Monday, January 19, 2009
By Mike Duncan
The youth service organization was busy on Martin Luther King Day.
"A number of volunteers here grew up playing basketball on these courts," says Ruda Pollard.
Under the 630 Expressway, young middle school volunteers use their day off putting a fresh coat of paint on things at Kanis Park. About 75 kids picked up brushes and put their artistic touch on paintings of Maya Angelou and Dr. King, as well as famous quotes from the pair.
Ruda Pollard explains, "Somehow they'll internalize these words that they're painting on the wall. and they'll actually come back to them at a later date, read them and say, oh I was a part of that. And that they'll actually affect their lives."
Fourteen-year-old Joshua Price is helping with the clean-up at the park. He joined City Year just two months ago.
Joshua says, "Well I felt like the community actually needed some help,. So I decided to come on out. They came to my school and did a presentation. I thought it was really cool. I decided to go on and sign up and do an interview and I got in. I was really glad to. I'm glad to be out here helping out the community."
They may be young, but the kids understand the significance of the faces and the words they paint, in the times we live.
Ayanna Willis says, "It's like our foundation. And people are coming together just like he wanted to. And we have Obama who's going to be sworn in tomorrow as the President. So I think it's a pretty good thing."
Ruda Pollard says, "I do believe the kids are aware of the significance of today and tomorrow. They are watching history in the making.