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![Michael Williams, a fifth-grader at North Harlem Elementary, writes his dreams for the future on a square of cloth to be included in a "dream quilt" that his class is making for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Jim Blaylock/Staff](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/spotted/41/410264.jpg "Michael Williams, a fifth-grader at North Harlem Elementary, writes his dreams for the future on a square of cloth to be included in a "dream quilt" that his class is making for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Jim Blaylock/Staff")
Wouldn't it be nice if we gave Veteran's Day the same emphasis?
A growing national movement is turning Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a day of service rather than just a day off from work.
"If you really want to honor Dr. King, do something he would do and do something to better your community," said Kimberly Goff, the chief operating officer of Hands On Georgia.
The statewide network of volunteers is pushing for what is being called "a day on, not a day off," said Ms. Goff, who added that the movement is catching on in Georgia. The effort is part of the national Points of Light & Hands On Network movement.
Georgia Power is among the companies responding to the call to serve. Locally, 50 to 70 employees have volunteered to clean up Sego Middle School, said Tim McGill, an assistant to the company's vice president.
Each year, Georgia Power employees at 20 to 30 locations throughout the state honor the legacy of Dr. King, he said.
"This is a way to do that and to give back to the community," Mr. McGill said.
He and his co-workers plan to do painting, landscaping and general cleaning of the Sego campus today.
Sego Principal Ronald Wiggins said 40 to 60 pupils, teachers, staff members and parents also have signed up to work today. Georgia Power is an unofficial sponsor of the school.
"They asked me if there is anything we need down here, and I said there is all kinds of things we need done," Dr. Wiggins said. "I think it's a wonderful use of the day. I think it shows the spirit of Martin Luther King."
To recognize those who exemplify the spirit of Dr. King, Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center held its second annual event honoring "dream-keepers" Friday, said Tonda Booker, the center's executive director. The honor is also meant to motivate others to "get on the bandwagon" of community service.
"We didn't want to do the traditional program," Mrs. Booker said of honoring Dr. King. "We really wanted to do something with meaning."
The Hands On Georgia effort also has spread to Columbia County. Hands On Harlem, one of the statewide network's 19 affiliates, has coordinated several educational and service projects for the King holiday.
"The more we help, the better our world will be," said Bonnie Vest, a Hands On Harlem AmeriCorps member.
She helped some Harlem schoolchildren last week with a project in which they watched a video about Dr. King and created squares for a "dream quilt" to describe ways they could serve their community.
Cameron Brown, 11, a fifth-grader at North Harlem Elementary School, said he would like to become a U.S. senator "to help make decisions for all of our country and to help with problems."
He also expressed an appreciation for Dr. King's legacy.
"He was an amazing personality for African-Americans, and it affects what we do today," he said. "I couldn't be here in this classroom, and we wouldn't be allowed to vote."
It's the goal of Hands On Georgia that there be a service project in every county in the state, Ms. Goff said.
Hands On Atlanta holds a week of events around the holiday each year, she said. The week features community service, films and discussions.
In Dalton last year, a couple hundred children participated in Dream Day Camp at an elementary school, Ms. Goff said.
"The kids didn't know they were learning, they were having so much fun, and it provided a service to parents," she said.
Although school was out, many parents still had to report to work at the carpet mills, she said.
Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113. Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851.
GET INVOLVED
Contact Hands On Georgia at info@hands ongeorgia.org or its local affiliate, Hands On Harlem, at www.handsonharlem.org. The Web site lists local volunteer opportunities.
Comments
Wouldn't it be nice if we gave Veteran's Day the same emphasis?
Ok, perhaps I missed their point. MLK was a peace maker and civil rights mover, so why do I see that they are changing his image to something else??? MLK didn't work on landscapes and promote cleanliness, did he??? And this sort of thinking relates to him HOW?? Must be nice to be dead and still change your image to something else when they start to forget who you are and what you stand for.
okay,so now it's "st. martin luther king" ?
The things in this article represent community service and giving back--not just getting a day out of school or a day off work. Sadly, you guys still find things that you can complain about--such "haters." It's sad.
no,what's sad is people do not do these things w/o a "day" to remind them.
btw,what are you doing to commemorate the "day"??
Some Good points made. As to Martin L King and hornoring him the day of his untimely death. If the blacks (he called himself Black, not afro americian) should do what he did Promote Unity to all races. But no all most blacks see it as is just another day out of school and off of work. Odd, one of the things Martin L. King promoted wsa a good education for the kids. All most blacks want now is seperation. Perhaps You would be more in line with Gov. Tillman of years ago in S.C.
why is it that Black Americans have to justify a federal hliday?
Did George Washington promote have sales at J C Penny's on his birthday? MLK promoted an idea and a dream that caused his death.
g. washington was the president of this country,a founding father...his efforts were for the whole nation, not a segment of people looking for special treatment because of their color... besides fed. holidays cost a bundle to effect as it is...
who is asking for special treatment? Does equal mean special in you eyes? playlikethunder your response made my point.
Playlikethunder2 and your racist buddies are sad people.If George Washington was for everyone, why did slavery, some of which he owned, last another 70 years?Why don't you guys ever question another holiday? You're just showing your true colors.Stop the hate, MLK day will be here long after you are gone.Just like his killers, there is nothing you can do about it.
Play like what , you are a simple person, sometimes guys if you can't be positive just shut up!
I think MLK could be worthy of Sainthood if he performs a few miracles. Wasn't Mother Teresa sainted recently? MLK was a man of god and accomplished a few miracles - changing the social structure of America was nothing short of that. Although I think MLK would rather that this day, celebrated in his honor, was not a black holiday, but a holiday for everybody to join together in brotherhood.
Who said this is a black holiday?
I'm sorry I missed this discussion yesterday. I was busy at an MLK breakfast honoring Virginia high school students who have excelled academically, athletically, and artistically while still participating in some form of community service. The day was about unity, diversity, and celebrating acheivement. Speakers were from different backgrounds, as were the honored students. We celebrated the fact that making Dr. King's dream a reality was constantly in progress. The news yesterday also showed clips of whites reading portions of a King speech that was delivered months before his death. They agree that he began as a civil rights leader, but evolved into a crusader against national and international social justice. "There's nothing except a tragic deathwish to prevent us from reordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war," and "I speak as a citizen of the world for the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
play like thunder...are u serious?? special treatment?? try reading a book. u are very ignorant. life is about more than your silly ideas.
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