Martin Luther King Jr. was born on Jan. 15, 1929. He was one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, until his death on April 4, 1968.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday in January. The National Constitution Center (NCC) states the holiday “honors the total legacy of King; focuses on the issue of civil rights; highlights the use of nonviolence to promote change; and calls people into public service.” (see more information here: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/how-martin-luther-king-jr-s-birthday-became-a-holiday-3#:~:text=King’s%20birthday%20was%20finally%20approved,the%20third%20Monday%20in%20January.)

This year, the holiday will be celebrated on Jan. 16. In recognition of MLK, the 77th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) hosted its United Clergy Council (UCC) meeting virtually on Jan. 10.

Screen grab of Pastor Sharmaine Byrd, of the Greater Mt. Carmel Cathedral and Worship Center and the CEO/Founder of Community, Conversation and Collaboration, Inc., speaking during the United Clergy Council meeting. Photo by Milette Millington

The theme of the meeting was Community Involvement: Service and Serving, with Pastor Sharmaine Byrd as guest speaker. Byrd is the pastor of Greater Mount Carmel Cathedral and Worship Center in Brooklyn.

During her presentation, she referenced the book of Matthew in the Bible. Chapter 9, verse 37 says: “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few’” (English Standard Version) [source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%209%3A35-38&version=ESV;KJV]

In referencing this verse, she said that as people, “we can’t serve by ourselves, and we were all called to serve in some capacity.” She pointed out that service is work done for others, and though someone serves by themselves sometimes, it must be done with a grateful heart.

“We have to have a heart to serve,” she added. According to Byrd, it is essential to “serve to the best of your ability, and to serve with dignity.”

Another way that Byrd serves her community is through her nonprofit organization, Community Conversation Collaboration Inc. (CCC). Initiatives by CCC include the weekly food pantry. The organization also provides services for seniors and adults.

To find out more information on CCC’s work, those interested can reach the organization at 718-576-9872 or info@communitycci.org. To support the organization’s work, those interested can make a donation here: https://communitycci.org/donate/.