This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Volunteer ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ will partner with the City of Orlandoβs MLK Day of Service to bring volunteers to Barker Park to plant new trees, recycle and help restore the park to its natural beauty.
VΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ expects more than 100 ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ students to participate.
βMLK Day of Service gives students the opportunity to give back to the community while honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,β said VΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Civic Engagement Director Annabelle Gonzales. βMy goal is to make our day off from classes a day to impact our community. This year, we wanted to continue to work with the City of Orlando in their efforts to promote civic engagement.β
Along with making a difference in the community, several members of VΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ will be recognized for their contributions to a book on civic engagement and service, compiled by ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ faculty member Thomas Breyer, an associate professor of public administration. Breyerβs book highlights the impact of community service and volunteerism throughout different countries and cultures.
Earlier this month, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with its βCommunity Engagementβ classification. A title first awarded to the university in 2008, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ is just one of 25 public universities to hold both the βcommunity engagementβ and βvery highβ in research activity designations.
Students can sign up for the MLK Day of Service through KnightConnect. Transportation and lunch will be provided, and volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. Monday in front of the CFE Arena to be bused to Barker Park.