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Martin Luther King Jr. Day events and volunteer opportunities

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – Want to get involved on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Here’s everything you need to know.

D.C. Public Library

  • Tuesday, Jan. 21, 10:45 a.m., Martin Luther King’s Birthday Celebration, Takoma Park Library
  • King Week Project/Let’s Promote Peace Mural: Families with children ages 4-12 can stop by any neighborhood library from Jan. 12-18 to participate in the King Week Project. Children can personalize a paper peace symbol and sign a peace pledge to be displayed as a “Let’s Promote Peace” mural in the children’s room. After the mural is displayed in your neighborhood library, it will be sent to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library to become part of a larger peace display for Black History Month! Read more.
  • Dream Big Like Me Video Contest: Teens are encouraged to submit a video of their original work that shows how they will continue Dr. King’s dream of equality for all. The original work can be a song, rap, poem, skit/dramatization, or speech. Video submissions will be accepted Jan. 19-Feb. 15, 2014

Martin Luther King Memorial

National Park Service Rangers discuss King’s role in the Civil Rights movement daily. The National Park Service will host a wreath laying service on Jan. 20, 2014, 8-9 a.m. in observance of the birthday-anniversary for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Jan. 18-20, 2014, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. a Junior Ranger program will be held for kids.

City Year DC MLK Day Project Time: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Location: Coolidge HS, 6315 5th St NW

Opening program begins promptly at 9 a.m.; Mayor Gray will make remarks

Description: City Year is honoring the legacy of Dr. King by organizing a day of service. In just one day, volunteers will transform a high-need school into a more engaging, educational and vibrant place for students to learn and play. Service projects will include painting murals, maintaining playgrounds, building benches and planting green spaces. (Up to 300 volunteers)

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Jan. 20, 2014, 11 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE and Milwaukee Place SE in Washington, DC.

The Anacostia parade and peacewalk includes the Ballou Marching Band and representatives from the area’s Asian, Bolivian, Jamaican and African American communities.

Washington National Cathedral

Jan. 20, 2014, 2 – 4 p.m. 3101 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC.

The Cathedral will host a celebration to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continue his vision through music and poetry presented by the Cathedral and D.C.’s performing arts community. Attendees are asked to bring a new children’s book or non-perishable food item to donate. Musical performers include African Heritage Dancers & Drummers, Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University, Sarsaparilla – the National Cathedral School’s a cappella group, The Madrigal Singers, Washington Youth Choir and The Urban Nation H.I.P. – H.O.P. Choir of Washington, D.C.

“Let Freedom Ring”

Jan. 20, 2014, 6 p.m.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University host a musical celebration featuring the Let Freedom Ring Choir and other special guests honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in a free Millennium Stage concert. Tickets are required and will be distributed the day of the event in front of the Concert Hall beginning at 5 p.m. The 2014 concert features five-time Grammy Award

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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