MLK National Day of Service

Twin Cities members take a break from rehabilitating a single-family home in North Minneapolis on MLK Day

Answering the call of President Obama to make the King Holiday “a day on, not a day off” LISC AmeriCorps members from across the nation spent the day volunteering their time and skills on a variety of different projects. Dr. Martin Luther King believed that “everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” While the projects members participated in varied from site to site, they all helped to strengthen community spirit and lend a hand. Below are stories of the difference individuals can make when making a day off a “Day On.”

Bay Area, CA - Despite pouring rain, AmeriCorps members helped the Watershed Project revitalize the Richmond shoreline on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. Fifteen LISC AmeriCorps members and guests joined the EBParks Junior Rangers, Bay Area AmeriCorps members, and individual volunteers from the community in cleaning up debris and removing invasive plants in Meeker Slough. Although the weather hindered many of the initially planned efforts, AmeriCorps members donned their raingear to collect and sort trash and recycling found along the Bay Trail. Some even ventured into the muddy flats of the slough to gather the garbage strewn there. By the time the project was cut short by the relentless rain and strong winds, AmeriCorps members had demonstrated their commitment to make a difference in Richmond by restoring and protecting the local watershed.

Boston, MA - Members came together to support the Pine Street Inn a local shelter that serves those who are in need of food and other assistance. In speaking about her experience, Angela Kelly said “Preparing and serving lunches for the hundreds of guests at the Pine Street Inn (on an especially cold and rainy winter day) was a powerful reminder of the economic vulnerability that persists in our communities and the continuing need for all of us to engage in efforts to fulfill Rev. Martin Luther King’s vision.”

Cincinnati, OH – Members came together to take part in a civil rights march that has been taking place in Cincinnati for the past twenty years. At the end of the march community and civic leaders, including the mayor of Cincinnati, spoke to the crowd. After the march members assembled thousands of “power packs” of food for students of local schools.

Rhode Island answered Dr. King’s call to service by partnering with RiverzEdge Art project, Woonsocket Prevention Coalition, Connecting for Children and Families, and the Beacon Charter H.S. for the Arts for the NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. LISC AmeriCorps assisted in the celebration with manning sign-in tables, directing hallway traffic during workshops, and serving lunch. They also collected evaluations and distributed calendars designed by RiverzEdge Arts Project students.

San Diego, CA - On the west coast San Diego members traveled to visit the senior residents at Sunshine Care Homes. Member Ariadna Rico, summed up her experience by saying “I could see the tender compassion in all of my friends and fellow AmeriCorps as they talked and listened to tales and adventures from lives that dared to dream, just as we do now, of living with integrity and peace.”

Twin Cities, MN - Working with Urban Homeworks to do interior demolition on foreclosed and vacant single-family home in North Minneapolis the organization is rehabilitating, and eventually selling through its Project:Reclaim program, was the order of the day for Twin Cities members. Project:Reclaim is a low-interest contract for deed program--created in partnership with the City of Lakes Community Land Trust and Lutheran Social Services. These organizations equip and support people who have been declined a home mortgage because of credit challenges and creates an opportunity for families to affordably own a home.

Jacksonville, FL - LISC AmeriCorps members in Jacksonville partnered with Golfair Estates Neighborhood Association and the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation for its 7th annual tribute to Dr. King. This year’s clean up resulted in 68 bags of trash collected in the community. “We are honored to serve our community in any way possible, especially around this time of year,” said member Rachonda Grover.

Richmond, VA – Virginia members took part in the construction of a wheelchair ramp at ElderHomes, a local non-profit. This ramp will allow everyone access to the facilities and services regardless of physical capabilities.

For more information on the LISC AmeriCorps Program, contact Stacey Rapp, Program Director at srapp@lisc.org or at 212.455.9308.