In the Spirit of Dr. King

Kohawks make our days off days on, and MLK Day 2010 was no exception.  In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 150 people, including 8 faculty and staff, participated in the various events sponsored by the Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement.

            The morning began with an Issue Breakfast in the Clark Alumni house where over 50 were in attendance.  The breakfast featured excerpts from some of Dr. King’s most inspirational public addresses, performed by seniors Cassie Morgan and John Sherrod and Professor Barnett of the Theatre Department.  This year’s keynote speaker was Nancy Ziese, a local social worker and civil rights activist. 

            With the helping hands of 60 people, approximately 9,072 meals were packed for Kids Against Hunger.  The meals will be shipped off to Haiti to offer aid to families and children who are still suffering as a result of the devastating earthquake that struck the island nation in 2009.  Also, while the meals were being packed, some volunteers chose to try their hands at sewing and made a total of 7 fleece blankets that will be given to local shelters.  In addition, the Coe Crafters are still working on some t-shirt mats that will hopefully be completed in the coming weeks.

            The day concluded with the annual Spring Poverty Simulation where 27 students participated and 20 volunteers helped facilitate the event.  This event has always been one my favorites because it really gives participants a first-hand experience of what it is like to live a month in poverty.  While some students start off seeing the simulation as a game, they soon catch on that for many families nationwide, it is reality. 

            Dr. King’s dream was simple:  that people would not be judged by their appearance, but rather by the “conflict of their character.”  It is in this spirit that we come together to spread a little bit of love and offer our hands to the service of others in the world who, unlike many of us, have tasted the bitterness of poverty, hunger, discrimination, and selfishness.  Let the dream continue.

-Tyler Heisel