Despite biting cold temperatures, residents of Flossmoor turned out in large numbers Monday afternoon to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through creativity, service, and community connection.
Hosted by the Flossmoor Public Art Commission, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event brought residents to Flossmoor Village Hall to create yard signs centered on themes of peace, love and unity. Once the temperature warms up, the signs will be displayed among the sculptures at Leavitt Park, reinforcing the park’s role as a space for reflection and shared civic values.
The event ran as a drop-in program from 1 to 2:30 p.m., welcoming participants of all ages. Tables filled quickly as families, students and volunteers sat side by side to help each other create the yard signs.
Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson described the experience as both meaningful and restorative.
“It’s fun and therapeutic to do something creative,” Nelson said. “Our art commission is incredible in terms of what they do for the community and making art accessible to everyone. This is just another example of their outreach and inclusiveness.”
Nelson also noted the personal connections formed during the event, from meeting new neighbors to speaking with student volunteers from Homewood-Flossmoor High School.
“Meeting these kids and hearing what drives them has been really invigorating,” she said.
For many attendees, the event offered a way to give back to a community they feel deeply connected to. New resident Angella Jost said she attended as a way to “pay it forward.”
“Moving to Flossmoor really showcased how welcoming this community is,” Jost said. “I wanted to do what I could to help contribute to a town where people clearly care about where they live.”
Families also made up a significant portion of the crowd. Lee Cheney attended with his wife and children, saying the event was a simple and enjoyable way to participate together.
“It’s been a lot of fun just doing drawings,” Cheney said.
Others emphasized the deeper meaning behind the project. Timitra Young said the signs serve as reminders of hope and encouragement for anyone walking through the park.
“Dr. King was a person of peace and inclusivity,” Young said. “Creating signs of peace that people can see as they walk through the community felt like a meaningful way to honor that.”
Jeff Stevenson, co-chair of the Flossmoor Public Art Commission, said organizers were pleasantly surprised by the turnout given the weather.
“It was a gamble,” Stevenson said, “but people really showed up. It says a lot about how seriously this community takes MLK Day and service.”
Stevenson explained that the commission intentionally aligned the project with the village’s broader Day of Service efforts, which included more than a dozen volunteer sites throughout Flossmoor.
Michael Cheney, a member of the commission, said the holiday offered an opportunity for reflection.
“It’s a chance to really contemplate ideas of peace and community,” he said. “Hopefully that’s coming through in the artwork people are creating.”
The Flossmoor Public Art Commission, established in 1998, is responsible for acquiring and maintaining public sculptures throughout the village. According to co-chair Nancy Burroughs, this was the commission’s first time hosting its own MLK Day project.
“These are difficult times, and there’s a lot of division,” Burroughs said. “This felt like a moment to stop and focus on what we share and what we’re working toward together.”
Village Communications Manager Nicole Castagna noted that public art in Flossmoor is largely funded through donations, with strong resident support helping to sustain the program.
As participants filtered out of village hall, arms full of colorful signs and paint-streaked gloves, the message of the afternoon was clear: even in freezing temperatures, Flossmoor residents remain committed to service, creativity, and community—values King championed throughout his life.
