Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on the campus of Michigan State University. I was invited by the leadership of the student organization, Into the Streets. It was a full circle moment for me. I had been involved with a group of students in setting up the first Into the Streets activities while I was in school in early 1990’s. In the program’s second year, I coordinated the program with my friend, Mindy Nye. It was great to see this student run group still organizing volunteer opportunities for MSU students almost two decades later.

It was fitting that the group organized their event on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In 1994, President Clinton expanded the King Holiday by signing the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Service Act. It was a fitting tribute to Dr. King to incorporate the art of service and community building into the Holiday. Across the nation, communities now celebrate the Holiday as a “Day On- Not a Day Off.”

Over 250 students came together to work on dozens of projects throughout the greater Lansing area. I had the opportunity to kick-off the event with a few remarks.

To learn more about “Into the Streets” check out their website at http://streets.msu.edu/. The MLK Day of Service was highlighted by The State News in this video segment: