ODSE Dr Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Center for Community Engagement and Service celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to service. The MLK Day of Service event provides the AU Community the opportunity to participate in direct service with the local community. This event offers individual the ability to learn more about different neighborhoods and explore the issues of concern that impact various District communities. This is a one day event that will hopefully encourage students to continue their explorations of the city and the concerns of local residents.

The Day of Service is normally celebrated on the third Monday in January, but for 2012 the event was facilitated on Saturday, January 21st. This was due to late start of the spring semester, which was on Tuesday, January 17th. Approximately 270 volunteers from both, AU and the local community worked together this year to carry out the event. These individuals worked with 12 NGO's whom represented seven different sectors of public service: Education, HIV/AID, Homelessness, Hunger, Senior-Citizens, Women's Health, and Youth Development.

About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace prize recipient, dedicated his life to social justice and felt it an honor to serve others. In 1994 when Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, they designated the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Because you have the day off, make it a day on by giving your time to people who need an extra hand. Honor King's legacy.

2012 M.L.K Day of Service Agenda

The MLK Holiday is normally celebrated on the third Monday in January, but since AU starts the spring semester on January 17th, the CCES staff have decided to facilitate the program on Saturday, January 21. Similarly to last year volunteers will be divided into groups and assigned to a community-partner. A majority of the projects will be held off-campus, each project will fall under one of seven different sectors: Education, HIV/AID, Homelessness, Hunger, Senior-Citizens, Women's Health, and Youth Development.

"The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Saturday, January 21st we will come together to continue our fight against different forms of poverty.

MLK Day of Service is a three part event- (a) morning service project, (b) reflection activity, and (c) evening service project. Volunteers have the option to choose either morning or evening projects.

Morning Project (Meet in the AU Tavern)

8:30am – 9:15 AM Service check-in, breakfast, and kick-off

9:30am – Volunteers depart campus (Transportation will be provided)

10:00am – 10:30AM Site orientation

10:30pm – 1:00PM Service Project

1:00pm – 1:15 On-site reflection

1:30pm – Volunteers depart site

Reflection Program (In the AU Tavern)

2:00pm – 2:30 Concert (feat. Cornell West Theory)

2:30 – 3:00 Reflection activity (Food will be provided)

Optional: Evening Project (Meet in the AU Tavern)

2:30am – 3:00 – PM service check-in

3:00pm - 6:00 - Food Prepping for Campus Kitchen Project

6:00pm - 8:00 - Serving food to residents of Regency House

The MLK Day of Service provides individuals with the ability to deepen their engagement with, or better understand the social problems that challenge the lives of many DC residents. To ensure that volunteers learn about such disparatires they will assist one of over 10 local non-profit organizations facilitate an community service project that addresses poverty in one of the following sectors: Education, HIV/AID, Homelessness, Hunger, Senior-Citizens, Women's Health, and Youth Development.

Space is limited to the first 250 volunteers to register

The deadline to register for this event is Wednesday, January 18th.