STANDARDS

NCSS: Culture • Time, Continuity, and Change • Individual Development and Identity • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions • Power, Authority, and Governance • Production, Distribution, and Consumption • Science, Technology, and Society • Civic Ideals and Practices

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.3, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.5, RH.6-8.7, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.3, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.5, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9

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Yolanda Renee King is challenging people to give back to their communities.

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

Civics

Dreaming Big 

Martin Luther King Jr.’s granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King, is carrying on his mission to make the world a better place.

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Martin Luther King Jr.

When your grandfather is civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., people expect big things from you. Yolanda Renee King is up to the task! 

Yolanda, 16, is the only grandchild of King and his wife, civil rights leader Coretta Scott King. The teen, along with her parents, is leading a new initiative called Realize the Dream. The name comes from King’s famous 1963 speech “I Have a Dream,” in which he called for freedom and equality for all Americans. 

Realize the Dream aims to motivate people across the country to perform 100 million hours of community service before the 100th anniversary of King’s birth, in 2029. You can learn more at realizethedream.org. Below, Yolanda shares details about the project—and how you can help.

Brooke Ross

Q&A With Yolanda Renee King

How did you become interested in activism?
My parents included me in conversations about their work. I was just immersed in activism, which inspired me to go into it. Even from a very early age, I was concerned about issues like homelessness. We would see homeless people and I would say, “Why is it like this? We have to fix this.”

What other issues matter to you?
Violence, racism, human rights, and the environment. They’re all connected and intertwined. It’s like a big knot. People may be working on different parts of the knot, but we’re still working together.

Can you tell us more about the Realize the Dream movement? 
It’s about creating a better world for everyone through volunteering. That means stepping up, looking for people and causes that could use your help. It’s hard for one person to change the world, but if we work together, it’s amazing the difference we can make. 

How can kids and teens take part? 
Just start with something you care about and come up with ways you can help. It could be something like a food drive, or a park cleanup, or raising awareness about an issue. Kids can create change and have a positive impact. It doesn’t matter how young you are, what school you go to, or where you live.

Click here to learn more about the civil rights movement.

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