On Monday, Jan. 18th, NOVA sponsored its first annual Martin Luther King Day of Service. The event coincides with the National Day of Service which always takes place on the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. This NOVA Day of Service included two on-campus and two off-campus events. Both on-campus events, a free vehicle maintenance program and a school supply drive, took place on the Alexandria campus.

The car maintenance service event was performed by students of the Drive to Employment, an automotive technology program. They provided free vehicle maintenance services for unemployed and low income clients of three Alexandria social action agencies including Fairfax Area Christian Emergency Transitional Services, Homestretch and Northern Virginia Family Services.

The school supply drive collected school supplies and assembled school kits for U.S. troops to distribute to children in Iraq and Afghanistan through Operation International Children. These supplied items consisted of blunt-edged scissors, 12-inch rulers, pencils, erasers, small pencil sharpeners, colored pencils, notebook paper composition books, pocket folders and zippered pencil bags.

Acting Dean of Students Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover coordinated all of the volunteers as they entered the hallway in front of Parking Services in the Bisdorf Building. She opened up introductions once all of the volunteers signed in and introduced Mr. Milan Hayward who registered the volunteers in advance.

Mr. Hayward is the Special Assistant for Career and Technical Education and the head of the Drive to Employment Program. He expressed regrets that there was not enough time to coordinate an event for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. In the spirit of NOVA’s Day of Service, he encouraged attendants to donate to reputable organizations that they felt comfortable with. Then he introduced the new Alexandria campus Provost, Dr. Peter Maphumulo, and invited him to share a few words with the group.

Dr. Maphumulo began by thanking the U.S. troops stationed abroad, their families, and the military servicemen and women who volunteered at the event. Next, he thanked the volunteers for “giving up time from this sunny day.” Dr. Maphumulo said that NOVA is about improving others’ lives and giving hope, and that the event is in keeping with those values.

Looking around the room, one could not help but feel inspired and hopeful. Many from various ages, races and faiths, students and non-students alike, worked side by side as they handed supplies in an assembly line to assemble school supply kits. It was wonderful to see them all gathered in a place of learning to care for our neighbors in the Middle East in the name of one of the greatest justice seekers and peacemakers of all time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The volunteers were reminded of King’s dream in a power point presentation before they were dispatched to their volunteer stations. The first slide stated, “We have an opportunity to make our nation better.”

Then that iconic gospel-rhythmic voice rang out, “I have a dream.” Pictures of American children juxtaposed to pictures of children from Iraq and Afghanistan were shown. Worlds apart, the children were photographed in classrooms not so very different from one another.

Then the Operation International Children photos were presented. Gary Senise, who played Lt. Dan in the movie Forrest Gump, participated in a distribution event in 2004. There were also photos that the media does not portray, a child touching a military man’s hand and photos of children’s faces when they receive their school supply kits. There were looks of understanding that American hands can heal and love even in a time of war. American servicemen’s faces seemed to show that Iraqi and Afghani students have so much to offer the world. The presentation was enough to inspire and move volunteers into action.

One NOVA student volunteer, Liberal Arts major Kimberly Kirtz said she was inspired to give of her day. “Volunteering is worth it, because even though you don’t actually get anything, you do because you know you helped.” The school supply drive was a perfect fit for her since she plans to major in education when she transfers to a four year education program once she graduates from NOVA.

Brett Oye, History major and Honors Program student, represented three Alexandria campus clubs at the event, the Student Government Association, Students for Social Action Awareness and United Students for Social Reform. Oye was inspired to participate because, “This is my campus. I want to be a teacher, so this event holds a particular importance to me.” He had support from someone special too, his girlfriend.
Students who volunteered were sometimes from Alexandria elementary schools and they brought their parents. Among these was the volunteer registrar Mr. Hayward’s own son. However, community members and NOVA faculty and administrators were an important demographic of the participants.

Mr. Arnie Malin of the Annandale Human Resources Department attended. Malin normally purchases food for the Culinary Department at the Annandale Campus, but was pleased to help out with the service opportunities. The school supply drive happened to be the only program with openings left. The Day of Service came to his attention through his NOVA email account.

Mr. Malin plans to volunteer again next year and said, “Everybody ought to volunteer. Everybody should participate in the spirit of volunteering.” The hallway filled with enthusiastic volunteers, within the first 20 minutes of the event.

When asked what he thought Martin Luther King Jr. would say about the activities done in his name on that day, looking around, Mr. Malin replied, “Bravo!”

The next MLK Day of Service will take place on Jan. 17th, 2011. For more information, you may contact Milan Hayward at 703-323-2263 or mhayward@nvcc.edu.

By: Annie Ryan

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