Well, as much as we loved looking at Mr. Stephen Johansson as Santa Paws...I think it's time for a blog update!
MLK Day of Service 2011 is fast approaching, and I thought it would be great to see the variety of projects going on throughout the state! You can also search for projects around your area by visiting mlkday.gov. Here are the projects by location:
Billings, MT (Rocky Mountain College) – Contact: Jill Washburn – jill.washburn@rocky.edu
Billings will host a Habitat for Humanity build in commemoration of MLK Day. The event will happen on January 22nd, 2011. Student volunteers will have a team meeting prior to the event to discuss the importance of MLK service day. A reflection activity will engage the group at the end of the presentation.
Billings, MT (MSU – Billings) – Contact: Anne Grady – anne.grady1@msubillings.edu
In Billings, MSU-Billings (MSUB) will kick-start MLK week with an educational workshop and a documentary about the Billings community’s response to racism called Not In Our Town. The film will screen on Saturday, January 15th followed by a banquet that evening. On Sunday January 16th, there will be an interfaith service at St. Andrews. On Monday, the King Holiday will commence with a city-wide bell ringing at 10am and a bell ringing ceremony at MSUB, where Campus Corps and community members will talk about their own commitments to service. Following the bell-ringing ceremony, MSUB will host volunteer leader training in collaboration with the United Way and other non-profit groups. The MLK evening program will begin at 6:30pm and include a candle light vigil, a march simulation, speeches from government officials, a speech reenactment, and a keynote speaker. During the Power of One Week multiple offices and organizations will coordinate events and presentations to discuss and contemplate issues concerning diversity. On Saturday, January 22nd, Power of One Week will conclude with various service opportunities. The Campus Corps members and Americorps VISTAs of Billings will work together at a Habitat for Humanity build, and the Office for Community Involvement will hold its monthly Service Saturday project at Sage Tower Retirement Apartments.
Bozeman, MT– Contact: Stephen Johansson – teamleader@montana.edu
Bozeman will host its MLK Day at the Wilson Gymnasium. Children in the Latino migrant community of Bozeman will share stories and experiences. Tios y Tias, a local nonprofit which tutors the children of migrant workers in the community, will provide a presentation for the MLK event as a venue for the children and families to share their stories. On the perimeter of the gym/auditorium, various nonprofits will showcase, using booths, the talents of the Latino community (selling of products and/or skills) in order to create awareness of the Latino community-owned businesses. Volunteers will be helping set up, hosting, and the taking down of the event.
Browning, MT/Blackfeet Reservation – Contact: John Davis – rezski.09@gmail.com
Blackfeet Community College (BCC) will hold a luncheon for students, staff and faculty. The event will host local elders and other speakers who will address issues currently facing the Blackfeet Community and encourage community members to take action, and get involved. BCC Campus Corps members and other student volunteers will speak with youth about diversity at the local schools. They will also lead students in a clean up effort in their school groups, emphasizing the importance of environmental and the Blackfeet Reservation. Additionally, the event will feature Native games that will incorporate healthy exercise, lifestyles, and encouraging teamwork.
Butte, MT – Contact: Julia Spangler – jspangler@mtech.edu
Montana Tech Campus Corps members will be showing the movie, Great Americans for Children; Martin Luther King, Jr. to students from two local elementary schools known to serve disadvantaged youth. Montana Tech will host this on January 14th at the schools (because schools will be off on the 17th). Following the movie, Campus Corps members (in conjunction with the school teachers) will host a reflection workshop uniquely geared towards each grade level.
Dillon, MT – Contact: Jonathan Stephani – campuscorps@umwestern.edu
In Dillon, student volunteers will plant native trees in the local community park to commemorate MLK Jr. The trees will be planted in April during the statewide Campus Corps Spring Summit, hosted this year in Dillon. Each tree will be marked with a plaque that states “In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and Civic Engagement.” Energy Corps and Industrial Technology volunteers will help build benches that will accompany the trees and plaques. Leading up to the April tree planting event, Campus Corps members will host several screenings and discussions of the documentary film called Taking Root during the month of January in honor of MLK Day. This film is a documentary about a Kenyan woman who received the Nobel Peace Prize for planting trees. The film’s subject, Wangari Muta Maathai, inspired women in her country to begin planting trees in 1977 to help promote environmental stewardship, democracy and equality. The film will be shown within the school system, the community and at the University. Each screening with include a facilitated discussion about civic engagement, Martin Luther King Jr. and the planting of the trees in April.
Glendive, MT – Contact: Jacob Kilgore – volunteer@dawson.edu
Dawson Community College students will visit Jefferson Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Washington Middle School, Dawson County High School, and the Boys and Girls Club to give multi-visual presentations on Martin Luther King Jr. at each location. The presentation will include an abbreviated version of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, an historical description of who MLK was and the impact that his movement had on our nation, a hands-on activity illustrating the diversity of each classroom, and an open forum on the importance of diversity. Students will complete pre and post surveys concerning their knowledge of MLK and understanding of diversity to earn a prize having to do with the presentation. The prize will also serve as a conduit by which parents and other family members will hear about the event, opening windows of discussion about the topic within homes.
Great Falls, MT – Contact: Catherine Avery – Catherine.avery@msugf.edu
Great Falls will host readings geared to children at the Children’s Museum. The readings will address the reason for the observance and include a reflection activity for the children and their parents. Movies will be shown to the children on the day as well. The MSU Campus Corps Carpenters will build an installation at the Children’s museum to honor the day and groups including early education, abused women and children, homeless woman and children, disabled people, and American Indians will be included in plans to decorate the portion of the museum dedicated to the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. A healthy snack and follow-up with dental care provided by MSU Health Sciences volunteers will be provided.
