Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
MLK
Day 2010
January
26, 2010
MLK
Day Reflection
Rosemary
Naeger, Georgia AmeriCorps Outward Bound Atlanta Member and Leadership
Council Representative
When
I first moved to Atlanta months ago, I began taking walks in the
evening to explore my new neighborhood, to pass the time, to keep
me from getting on a plane from homesickness. One spot in the
neighborhood is home to many artists, selling their work, making
music, talking to each other and building community. I always
say hello and carry on my way, exploring, passing time, avoiding
the airport. One day, longing for a genuine human connection,
I decide to talk to one of the artists and so I sit down. Evan
and I talk for hours. He's my first friend in Atlanta. I go visit
his spot every few days and watch as he makes jewelry, but mostly
listen as he tells me his life story. DJ. Bad luck. Divorce. Ran
out of money. Lost jobs. Small debt turns huge. Homeless. Squatting
in abandoned building. No family. Fighting to survive. Perfectly
Human.
I ask one day why he doesn't go to a shelter to get help. He hates
them, he says. They control you, what time you get up, when you
sleep, what you eat, everything. Plus, he declares with a defiance
that I love about him, they're just miserable places.
I've been looking forward to this day of service since MLK Day
2009. I'm particularly excited by the fact that my team
chose to focus on the issues of homelessness and hunger, to celebrate
Dr. King's legacy. And with Evan on my mind, I'm glad to get my
hands a little dirty with the issue.
Our
day begins with a welcoming circle and a quick ice-breaker.
We split into groups and set to work at assembly-line stations,
making care bags and lunches for Peachtree-Pine Shelter. The work
is easy, music plays, people laugh and all too quickly (according
to the schedule), 100 care bags are stuffed and 275 bagged lunches
made. With an hour left before we need to head to the shelter,
we use the time to engage in a little friendly competition: Inner
Harbour vs. Outward Bound. The forum for the battle? Kickball.
Luckily, the weather supports the plan and all are in happy spirits
after the game (which OBA won, let it be noted…).
People
pile into vans. We arrive at the shelter, nearly 30 strong, some
of us wearing our AmeriCorps service gear with pride, others feeling
nervous, some bored and one in particular, rather subdued compared
to his usual self: Jemedrius was the only student along
for the ride, and at 14 years old, he was feeling a little out
of place.
AmeriCorps members from the Task Force give us a humbling presentation
on homelessness and surrounding issues. Listening to their
huge numbers makes one wonder if our number - 275 soggy, wonder
bread sandwiches - make any sort of impact.
And
then we go on a tour of the shelter. It's huge. Art room, solo
transitional rooms, rec room, and then a giant space, filled with
hundreds of tightly-packed, too-thin, too-narrow bunk-beds.
We're told they fill up every night. Often people sleep on the
floor.
I've been close to the issue of homelessness. I've looked it straight
on and seen the realities. But this room…my first
thought was that it felt like a prison. No one would ever want
to sleep here. No one should ever have to sleep here. I understand
Evan.
I say this not out of disrespect for the shelter, for they are
working hard to provide for many men who are homeless and their
services are invaluable to the community.
Nevertheless,
that room overwhelms. The lightheartedness disappears from our
group.
We
head down to the basement, where men are allowed to spend the
daytime hours. Rows of chairs are filled. Hundreds of eyes stare
as we walk by. The lunches are passed out and gone within 10 minutes.
Not enough to go around. 275 is not a big enough number.
People
pile into vans. We arrive back at the park to discuss. My heart
and stomach have switched places.
Jemedrius
shares. He's never seen anything like it, he says. Never thought
that homelessness could happen to ‘regular’ folks.
Never thought of the homeless as people.
Listening
to him talk, I wonder if Dr. King had similar revelations as a
child. And I know our dinky 275 doesn’t end hunger. But
I also know we now have on our hands one brave young man who perhaps
became a little more like the great leader for which this day
of service honors. And I’m proud of him. Heart and stomach
switch back to normal.
Today
is a success.
 
January
26, 2010
MLK
Day A Success in Georgia
Georgia
AmeriCorps Members and Volunteers Served Their Communities Making
a Lasting Impact Georgia
AmeriCorps members and volunteers took to heart the importance
of giving back to their community by spending Monday, January
18, 2010, serving others. MLK Day 2010 was a huge success as AmeriCorps
members and volunteers spent time reading and distributing books
to children, planting trees in their communities, participating
in blood drives, beautifying their communities, building
sea turtle nesting mounds, preparing and delivering food to the
homeless, participating in activities with children in the community,
beautifying school grounds and many other projects while reflecting
on the wisdom, service and life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Volunteers
for MLK Day came in all ages, from youth volunteers to senior
volunteers.
"The
children worked with each other and the parents, seamlessly.
I came away from this project inspired by the ability of children
to engage and serve, and even more importantly to lead others
with their enthusiasm, energy and ability to work together,"
said Stacy Minter Georgia Recovery Corps member and AmeriCorps
Alum.
One
middle school student from Atlanta stated, "Volunteering
isn't just about a difference in the time you get up in the morning;
it's about making a difference in your community."
Spread
out across Georgia, serving communities in all regions of the
state, Georgia AmeriCorps members and volunteers provided a huge
and meaningful impact.
Please
take a look at the photos below for a glimpse into the amazing
service Georgia AmeriCorps members and volunteers participated
in during MLK Day 2010.
 
Jumpstart Emory AmeriCorps members plant trees in Atlanta CIS Troup County AmeriCorps members distribute books to children
 
Outward Bound and Youth Villages AmeriCorps members prepare GA PAS Augusta AmeriCorps members pack personal hygiene
lunches for the homeless packs for the homeless
 
Macon Police Cadets Corps AmeriCorps members help beautify Albany Police Cadet Corps and Jekyll Island Authority/Georgia
the yards of senior citizens Sea Turtle Center AmeriCorps members construct diamond back
terrapin nesting mounds
 
Youth volunteers partnered with the Atlanta Chapter of AmeriCorps Jumpstart Georgia State University AmeriCorps members are all
Alums to participate in a Hands on Atlanta project at Dobbs smiles at Dobbs Elementary
Elementary School in Atlanta
 
A Hands on Atlanta AmeriCorps member cleans a dorm room at Clayton State University AmeriCorps members partnered with Trees
the Atlanta Union Mission, members also sorted through 35,000 Atlanta to plant trees in an Atlanta area community
coats and created hygiene kits
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