MLK Day of
Service Event “MLK Day Social Cleanup”
Have a look
at the press release distributed to media outlets within Trenton NJ and the
Region.
Monday January 19th,
2015
9am-2pm
On the National
Holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., several local organizations,
residents and supporters of Trenton will gather for a non-traditional day of
service.
At Columbus Park
located on Hamilton Ave in the Chambersburg section, Trenton Going Global,
CARETRENTON, Bethany House of Hospitality the Center for Faith Justice and
Trenton 365 will partner for this one day/rain or shine event.
At this gathering to
cleanup the park and surrounding areas of litter and light debris, several
attendees will read passages of the historic “I have a dream” speech by the
slain civil rights leader. In addition
spoken word artists will have the chance to perform original works in the
context of Dr. King’s work and literature will be distributed to the community
regarding social programs and services.
Volunteers of all ages
are encouraged to participate, please dress appropriately including proper
footwear and gloves.
Donations of supplies
and water are welcome. Non-perishable
food will be collected and donated to the Crisis Ministry of Mercer County.
This event will be
documented via video and photograph to be shared through various networks to
encourage non-traditional efforts to honor the work of Dr. King.
Approximately 100
people of various ethnicity's, ages, cultures, communities and states came together
for the annual event coordinated by Trenton Going Global, CARETRENTON, Bethany
House of Hospitality and Trenton 365.
Will Foskey of
Trenton Going Global documented this event in 2014 and shortly thereafter
during debriefing conversations, Foskey of Trenton NJ thought the event could
be larger and have a broader message.
Later that year he organized a meeting with original coordinators Elissa
Horan of CARETRENTON, and Jacque Howard of Trenton 365. Kimby Heil who helped to coordinates
volunteers during the 2014 event from the Lawrenceville NJ based, Center for
Faith Justice and Keianna Childs of Trenton Going Global met and the 2015
foundation was laid.
Elissa Horan a
Trenton NJ resident for over 45 years, started CARETRENTON as an effort to
improve the community through cleanups and beautification projects. Art Educator Elissa is the daughter of Joeseph
Horan of the Horan Funeral Home. She
began this movement by cleaning not only curb and street side by her home and
the former funeral home but also her neighbors.
Shortly neighbors and others joined in.
Elissa stated “this is very simple, no long meetings, politics or drama,
give what you can, time and effort wise.”
CARETRENTON has coordinated dozens of events in Trenton with
organizations and events like Art All Night, the Trenton St. Patricks Day
Parade, SAGE Coalition and more.
Kimby Heil met Jacque
Howard a few years ago and offered to coordinate volunteers for the 2014 MLK
event and the friendship took off. Heil
now a resident at the Bethany House of Hospitality where Howard was the Project
Manager for the rehabilitation of the former “manse” was a natural partner for
this years event. Along with other
residents the 2015 event would now have a “tirage” site.
Kianna Childs, a
friend of Foskey also representing Trenton Going Global although new to Horan,
Howard and Hiel, brought several other groups into the effort, coordinated
volunteers and handled logistics. Her
son was the lead in the promotional video for this years event.
After a brief
meeting the volunteers were off picking up litter, downed branches and debris
at Columbus Park. They then traveled
East on Hamilton towards Chambers St. with others groups going North on
Monmouth St. towards Walnut Ave.
Literature from
several organizations such as TASK-Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Crisis Ministry,
Isles, CARETRENTON, Meals On Wheels Trenton/Ewing and Trenton 365 were hand
delivered to residents in an effort to share about services available in both
English and Spanish as well as to promote civic engagement.
Special thank you
to Photographer Michael Mancuso of the Trenton Times and NJ.com and Nora Muchanic
of 6abc Action News of Philadelphia, The City of Trenton, Councilwomen Marge Caldwell-Wilson and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson.
Shortly footage will be produced into a segment to encourage more activities on MLK Day.
Shortly footage will be produced into a segment to encourage more activities on MLK Day.
