Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” This was the idea behind DU Service and Change’s (DUSC) MLK Day of Service yesterday.
“Nationally, on the third Monday of January, people remember the selflessness of Martin Luther King Jr., and Americans of all races, all ages, everyone comes together to honor MLK and seek solutions to some of our most pressing national problems,” said junior International Studies major Alicia Carter, co-president of DUSC.
The day’s events included participation in the annual Denver Marade in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Colfax Ave. during the morning, and in honor of service, DUSC took 15 students to the Grant Avenue Street Reach Soup Kitchen, located downtown, where they volunteered their time from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The day finished off with time for reflection around MLK day and what it means to students and the community at 7 p.m. in Nelson and Nagel Hall. Students and DUSC members could attend any or all events during the day.
According to Carter, DUSC wanted to promote community awareness and create a desire to help others, as well as an appreciation for what they have.
“Starting off winter quarter and the year with MLK Day of Service is a great way to make an impact in the community and create that awareness,” said Carter.
According to junior Psychology and Spanish major Dahisy Cano co-chair of Project Volunteer–the DUSC sub-committee responsible for organizing the day’s events–DUSC’s aim was to reach every student.
DUSC achieved this by organizing several volunteer activities for students to participate in on MLK day, which Carter said was about giving, selflessness and awareness.
According to Carter, every Monday the Grant Avenue Street Reach Soup Kitchen serves hot meals to over 800 people.
“Volunteers drop in, so if you cannot come with us [DUSC], feel free to go on your own any Monday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” said Carter.
In addition, according to Cano, approximately 10 students attended the 28th consecutive Martin Luther King Jr. Marade in Denver.
“Thousands of participants journey three miles down East Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park in honor of the King,” said Carter.
According to Carter, the first rally dates back to 1985 when then Governor and current co-director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies at DU, Richard Lamm, signed a bill enacting King’s birthday as a state holiday. The bill was passed more than a decade after it was first introduced in the legislature by Wellington Webb.
“You can thank these men for a day [off of] school,” said Carter.
“I think it was a truly amazing, heartwarming event to be a part of,” said Cano in reference to the MLK Day of Service.
At the end of the day, a reflection dialogue by the Iliff School of Theology was held at 7 p.m. in Centennial Halls, accompanied by dinner and refreshments.
“We wanted to involve every student, so we placed reflection tables in Nelson Hall and Centennial Residence Halls,” said Carter.
Each table consisted of hundreds of handmade cupcakes by DUSC members and the DU Cooking Club, each with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote, as well as “I have a dream for …” reflection boards.
“We encouraged students to sign the boards, and asked them to tell us ‘What they are doing for others,’” said Cano.
“We also had boards focused on the ideal dream of peace and what service means to DU students,” said Carter
According to Carter, the day was successful, with nearly 30 students directly involved in volunteer activities and all of the 250 cupcakes baked were eaten.
“No matter what, we hoped that by having a dedicated MLK Day of Service it made people stop and remember why they had the day of school [off],” said Cano.
If students were not able to participate in Monday’s activities, DUSC has many more upcoming events this quarter.
“DUSC will hopefully be holding a fundraiser for Denver’s Road Home, an organization that supports the Denver homeless community, with DUPB around the first week of March,” said Carter. “We are also [thinking] of organizing a fundraiser with Illegal Pete’s and Nova Frozen Yogurt. Look out for these events and attend.
“You can do something to help others any day of the year,” said Carter.
