While many students will utilize the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to catch up on much needed sleep after the rigors of the first week of school, the UC Irvine Volunteer Center is asking the campus community to take ‘A Day On, Not a Day Off.’
This catchy slogan is just one part of the 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium 2007, which celebrates the actions and ideas of one of our nations most famous civil right’s leaders.
The UCI Volunteer Center has organized an event at the Orange County Food Bank, where students can learn about King’s ideals while packing boxes of food for the hungry along with hundreds of other volunteers. Students that are interested should meet at the UCI Flagpoles at 8 a.m. The event will last until 11 a.m.
‘The 23rd annual, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium 2007, presented by the Cross-Cultural Center is a great opportunity for the UCI Volunteer Center to collaborate with student organizations and campus Departments,’ said Darlene Esparza, director of the UCI Volunteer Center. ‘Although the service projects may change from year to year, we are always eager to create opportunities for involvement and civic engagement for the UCI community.’
Esparza stresses that the spirit of the holiday is not in just taking a day off, but in giving back to community in ways similar to King, who worked for the majority of his life to improve the living and working conditions of underprivileged black Americans.
‘King sought to create equality and address community needs. By making the holiday, ‘A Day On, Not a Day Off,’ individuals have the opportunity to join together to honor King’s legacy of tolerance and peace.’ Esparza said. ‘The Orange County Food Bank pack-a-box service project is just one of many volunteer opportunities that occur throughout the country. Our goal is to help increase civic engagement, not only on the Day of Service, but year- round as well.’
Students that are interested in signing up for the MLK Day of Service should visit the UCI Volunteer Center Web site at http://www.volunteer .uci.edu or call (949) 824-3500.
‘The Day of Service is just one of the many opportunities to learn more about King’s legacy. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium, presented by the Cross-Cultural Center, includes a march and rally and key note speakers,’ said Esparza.
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