President Lyndon Johnson shakes hands with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., after handing him one of the pens used in signing the Civil Rights Act of July 2, 1964 at the White House in Washington. The anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday falls in the month of January. Photo by U.S. Embassy New Delhi via Flickr.

Numerous events are taking place today in Los Angeles County to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told City News Service, “The best way for a person to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day is by answering Dr. King’s call to serve,” adding, “Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day for all Angelenos and Americans to remember his message that we are all in this together and to give back to their community and help their fellow human beings.” Los Angeles is giving back with volunteer events, museum tributes and city celebrations. Read on for details on how you can participate in today’s national holiday.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and over 1,000 volunteers will tackle various projects at Los Feliz Elementary School from 8:30am to 1pm, including building a new school garden, painting educational murals and other refurbishing tasks. Sly Stone and Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier – actor, singer, minister, former football player – will be in attendance. As part of the event organized by L.A. Works, a toiletries drive for veterans will donate items to the Veterans Administration. Volunteers are asked to bring the following: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, shaving cream, deodorant and/or soap.

Another school-related event will take place at Los Angeles Academy Middle School. Organized by City Year Los Angeles, the event invites volunteers to paint educational murals, create playground games and activities, build benches and plant from 9am to 2pm. Registration begins at 8:30am, and lunch is provided.

If you prefer to roll up your sleeves in a different volunteer manner, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is conducting a blood drive today starting at 8am.

South Los Angeles presents the 27th annual Kingdom Day Parade, SoCal’s largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance. This year’s theme is “The Dream Continues to Live and Grow.” The parade features 30 marching groups, 20 floats, 17 drill teams, 16 marching bands, 7 color guard teams, 3 dance groups, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department equestrian unit and the LAPD motorcycle drill team. Beginning at 11am at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue, the parade will head west on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Crenshaw Boulevard, then south to Vernon Avenue, concluding at Leimert Park, where a festival will take place.

Long Beach will host the “Achieve the Dream” celebration from 12:30pm to 4:30pm following a tree planting at Martin Luther King Jr. Park from 9am to 12pm. A community mural project, an African drum circle, Ballet Folklorico and a performance by the Khmer Arts Academy are slated for the celebration.

Pasadena is holding its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Jackie
Robinson Park from 9:30am to 12:30pm, featuring music, speakers and dance.

Both NBA games will host tributes to King tonight. A L.A. Clippers player will address fans at the 12:30pm game. A King video will also be screened. L.A. Lakers forward Matt Barnes will address fans pre-national anthem at the 7:30pm game. Videos of Lakers players describing what the national holiday means to them will be screened.

Museum events are also planned for today, according to City News Service.

The California African American Museum in Exposition Park will serve slices of birthday “Cake for King” beginning at 1 p.m. The documentary “King: Man of Peace in a Time of War” will be shown at the museum, along with a reading of “My Brother Martin,” written by Christine King Farris, King’s elder sister. The museum’s exhibits include “King in California II,” a collection of photographs taken during his trips to California which will be on display through Feb. 28.

Visitors to the Museum of Tolerance near Beverly Hills will have the opportunity to participate in a special “Chain of Inspiration” from 1-4 p.m., creating an art project linking them to the legacy of King and other civil rights figures. The documentary “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement,” which follows 85-year-old James Armstrong as he celebrates Barack Obama’s election as president will be shown at the museum at 1 p.m., followed by a discussion with Darren Armstrong, one of his grandsons.

Additional volunteer opportunities are listed on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service website.