Events Scheduled Across State To Celebrate King's Birthday

DETROIT (WWJ) - Numerous events are scheduled around Michigan to celebrate the birthday of slain civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

A rally and march are to start at noon Monday at Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, while volunteers will join the AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program by boarding up vacant houses on walking routes to a Detroit school.

The 33rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Peace Walk Celebration starts at 9 a.m. at Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield, north of Detroit.

At MLK High School in Detroit beginning at 8 a.m.

The 9th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy March - "Staying in the Struggle until We Win!...Looking Back to Move Forward"

The school is transformed into a historical time capsule for tours with interactive information covering the historical civil rights movement hot chocolate and commemorative gifts are available until supply is exhausted. The 1.5 mile march begins in front of the school at 3200 East Lafayette.

Doors open at 8:00 am March:9:00 am - Program: 10:00 am – Tours/Exhibits 11:00 am

The Michigan Science Center is offering free admission on MLK Day. 

The Michigan Science Center (MiSci) is committed to creating education programs, exhibits and initiatives that empower and enrich all communities with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, MiSci is making STEM accessible for all by offering free general admission on Jan. 15. General admission includes 250+ hands-on exhibits, live stage shows, Spark!Lab from the Smithsonian, Kids Town gallery, STEM Playground space and more. IMAX®, planetarium and 4D theater tickets will be available for purchase at the box office. Pre-registration is required and is available here.

When: Monday, January 15, 2018 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

At Wayne State University: Tour de Troit (bike ride) beginning at 10 a.m.

The Martin Luther King Ride route is approximately 10 miles in length and will feature several historical sites relevant to Dr. King and other local activists that were integral to the Freedom March and the impact of the "I Have a Dream" speech delivered at Cobo Arena afterward.

The ride is free. Registration is at tour-de-troit.org.

At Grosse Pointe South High School beginning at 1 p.m.

You are cordially invited to join your friends and neighbors as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's visit and speech to Grosse Pointe. Come and listen to the live recording of MLK's speech in the very gym where he talked to a packed house at Grosse Pointe South High School in 1967. Then listen to young people share their thoughts on equality, social justice and civil rights today. You will have the opportunity to share your own thoughts on how we can continue to make our community and this world a better place.

This family-friendly, free event is open to the public.

At West Bloomfield High School events kick off at 2:15 p.m. 

"United We Walk" celebrates the life and contributions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The walk and refreshments, will all be held on Sunday, January 14, at West Bloomfield High School.

A special video will be presented in the atrium of the high school, at 2:30 prior to the walk, based on the 2018 theme, "What are you doing for others?"

United We Walk Co-Chair Jennifer Graham commented, "We are very honored to collaborate with our Social Justice committee and MLK365 this year. Gathering food to share with those in need is an important gesture for our community."

Students of all ages, adults and organizations are encouraged to create banners celebrating "His Dream" and to carry the banners during the walk. Orchard Lake Road, between Maple Road and Lone Pine Road, will be closed during the walk. Free parking is available at the high school.

WBHS - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

NEW! Canned Food Drive! Donate Canned Food To Local Charities.  Please Bring Your Canned Food to the United We Walk Event.

2:15 pm - Gather in Atrium at West Bloomfield High School

2:30 - Pre-Walk Remarks on West Bloomfield High School Atrium Stage
Learn about the New Community Journey with Social Justice & MLK365!
Live TV broadcast on Channel 15 and 19 and WBLD 89.3 FM Radio

3:00 p.m. - Walk - Orchard Lake Road led by West Bloomfield Winter Drumline
3:30 p.m. - Refreshments in Atrium, West Bloomfield High School

All events are free, open to the public.

At Oakland University beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Martin Luther King Day Scholarship event featuring Detroit born syndicated journalist Ed Gordon with BET.

Mr. Gordon and scholarship recipients to talk about what MLK Day means to them.

Student leaders to be honored with Keeper of the Dream Awards
For helping break down stereotypes and promote racial and cultural understanding, seven students will be recognized during Oakland University's 26th annual Keeper of the Dream Awards Celebration. The event takes place from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15 in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms on OU's campus.

The Michigan One Fair Wage campaign will take part in events across the state on MLK Day to both honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and continue his push for economic justice. The events will allow supporters of raising Michigan's minimum wage to $12/hour and bringing parity to all workers to learn about the ballot measure and sign the petition to the put the measure on the ballot.

The events will take place Monday January 15, 2018 in Detroit and Kalamazoo and will feature volunteers leading the teach-ins and collecting signatures.

Michigan One Fair Wage Campaign Teach-In beginning 11 a.m.  at COLORS Restaurant, 311 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48226

Detroit MLK Day March for "Jobs, Peace & Justice" beginning at noon.  Central United Methodist Church, 23 E. Adams and Woodward, Detroit

Kalamazoo Teach In -- Michigan One Fair Wage Campaign Teach-In beginning at 9 a.m. at Western Michigan University/Bernhard Cener

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee founding member Diana Nash will speak at Lansing's MLK Day event and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor will hold an annual symposium.

In the city of Romulus, Romulus Community Schools and the Romulus Ministerial Alliance  beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Unity Has No Color."

The community celebration will commence at 7:30 a.m. by gathering at the Romulus Middle School (37300 Wick Rd., Romulus, MI 48174) for coffee, hot chocolate and a prayer to start off the unity march at 8:00 a.m., down Wick Rd. to the Romulus Senior High School (9650 S. Wayne Rd., Romulus, MI 48174).

After the march, breakfast will be served in the high school cafeteria. A ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the high school auditorium. The ceremony will include students and participants from the Romulus School District, religious leaders, and City, County and State officials.
The purpose of this event is to allow people of the community to come together and celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

All are welcome to attend.

Parking will be available at the High School with a shuttle bus provided to transport participants to the Middle School before the walk beginning at 7:15 a.m.

A reminder that Secretary of State offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 15.

Customers can hop online at ExpressSOS.com to renew their license plate tabs and driver's licenses, change their address or get a replacement registration or title.

There will be a limited number of post offices open for retail service, and there will be no regular mail delivery on Monday.

President Ronald Reagan signed a 1983 bill establishing the federal holiday which first was observed in 1986.

© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.