Students perform repairs to park in honor of MLK

Barbara Corbellini Duarte/Contributing Writer

Even the cold chill of a Saturday morning couldn’t keep these students from waking up early on the morning of Jan. 14 to attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Students from the University and Miami Dade College met at the Goulds Park and started to check in around 8 a.m., for the event organized by the Center for Leadership and Service, Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department, and various other civic groups.

“One of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s greatest messages was what can you do for others,” said Shannonlee Rodriguez, AmeriCorps VISTA for the FIU Center for Leadership and Service and one of the event organizers. “Today is a great opportunity for students to interact with students from different majors and also help the community.”

Volunteers were divided into 13 teams and split to work on various projects around the park.

“I feel like we are all here because of team work,” said Tyrone Watson, sophomore criminal justice major. “The FIU community helping out other communities [near] our campuses.”

Throughout the five hours of service, students worked on playground maintenance, landscape, gardening, painting and cleaning.

“How many times do you walk by a park?” asked Jeremy Vargas, a sophomore business major, while working on a sandbox.

“I walk by one every day. We never really know what kind of work it takes for keeping up a park. Working with other people, not getting paid and being here just to help out teaches character, philanthropy, teamwork and leadership.”

The fact that some projects did not have enough tools for all volunteers did not deter volunteers from taking part. Several students worked in small groups picking up garbage, leaves and branches without gloves, rake or shovel.

“I think it’s really important that we get out and know what is going on in our community and that we are part of something that is bigger than ourselves,” said Christine Selby, graduate student of international education.

“That’s really what Martin Luther King was about, being part of a greater good and seeing that everybody has a right and need for freedom and respect within the community.”

As the projects were being completed, nearly 400 participants gathered in the park gymnasium to have lunch and attend to the closing ceremony.

Before heading back home, volunteers were engaged in a dance activity lead by Dashay Bivens, dance instructor at Goulds Park.

Jack Kardys, director of Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department, started the ceremony delivering a speech to thank all the volunteers and staff.

“We estimate today that there was more than $20,000 worth of work that was done out here. Give yourselves a collective round of applause for that contribution.”

In his closing remarks, Michael Lenanghan, International Board of Directors, Chairman for Service for Peace and Miami Dade College Professor, closed the event with some words of inspiration.

“The pebbles of the pond that we throw here reach far distance shores. Thanks for being pebbles in this pond that will undoubtedly reach far behind our shores.”