NLEN will commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy on Monday, January 20th. Dr. King's organizing and advocacy were catalysts for ending Jim Crow laws and advancing racial and economic justice across the US and the world.
Dr. King's local legacy includes the time he spent living in North Lawndale at 1550 S. Hamlin Ave during the Chicago Freedom Campaign of 1965 and 1966. During this period, he worked alongside local community leaders to demand an end to contract buying schemes that locked Black residents out of home ownership and to secure commitments to end discrimination in housing and hiring policies. Dr. King's legacy in North Lawndale lives on—from the Dr. King Legacy Apartments at 16th and Hamlin to the many local organizations and advocates carrying forth his mission. Our mural featuring photos of Dr. King's time in Lawndale on the second floor of our campus is a constant reminder and testament to Dr. King's work and the importance of bending the long arc of justice.
North Lawndale Employment Network's workforce programs, administrative office, and Financial Opportunity Center® resource room will be closed on Monday, January 20th, 2024. However, the beelove café will be open on MLK Day from 7 AM to 4 PM to serve community members attending local MLK Day events and be a beacon of warmth and prosperity in the neighborhood.
We encourage everyone to honor Dr. King's legacy on Monday by taking action to build a more just Chicago, whether through volunteering or spending time in our café. You can find more information and resources about Dr. King's life and legacy at the links below:
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