Local and international social justice institutions partner to unite Atlanta for the King holiday

Atlanta, GA: From January 14-18, 2021, Hands On Atlanta, with support from presenting sponsors The Coca-Cola Company and The Home Depot, will host 5 days of service and promote a month of social justice and civic engagement projects and events.

 “I’m excited to invite and welcome the Atlanta community to unite in service to help bring to life Dr. King’s vision of the ‘Beloved Community’. Thanks to our incredible partnerships with The King Center, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Morehouse College, The Carter Center, Points of Light and more than 30 local nonprofits and 25 companies, there will be hundreds of in-person and virtual opportunities for Atlantans to do something good throughout January,” said Jay Cranman, President and CEO of Hands On Atlanta.   

 MLK Day projects and events will range from the traditional to new and innovative ways to make Atlanta a more civically engaged and equitable community. Projects include:

•  Packing and distributing meals to 800 families with Ebenezer Baptist Church

• Painting a mural honoring the graduating class of 2020 at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy with Learning in Color

• Delivering meals with Open Hand Atlanta

• Wellness checks for seniors living in the NPU-S community

• Virtually answering college and career readiness questions for students through CareerVillage.org

• Attending and host meaningful conversations through Civic Dinners & Equitable Dinners

• Virtual reading party with Pajama Program

The Home Depot will be hosting a series of virtual projects for their employees including an Issue Education Seminar on Food Insecurity in Atlanta.

"Serving our hometown and local communities across the nation is inherent to our values at The Home Depot,” expressed Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “We are honored to work alongside Hands On Atlanta, Dr. King’s Beloved Community and the many other forces driving sustainable change across this great city. We stand hopeful that our shared efforts will bring about a meaningful impact."

The Coca-Cola Company will engage employees in Atlanta to help paint a mural, deliver meals and is the presenting sponsor of the important conversation at the Hands On Atlanta MLK Sunday Supper. Employees will virtually join 400 community leaders for an evening of dialogue around building Rev. Dr. King’s “Beloved Community,” and will feature a keynote by educator, author, co-founder of Campaign Zero and one of the leading voices in the Black Lives Matter movement, DeRay McKesson.

“The Coca-Cola Company has long recognized the critical importance of advancing civil rights and rallying the strength of our employees, families and friends in service to our hometown of Atlanta, Ga.,” said Valerie Love, Human Resources, The Coca-Cola Company, North America. “We are proud to continue our support for Hands On Atlanta so that together we can help build a better future for all in our ‘Beloved Community.’”

Visit www.mlkatl.org for more information and to explore all of the MLK Day projects and events happening throughout January.