The Utah Transit Authority honors and observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 17th. This holiday is dedicated to honoring the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the invaluable impact he made on civil rights in the United States. It’s also an opportunity to reflect and give service to others, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
Dr. King was assassinated in 1968 after years of work advancing civil rights and social justice. Many have adopted the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service as a tribute to Dr. King and his dream of a Beloved Community, where we can work together to make our communities more equitable through collective action and systemic change.
We honor this holiday within our community and for our employees, because as a public transit agency, Utah Transit Authority plays a critical role in advancing inclusion and opportunity along the Wasatch Front. As an example, last February UTA joined numerous organizations and individuals across the state by signing the Utah Compact on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, demonstrating our commitment to anti-racist principles and actions.
Build Your Beloved Community and Honor Dr. King
If you have the day off, please consider donating your time and energy to help others. We are sharing some ideas below for inspiration!
Opportunities to support your community both in-person and remotely:
- Search for various local volunteer opportunities via Just Serve.
- Search the AmeriCorps database for more opportunities.
- Ideas for self-directed MLK Day-specific volunteer opportunities organized through the Bennion Center.
- Local universities and colleges host MLK celebrations around the area. Listen in on their talks or get involved in community opportunities. Specifically check out the University of Utah’s MLK Week.
Everyday Acts of Service
If you are interested in helping UTA achieve its vision of being a key partner in addressing inequities in our community, consider getting more involved in the following ways:
See Something. Say Something.
This not only applies to safety but anything you think might not be right when you’re using our system. You can contact UTA Police a 801-287-3937 or our Customer Service team in many ways via rideuta.com/support.
Participate in Public Comment Periods
We have several educational and feedback processes throughout the year, like for our Change Days and budget. We encourage you to get involved and provide us with your feedback.
Committee for Accessible Transportation (CAT)
If you are a rider with a disability or someone that works with persons with disabilities, consider volunteering with our Committee on Accessible Transportation.
Be a Rider Insider
We share news and other opportunities to get involved via our bi-weekly rider newsletter — Rider Insider. You can sign up at rideuta.com/signup.
And a special opportunity… participate in the Wasatch Transportation Academy starting later this month.
Holiday Service
Please note, UTA will be operating a Saturday schedule on Monday, January 17 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For more on this see rideuta.com/holiday.
Image courtesy of RV1864 via flickr.