Today we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center explains this holiday beautifully:

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

The King Center is a fantastic resource for both education (Glossary of Nonviolence, Books & Bibliography) and events. There are a few volunteer opportunities still available with NYC Parks. For further reading don’t miss Cornell University Library’s MLK Guide or The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute from Stanford.