(Washington, D.C. | Monday, January 15, 2024) – Today, all of us at the Peace Corps honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, legacy, and enduring impact.

From Selma to Birmingham to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and beyond, Dr. King shared his messages of racial justice, equal rights, and building friendships across differences for all to hear. Dr. King’s dream has helped inspire more than 240,000 American Peace Corps Volunteers who have sought to build human connections and opportunities through service across the globe for nearly 63 years.

In a world marked by hate, endemic poverty, and identity-based violence, Dr. King’s vision of equality, non-violent social change, and community building is as vital as ever. Currently, 2,400 Volunteers are serving in 58 countries, demonstrating through their service, how connected we all are. This commitment involves working to understand one another’s cultures and collaborating across difference—a vision Dr. King shared for Americans and for all humankind.