Monday, Jan. 19, is a national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a day set aside and dedicated to King's life and legacy.

Martin Luther King Jr. is commonly recognized for the role he played during the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s. Many also recall his famous statement, I have a dream. This speech was given in the march in Washington, DC, on Aug. 28, 1963. In the speech, King called for civil and economic rights.

I have a dream ... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers, said King as he urged an end to legalized racism and segregation in the United States.

Aside from his role in the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. did much more for his community. Before his role as a political activist, King always had a desire to progress through his talents of public speaking, his knowledge in education and his Christian faith.

BYU's Black Student Union (BSU) celebrated the holiday with a Walk of Life event and service. Jason Nouanounou, BSU's vice president, helped organize the events of the day.

Not a day off, but I think it'll be a day on. To do something different and to really hone in and focus more on serving (others) rather than serving ourselves, Nouanounou said.

I think it's just a day focused on loving all of God's children, Olivia Hoban, a BYU student who attended the events, said.

During his time in the civil rights movement, King promoted justice, peace and equality.

This helped many African Americans at the time, as well as future generations, express their voice.

I would say that it's important for the Black Student Union to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day on campus, because of his legacy," Nouanounou said. "I think that we possess a unique stewardship as members of the black community. I think we owe it to the sacrifices that he made."

MLK Day is one of the few days we have here on the BYU campus where we are celebrating civil rights and celebrating a black hero, Janelle Dadson, the co-advertising chair for BSU, shared.

Some may ask, 'Why the holiday?' The movement for the federal holiday started in 1968 after King's assassination. This went on to be a 15-year-long campaign. The bill was later signed into law by former President Ronald Reagan in 1983, and first celebrated nationally in 1986.

Martin Luther King Jr. Days purpose is to celebrate his legacy, promote education, spread peace and dedicate a day to service.

BYUs celebrations reinforce the truth that as children of God, their responsibility to love, serve, and stand with one another extends far beyond a single day.

There is a lot of joy that can be found in remembering that we are all on the same team," Nouanounou said. "There are great rewards in recognizing the value, and the perspectives that everyone brings to the table, and of course, their innate spiritual identity, as children of God.

On Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, BYU Y-Serve partnered with local nonprofits to organize an event focused on community service.

Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world through peaceful protests and powerful calls to action. The BYU-Provo community sought to carry that legacy forward through service: making homemade quilts and sleeping mats, donating blood and providing eyeglass lenses.

This years event featured two keynote speakers, a musical and step-dance performance by the Rhythm and Soul Collective and a variety of service activities both on and off campus. Students and community members woke up early on the holiday morning to arrive at the Wilkinson Student Center at 8:30 a.m. to sign up to serve.

I heard about this event last night and thought it would be a great way to spend MLK Day, BYU student Danica Kilton said. Im excited to use my hands to create something for others.

Volunteers registered for a wide range of service activities, including popping out eyeglass lenses to be donated through the nonprofit Friends for Sight, and weaving sleeping mats for those who need them through the organization Service to the World.

The efforts of the 1,200 volunteers who attended the event are estimated to impact between 5,000 and 10,000 people, both living in Provo and beyond.

The impact of these projects isnt just localized to Provo, Utah, lead program director Jacob Willes said. Blood from the blood drive will likely stay in the state of Utah, but the other projects will go to a whole slew of different countries all over the world.

Jason Nouanounou, vice president of the BYU Black Student Union, also emphasized the broader impact of the event during his keynote address.

Nouanounou spoke to the crowd before volunteers dispersed to begin their projects.

We dont have to be whole or flawless in order to create change or save others. We just need to be human, Nouanounou said.

Elder Peter M. Johnson, a general authority for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attended the event with his wife and spoke about the importance of continuing Dr. Kings legacy.

My grandchildren live in the world that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of, and many sacrificed their lives to make this dream a reality for my family and others, Elder Johnson said.

Chris Crippen, Y-Serve director and lead organizer of the event, reaffirmed his belief that everybody can be great because everybody can serve.

We want to take service from a project mindset to a lifestyle, Crippen said. We want to teach students to see the opportunities to serve around them and take them.