Havre, MT – Contact: Delme Mundell-Watson – campuscorps@msun.edu
Campus Corps members will be coordinating events in Havre during the week of MLK Day. One project will include Campus Corps Team members and other volunteers reading to children at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line. The books will focus on diversity and civic engagement to help educate the youth on both subjects. Each child at the Club will receive a bookmark with a picture and quotes of MLK Jr. Another project will engage Youth Build -a local program helping high school dropouts attain GEDs and carpentry skills- students to shovel snow for senior citizens and will be coordinated with the Hill County Senior Center. A third project will be an on-campus challenge in coordination with the Associated Students of MSU – Northern. Campus clubs will be given the challenge of each developing a service project during the week of MLK Day. The clubs will participate in a competition with each participating club receiving Senate Points and the best project receiving a prize. The Havre-Hill County Library will be partnering with Campus Corps to sponsor short radio programming on local radio stations to educate the general public about MLK Jr. and the importance of diversity and civic engagement.
Helena, MT – Contact: Natalia Potrzuski (VISTA) - NPotrzuski@helena.K12.mt.us
Helena will host several events on and leading up to MLK Day. On Jan 7th at the Lewis and Clark Library Local national service members will screen the movie Hairspray, a movie addressing racial reconciliation and social justice themes. On Jan 12th, Kevin Connolly, a Helena High graduate, published author, photographer, world traveler, and x-games athlete will speak. Kevin was born without legs and will speak about diversity and social justice. His book, Double Take, will be for sale and Kevin will be available to sign them after his presentation. On January 13th Carroll College will host a film and discussion at the Simperman Auditorium. On January 15th the MLK Youth Music Splash event will feature youth musicians of all varieties. A “Music Petting Zoo” will also feature top of the line musical equipment for testing. Volunteer opportunities for youth will be highlighted and students will have the opportunity to sign up for opportunities that interest them. On Jan 17th a Shovel Brigade volunteer snow shoveling event will meet at Bryant school and will shovel surrounding areas. In the absence of snow, volunteers will salt sidewalks and pick up trash. The group will enjoy a hot chocolate break halfway through their work. Participants will finish at Bryant school, just in time for lunch at the Diversity Fair.
The Diversity Fair will highlight local diverse arts including Native American drummers and dancers, Irish dancers, dance performances from local studios, martial art performances, art by local students and more. Food will be available from 11:30 to 1pm and a keynote speaker will address the crowd.
Kalispell, MT – Contact: Wendy Jeschke – wjeschke@fvcc.du
MLK Day projects in Kalispell will focus on providing outreach to homeless teens and collecting cold weather clothing for local beneficiaries. Project Homeless Connect will connect Flathead Valley homeless teenagers with resources and services needed to live healthier lives. These teens will be connected with representatives from local or alternative high schools, GED programs, as well as workforce training programs. Volunteers will be recruited from among the senior community.
Missoula, MT – Contact: Katie Koga – Katie.koga@mso.umt.edu
In Missoula, the University of Montana’s (UM) Diversity ContinuUM project will be expanded from UM’s campus to include a site in the Missoula community. The nature of this project, a photo and dialogue-spurring event, is to invite as many people from different backgrounds and experiences as possible to participate. On campus, the Diversity ContinuUM committee will collaborate with American Indian Student Services, Foreign Student and Scholar Services and the Diversity Advisory Counsel in addition to engaging other departments and groups. Off campus, the committee will be working with Missoula residents and may specifically target school-aged children, older residents, or disadvantaged youth. For both sites, participants will be asked to share what diversity means to them and how they are contributing to their communities. The project results, along with the participants’ photographed portraits, will be displayed in a high-traffic location for community members to view.
Pablo, MT/Flathead Reservation – Contact: Jenny Wilson – Jennifer_wilson@skc.edu
Salish Kootenai College (SKC) will hold a week-long series of events to commemorate MLK Day. SKC Campus Corps members will implement an environmental stewardship project, connecting Native Heritage, social issues and environmental issues facing their community. Throughout the week, SKC will host tribal elders and veterans as guest speakers, and will be organizing a Native Games Tournament honoring various tribes and their cultures. Campus Corps members will facilitate a recycling awareness presentation and competition on the SKC campuses – engaging teams of students to think critically about the importance of getting involved in larger global sustainability efforts. Additionally the campus will host presentations, talks and other reflection opportunities for students to discuss the importance of embracing diversity in this country.
Poplar, MT/Fort Peck Reservation – Contact: Marina O’Brien – mobrien@fpcc.edu
Campus Corps members and student volunteers from Fort Peck Community College will provide important maintenance on a low-income family’s home on the reservation. This home desperately needs remodeling, interior painting and cleaning. Campus Corps members are seeking additional homes and families, and may be added in time for MLK Day.
----------Some of these campuses are participating in what's called the MLK Challenge. The Challenge was created by the North Carolina Campus Compact. We've adopted the Challenge and proposed it to our campuses. To take a look at what the challenge looks like, follow this link: http://org.elon.edu/nccc/resources/documents/ToolKit08-FINAL.pdf.
Looks like Catherine Avery at MSU-GF has already started uploading some pictures onto our Facebook Page. Check those out here!
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