Over the last year, Temple University has been building on its strong foundation of community impact and civic engagement. One of the best illustrations of that will come in January. 

For the first time in more than fifteen years, on Jan. 19, 2026, Temple University will serve as the host for the 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project. The Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service was founded in Philadelphia in 1996, and it is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the nation, with more than 2.6 million individuals volunteering throughout the region over the last three decades. 

“The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is one of the most significant annual community service events for the City of Philadelphia, and we are delighted to serve as its host this year,” Temple President John Fry said. “Dr. King’s message for justice and civil rights is as important today as it was in 1963, and at Temple, we will always be deeply committed to living out the lessons of that message. I encourage all members of the Temple community to give back both during the annual Day of Service and every day throughout the year.” 

The national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service was created through the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994, a piece of federal legislation that was co-authored by Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis and signed into law on Aug. 23, 1994. It embraces King’s legacy of civil rights and social justice by transforming the day into a day of citizen action, which then serves as a springboard to year-round community involvement. 

“We are thrilled that Temple University will host the 31st annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service regional signature project,” said Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen and founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. “It is fitting because Dr. King spoke at the Baptist Temple (now the Temple Performing Arts Center) on Aug. 4, 1965, as part of his ‘Freedom Now Tour.' Dr. King’s appearance 60 years ago and President John Fry’s decades-long commitment to social justice through civic engagement among young people makes Temple the perfect host, bringing together participants from all backgrounds and ages, with a commitment to honor the legacy of Dr. King through citizen action on the federal holiday and beyond.” 

This year, at Temple, for the regional signature project, volunteers will assemble “Book Arks,” self-standing structures (resembling newspaper “honor boxes”) that will offer free books to individuals and organizations in local communities. At the conclusion of the project, the Book Arks will be transported directly to their new homes. This will be one of dozens of events held at Temple. 

Some of the other events include a jobs and opportunity fair that will feature dozens of local employers offering real job opportunities; a rally for peace and justice that will highlight the history of the local civil rights movement and social activism, along with music and cultural presentations organized by the Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters; a health and wellness fair that will include information, presentations and testing; and a kids carnival that will offer young people between the ages of five and 15 educational opportunities and hands-on projects. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community in a way that reflects the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but for us at Temple, honoring the legacy of Dr. King goes beyond just one day,” said Valerie Harrison, Temple’s vice president for community impact and civic engagement. “This is the latest example of how we are intentionally working to more deeply weave civic and community engagement into the culture here at Temple.” 

To Harrison’s point, Temple serving as the host for the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service comes at an opportune time. This fall, the university launched Owls for Philly, a universitywide volunteer program designed to connect faculty, staff, students and alumni with its North Philadelphia neighborhood and beyond through volunteerism and civic engagement. Launched by the Office of Community Impact and Civic Engagement, eligible nonfaculty employees can use up to eight hours of paid time annually for volunteer activities. 

A kickoff news conference for the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will be held on Jan. 7, 2026, in the Temple Performing Ars Center, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and President Fry will further detail the plans for the Jan. 19 event. A dramatic mural painted by area students also will be unveiled during the news conference, and Mayor Parker will present the 28th annual Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award. 

For more information, including how to register a project or volunteer, visit globalcitizen365.org.