson Park, 900 NW 8th Ave, Hallandale Beach

The City of Hallandale Beach celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with its annual parade that begins at the 900 block of NW 2nd Aven, proceeding south to West Hallandale Beach Blvd, then west to NW 8th Ave (Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd), then ending north at O.B. Johnson Park with the festival. Alvertis “Al” Bell, music executive, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be the featured speaker. The Festival will features live performances by Kevin Cameron, Kelsey Nykole (from VH1’s Couples Therapy), gospel recording artists the Abraham Brothers, and Two-4, Mix Master Lee, Zipporiah, TP9, Terrance Rolle and The Motowners.

FIU Presents: Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance

Wednesday, January 21, 6:30PM – 8PM – FIU Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center, 10910 SW 17th St, Miami

The FIU Honors College presents a chamber music theatrical work conceived and performed by the Core Ensemble trio and an actor. The piece celebrates the lives of the great African American poets Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay as seen through the eyes of the great muralist and painter Aaron Douglas. The musical score includes works by jazz giants Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk, and Charlie Mingus as well as concert music by Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker. For info: (305) 348-4100. Free and open to the public.