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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
January 16, 2015 Ricky Garza
(202) 776-1732
rgarza@nclr.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will honor Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day with community service activities across the nation on Jan. 17–23. NCLR staff and AmeriCorps members will join local nonprofit organizations from the NCLR Affiliate Network in paying tribute to Dr. King through a variety of community service projects. Members of the public are invited to participate. Descriptions of each activity and contact information are listed below by state and community organization.
CALIFORNIA
AltaMed Health Services Corporation—Los Angeles
Saturday, Jan. 17
NCLR AmeriCorps members will participate in a beautification and teamwork -focused day at Warren Lane Elementary School. Members will paint a mural and retouch the school’s current artwork.
Contact: Sergio Valenzuela, svalenzuela@la.altamed.org
MAAC—San Diego
Friday, Jan. 16 and Monday, Jan. 19
NCLR AmeriCorps members will attend the YMCA MLK Human Dignity Award Breakfast on Jan. 16 honoring community members who have made a positive impact. AmeriCorps members will also join the 27th annual All Peoples Celebration on Jan. 19, during which local leaders will speak about the legacy of Dr. King.
Contact: Willy Gloria, wgloria@maacproject.org
The Unity Council—Oakland
Monday, Jan. 19
The public is invited to join The Unity Council in celebrating MLK Day with breakfast and a discussion on Dr. King’s legacy. All are invited to learn about community resources and how VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) provides the community with vital assistance and works to diminish poverty with equal opportunity services available for everyone.
Contact: Laura Espino, lespino@unitycouncil.org
Youth Policy Institute—Los Angeles
Saturday, Jan. 17
Volunteers at this MLK event will collect and sort donated clothing, toiletries, and nonperishable items to be delivered to MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity), which will distribute the items at 10641 N. San Fernando Road, Pacoima, CA 91331 to families in need.
Contact: Jennifer Servin, jservin@ypiusa.org.
ILLINOIS
Gads Hill Center—Chicago
Monday, Jan. 19 and Friday, Jan. 23
Payless Cares is an initiative that provides up to $20 per child to shop at Payless. Members will set up in-store events on both days for 31 needy youth who are eligible to shop for shoes or other clothing. NCLR AmeriCorps members will be paired with students and assist them in the stores.
Contact: Lisset Gonzalez, lgonzalez@gadshillcenter.org
MARYLAND
Maryland Multicultural Youth Center (MMYC)—Riverdale
Monday, Jan. 19
NCLR AmeriCorps members will lead education and enrichment activities for middle and high school students in Prince George’s County. The event seeks to inspire people to reflect on the importance of civil rights in their communities and work toward progress in equality. Keynote speaker Maryland Senator Victor R. Ramirez (District 47) and a presentation by AmeriCorps members will focus on Dr. King’s legacy of service, and past and modern civil right issues.
At MMYC’s event, Buck Lodge Middle School will present an “I Have a Dream Mosaic,” inviting students to paint the changes they want to see in their communities. Nicholas Orem Middle School will present inspirational quotes. William Wirt Middle School will present a poem about race. Two schools will use performance to address discrimination: one with a skit (Northwestern High School) and one with a modern dance (Highpoint High School).
Contact: Alyson Moore, Alyson@layc-dc.org
TEXAS
Southwest Key Programs—Austin
Monday, Jan. 19
NCLR AmeriCorps members will gather at the MLK statue on the grounds of University of Texas at Austin and march to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. Prior to the march, they will coordinate a food drive at East Austin College Prep to support the Capital Area Food Bank.
Contact: Kristan Silva, ksilva@swkey.org
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
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