Join the Beach community for the 2025 MLK Day of Service

Cal State Long Beach is honored to be a resource for greater Long Beach and, in the spirit of recognizing national history and supporting local communities, members of the Beach community are invited to participate in the 2025 MLK Day of Service.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be commemorated on Monday, Jan. 20. CSULB and Leadership Long Beach are collaborating to promote local volunteer opportunities.

"As part of our 75th Anniversary celebration, CSULB is partnering with Leadership Long Beach in the MLK Day of Service," President Jane Close Conoley said. "This is an opportunity to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service and community action, and it is an impactful way to show how The Beach makes a difference in Long Beach."

"The MLK Day of Service is a wonderful way to join together with partners in the public and private sectors, and with the communities we serve so that we can build a better tomorrow," Conoley continued.

The King Holiday and Service Act of 1994 was intended to inspire Americans to give their time for the betterment of their own neighborhoods. As recounted by the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the legislation contained the late Rep. John Lewis' goal of transforming the commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and civil rights activism into "a day on, not a day off."

"Leadership Long Beach is thrilled to invite CSULB students, alumni, staff, and faculty to join us for our 16th annual MLK Day of Service for the city of Long Beach," said Matt Guardabascio, director of alumni and donor engagement for Leadership Long Beach. "It's incredible to see the collective impact of our city's many diverse communities coming together to make a difference. Thank you, CSULB, for joining us in service and making the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday a 'Day On' rather than a day off. Go Beach."

CSULB Alumni is facilitating three service opportunities with Leadership Long Beach. Volunteers have been invited to Beautify Pine Avenue, Composting Workshop and Food Pantry options. The Beautify Pine Avenue and Food Pantry choices are waitlisted as of this writing.

"We are excited to participate in the MLK Day of Service as we celebrate our 75th anniversary," Director of Alumni Engagement Noemi Guevara said. "We are proud to partner with Leadership Long Beach and have selected three volunteer opportunities, allowing our campus community to choose the one that speaks to them."

Whichever option volunteers choose, they will also be invited to an 8:30 a.m. pancake breakfast at Long Beach City College, to be provided by the Long Beach Fire Department. All Beach employees interested in volunteering should check in with their appropriate administrator before signing up for an activity.

In addition to this year's MLK Day of Service opportunities, Cal State Long Beach provides several avenues for faculty, staff and students to combine academic pursuits with community service. For example, campus organizations like the Center for Community Engagement, Black Resource Center and Marketing Business Center connect students to internships with local nonprofits, public agencies and small businesses.

The Beach also provides a wide range of direct services to the public. These include the Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center, the CSULB Speech and Language Clinic, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and the Apostle Incubator, supporting entrepreneurs.