Small contributions, big impact

At the University of Redlands, Martin Luther King Jr. Week (January 20-24) is not just a time for reflection but a call to action. Through a series of hands-on service opportunities, Bulldogs manifest King’s philosophy that service is a pathway to greatness.

U of R’s Community Service Learning (CSL), which coordinates service-oriented internships required for graduation, focuses on fostering meaningful community engagement and “hands-on service opportunities” that allow students to engage directly with the local community.

“The focus of our office has been how do we provide service opportunities or ways to make small contributions because that’s what MLK would be doing,” CSL Assistant Dean Erin Sanborn said. “At the core of MLK’s message is the value in showing up, in whatever capacity you can, which is powerful and something we always try to reiterate with our students.”

Throughout the week, students will participate in events such as donation drives, blanket-making, and the MLK Peace Walk. These initiatives, along with partnerships between the Office for Inclusion and Community and organizations like LifeStream and “Get on the Bus,” provide students with opportunities to serve while reflecting on issues affecting their local communities. 

“Another tenant of MLK’s message is that you don’t have to be in Washington to make a difference,” Sanborn said. “You can engage in community conversations in your small town or large city.”

By aligning its mission with King’s teachings, CSL helps students see that community service is not just about immediate impact but about fostering a lifelong commitment to social justice and change, Sanborn said, and that service is a powerful tool for transformation, both for themselves and for the communities they serve.

MLK Week events include:

Tuesday, January 21

· LifeStream blood drive - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Casa Loma Room 

· Luminaria Ceremony - 4:30 p.m., Hunsaker University, Plaza Fountain

Wednesday, January 22

· Labyrinth 20th Anniversary - noon, Labyrinth behind the Chapel

· Blanket making | “Get on the Bus” - 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Armacost Library, second floor, whiteboard

· Poster workshop - 10 - 5 p.m., Hunsaker University Center, second floor, Heritage Lounge

Thursday, January 23

· MLK Peace Walk - 10:50 - 11:50 a.m., start at Memorial Chapel steps on the Redlands campus

· “King in the Wilderness Screening”— 2:30 - 5 p.m., Gregory Hall 161

See the full list of events.