Monday, Jan. 18, is the national MLK Day of Service, which honors the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a commitment to community service. This year, Syracuse University students, staff, faculty and local community members are encouraged to participate and share about their acts of service on social media.
Martin Luther King Jr., right, and Professor Charles Willie during King’s 1965 visit to the Syracuse University campus.
The Day of Service is part of the 2021 MLK Virtual Event Series that leads up to the 36th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Jan. 31. The virtual series commemorates the cultural, social and artistic impact of the civil rights movement. The MLK Day of Service will be hosted by the Office of Engagement Programs at Hendricks Chapel, OrangeSeeds and the Office of First Year and Transfer Programs.
“Dr. King believed in uniting and strengthening communities, empowering individuals, addressing social issues and eliminating barriers. He gave of himself to make this world a better place for all. We serve to continue to honor and uplift the work that Dr. King started,” says Syeisha Byrd, director of the Office of Engagement Programs at Hendricks Chapel. “The purpose of the MLK Day of Service at Syracuse University is to encourage everyone to think outside of themselves and do something for the good of their communities.”
All participants in the MLK Day of Service are expected to follow COVID-19 health guidelines. A variety of virtual and socially distant service ideas are available for participants. A full list of ideas, as well as websites for connecting with local nonprofit and service organizations, are available on the MLK Day of Service web page.
“Syracuse University has planned a robust and wonderful 2021 celebration to honor Dr. King. This year we are excited to add this new component where students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to get involved and engaged within their communities,” says Jimmy Luckman, a program coordinator in the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs. “Whether it is supporting a neighbor or front-line workers or going into the community to clean a park, there are many ways to give back to the community. Participating in the MLK Day of Service gives everyone the opportunity to be active and make a difference, online or physically, while keeping yourself and your community safe,”
Participants are asked to follow and tag @hendrickschapel on Instagram and use #DayOnSU in their photos on Jan. 18. Tagged posts may be featured on the MLK Day of Service web page to celebrate the work being done by each individual.
It is vital for students to serve their communities to gain a better understanding of others around them, say Gursimar Singh ’21 and Jack Ramza ’22, co-directors of OrangeSeeds and event coordinators.
“Community service is a hands-on learning experience that teaches students life-skills that cannot be taught within a classroom setting,” says Singh.
“Students can make a direct, positive impact in their local communities,” Ramza adds.
Visit the MLK Celebration website for more information regarding the 2021 MLK Day of Service and other events. For questions related to the Day of Service, contact Syeisha Byrd at smbyrd@syr.edu.
This story was written by Whitney Welbaum ’23
