By Curran Konarski
Northeastern University celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day last week with a convocation Wednesday in Blackman Auditorium and a day of service this past Monday. The turnout was much higher than in past years, with nearly 100 students volunteering for the service day.
A diverse crowd made up the audience for the convocation, including members of local churches and classes visiting from schools in the area. Faculty members attended as well, including Dr. Emmett Price, a professor who teaches a popular jazz class. Price entertained the crowd, both alone and with guest singers who offered gospel and spiritual songs. People of all ages from the Boston community also attended.
Speakers at the event included President Richard Freeland and Rev. Dr. Vashti M. McKenzie, a bishop, author and journalist. McKenzie is also the first woman to be elected bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and to serve as president of the church’s Council of Bishops.
Few Northeastern students attended, but most students who did said it was an inspiring event. “Her message was so passionate, you can’t help but be motivated to do something,” Emil Ruiz, a sophomore history major, said of McKenzie’s speech.
Lauren Cantor, a sophomore English and education major, was another attendee. She said she found the speech motivating and said afterward it was clear “that we are all capable of everything.”
Cantor is already doing her part for the community by taking part in the JumpStart program, which promotes progress in the community through education. Students were all encouraged to take part in a day of service Monday.
The turnout this year was considerably larger than last year.
“Last year, the event basically didn’t happen, but this year it definitely exceeded our expectations,” said Zandra Kambysellis, assistant director and program coordinator at the Center of Community Service.
The day began at the Raytheon Amphitheater with a breakfast and a documentary film based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After the film, Joseph Warren, special assistant to the director of government relations and community affairs, and the director of the GEAR UP Program, addressed the volunteers. By noon, the students departed and headed to five sites in groups lead by members of the Center of Community Service.
At the Morville House, students visited elderly residents and ate lunch with them. Others took part in MissionSAFE at Faneuil Hall mentoring Roxbury’s youth. In Jamaica Plain, volunteers helped beautify the housing of senior citizens with the Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly. A cleaning project also took place at the multi-service center in South Boston. At the last site, which was run by the JumpStart program, students helped make classroom learning materials for children at the Blue Hill Avenue Early Education Center, Dimock Preschool, and Parker Hill/Fenway Head Start.
