Meredith Honors King Through Week of Service, Reflection, and Action

The Office of Student Leadership and Service (SLS) hosted its annual Week of Service, Reflection, and Action to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

Events began on Friday, January 16, in Jones Chapel, where participants could quietly reflect and meditate on King’s words.

The following day, 20 Meredith community members, including undergraduate and graduate students, volunteered at Catawba Trail Farm with Urban Community AgriNomics (UCAN) in Durham, N.C. The volunteers picked weeds and moved firewood to help maintain the land.

The group toured the farm, learning of its history as a former plantation owned by the largest slaving-owning family in N.C. In 2018, UCAN reclaimed the land and now serves low-income communities and local schools in teaching healthy food preparation and preservation, and distributing fresh food.

“The work UCAN does speaks to so many issues: land acknowledgement, racial and economic justice, opportunities for young people, and sustainable agriculture,” said Kacey Reynolds Schedler, associate director of SLS. “Volunteering with UCAN at Catawba Trail Farm offers so many ways to address injustices and make the world a better place, which fits in beautifully with the message of Dr. King.”

Other activities included a self-guided contemplative walk and a drop-in session to reflect on inspirational quotes and write messages of hope and dreams for a better future.

“I hope students leave this week understanding that Dr. King’s legacy is not just something to read about in history books or to be admired in the abstract,” said Reynolds Schedler. “Students and the Meredith community at large can practice his vision of hope and justice through service, thoughtful reflection, and the courage to act on their values in small, meaningful ways.”

To end the week, SLS and the Black Student Union will co-host a discussion, “The MLK Effect: what makes a person do extraordinary things?”, on Friday, January 23, at 10 a.m. in the second-floor lounge of the Cate Center.

A peace rally will also be held on Friday, January 23, at 1:30 p.m. in the Johnson Hall Rotunda. The event will honor King and the Buddhist monks who are expected to arrive in Raleigh on Saturday, January 24, during their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace.