20th MLK Day of Service 2022, CA

Report by Gabby von Euw, Local SFP/YSP Coordinator

Service for Peace has been promoting Dr. King's day of service as a day “on” and not a day “off” in Oakland, CA. Despite the challenges with the pandemic and some projects not able to be held due to covid, the 20th annual MLK Day of service in Oakland was a great success!

It was wonderful to see many people coming together from different backgrounds, organizations, and cities, to serve on Monday, January 17th. There were official leaders, council members, and the mayor of Oakland who joined several projects. The Oakland mayor,  Libby Schaff, opened the Project at Sobrante Park with words of encouragement and hope, honoring Dr. King's legacy. 

“This is your start in remembering that we are part of one big human family. When you put your hands on the ground, when you clean up someone else's neighborhood you are saying ‘this is our neighborhood, our city, our country, our planet, our human family.’” - Mayor Libby Schaff

Council member Treva Reid reminded us of her favorite quote by MLK, “Everyone has the power of greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.” She thanked everyone for coming out and investing into beautifying and uplifting the culture in the community. 

Groups of volunteers went to help on several different projects. Some went to support Council Member Noel Gallo cleaning up the streets along Fruitvale Avenue where the volunteers removed tons of garbage and piles along the streets. Some went to Shepherd Canyon Park for nature restoration for ‘Planting and trail upkeep, continuing to restore a former dump into a place of natural beauty.’And in the Sobrante Park neighborhood, other volunteers gathered and split into different groups focused on different projects such as trash clean up, beautifying a school garden, and beautifying the front yards of senior’s home.

We joined hand in hand to beautify our community with high spirits, certainly making it a day “on” and not a day “off”!

“As always, it was a great experience serving the community through volunteer work, however this service project was extra amazing because there were so many participants that came together, inspired by the legacy of Dr. King and passionate to bring their community closer. Although we come from different parts of the Bay, we were encouraged to serve with the perspective that we are one human family and this world the home we share.” -Monica Schlaepfer