GREENSBORO, N.C. — Many Triad communities are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend.
As we approach his birthday on Jan. 15, 2024. Some locals tell WFMY News 2 it's not just a day of celebration but also a day of service.
To kick off events honoring Dr. King's legacy, dozens of people attended the City of High Point parade on Main Street.
Many people walked the streets with their heads held high. One local told WFMY News 2 that MLK Jr. weekend is a time to reflect on Black history.
"I understand the importance of us being here to support our community," Elaine Horton said. "Without knowing our history, we can't get to our future."
In Greensboro, 200 UNCG students spent hours volunteering for nine different community projects. One group put together over a dozen no-sew blankets for families in need.
UNCG hosts an annual MLK Jr. Day of Service.
"Service is a way for me to give back to the community that has given so much to me," UNCG student Zainab Adamou-Mohamed said. "Service for me is a way to reflect on the fortune that I have as a person...to have time and the ability to give myself to others."
Her group was just one of eight other service projects completed during the day.
"The students are making literacy kits for English language learners with reading connections," Kristina Gage, Associate Director for Civic Engagement at UNCG, said.
"We also have students cleaning waterways around campus to make sure trash and debris doesn't get in there," Gage said.
Both communities said their activities uplifted each other.
The City of High Point will be hosting a prayer service on Sunday, January 14th.