HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. KING THROUGH SERVICE
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. As he once said, "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve." To honor Dr. King's lifelong commitment to community service and volunteerism, his life and teachings are celebrated annually on the MLK Day of Service. Observed nationwide, this federal holiday has been transformed from a day off from school or work into a day ON in service to strengthen communities and empowers individuals across the United States.
In Michigan, MLK Day of Service efforts were led by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), Michigan Nonprofit Association, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, Michigan Campus Compact, and The LEAGUE Michigan with support from the Connect Michigan Alliance Endowment Fund, Sara Ballard Volunteer Fund, Youth Service America, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. These statewide efforts resulted in more than 1,200 volunteers donating nearly 3,000 hours across the Great Lakes State. Read on to learn more about these projects and how they helped residents to answer Dr. King's most persistent and urgent question: What are you doing for others?
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 Creating Safer Routes to School To create safer routes for students and improve the neighborhood for local residents, the AmeriCorps Urban Safety Progect and Wayne State University held a board- and clean-up service project in Detroit's North End community on MLK Day. This neighborhood, near the Detroit International Academy for Young Women, contained multiple vacant and open properties that attracted criminal activity and posed a threat to students who passed them on their way to school. By boarding and cleaning up the area, AmeriCorps members and local residents hoped to restore an appearance of order to the community that would deter criminals from future vandalism and other illegal activities. In total, more than 350 volunteers assisted with the North End MLK Day service project on January 21. Among the volunteers was Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan and her two long-time youth mentees. As a result of the large turn-out and dedicated service of so many, the project was extremely successful as volunteers and AmeriCorps members completed the board-up of 13 abandoned homes and apartment buildings on Detroit's north side. The AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project is one of 23 Michigan's AmeriCorps programs administered by the MCSC. The North-End Clean-Up project was supported in part with a mini-grant provided by the MCSC and their national days of service partners.
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 Nurturing a Nature Center
Despite the cold temperatures, 70 Grand Rapids area volunteers made MLK Day a Day ON at the Blandford Nature Center on January 21. The Center is used by local schools as a youth summer camp and had recently become degraded due to an extreme infestation of non-native plants that were destroying the natural habitat. Through the course of 240 service hours, volunteers spent MLK Day assisting staff and fellow land stewards in removing invasive species throughout the center's beautiful woods. Participating in the service day were volunteers of all ages, with adult volunteers working side by side with youth volunteers to operate sharp tools and utensils. In addition to clearing invasive species, volunteers and Nature Center staff also spent the day turning shrub clippings into mulch that was spread along the trail-ways to help improve the paths. The Blandford Nature Center MLK Day service project was supported in part with a mini-grant provided by the MCSC and their national days of service partners. Back to top |
 Volunteering With Four-Legged Friends
Joining local college students and community volunteers at the Humane Society of Midland County on MLK Day were youth and their mentors from Adoption Option Inc. These youth, all middle school boys who are or have been in foster care, volunteered their time in Dr. King's honor by working with the animals, sorting shelter donations, and cleaning-up the building and property.
Having experienced the benefits of community service themselves from time to time, the youth were greatly impacted by the volunteer experience and their ability to make a difference despite their young age. Giving back to their community was made all the more rewarding as many felt a bond with the shelter animals who are similarly waiting for the right family to take them home. "This is my first-time volunteering," commented 13 year-old Chris. "When I'm old enough to drive, I am going back there to help more."
In total, more than 30 volunteers gave their time at the Humane Society of Midland County and donated approximately 90 hours of service.
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