MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE
January 21, 2008
The Nebraska InterCorps Council organized a partnership with Leadership Lincoln to assist with the annual Youth March & Rally, held in 2008 on Monday, January 21. Kimberly Smith, a Nebraska InterCorps Council Member in service with LFS AmeriCorps at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, provided leadership and coordination. A summary of activities is provided below.
Leadership Lincoln offers educational programs and opportunities for community service, working to build a cadre of well-informed, well-connected, well-coordinated citizens to help safeguard and direct the community's future. All efforts are in support of its mission to strengthen and transform community by developing, fostering, renewing, and sustaining vital and diverse leadership in Lincoln and Lancaster County.
Kimberly Smith
Nebraska InterCorps Council
LFS AmeriCorps
[Pictured accepting the National Service Member of the Year Award from 1 st Lady Sally Ganem]
Nebraska InterCorps Council members and Program Directors of Nebraska's AmeriCorps programs were informed of the day's events. Eleven AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps* VISTA members responded in advance and additional members showed up on the day of the event to assist.
The Youth March & Rally event is a tradition supported Leadership Lincoln, planned completely by Lincoln area youth. The youth organize a commemorative program involving both visual and verbal expressions supporting the key messages of Dr. King. AmeriCorps members helped to usher community members and youth into the commemorative program at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) Student Union.
As this commemorative program ended, AmeriCorps members placed themselves at traffic intersections along the march route. It was their job to ensure that the march route was safe and smooth. The 200 youth who were marching held signs and chanted as the march reached the State Capitol.
Concurrently, another group of AmeriCorps members was positioned at the Warner Legislative Chamber in the Capitol to assist with seating, counting of attendance numbers, and handing out of programs.
The Youth March & Rally had a very nice turnout and for the initial Nebraska InterCorps Council activity of the 2007-2008 program year.
Kimberly added, "I hope InterCorps Council is able to continue a relationship with Leadership Lincoln and the march next year. Leadership Lincoln stressed that the event is youth-run therefore our role in the event - securing the march route and seating community members at the capitol - was fitting. To increase the role next year, AmeriCorps members who serve youth could be more integrally involved in the planning of the rally & march and active in encouraging youth to march in the parade."
For more information
http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/
1-(800) VOLUNTEER