On-campus and virtual events honor Dr. King’s legacy
January 2021 – Drew University safely celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an annual Day of Service. Students completed DIY projects in their dorms and Zoom rooms filled with lively educational and enlightening conversations.
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This year’s Day of Service projects included two virtual letter writing campaigns, one for Amnesty International Prisoners of Conscience on behalf of people who are unjustly imprisoned or are facing abuses, and another for the Stay Gold Society’s Happymail program, keep senior citizens across the nation connected during the pandemic.
Residential students back on campus for the spring 2021 semester were invited to collect materials outside The Commons to complete three different DIY projects, socially distanced in their dorms. These projects included making literacy kits for the United Way, friendship bracelets for the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, NJ, and writing cards of encouragement for foster youth.
As part of their orientation, first-year students participated in a required two-hour diversity and anti-racism training session which involved thought, reflection, and action focused on building a supportive and inclusive environment.
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The day concluded with an inspiring, hour-long conversation with Clara Ester, a former personal friend and colleague of Dr. King. Ester spoke at length about her time working with King and how it inspired her life of activism.
“Stand up for justice. Stand up for righteousness. Stand up for your brothers and sisters,” she implored.
Ester answered questions from the virtual crowd about our nation’s current political climate and provided advice for Drew students when asked about ways to combat racism in their everyday lives.
This story was written by Morgan Alley C’22.
