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MLK Symposium Video

MLK Events Thanks

The Division of Campus and Community Engagement would like to thank all who attended and participated in this year’s MLK Symposium and Day of Service on Jan. 23. Thanks to you, we assembled hundreds of care and literacy kits and lent crucial support to the Friendship Service Center in New Britain (details below).

Through the power of collective action and service, we embodied Dr. King's vision of lifting up the most vulnerable members of our community and meeting them with dignity and care.

Care kit service activity

Thirty passionate participants (nearly half of them students) assembled 50 care kits filled with essential items for members of our community experiencing homelessness. Working together with purpose and compassion, these kits were donated to the New Britain Public Library for distribution.

The day before the symposium, 15 dedicated volunteers handed out 80 care kits the day before, bringing our total community impact to an extraordinary 130 individuals served.

Literacy kits with the United Way

Approximately 50 volunteers from the Central community volunteered with United Way to assemble literacy care packages. Volunteers created bookmarks, hand puppets, and more. Literacy care packages deepen the reading experience for the child and bring volunteers together around the importance of reading at grade level by the end of third grade. In total, 150 packages were assembled for local children at Chamberlain Elementary School in New Britain.

Friendship Service Center

Luis at the Friendship Service Center says Team Central performed exceptional work on behalf of the center's clients.

He said, “The volunteers were a pleasure to have at Friendship Service Center, and they made a real difference in our operations. They assisted in the pantry, helping us ensure everything was up to date and as fresh as possible for our residents and community members. On a daily basis, we prepare 200 to 250 meals and distribute donated items like breads, desserts, and milk to our community. Volunteers are critical to this operation, and yours performed exceptionally. We'd gladly welcome them back anytime, and we couldn't be happier with their support."

We must also thank the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium Planning Committee for making this event such an inspiring community-building experience.

The members of the committee are:

President Zulma R. Toro
Dr. Michael Russo
Dr. Joseph Paige
Dr. Joanne Leon
Oluwatoyin Awoderu
Diana Velasco
Lisa Baxter-Rincon
Elizabeth Wilson