LA Unites on MLK Day: Volunteers Tackle Wildfire Scars & Injustice

LOS ANGELES, CA – December 29, 2025 – As Los Angeles continues to grapple with the deep scars of recent crises, thousands of Angelenos are preparing to answer Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s call to service in a powerful display of collective action. On January 19, 2026, L.A. Works will host its annual MLK Volunteer Festival at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, expecting over 3,000 volunteers to tackle the region's most pressing issues, from environmental restoration to social justice.

This year's event arrives at a particularly poignant moment for the city. Just one year after the catastrophic 2025 wildfires displaced thousands and left an indelible mark on the landscape, and amid ongoing uncertainty for the city’s immigrant communities, the festival's themes of healing, resilience, and justice resonate with urgent clarity. The gathering is not just a day of remembrance but a hands-on effort to rebuild and reconnect.

"This MLK Day arrives at a defining moment for Los Angeles," said Deborah Brutchey, Executive Director of L.A. Works. "Healing and justice don't happen in isolation; they're built when people show up for one another. By serving together, we honor Dr. King's legacy and strengthen the bonds that hold our communities together."

A City in Need of Healing

The context for the 2026 festival is stark. The 2025 wildfires were among the most destructive in California's history, scorching 57,000 acres across Los Angeles County and destroying over 16,000 structures. The economic toll is estimated to be as high as $275 billion, but the human cost—displaced families, disrupted lives, and long-term health impacts—is immeasurable. The long road to recovery requires a sustained, community-wide effort.

In direct response, volunteers at the festival will engage in tangible acts of environmental restoration. A key project involves rolling 5,000 native seed balls, small clusters of seeds and soil designed to be scattered across fire-ravaged hillsides. This simple yet vital activity will help reintroduce native flora, prevent soil erosion, and begin the slow process of ecological healing in areas like Topanga Canyon and the hills surrounding Pasadena.

Beyond environmental recovery, the event addresses the human element of recent hardships. Immigrant communities throughout Los Angeles have faced a year of heightened anxiety, navigating economic instability and the fear stoked by federal enforcement actions. Recognizing this, the festival aims to provide direct support and affirm that all residents are part of Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community." Service projects are designed to assist families and communities under threat, reinforcing a message of solidarity and shared responsibility.

More Than a Day of Service: Building the 'Beloved Community'

The MLK Day Volunteer Festival aims to transform the iconic Coliseum from a stadium of sport into a vibrant hub of civic engagement. The event is structured as more than a series of volunteer tasks; it is an immersive experience designed to foster connection and celebrate community.

Upon arrival, volunteers will find interactive service zones dedicated to critical issues. Participants will work together to assemble 1,500 meal kits to combat food insecurity, a persistent challenge for many low-income families in the region. Others will build 500 felt storyboard kits, providing valuable educational resources for children and families served by local nonprofits. These hands-on projects provide immediate, tangible aid to organizations working on the front lines of poverty and education equity.

The festival atmosphere extends beyond the service zones. The grounds will feature a marketplace highlighting BIPOC-owned small businesses, providing a platform for local entrepreneurs and encouraging community-based economic support. Food trucks, local nonprofit partners, and even a youth-run lemonade stand will contribute to a dynamic environment where Angelenos can connect, learn, and act together.

35 Years of Action on a Global Stage

For L.A. Works, the 2026 festival is a landmark occasion, kicking off the organization's 35th anniversary. Founded in 1991 in the wake of the civil unrest following the Rodney King beating, the nonprofit was born from a desire to bridge racial and economic divides through hands-on service. Over three and a half decades, it has mobilized hundreds of thousands of volunteers, becoming an essential part of Los Angeles's civic fabric.

This anniversary year carries global significance, as it coincides with the United Nations' declaration of 2026 as the "International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development" (IVY 2026). The UN designation aims to recognize volunteerism as a critical driver of progress on a global scale, celebrating the power of individuals to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. L.A. Works' enduring mission and the MLK Day festival itself serve as a powerful local example of this global movement, demonstrating how grassroots action can address complex challenges.

The alignment underscores a core belief shared by both the UN and L.A. Works: that volunteerism is not merely a charitable act but a fundamental component of a healthy, functioning society. It builds social cohesion, empowers communities, and provides a pathway for individuals to become agents of change.

A Coalition for Community

The sheer scale of the MLK Day Volunteer Festival is made possible by a broad coalition of support, from individual citizens to some of the city's most prominent corporate entities. Sponsors like the LA Memorial Coliseum, Mercury Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Target, and the LA Rams provide the critical resources needed to turn the ambitious vision into a reality.

This support often extends beyond financial contributions. For instance, Mercury Insurance was instrumental in providing immediate claims support and financial assistance to policyholders affected by the 2025 wildfires, demonstrating a commitment to community resilience that aligns with the festival's goals. Similarly, Kaiser Permanente's long-standing focus on health equity and its extensive employee volunteer programs reflect a shared mission to improve community well-being in Southern California.

This public-private partnership is essential to addressing the multifaceted challenges Los Angeles faces. By bringing together nonprofit leadership, corporate resources, and the energy of thousands of volunteers, the event creates a powerful force for positive change. As Angelenos gather at the Coliseum, they will not only be honoring Dr. King's memory but actively participating in the ongoing work of building a more just, resilient, and united city for the future.