Hundreds of George Washington University students gathered on Saturday to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., volunteering their time with nonprofit organizations around Washington D.C., marking the 30th annual MLK Jr. Day of Service and Leadership.
The day of service kicked off King Week at GW, a university-wide observance dedicated to reflecting on King’s life and vision.
Saturday’s event began with an opening program, sponsored by the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. Then, around 550 GW volunteers left campus and gave their time to various organizations throughout the city.
Ben Jacobs, a sophomore studying environmental science and political science, served as a site leader at Little Friends for Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering peace and community-building, particularly among seniors. The group hosted an intergenerational celebration of King’s life and legacy at Holy Redeemer Church in Northwest D.C.
“Little Friends for Peace is a community-building organization specifically targeted around seniors. And today, at their MLK celebration, we are taking the time to build community around peace and the vision of Dr. King,” Jacobs said.
The event brought together people of all ages, with activities ranging from board games and crafts to a talent show, all designed to encourage intergenerational connection. GW students took time to engage with the seniors, listen to their stories and partake in meaningful conversations.
Some seniors shared their experiences advocating for equality during the modern Civil Rights Movement and spoke about what MLK Jr. Day means to them all these years later.
Stephanie Animdee, a senior at GW studying international affairs with a focus on Latin American studies, said she was grateful for the opportunity to have those discussions.
“It’s a very heartfelt moment, I’m really connecting with the seniors here and learning from them,” Animdee said.
The best way to embody the spirit of King’s teachings is through service to others and building unity, she said.
“It's important to serve and help the residents of D.C. I feel a little emotional about it, but in a good way,” Animdee said. “It's really inspiring to see the intergenerational, community-building aspect of today's event. To me, MLK’s mission was about bridging connections between different races, people and backgrounds.”
Lorelei Mathew, a sophomore studying public health and political science, said MLK Day represents a chance to reflect on both the progress made in the pursuit of King’s vision and the ongoing work needed to build the equality he championed.
“MLK Day is a moment to reflect on the progress we've made toward Dr. King's vision, but also to acknowledge the work still left to do," Mathew said. "It’s also a time for us as students to connect with and contribute to the D.C. community, which has become our home. Being able to give back to the people who live here and have experienced D.C. in such a different way is incredibly meaningful."
Service participants contributed about 1,200 service hours in total on the day of service. Participants served at five off-campus sites with projects including at Francis on the Hill in Northwest Washington. Other volunteers worked in groups at the University Student Center on projects for GW Jumpstart, Miriam’s Kitchen, A Wider Circle, the Sasha Bruce Network, the D.C. Prevention Center and the AARP Foundation, where President Ellen M. Granberg also served.
Other volunteers from GW were welcomed to Horton’s Hub and Community Resource Center, an after-school tutoring program in Southeast Washington.
Niamh Klein, Horton’s senior manager of academics, joked with students as they settled around desks. “I know what you’re thinking: ‘I gave up my Saturday, and I’m sharpening pencils,’” Klein said.
“Think about it. Sixty kids come, all trying to sharpen pencils at the same time,” she said. “All these things we do to prep leaves us more time for tutoring.”
More than 30 GW students made the trip across town where they sharpened pencils, cleaned white boards and packed pencil cases. Several wanted to see a D.C. neighborhood beyond Foggy Bottom.
For 45 years, Horton’s Kids has operated programs in Southeast D.C., including a pantry in a housing complex that distributes food, diapers and other essentials and a community center that focuses on academics, youth development, health, wellness and family engagement. GW students were spread out among three Horton ‘s locations. They decorated a clubhouse for middle school students and served a meal of chicken and waffles to families.
“Throughout the day, we’ve been hearing about the beloved community,” said Maren Nicolaysen, a graduate student in the public administration program. “We heard about putting it into work in our school community and then serving and being with and learning from, which to me is the most important thing—not us teaching but being with is the most important thing.”
Nicolaysen, along with Reese Breaux, who is an international affairs major, organized lessons and inserted them in binders. Last year on the MLK Jr. Day of Service, Breaux cleared trash from brush along a highway in another neighborhood.
“King is the gold standard for public service and giving himself to others,” Breaux said. “I’ve always looked up to him since I was a little kid. I don’t do enough, but it is times like these that I’ve been deeply affected by him, what he did with his life.”
Motunrayo Fatoke, a graduate student in public policy, sharpened pencils and cleaned white boards beside Miguel Martinez, a graduate student studying cybersecurity. Fatoke said that her classes reinforce the idea of community service and engagement, so she volunteers throughout the year. “It is what King represents,” she said. “He brought transformational change.”
Another group of GW volunteers were in the newly created room for the Pre-K group, hanging LED lights along the ceiling borders, putting together individual activity packs, and arranging items in the life skills corner.
Lauren McCutcheon, a site leader, who worked on the logistics for the visit to Horton’s Kids, works up to 15 hours a week at GW Jumpstart. “I’m passionate about kids,” she said, She worked with Addie Froula, a sophomore studying international affairs and economics, to string up the LED lights.”
Froula takes Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an opportunity “to remember, reset and reevaluate our values.”
“I agree with Addie,” said McCutcheon. “What Martin Luther King Jr. fought for and is still fighting for today, like years later, can be applied to the U.S. and around the world.”
GW Today photographers William Atkins, Sarah Hochstein, Florence Shen, Lily Speredelozzi, Brook Endale and B.L. Wilson captured images of the day:
