About 120 students from the University and McKinley High School volunteered in a day of service Monday at McKinley High School and Buchanan Elementary School in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of community service.
Students worked to repaint yellow and blue lines in parking lots, de-weed and replant flowers at McKinley High School’s front entrance and revitalize the playground area at Buchanan Elementary School.
A wide array of groups came together for the day, including the Black Male Leadership Initiative; Inventing Not Killing, a mentoring and tutoring program for Baton Rouge minorities; and the fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity said continuing King’s legacy through service holds deep meaning because King was a part of Alpha Phi Alpha.
“As a frat brother, King dedicated his life to service. …Community service is the least we can do for our frat brother’s legacy,” said sociology junior and member of Alpha Phi Alpha De-Andre Beadle.
Community Affairs Liaison Brandon Smith, who facilitates campus and community collaboration between the University and the Baton Rouge community, said servicing the Old South Baton Rouge Community is important because it neighbors the University.
“It is important to see the connection between LSU and the community,” Smith said.
Smith said he talked to community leaders to find out the needs of the area and they said servicing schools was at the top of the list. Service to schools is a strong representation of King’s legacy to social justice, according to Smith.
“Education is a civil right of the 21st century,” Smith said. “What better way to serve than start at a school?”
Service projects also happened within the University. Fresh Cuts Clean Health, a Community University Partnership barbershop, set up a booth inside the Office of Multicultural Affairs to provide a free health screening to minority males.
Chairwoman for the 2013 MLK Commemorative Committee Carlissa Wells said the health screening promotes the importance of health management and continues King’s legacy to ensure the community has healthy and strong minority males.
The University has been holding an MLK day of service for more than a decade. Projects have ranged from cleaning up churches to planting community gardens. Graduate student Ray James said he’s been participating in the day of service since his time as an undergraduate student.
“Service means everything. King gave so much. We should take the time and show appreciation,” James said. “Service shouldn’t be just on Martin Luther King Day; it should be every day to fulfill his legacy.”
“As a frat brother, King dedicated his life to service…community service is the least we can do for our frat brother’s legacy.”
