Rather than hitting the slopes or sleeping in on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, some students from the University of Denver will participate in a variety of programs to commemorate the civil rights leader.
Among the events is a “Day On” Day of Service on Jan. 18. The event is being organized by the University’s Student Life division.
“In December, a group of administrators and students were discussing how to showcase all the volunteer work our students, faculty and staff do,” says Carl Johnson, director of student programming and Greek life. “The suggestion was to coordinate all the work that happens at MLK day and better promote it and increase the awareness and participation. We wanted to ‘DU something about it.’”
Students will volunteer from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at a variety of community partner sites across Denver, including the Boys & Girls Club-Owen Branch, Serenity House, Sun Valley Youth Center, Urban Peak, and Volunteers of America. In addition, more than 130 students will be picking up trash in the DU neighborhood.
Johnson anticipates 300 students, including the DU men’s lacrosse team and the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, will be involved in the various efforts.
Following the activities, the University will provide volunteers with lunch in the Centennial Halls cafeteria. The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning will lead a reflection session, which will encourage students to think about their individual experience, how it helped that group, the community and the city and how choosing to use their “day off” as a “day on” has changed their perception of what one person can do.
The deadline to sign up to participate is Jan. 15. Students may contact Johnson at cdjohnso@du.edu to register.
Other events sponsored by the 2010 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee, the Black Student Alliance and the Center for Multicultural Excellence include:
25th Annual MLK Jr. Marade
10:45 a.m., Jan. 18, City Park to Civic Center Park
The DU group will meet at the DU light rail station at 9 a.m.
Contact: Cameron Lewis, 720-308-7084
First Annual DU Dream Celebration
6–8 p.m., Jan. 21, Driscoll Ballroom
The celebration will feature a student-produced video that documents leaders from all walks of campus life who strive to create social change, build diverse communities and take action in the pursuit of achieving King’s dream. Ashara Ekundayo, an award-winning Denver producer, curator, and activist, will deliver a keynote address. The event is free. Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP to DUMLK2010@gmail.com.
Day of Service
9 a.m.–3 p.m., Jan. 22
The Black Student Alliance and Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning will host a day of service in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Lunch will be provided.
To participate, students should fill out a brief application and submit it to Faven.Habte@du.edu.
For more information, contact DUMLK2010@gmail.com.