Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) is more than just a holiday. It’s a call to action. It’s a day to honor Dr. King’s legacy by partaking in community service and giving back to our communities making it a “day on, not a day off.”
As Dr. King once said, ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ This MLK Day, Oakland County employees answered that call by participating in meaningful service opportunities. From stocking shelves to walking for peace, the spirit of service was thriving.
“In addition to the rewarding experience of being able to give back to others, I really appreciate the county’s efforts in organizing events throughout local communities,” said Rana Al-Igoe, Oakland80 administrator who volunteered at the Hospitality House. “It allows us to connect with organizations closer to home that we may not interact with in our day-to-day work and helps us to build relationships – both professionally and personally. I also love that we’re able to bring our family members along with us. In addition to my husband and our two girls volunteering for MLK Day of Service, my mom even joined us!”
Organized by the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a significant focus of MLK Day of Service efforts was combating food insecurity, with volunteers lending a hand at Light House of Pontiac, Hospitality House in Commerce, Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park and CARES in Farmington Hills. Volunteers completed tasks such as unloading incoming food donations and storing them, stocking and organizing pantry shelves for efficient distribution, and packing and distributing food boxes.
“This was such a great opportunity for my boys, Elliott and Gideon, to contribute to making the world a better place. I have tried to teach my boys that they need to be the change that they want to see in the world,” said Laura Roman Christman, a caseworker for the Oakland County Circuit Court. “I was beyond proud watching my oldest as he took the lead in assisting customers. It was also great to work outside the office with co-workers from other departments, whom I had not seen in ages. We will definitely be doing this again!”
The spirit of MLK Day also emphasized the importance of peace and unity. Oakland County Executive David Coulter joined the 40th annual MLK Task Force Peace Walk in Southfield and the annual MLK luncheon in Pontiac, where community members came together for a powerful demonstration of solidarity and a commitment to Dr. King’s dream of a peaceful society filled with public service.
To learn more about Oakland County’s efforts to make our region more inclusive, visit the official website for the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: oakgov.com/equity.
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