Community Campus Coalition’s (Triple C) cohort of Student Resource Center (SRC) AmeriCorps members took part in numerous Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service projects across Ohio throughout January in honor of Dr. King.
In collaboration with campus and community partners, AmeriCorps members organized service projects on their campuses, recruited and engaged volunteers, and oversaw day-of-service activities. Collectively, our members engaged 608 volunteers, contributing more than 1,300 volunteer hours.
AmeriCorps members Julia Stein, Britney Francis, and Mi’Kaila Henderson served on the planning committee for Baldwin Wallace University’s Social Change Summit. The event featured a free pop-up store with clothing items, guest speakers, a student panel discussing social change, and mini-grant awards presented by the BW Center for Innovation & Growth.
AmeriCorps members in action at Baldwin Wallace University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Elizabeth Keller, from Mount St. Joseph University, hosted a week of “I Have a Dream” events, where she and volunteers promoted social justice and community service. Their efforts included organizing a trip to the Freedom Center, assembling snack bags for schools in lower-income areas, and leading a service project at Xavier Jesuit Academy, where she worked with students and provided snacks.
AmeriCorps members in action at Mount St. Joseph University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Mi’Kaila Henderson, from Kent State University, partnered with the King Kennedy Center to help foster connections and establish role models between Community Lab students and children at the center. Students engaged with the children by reading books together and teaching them about the history and significance of MLK Day.
“It was nice to see the children engaged in the educational piece of the event, learning about MLK. It was also nice to see the volunteers engaged with the children and form a big brother, big sister relationship with them,” said AmeriCorps member Mi’Kaila Henderson. She successfully engaged 17 volunteers for this event.
Mi’Kaila Henderson also participated in the revision of the 500 Plates event in Akron. The event featured a community meal where attendees engaged in open and meaningful discussions. Various speakers presented, and event committee members read speeches by Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting themes of mental health and self-care.
AmeriCorps members in action at Kent State University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Ava Keresztesy, from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), took part in a University Farm Restoration activity, where student volunteers helped restore the university’s farm. Volunteers worked on cleaning and sanitizing the greenhouse space, storage room, and mushroom-growing cellar.
Ava Whitaker, from Ohio University, hosted Threads of Unity: MLK Month Clothing Event in collaboration with Yamada International House and Upcycle, a local Athens thrift store. Students could fill a bag of clothes for $5 and receive additional resources. “God answered my prayers—I really needed winter clothes for my daughters,” one student told AmeriCorps member Ava Whitaker.
AmeriCorps members in action at Ohio University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
John Copes IV, from Ohio Northern University, participated in the Kits for Vancrest event, where the Ada community assembled care packages for residents of Vancrest of Ada, an assisted and senior living home. The care packages included essential items such as shampoo, conditioner, fidget toys, small tissue boxes, hand sanitizers, stuffed animals, coloring books, lap blankets, and more.
One moment that stood out to Copes was meeting a woman named Janet, who was so touched by the visit and appreciation that she gave him a hug and began to cry. He successfully engaged 100 volunteers for this event!
Jonathan Roberts, from Ohio University Chillicothe, partnered with the Carver Community Center, where students and volunteers worked to improve the local facility, which provides free meals to disadvantaged youth, the unhoused, and those in need. Jonathan oversaw a booth where volunteers packaged care kits. The community also assembled hygiene bags, cleaned daycare classrooms, and assisted with refreshing the center to better serve the children and families it supports. He engaged more than 50 volunteers.
AmeriCorps members in action at Ohio University Chillicothe’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Jasmine Thompson, Catlyn Kauffman, and Reyna Polly, from Hiram College, along with student volunteers, spent a day at Hiram Farm. The Hiram Farm Living and Learning Community is a nonprofit organization that provides services for adults with developmental disabilities. AmeriCorps members and volunteers helped paint the upstairs craft room, hallways, and more!
AmeriCorps members in action at Hiram College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Sonja Holczapfel-Darsee and Naomi Nichols, from Central Ohio Technical College, partnered with the United Way in Newark to collect hygiene supplies from students, faculty, and staff across campus to assemble hygiene kits for the community. One donor shared that, growing up, they often lacked access to these basic necessities because they moved from home to home. Understanding firsthand how difficult it was not to have these essential items, they wanted to give back to others facing the same struggles they once experienced.
AmeriCorps members in action at Central Ohio Technical College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Mari Hamilton, from the University of Cincinnati, partnered with the African American Cultural & Resource Center to provide workshops on social justice and nonviolent communication. Students created and assembled care packages for members of the Cincinnati community experiencing homelessness. Staff and students also learned about MLK’s legacy and discussed ways to reduce inequities in their communities. The workshops focused on effective communication when addressing sensitive topics.
AmeriCorps members in action at University of Cincinnati’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Deanna Archer, from Ohio University Eastern, hosted an MLK writing contest for local school districts. She enjoyed reading the inspiring stories and hearing about the students’ lives, finding their experiences both heartwarming and impactful.
AmeriCorps members in action at Ohio University Eastern’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Ashley Cooper, Chloe Orzo, Cory Arp, and Michele Hofacker, from the University of Mount Union, organized an MLK Day of Service event where student volunteers traveled to various locations around the community and campus to support the needs of community partners. They engaged more than 400 volunteers, contributing 1,236 volunteer hours!
AmeriCorps members in action at University of Mount Union’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Creating MLK Day of Service projects across Ohio is an annual tradition for SRC AmeriCorps members. If you’re interested in learning more about the program and how your campus can get involved, email admin@communitycampuscoalition.org!