Press release from IPFW:
IPFW Students to Take Part in Second Annual MLK Day of Service
(January 14, 2011) – Indiana University-Purdue University’s (IPFW’s) Office of Academic Internships, Cooperative Education, and Service-Learning (OACS) and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA) are collaborating for the second year on an MLK Day of Service project that will involve university students with Fort Wayne school children. This year’s event will take place at the MLK Montessori School, Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 10 to 11 a.m.
Amber Edrington is an IPFW senior majoring in Public Affairs with a concentration in criminal justice. She is also employed in the OACS office as a work study student. “I applied for an Indiana Campus Compact Community Service mini-grant for the MLK Day of Service,” said Edrington. “I titled the grant ‘Educate and Motivate the MLK Way: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy.’ The project involves a group of undergrad students who will help the MLK Montessori School students in drawing their own picture based on their perceived skin color. The theme of the activity is based on the children’s book, “The Crayon Box that Talked” by Shane DeRolf, which speaks on diversity and tolerance and how even though each crayon is different in color and what it contributes, when they come together they still make a beautiful picture.”
A second phase of the project, which will involve a Fort Wayne middle and high school, will take place throughout the remainder of January and into February. In keeping with Dr. King’s message of tolerance and perseverance, the middle school will assemble “A Collage of Dreams” based on MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech that will reflect their personal dreams. The chosen high school students will take part in two team building activities based on the impact of prejudices. Both parts will be facilitated by Edrington and ODMA’s Envision A Bright Future (EBF) Student Ambassadors.
The purpose of the service project is to connect IPFW students with the younger generation and the Fort Wayne community. Edrington said she wanted to take on these projects because, “…to me, we as students are a part of the community. I feel that students here on campus don’t reach out enough to young students or the community that they live in. I felt it would be a great way to get people of all ages involved and connected to the each other and to the message of Dr. King. I think it’s important to always give back to where you’re from and teach others all the positive things you’ve learned so that they can be well-rounded and aware citizens.”
For more information on the MLK Day event, contact Edrington at 260-481-6918 or edringta@ipwf.edu.
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