Willamette community gives back for MLK Day

by Erin Dahl,

  • community service
  • students volunteering
  • Into the Streets
  • giving back
  • Celebrating MLK Day

In honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., about 180 Willamette University students and staff devoted an afternoon to serving their community on Jan. 22.

Willamette launched its campuswide MLK Day of Service “Into the Streets” about 15 years ago. Through the university-led project, volunteers are dispatched to several sites in Salem to help those in need.

This year, students aided several organizations, such as the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, Union Gospel Mission, Marion-Polk Food Share, Horses of Hope Oregon and Habitat for Humanity. 

Their duties included cultivating gardens and outdoor space, sorting and cataloging educational materials, and building homes. To learn about other ways to volunteer, contact Community Service Learning.

"Into the Streets" was one of many events scheduled this month to celebrate Dr. King and his legacy. In addition to films, Convocations and an open mic night, Willamette will host keynote speaker Leonard Pitts Jr. on Feb. 5. Pitts, a syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, will present "In A Single Garment of Destiny" at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in Smith Auditorium. 

Mike Rhine '16 and Lyra Kuhn '16 interviewed students at a Habitat for Humanity building site in Salem about what MLK Day means to them. Video creator: Mike Rhine '16

Willamette University

University Communications

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Waller Hall, Fourth Floor
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.

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