11th Annual Achieving Greatness through Service Day
Youth tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. : “We’re here to serve.”
Youth tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. : “We’re here to serve.”
By Laura Salinger
Once again, Madison-area youth descended on the Monona Terrace and Convention Center on Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day — January 19, 2009 — for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Service Day. Now in its 11th year,
this youth-planned (adult-led) event, dubbed “a day on, not off,” drew some 400 youngsters together to celebrate the
legacy of Dr. King and commit to yet another year of service to their community.
Like many King celebrations, this event was undeniably marked by the events of the following day: Pres. Barack
Obama’s inauguration. When youth took to the streets to march towards the capital, some of the signs echoed
sentiments of prior years. Their signs spoke of non-violence, tolerance, and equality. In their midst, however, were the
signs that hinted at a new consciousness. There were Obama t-shirts with the word “Dream,” there were signs
proclaiming “A New Day,” and then there was the young Asian American boy holding the sign, “When I Grow Up …”
This enigmatic sign, perhaps, spoke the loudest. The sentiment: when he grows up, he is not limited by his culture, his
race. He can, in essence, be anything.
Organizer Seth Yosef, however, was clear that this day was about Martin Luther King, Jr. and he emphasized that
King’s messages, decades old, still resonant today and still need to be realized.
“We have a long way to go,” Yosef said. Citing the achievement gap, economic and social disparities, and the
disparity in college-bound African Americans versus their White counterparts, he was adamant that there is much to
be done. Of course, he is right. Still, with President Obama’s inauguration, many have found hope. And in Madison’s
youth, Yosef finds hope.
“Today, it is the adults that lead the society,” Yosef said. “Metaphorically, tomorrow, the youth will rise up and be
a bigger part of society. It is important for these young role models and leaders to be recognized. It gives kids the
opportunity to have a voice.”
It is fitting then that the theme for this year’s youth event was, “Today the Adults … Tomorrow the Youth.”
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray also emphasized the crucial role that youth play in our society. “We have
been waiting for you,” she told a room full of youth. “Today is a marvelous day because you are here. Today, you
demonstrate your greatness.”
McCray, who also delivered the keynote at the city-county observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, was the first
female to be elected president of the American Baptist Churches, USA, and is currently an instructor of Urban Ministry
at Cardinal Stritch University and the executive director of the Center for Calling and Engagement. She alluded to the
great strides that have been made.
“Dr. King’s work was to make sure that you could live in a community that would respect your talent,” McCray said.
“We, who have gone for the outhouse to the White House. We, who have marched off to war or marched to stop wars.
We were people who have dreamed of a new generation.”
This new generation, McCray said, are the youth she was speaking to and she called on them to continue serving
their community. “As long as there is poverty in the world, we can never be rich. As long as there is disease running
rampant…we can never be totally healthy. We are interdependent and, in other words, we need each other.”
The event also featured the presentation of the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards to youth demonstrating
exceptional service to their community. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and MMSD Superintendent Dan Nerad presented the
awards to service-minded youth who are making a difference in the Madison area.
“The best leaders among us inspire the best things in us,” Cieslewicz said.
Earlier in the day, youth took part in breakout sessions that tackled issues like the achievement gap, the high
school to college transition, serving the community, and male/female empowerment sessions. Entertainment
throughout the day included the Cherokee Drill Dream, the Geek Squad, Crushing All Forces, and the Wright Drill
Team, along with numerous individual youth performers. In the afternoon, youth spread throughout the community to
perform varying service projects.
Once again, Madison-area youth descended on the Monona Terrace and Convention Center on Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day — January 19, 2009 — for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Service Day. Now in its 11th year,
this youth-planned (adult-led) event, dubbed “a day on, not off,” drew some 400 youngsters together to celebrate the
legacy of Dr. King and commit to yet another year of service to their community.
Like many King celebrations, this event was undeniably marked by the events of the following day: Pres. Barack
Obama’s inauguration. When youth took to the streets to march towards the capital, some of the signs echoed
sentiments of prior years. Their signs spoke of non-violence, tolerance, and equality. In their midst, however, were the
signs that hinted at a new consciousness. There were Obama t-shirts with the word “Dream,” there were signs
proclaiming “A New Day,” and then there was the young Asian American boy holding the sign, “When I Grow Up …”
This enigmatic sign, perhaps, spoke the loudest. The sentiment: when he grows up, he is not limited by his culture, his
race. He can, in essence, be anything.
Organizer Seth Yosef, however, was clear that this day was about Martin Luther King, Jr. and he emphasized that
King’s messages, decades old, still resonant today and still need to be realized.
“We have a long way to go,” Yosef said. Citing the achievement gap, economic and social disparities, and the
disparity in college-bound African Americans versus their White counterparts, he was adamant that there is much to
be done. Of course, he is right. Still, with President Obama’s inauguration, many have found hope. And in Madison’s
youth, Yosef finds hope.
“Today, it is the adults that lead the society,” Yosef said. “Metaphorically, tomorrow, the youth will rise up and be
a bigger part of society. It is important for these young role models and leaders to be recognized. It gives kids the
opportunity to have a voice.”
It is fitting then that the theme for this year’s youth event was, “Today the Adults … Tomorrow the Youth.”
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray also emphasized the crucial role that youth play in our society. “We have
been waiting for you,” she told a room full of youth. “Today is a marvelous day because you are here. Today, you
demonstrate your greatness.”
McCray, who also delivered the keynote at the city-county observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, was the first
female to be elected president of the American Baptist Churches, USA, and is currently an instructor of Urban Ministry
at Cardinal Stritch University and the executive director of the Center for Calling and Engagement. She alluded to the
great strides that have been made.
“Dr. King’s work was to make sure that you could live in a community that would respect your talent,” McCray said.
“We, who have gone for the outhouse to the White House. We, who have marched off to war or marched to stop wars.
We were people who have dreamed of a new generation.”
This new generation, McCray said, are the youth she was speaking to and she called on them to continue serving
their community. “As long as there is poverty in the world, we can never be rich. As long as there is disease running
rampant…we can never be totally healthy. We are interdependent and, in other words, we need each other.”
The event also featured the presentation of the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards to youth demonstrating
exceptional service to their community. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and MMSD Superintendent Dan Nerad presented the
awards to service-minded youth who are making a difference in the Madison area.
“The best leaders among us inspire the best things in us,” Cieslewicz said.
Earlier in the day, youth took part in breakout sessions that tackled issues like the achievement gap, the high
school to college transition, serving the community, and male/female empowerment sessions. Entertainment
throughout the day included the Cherokee Drill Dream, the Geek Squad, Crushing All Forces, and the Wright Drill
Team, along with numerous individual youth performers. In the afternoon, youth spread throughout the community to
perform varying service projects.
| (L-R) Participants to the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth ervice Day; MMSD Superintendent Dan Nerad, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, ULGM CEO Scott Gray |