Photo: Keegan Turnbough
(Des Moines, IA) -- King Elementary School in Des Moines is hosting a day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King.
"We've got one group, they're making self-care kits. We've got another group, they're actually doing a service project on behalf of another non-profit organization called Everybody Wins Iowa," says Alicia Vermeer. "So we've got one group, they're making bookmarks that they can donate to Everybody Wins [Iowa], that they'll give to the students that they work with to encourage reading."
Alicia Vermeer is the Operations Director at Community Youth Concepts. She says another group is creating friendship bracelets, talking about random act of kindness and other to things kids can to do to build their connections with their peers.
Vermeer says several non-profit organizations are partnering with Des Moines Public Schools to help teach kids about what Dr. King's lasting legacy is.
Please Pass the Love, Everybody Wins Iowa, Community Youth Concepts, and Des Moines Public Schools pooled resources together to make King Elementary's day of service possible.
Not only do the service projects give students an opportunity to serve the community, but some students are in leadership positions in their project.
"[The event] is designed for folks to come when the can, and leave when they have to. Except for our students who are leading at the different tables that are set up. Those are all run by students," says Vermeer.
She says students leading service projects today will help them learn how to be community leaders tomorrow.
Al Perez, the former Community School Coordinator at King Elementary, says the youth has been left out of community service for several years.
He states the children need to be involved in events like today's more often.
"It's important, it's part of the fabric, fiber, and vision of our school district, seeing equity and inclusion working together collaboratively with our community. Today has been a great relaunching and a great reset for us," says Perez.
He says non-profits and schools in the community, coming together to teach the children about inclusion and equality is how the metro can push Dr. King's legacy on to the next generation.
Melissa Williams, the current Community School Coordinator at King Elementary, says the school is searching for new ways to empower children, such as today's service projects.
"Talking to kids about the importance of being part of their community, that they are part of it and they have a voice is important," says Williams. "They have a place here and we want to hear them. They are our future teachers. We are going to learn from them.
Williams says children need more opportunities to learn about how they can lead like Dr. King, which is why King Elementary's day of service will make a return in 2023.
Vermeer, Perez, and Williams each speak on why carrying on the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. onto the next generation is important.
Vermeer states the following:
"The lasting legacy of Dr. King is the impact that a single person can make in history, but he didn't work alone. He worked in community with other people, but he used his voice and his gifts to make a lasting impact here in the United States and around the world. other people. We really see that as a model for all people of what one person can do, but also what a group of people can do to benefit their community."
Perez brought his own experiences to the table when speaking on the legacy of Dr. King, gesturing to himself and Williams while stating the following:
"Melissa and me. African American, Latino. Both impacted by the legacy of Dr. King, and two of the most predominant cultures in our community when think demographically. Us leading that for kids of all colors, but for us to embrace that, lead together, show that leadership together in that support of this vision. We love to se this grow bigger and bigger [for future generations]."
Williams agrees with Vermeer and Perez, and furthers their statements, saying the following:
"Dr. King left a legacy, and I think in some pieces, we've let that go. We've come away from that. This is like a restart, a rebirth. With COVID-19, the togetherness, the leading, all of those things that kind of stopped, we now are finding different ways to leave our legacy, and to advance. I think this a great way, and a great day to start doing that."