Cedar Rapids Honors MLK, Jr.

As classes begin yet again, Coe students have enveloped themselves in the spirit of service as some participated in activities on MLK, Jr Day of Service. Approximately 175 Cedar Rapids residents and 15 Coe students volunteered to make a difference.

Noel Rozum, VISTA in the office, welcomed the audience at an opening ceremony at Mt. Mercy University and introduced Mt. Mercy's chaplain who opened with a prayer, thanking God for allowing us to be there to help others.

Rozum then introduced Mt. Mercy's president, Dr. Blake who officially welcomed the audience to Mt. Mercy and thanked everyone for being there.

Mayor Corbett was also introduced and officially dubbed Monday, January 16, 2012, as MLK, Jr. Day of Service. Then he introduced Coe student Tevin Bell, who recited part of MLK, Jr's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

In the lobby, Mt. Mercy students created a post-it note mural where participants were prompted to write notes of encouragement including their hopes, dreams, and wishes.

As the ceremony ended, the audience dispersed to their service sites. As they painted, served the homeless, chopped wood, changed locks, and organized food pantries, they were reminded of Martin Luther King, Jr. who dedicated his life to justice and service. His dream was to live in a nation that would "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

From the incredible turnout, clearly we are seeing MLK's dream through--treating those in need as our equals, and always remembering a brave man who fought for his entire country, that we would be a prosperous, forgiving society dedicated to assisting those in need. There's not a better way to celebrate such an important man.