Today is a good day to reflect on the values Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for: love, peace, service, and collective responsibility.

Over the years, our family has had the privilege of visiting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. several times, always making it a point to pause and pay our respects to his legacy of social justice. My mom and I have also visited the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Dr. King was assassinated — a sobering reminder of both the cost of justice and the need for nonviolence.

For my family, MLK Day has never been a day off — it’s always been a day on. Volunteering and participating in community events are established traditions for us. We’ve regularly attended MLK breakfasts, lunches, dinners, parades, and rallies over the years.  

This year, George and I proudly participated in the City of Long Beach MLK Parade, and earlier today our youngest son, Koa, and I spent the morning volunteering at community projects around the city. We spent the most time at Willow Springs Park, where we connected with neighbors of all ages while doing light gardening — mulching, pulling weeds, and helping care for a beautiful, shared community space. Here are a few photos of the parade on Saturday and today’s service project.

These activities remind me how many volunteers it truly takes to build and sustain a safe, healthy, and strong community — and how service begins at a very young age. Our children were raised volunteering and attending community events. When they were little, MLK Day was something all six of us did together every year. As they’ve grown older and their lives have gotten busier, sometimes it’s just one or two of us at a time — but the tradition remains.

I hope your family has traditions of service as well. If you do, I’d love to hear about them. Please feel free to reply to this email and share how your family honors MLK Day — or how you give back to the community in your own way.

Today is a reminder that love, peace, and service are not passive values. They require action. Together, those small acts of social responsibility add up to something powerful.

Sincerely,

Vivian Malauulu

Candidate for Long Beach City Council District 7