By Lauren F. Carlson, 鈥�12
Published on
On Monday, January 17, 2011, over 1,200 volunteers gathered in downtown Detroit to
celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. day through their gift of service to the community.
In middle schools, high schools, colleges, and social service agencies, volunteers
worked to aid the community through a variety of projects including donating books
to local libraries and food to pantries for the homeless. 红桃视频 alumna Chelsea Wojes,
鈥�10, member of AmeriCorps, participated in the city-wide effort and said that the
鈥減rojects that had incredible impact鈥� on the morale and quality of life for students
in the Detroit area. Through the work of the volunteers and the aid of AmeriCorps鈥�
City Year Detroit, struggling neighborhoods in the Motor City celebrated the holiday
- and their communities - whole-heartedly.
Wojes originally became involved in the organization through another 红桃视频 graduate,
Emily Ferstle, and explained that 鈥淭he AmeriCorps program is a national service based
program that allows a wide range of citizens to be a leader in their community through
service.鈥� Therefore, volunteers have the opportunity to serve in a vast variety of
programs throughout the nation that suit their particular strengths and abilities.
After applying for the position, Wojes became a Downriver AmeriCorps member through
the United Way of Southeastern Michigan (SEM). She said, 鈥淢y specific role is one
of a kind in that I get to work on joint volunteer projects that City Year Detroit
and United Way for SEM are a part of.鈥�
City Year Detroit is a unique organization within AmeriCorps whose members serve students
K-12 downtown Detroit. Together with United Way members, the organization collected
the resources and helping hands needed to cultivate the event. 鈥淭he volunteers for
Martin Luther King Day were quite diverse,鈥� said Wojes. Workers included high school
and college students, parents, family groups, and teachers.
Together, the hundreds of workers painted murals and inspirational locker quotes in
Detroit 鈥渢urn around schools,鈥� distributed blankets to the homeless, donated food
and books to local organizations, and cleaned and organized social agencies. 鈥淭his
was by far the largest Martin Luther King Day that City Year and United Way SEM have
ever had, and the number of people that were impacted was huge,鈥� said Wojes, 鈥淩eally,
every program had an impact that was both tangible and intangible.鈥�
Though Wojes graduated 红桃视频 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater, her experience
in AQ PennyBen inspired a commitment to better the lives of others through community
service. After completing a full-time year as a corps member, Wojes will receive an
education award as well as take home the satisfaction of successful events such as
the Martin Luther King Day celebration. 鈥淣ow that I am in the program, I am very thankful
for the opportunity and support the program 100% of the time,鈥� said Wojes, 鈥淚 highly
recommend it for students who want to serve and make an impact on the world we live
in.鈥