Monday, January 15, 10 a.m.
LANSING, Ill. (January 11, 2024) – Members of the Common Ground project have chosen to observe MLK Day by gathering for coffee and conversation at Kdulche Cafe (3521 Ridge Road, Lansing). The public is welcome to join in.
The gathering is set for Monday, January 15, at 10 a.m. It is not considered a business meeting, and there is no specific agenda. This MLK Day outing will allow Common Grounders to reconnect after a busy holiday season. Newcomers may appreciate the opportunity to mingle and socialize with the group.
Kdulche Cafe is home to the Lansing Journal Latte, a drink that celebrates Lansing’s diversity and might be considered an appropriate MLK Day beverage. The Lansing Journal Latte is available either hot or iced.
Members of the Common Ground program who have previously purchased Common Ground t-shirts are encouraged to wear them to the MLK Day meeting. Shirts, hoodies, and other Common Ground items are currently available in The Lansing Journal’s online shop: thelansingjournal.com/product-category/common-ground-merch/
Common Ground in public
Much of the Common Ground program consists of smaller conversations between people who have been partnered with each other. The program has made recent efforts to organize more large-group gatherings. Their most recent meeting was at S.L Wine Bar (3224 Ridge Road) in November.
Common Ground and MLK Day
MLK Day was signed into law as an official holiday in 1983 and has been recognized as a national day of service since 1994. The holiday is set on the third Monday of January. This year’s date — January 15 — is the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
AmeriCorps is the national coordinator of MLK Day of Service activities. Their website states, “MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.” (americorps.gov/serve/volunteer/mlk-day, 01/11/24)
The Common Ground program works to improve community by creating opportunities for thoughtful conversations between people of different races. Participants in Common Ground have found that learning about culture, traditions, and experiences from someone else’s perspective helps build community at the neighborhood level and beyond.
Kdulche Cafe is located at 3521 Ridge Road in Lansing, Illinois. Street parking is available directly in front of the cafe, across Ridge Road in front of Beggars Pizza, and along West Street just west of Kdulche.
