The Center for Student Involvement and the City of Edinburg will celebrate the impact Martin Luther King Jr. had during the Civil Rights Movement by hosting its annual MLK Day of Service.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January to honor the message King had for racial equality and justice. The AmeriCorps reported it is designed as a National Day of Service for Americans to work toward improving their communities.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Restlawn Cemetery in Edinburg since it is one of the few graveyards in Hidalgo County dedicated to African Americans.
Program Coordinator for the Center for Student Involvement Ashley Guzman explained why the university participates in this federal holiday.
“So, it’s to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King,” Guzman said. “It’s to pay tribute to his ideals of contributing to the betterment of our community. So, no matter how small an effort it may seem … the work that we do at these nonprofits carries forward his dream and vision of meaningful impact.”
She said it is a special event for UTRGV because it allows volunteers to better the community.
Although the Restlawn Cemetery service was originally planned for Jan. 20, the weather conditions were unsuitable for outdoor activity.
However, the Center for Student Involvement managed to do other community service events on MLK Jr. Day of Service. Volunteers helped at the Olmito Sunshine Haven, Brownsville Animal Care Regulation Center, McAllen Comfort House and Edinburg Palm Valley Animal Society.
Guzman explained the different things volunteers will work on at the cemetery.
“They’ll be planting greenery, raking and maintaining the space, and just adding mulch to enhance the landscape,” Guzman said.
Student Assistant for the Center for Student Involvement Yamilera Cruz said MLK Jr. Day of Service is important to her because she gets to reflect on the significance his impact had.
“For me, it’s about giving something back to a community [as] a sign of appreciation for all his fighting [in] the Civil Rights Movement,” Cruz said. “It’s important to remember his legacy because of what he fought [for] at the time and everything he did for us, and also, like, the impact he has till this day on his speeches.”
She hopes the people at the event will take away a valuable experience.
Those interested in volunteering opportunities can email engaged@utrgv.edu.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
