The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change. His example is our call to action.
MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. During the last quarter-century, the MLK Day of Service has grown, and its impact increased as more Americans embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving communities.
Teach for America Greater New Orleans will host a variety of service projects during MLK Weekend January 14th - 16th. See details below about each organization we will partner with.
- Solitary Gardens: turns solitary confinement cells into garden beds, the contents (plants, flowers and herbs) of the prison-cell-turned-garden-bed are designed by prisoners serving their sentences in isolation through proxies on the outside. Learn more here.
- John Thompson Legacy Center (JTLC): is a space to support those most impacted by the criminal punishment system and help them to thrive. Learn more here.
- Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL NOLA): is driving a resilient and environmentally equitable New Orleans by reforesting our urban landscape by
planting trees to serve as natural systems and infrastructure. Learn more here.
- STEM Library Lab: fosters high-quality active learning by providing teachers with access to equipment, programs, experiences and STEM instructional support to drive student success. Learn more here.
- Louisiana ASPCA: Humane pet adoption, rescue, shelter, and veterinary services across Louisiana. Learn more here. Due to the nature of the service, there are only 5 or so spots available for this opportunity. Folks with peanut allergies are not advised to attend due to peanuts in the physical environment.
Through your service, you will also complete your necessary four volunteer hours necessary for your AmeriCorps commitment. Spaces will be allotted on a first come first serve basis.
