600 Volunteer for MLK Day of Service

Around 600 volunteers gathered at the on Monday to be dispersed to area nonprofits and several Detroit high schools, where they spent the morning doing service projects in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Volunteers included students, staff and alums from UM-Dearborn; students from , Madonna University, Davenport University, Oakland Community College, Wayne State University and Northern Michigan University; and representatives from United Way for Southeastern Michigan and City Year.

The day began at UM-Dearborn's campus, where several speakers set the tone for the day, which focused around thinking outside city borders to the reasons people help one another all over the world.

For 2011's MLK Day of Service, it was about thinking outside of the box of Dearborn.

"We’re here today because we know that ... the folks who think that our communities are isolated are wrong," said UM-Dearborn alumnus and volunteer Haydar Ali. "Our community is not just Dearborn. Our community doesn’t have city limits or mile markers. It doesn’t start at Evergreen, or end at Eight Mile, or lie in between some arbitrary roads.

"Our sense of community is stronger than that; it’s deeper than that," he continued. "It begins at the heart and it does not end until all of our neighbors have a roof over their head; it does not end until all our children can go to safe, clean public schools; and it does not end until all our neighbors have access to basic needs.”

Ali called on the group to reflect on how their service carries on the mission Martin Luther King Jr. started some 50 years ago.

"Dr. King had faith in us, and today we renew our faith in him," Ali said. "Today, we renew our commitment to everything that he stood for–to fight for what is right and to help our neighbors in need. Today, we move beyond our self-interest and we carry on his legacy."

University Chancellor Dr. Daniel Little was also on hand to kick off the day, and expressed his amazement at the sheer number of people who had given their day off to community service.

"This is really inspiring," he said, "to look out on this group, to see members of our campus community, to see members of campus communities throughout the region coming together today to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, and to do it in a way that builds community."

Volunteers were dispersed to a number of sites throughout metro Detroit, where they completed beautification projects, assisted in organizing and packing goods and created murals, blankets and other products. Sites included such locations as Gleaners Community Food Bank, the Ruth Ellis Center for LGBTQ youth, Franklin-Wright Settlements and two Detroit high schools–just to name a few.

Afterward, the volunteers gathered back at UM-Dearborn to reflect on their day of service, and to hear poetry read by Detroit-based writer jessica Care moore, who discussed her history within the region, as well as why it's important to give back within one's community.

"The reason we must continue to fight for equality across the globe for all people is to help level the playing field ... because the economic gap between the rich and the poor has become even worse," she said. "It's important that we volunteer our services and time. You should really be proud of yourselves today, but I want to encourage you to make your day of service to go past a day."

We want to hear from you! Share your stories and photos from the MLK Day of Service on Dearborn Patch.

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