Celebrate Martin Luther King Junior Day
Make January 18th a Day of Action
By Kathleen Brogan
One of the most exciting days of the year is almost here. Monday, January 18th is the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. Since Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1996, MLK Day has provided an opportunity for all of us to work together to improve and beautify our communities.
Last year's MLK Day was a wonderful example of the impact numerous volunteers can have on their communities. With the help of the City of Richmond, Urban Tilth, the Five Percent Local Coalition, Service for Peace, Opportunity West, and the Richmond High School Barrio Bistro Club, The Watershed Project organized more than five hundred volunteers at the Shimada Shoreline. Over the course of the day, volunteers picked up nearly 4,400 items of trash, ranging from plastic bottles and caps to cigarette butts and fishing line. In addition to picking up trash, volunteers cleared out four acres of invasive fennel, planted a new plot with drought-tolerant native plants, and worked with local artists to build an educational sculpture using found trash and removed weeds.
We also tackled projects on the Richmond Greenway last MLK Day. More than three hundred volunteers, youth, adults, and families, turned out to build new garden beds and pathways. We doubled the size of The Watershed Project's Habitat Garden, which provides a home for a myriad of beneficial insects. Volunteers also planted dozens of fruit trees and berry bushes. These trees and bushes will provide fresh, local, organic fruit for community members in years to come.
Serving our Bay Area communities is a responsibility we all must share. MLK Day is a perfect opportunity to come together and ensure that our neighborhoods grow and thrive. As President Obama proclaimed, the challenges that America currently faces are unprecedented and economic recovery needs to be built on a new foundation. With this kind of motivations fueling our communities, we're confident that this MLK Day can be an even greater success than last year.
We will be back at Shimada Friendship Park and the Richmond Greenway. Through the efforts of a growing partnership among many outstanding nonprofits and community groups, the lineup of activities is impressive.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
On the Shoreline
When: Monday, January 18, 2010
Where: Shimada Friendship Park, 9:00am - 12:30pm
Show your community YOU care - Clean up the Richmond Shoreline. Bring your friends, family, and neighbors to join The Watershed Project and East Bay Regional Parks in our efforts to beautify our local shoreline. We will be walking a short distance to Meeker Slough along the Bay Trail. You can help collect and tally trash, remove fennel and other invasive species, and plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers.
We'll provide tools and gloves (but please bring your own if you have them - especially loppers for removing fennel) along with delicious refreshments compliments of our local business partners. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Click here to view and print the shoreline MLK Day Flyer
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
At the Greenway
When: Monday, January 18, 2010
Where: Richmond Greenway, 6th Street (Near Ohio St.) in Richmond, 10:00am - 2:00pm
The Watershed Project is partnering with other community organizations involved in the Greenway to host a day to honor Martin Luther King Jr. by bringing together our community to engage in healthful urban agricultural activities on the Richmond Greenway. "Do Something Different!"
Click here to view and print the Greenway Save the Date Flyer
View photos and read more about the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service here.
