January 2010 AmeriCorps ACCESS (AmeriCorps Cross Cultural Education Service Systems) and AmeriCorps ACC (AmeriCorps Community Collaborative) teamed up to honor Martin Luther King Jr. On Saturday, January 16th members from both programs collaborated with the Avalon housing community and served directly with the residents of Avalon. AmeriCorps members assisted in vari-

ous ways at Avalon, from painting parts of the Community Center to educating children on the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. In addition to AmeriCorps, Cakalak Thunder, (drumming group) came to Avalon and led families and AmeriCorps members in a march around Avalon, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. On Monday, January 18th Ameri-Corps members collaborated with The Greensboro Children’s Museum and North Carolina A & T State University, assist-ing in educat-ing the wider Greensboro community on the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Move-ment. This scrapbook highlights the events over these two days and demon-

strates the importance of AmeriCorps being involved in service activities.

Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr.

Day of Service Activity January 16th

& January 18th

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Scrapbook

ACCESS members Marines Jackson (left) and Rafael Segura (right) smiling for the camera.

Families from over 15 different countries reside and participate in ACC sponsored events at Avalon: Bhutan, Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma (Karen), Cuba, Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Central Republic of Africa, Mexico, and USA.

“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King Jr.

ACCESS member Megan Ingram drawing with residents of Avalon.

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Ha-tred darkens life; love illuminates it.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Stephanie Baldwin (above), ACC Coordinator gives an overview of Avalon. Afterwards ACCESS and ACC members introduce themselves to each other.

Jack Tyler (left) an ACCESS member poses with a resident from Avalon.

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” Martin Luther King Jr.

ACCESS member Huong Tran (left) helps prepare a wall for painting at Avalon Community Center.

ACC Coordinator Stephanie Baldwin (left) poses with ACCESS member Vickie Dithane (right).

“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” Martin Luther King Jr.

There are approximately 55 refugee families living at Avalon. All 55 families were settled by three refugee agencies: Church World Service, African Services Coalition, and Lutheran Family Services.

Above ACCESS members Daniel Foster (left) and Erin Kerns (right) are prepping a wall for painting at Avalon’s Cultural Center. Right ACCESS member Daniel Foster showing one of Avalon’s residents how to sand a wall.

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

ACC member Selina Jaber (above) with an Avalon resident. ACC member Brad Whitsett (right) prepares a shelf for painting. ACCESS member Violet Lincourt (below) discusses a drawing of Martin Luther King Jr. with an Avalon Resident.

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of jus-tice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Right ACCESS member Violet Lincourt talking to Avalon residents

Below ACCESS member Brian Lesser working on a drawing of Martin Luther King Jr. with an Avalon resident.

Right ACCESS members Estela Cuellar Peraza (left) and Tonya Collins (right) work on a drawing of Martin Luther King Jr. with one of Avalon’s residents.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Throughout the week at Avalon Community Center families are welcome to participate in a variety of free educational activities such as: Health Education Semi-nars (HIV, Sickle Cell, and Lead Paint), English as a Second Language classes, tutoring sessions for children, and Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts. There is also a community garden with individual plots for families so they can grow healthy and culturally appropriate foods.

Below ACCESS member Erin Kerns coloring a picture of Martin Luther King Jr.

Above ACCESS members Violet Lincourt (left) and Xengyeng Yang (right) talking to an Avalon resident.

Right ACC Coordinator Stephanie Baldwin sharing a story with a resident of Avalon.

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

ACCESS member Huong Tran having a conversation with one of Avalon’s residents.

Above ACCESS member Xen-gyeng Yang talking to an Avalon resident. Right ACCESS member Daniel Foster watching events of the day with an Avalon resident.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King Jr.

The Avalon Community Center was founded on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2009.

During its first year, the Center provided services and programming to over 100 new immigrant/refugee community members.

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” Martin Luther King Jr.

ACCESS member Aubrey Grant (right) admiring the artwork of one of Avalon’s younger community members.

“We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.” Martin Luther King Jr.

ACCESS members Huong Tran (left) and Aubrey Grant (right) reflecting on the activities of the day.

Street performing group Cakalak Thunder joined with AmeriCorps ACC and AmeriCorps ACCESS members in helping the residents of Avalon celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Along with performing for Avalon residents, Cakalak Thunder led residents and AmeriCorps members in a ceremonial march around Avalon recognizing Martin Luther King Jr., his accomplishments and contribution to society.

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King Jr.

“The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice.” Martin Luther King Jr.

“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.” Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to serving at Avalon Community Center for Martin Luther King Jr. Service Activity, some AmeriCorps members served at one of our partner agencies, The Greensboro Children’s Museum. On Monday, January 18th The Greensboro Children’s Museum collaborated with North Carolina A & T State University to commemorate and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This was an opportunity for AmeriCorps members and A & T students to help educate the greater Greensboro community on the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

Left ACCESS member Raycia Evens. Below ACCESS members Andrea Dalporto (left) and Raycia Evens (right).

“The time is always right to do what is right.” Martin Luther King Jr.

ACCESS members Raycia Evens (left) and Andrea Dalporto (right).

Left ACCESS member Monica Collazo (left) and Teresa Wellendorf (right) help serve drinks to children attending the museum to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Below ACCESS member Ryan Nilsen reads to children about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” Martin Luther King Jr.

Photography by

Daniel Rhodes

The Greensboro Children’s Museum displayed a child’s size replica of the Woolworth’s Lunch counter. It was on February 1st, 1960 that four Black North Carolina A & T Students sat at a segregated lunch counter at the Woolworth’s in Greensboro North Carolina. This act challenged segregation in Greensboro, as well as the south, and is considered an important part of both the history of Greensboro and the Civil Rights Movement. This replica serves the purpose of educating children the importance of this event and the Civil Rights Movement.

413 South Edgeworth Street Greensboro, NC 27401

336.334.5411

AmeriCorps ACCESS and AmeriCorps ACC wants to thank Avalon Cultural Center, The Greensboro Children’s Museum, North Carolina A & T State University and Cakalak Thunder for collaborating with AmeriCorps in making this years Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Activity a memorable event.

AmeriCorps ACCESS Khouan Rodriguez, Director Mae Yang, Project Assistant

Daniel Rhodes, Training Coordinator

AmeriCorps ACC Stephanie Baldwin

Coordinator