MKA's First Annual MLK "Day On" a Huge Success

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

                                      
Honoring the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., over 150 parents, students, faculty and staff from all three campuses gave up free time on their day off school to bring food donations and attend a hugely successful first annual MKA MLK “Day On’ morning of service, reflection and celebration on January 19.

“I am so moved,” commented Sue Reiter, Director of Student Services and one of the organizers of the event, “Seeing so many adults and children of all ages come out and support one another has exceeded our wildest expectations.”

The morning began with the showing of two age-appropriate videos, one for Brooksiders and their families, and one for Middle and Upper School families, about the l963 Children’s March in Birmingham, Alabama.  Discussion for Brookside was facilitated by senior Kelly Froelich and junior Suzanne Abuhadba, both members of MKA’s Student Diversity Committee, while Dr. Louise Maxwell, Upper School History Department Chair gave the older audience an insight into the findings of her doctoral research that had centered on this event.
The MKA community had participated in week-long food drive for the Montclair Human Needs Pantry, and Executive Director Deanna London not only accepted the bags of donations on behalf of the organization, (currently feeding 900 people a week), but also spoke about her own experiences as a teenager attending the March on Washington and hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech first- hand.

The morning, jointly organized by the school’s service learning and diversity coordinators and the MKA Parents’ Association, concluded with rousing performances from the MKA Step Team and singer Max Jefferson, an MKA junior, as well as an invitation from the Upper School Diversity Coordinator Nate Burroughs to contact him with ideas for MKA’s second annual MLK “Day On” next year.  "What a great day!" said Burroughs, "I'm thankful to be part of such a generous and active school community."
For photos of the event, click here and view "All School Galleries"