MLK Day: Virtual Memphis events still inspire
When Volunteer Memphis started planning for its annual MLK Days of Service event, director Andrea Hill said she and her team were a little wary. They weren’t sure exactly how a weekend of largely virtual service events would work or how it would be received.
But as events wrapped up Monday afternoon, Hill said things had gone so well, they planned to carry some of this year’s plans into the post-pandemic world.
“It’s been really successful. And the (virtual) sessions are going great,” she said. “We’ll most likely move to a hybrid model in the future for our empowerment workshops and discussion panels.”
Volunteer Memphis was one of many groups that had to formulate new plans for Martin Luther King Jr. Day due to COVID-19.
The National Civil Rights Museum still hosted a celebration of King’s life, including musical performances and children’s story time, just via livestream instead of in person. The Grizzlies still played at Fedexforum, though without any fans in attendance. And the annual parade coordinated by Teamsters Local 667 and AFSCME Local 1733 still marched on virtually, just with speeches and archival footage rather than bands and floats.
But one thing that didn’t change was the spirit of service the holiday creates, Hill said. Individuals and organizations sought out Volunteer Memphis over the past few weeks seeking out ways to serve, she said.
Multiple companies told Hill they especially appreciated the virtual events available this year, which made it possible for their employees outside Memphis to participate.
“I think it has increased the opportunity for people to serve, and it’s not geographic,” she said.
The majority of the MLK Days of Service events organized by Volunteer Memphis over the holiday weekend were virtual, including webinars on budgeting and saving for retirement and a panel discussion with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Tennessee Recreation Advisory Committee about equity in parks and recreation.
Hill said those virtual events have been well attended and well received by participants. Volunteer Memphis is planning to continue with a hybrid model moving forward, combining virtual panel discussions and financial literacy workshops with more in-person activities in the post-pandemic future.
In-person events this year included a group cleanup of Cobblestone Landing on Monday morning and a multi-day blood drive.
The Memphis chapter of the NAACP and 100 Black Men of Memphis both hosted blood drive events on Monday as well. Darrell Cobbins, president of 100 Black Men of Memphis, said he hoped the event Monday would inspire people not only to donate blood once but to make a habit of it.
“Blood types common to African Americans are in short supply, and that’s been the case for decades,” he said. “We were thinking that this was something we could do, to raise awareness and inform people that that is the case and that those blood types are... in demand.”
Cobbins donated blood Monday and said about 40 other members of his organization had signed up to as well, on top of those outside of the 100 Black Men of Memphis who donated.
“It was a really, really safe way to do something good,” he said.
Corinne Kennedy covers economic development, soccer and COVID-19’S impact on hospitals for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.kennedy@commercialappeal.com or at 901-297-3245.