City Year Milwaukee’s Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday, January 18th, City Year Milwaukee hosted our annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, hosted by WaterStone Bank. Although this year’s service day was virtual, we never felt so connected to our community!  

At City Year, we consider Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, “a day on, not a day off.” This year, City Year Milwaukee staff, AmeriCorps members and volunteers, participated in a variety of projects including the creation of little libraries, portable murals, benches, masks, cards and care packages for students. Collectively we helped create vibrant learning spaces for students for when they return to the classroom, and showed them that their whole community is invested in their success, as they continue to navigate e-learning. 

Led by Civic Engagement Team Leader, Vanessa Rivera, this day of service was intentionally designed to bring people together through service. To create a sense of community in the virtual world, AmeriCorps members and staff led Zoom breakout rooms for volunteers to join to work on their projects together, and network with one another.  

Dr. King had a vision of bringing people of all different backgrounds together for one common goal, and this day of service was a true glimpse of that dream coming true. When asked to reflect on the importance of celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy through service, AmeriCorps member, Josiah Barnett shared,  

“I think for this year for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, one of my biggest hopes, one of my biggest dreams is that we continue to stay united; we continue to persevere; we continue to bust down obstacles that are in our way to our final goal.”  

Thank you to everyone who joined us to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and for coming together to make a positive impact. Having this community reminds us that change will come and that together, we can make a difference. 

Check-out pictures from our virtual day of service and learn more about what celebrating Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy through service, means to our AmeriCorps members.