Who says young people can’t be agents of change? According to Yolanda Renee King, the 16-year-old granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., we all have something special to offer the world.
In honor of her grandfather’s 100th birthday in 2029, Yolanda Renee King, alongside her parents, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, created the Realize the Dream initiative. This movement aims to complete 100 million service hours by his centennial birthday.
The initiative focuses on educating participants about the impact of their community service, creating incentives to encourage continued engagement, and showcasing the movement through multimedia content to amplify acts of service.
People around the world are encouraged to participate by actively engaging in their communities. Individuals or groups can download the “Points of Light” app to find local volunteer opportunities based on their interests and then track their service hours through the Realize the Dream app.
Read below for more information about the initiative and how you can get involved.
GU: What does it mean to live under such an impactful legacy?
Yolanda Renee King: Carrying my grandfather’s legacy is both an honor and a responsibility—but it’s also about my grandmother, Coretta Scott King. She was the backbone of the Civil Rights Movement, ensuring that my grandfather’s message didn’t fade after his passing. She fought for justice, peace, and equality just as fiercely, and she showed me that legacy isn’t just something you inherit—it’s something you actively build.
For me, carrying this legacy means more than just remembering the past; it means stepping up and continuing the work both of them started. It means using my voice, just as both of my grandparents did, to demand justice and inspire action.
My grandparents’ dream wasn’t just about them—it was about all of us. It was about creating The Beloved Community—a world where love, justice, and equality guide everything we do. That vision can only become a reality if each of us takes part in making it happen.
GU: What does community service mean to you? Why is it so important?
Yolanda Renee King: To me, community service is about love in action.
It’s not about how much money you have or how much power you hold—it’s about showing up for people, caring for your neighbors, and doing something, no matter how small, to make the world better.
Community service is how we turn empathy into real change. It’s how we bring people together, lift each other up, and create a future that’s fair and just for everyone.
GU: How did the 2025 Realize the Dream initiative come to be?
Yolanda Renee King: Realize the Dream was born out of a simple but powerful idea: what if we didn’t just talk about my grandfather’s legacy but actually lived it?
My parents, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, wanted to find a way to honor his 100th birthday in 2029 by doing something truly meaningful. So, we set this ambitious goal: 100 million hours of service. It’s a way to turn inspiration into action—not just to celebrate my grandfather’s life, but to keep his work alive.
GU: What is the impact of community service?
Yolanda Renee King: Service has the power to change everything—our communities, our perspectives, and even our own hearts. My grandfather dreamed of a world where we uplift each other, and my grandmother worked tirelessly to turn that dream into reality. She understood that service is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change.
When we serve, we do more than help others—we grow as individuals. We start to see that no act of kindness is too small and that when we all contribute, we can transform the world. Realize the Dream is built on this belief: that when we come together to serve, we are actively shaping the just and compassionate world that my grandparents envisioned.
GU: Talk about the Realize the Dream pillars. Which one are you most excited to demonstrate or be involved with?
Yolanda Renee King: Realize the Dream is built on three key pillars: Community Service, Movement Building, and Connections Engagement.
While all three are important, I’m especially passionate about Movement Building. My grandmother was a movement builder. She didn’t just continue my grandfather’s work—she expanded it and was a powerful advocate for justice and equality.
I want to follow in her footsteps by bringing people together—especially young people—to take action. Movements don’t happen overnight; they are built by people who believe in something bigger than themselves. Whether it’s through peaceful protests, advocacy, or service, I want to help create a movement that inspires lasting change.
GU: What are some ways younger kids can get involved? Why should the next generation be involved in initiatives like this?
Yolanda Renee King: There are so many ways young people can get involved! You don’t have to do something huge—every small act of kindness and service matters. You can start by:
- Volunteering at a local food bank, cleaning up a park, or mentoring a younger student.
- Using your voice to spread awareness about issues that matter to you.
- Connecting with others to build The Beloved Community—where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to take action.
The reason it’s so important for our generation to step up is because we’re the future. The world we want to live in—the world my grandfather dreamed of—won’t just happen on its own. It takes people, young and old, committing to action. We have the power to shape what’s next, and Realize the Dream gives us a way to start right now. We are the dream in motion. It’s up to us to realize it.