On Monday, Jan. 17, the College Possible Milwaukee team honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of
the “Beloved Community” through a variety of local activities to advance equity. Groups of staff and AmeriCorps members served at Feeding America and the Urban Ecology Center, as well as virtual service events that could be attended from home. These opportunities were curated by our Marquette University Grad fellow, Angelina Sandoval.
“When choosing these opportunities, I wanted us to look outside of education equity and into the community for organizations that align with the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but in a different capacity,” said Angelina “I hoped that our AmeriCorps members could serve and see the community’s needs while embodying peace, justice, and equality like the legacy we tried to uphold during our service, whether it was through sustainability, efforts against food insecurity, or empowering the voices of our youth who are the future of tomorrow.”
The Urban Ecology Center believes in connecting people in cities back to nature and with each other to help restore hope and heal. In support of this mission, College Possible staff and coaches helped remove invasive plant species from the Oak Leaf trail and clean up trash along Riverside Park. These locations are opportunities for the Milwaukee community to connect with nature in the midst of the city.
A second group of staff and AmeriCorps members spent time at Feeding America, a hunger relief organization that distributes food to over 200 food banks, helping feed 46 million people annually. Alongside other volunteers, staff and coaches helped separate, organize, and package 7,000 pounds of food. Reflecting on his service, College Coach Landon Remington stated, “Partway through, I had an enhanced awareness that the food I was sorting would go towards feeding someone who could really use it and pictured someone making a meal with it. After we were done, I was astounded to hear that all of us packed over 7,000 total pounds of food in total.”
Team members also participated in virtual service events such as packing a “Fostering Hope Duffel Bag” of donated items or virtually attending the 38th annual Marcus PAC MLK Day Celebration that showcased Milwaukee’s youth and what Dr. King’s legacy means to them. Students from kindergarten through high school showed their connection to Dr. King’s message through spoken word, songs, art, and writing.
Through a day of service, community and connection, College Possible Milwaukee team members joined together in honoring Dr. King’s legacy and all that he stood for.
