Project Reverence

MLK Day is more than a holiday, it’s a movement. A day to act, to serve, to stand up for what’s right.
I’m answering the call. Join me in giving back to our community.

January 19, 2026 will be an important moment for Scouts across the country as they participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. This day invites every American to step forward and strengthen their communities through meaningful volunteer work, and Scouts will be ready to lead by example.

Across Scouting America, units are planning service projects that reflect the values Dr. King championed. Scouts will take part in community cleanups, support local shelters and food programs, assist service organizations, and look for thoughtful ways to lift up neighbors who need a hand. It will be a "Day On, Not a Day Off," and a chance for young people to show what service in action looks like.

Dr. King’s connection to Scouting began in his youth when he was a member of Troop 151 in Atlanta. His time in Scouting helped nurture a spirit of leadership and community responsibility that would later define his work for justice and equality.

As we look ahead to MLK Day 2026, we encourage every unit to plan a project that reflects the heart of Dr. King’s legacy. By serving with purpose, Scouts will honor his message and continue the work of building stronger and more caring communities.

The MLK Day of Service emblem is available here or in local Scouting America retail outlets:

https://www.scoutshop.org/martin-luther-king-day-of-service-emblem-663884.html

Get ready to sleigh the stage!🎄

Join us for an evening filled with music, cheer, and shopping at the Collier Museum's 2nd Annual Christmas Karaoke & Holiday Marketplace.

Enjoy the Naples Cottage decorated for the holiday and partake of some festive food and beverage. We know you know the words, so there’s no excuse not to join in the fun. Belt out a few carols and you may even win a prize. If you can't carry a tune, we’ve got a bucket with your name on it!
Benefiting the Friends of the Collier County Museums.

When: December 19, 2025
Where: Collier Museum at Government Center 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112
🛍 Holiday Marketplace: 5:00-8:00 pm
🎤Karaoke: 6:00-8:00 pm

For more information visit: www.colliermuseums.com

I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for the incredible support you’ve given to Project Reverence. Because of your donations, countless hours of work, and your belief in this mission, we’ve been able to provide headstones, a garden like botanical fence and a museum-grade historical marker for those who were almost forgotten.

Although I’ve earned my Eagle Rank, my work here is not done. With the help of the Collier County Museum and the local NAACP, we are continuing the effort to identify those buried in Plot N and ensure their stories are remembered. My commitment is to see them honored with a state historical marker and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The funds you’ve provided will go toward the cost of this future marker. Any remaining funds will be donated to local entities. One of them is The Collier Friends of the Museum, who will earmark funds for the restoration of Plot W, another forgotten section of the original Rosemary Cemetery. This ensures your contributions will always be used in the spirit in which they were given, to bring dignity in death to those nearly lost to history.

I made a promise to myself and to all of you to see Project Reverence through, and I have. But I also promise to keep going. Together, let’s keep the momentum alive. Let’s see Plot W restored and continue educating our community about the people and history that shaped it.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Yours in Scouting,
Jonathan Rodriguez
Eagle Scout
Troop 2
Alligator District
SWFL Council