Area projects will beautify the community and pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and President-Elect Barack Obama.
Back in 1988, a conversation was held in former about former Gov. Bob Casey's office about the irony of people who fought for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to become a holiday when it was just becoming a day off school and work. Soon after, U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford, co-authored legislation entitled King Holiday and Service Act with U.S. Rep. John Lewis that President Bill Clinton signed in '94.
The first King Day of Service was held two years later in Philadelphia with 1,000 people volunteering in various projects, said Founder/Director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, Todd W Bernstein.
It has grown into nearly 900 projects throughout the city with 65,000 volunteers participating - up 5,000 from last year - in what is expected to be the largest turnout in the country yet again. Organizations across Philadelphia have recruited volunteers ranging from five to hundreds for each project, Bernstein said.
"It makes fundamental sense to be engaged in work that benefits the community," he said. "When honoring a figure who represents turning his concerns about pressing challenges into citizen action of bringing together a broad coalition of people breaking barriers it seems like the perfect time to celebrate his legacy."
In southwest Philly, one of Monday's activities will include giving young residents the chance to act as President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. It is one of about 20 projects scheduled in the neighborhood.
A reenactment march will follow a massive community cleanup at 10 a.m. near 70th Street and Woodland Avenue followed by the 13th annual 'Playing for the King Day," a basketball game for ages 16 and up at 1 p.m.
"It's reaching out to people who normally wouldn't come out," said community activist Paul "Earthquake" Moore.
The march will follow at 5 p.m. with Moore acting as King, reciting the "I Have a Dream" speech before meeting the Obamas, played by local youth.
"He'll talk about what has happened and why he has become president," Moore said.
While at the Kinra Learning Center, volunteers will plant bulbs at nearly 15 lots on the 5800 block of Willows Avenue, said Cassandra Whiters, President and CEO of Kids in Need, Recovered Addicts, Inc.
"We have so many [bulbs] that were donated from the residents on the block," she said.
The program that provides after school programs in the area including teaching the children chess at William C. Longstreth school, 5700 Willows Ave., and Samuel Gompers school, 5701 Wynnefield Ave., will provide all supplies needed to the volunteers from the center and surrounding neighborhood, she said.
In case of bad weather, the volunteers will instead help out with projects at Longstreth school, she said.
Obama will make an appearance as well.
"We have a cardboard statue of Obama, so if any one wants to take pictures, they can do that as well," Whiters said.
After pouring blue and yellow paint into aluminum trays, seven Youth Build Charter School students armed with rollers and brushes began freshening up doors and classrooms Monday morning at Dixon Learning Academy, 2201 Moore St., as part of the 15th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.
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