By Lauren Walsh, Capacity Building Americorps Member

As we reflect on the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. this week, it is hard not to dwell on the current state of affairs in our country. Martin Luther King Jr. taught and fought for justice, peace, freedom, philanthropy, and equality. Through his dedication to peaceful demonstrations, MLK was able to bring positive change to many communities throughout the country. Changes that we are still working towards. It is hard not to dwell on the recent events or the past year when considering Martin Luther King Jr.’s values.

During the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. managed to lead a crowd of 200,000 protestors peacefully in order to fight for freedom and jobs. This march directly resulted in increased pressure on Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, banning employment discrimination and segregation in public places. MLK’s values and spirit gave people hope and it’s how this protest was able to stay peaceful while still effecting change. This does not mean they did not face disproportionate adversity, much like what the Black Lives Matter protesters have experienced in more recent years. On January 6, 2021, the NAACP Twitter account posted, “They’ve killed us for less.” Black people have been killed and treated inhumanely in this country for far too long; this is incredibly important to reflect on this week and constantly.

A large part of MLK’s teachings were rooted in forgiveness and peace. He once said, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” This does not mean that you need to forgive past grievances and injustices. Forgiveness in ourselves must come before we can begin to understand and forgive others. There is a peace that comes with forgiveness and this is what Martin Luther King Jr. wanted the collective to tap into. A world rooted in peace can move forward and create the change that is needed in our communities. We can more effectively fight the system when we do not act in hate. Acts of racism come from hate, and hatred must not be what fuels the countering of racism. This year, look at the powerful words of MLK and reflect on how you will work to change this world for the better.

MLK Day is also known as a day of service. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to volunteering and philanthropy and it is in his memory that we encourage you to volunteer.  After a year of experiencing this pandemic, many communities are left in desperate need of extra help. There are many organizations right here in Franklin County that can use your help.  Most organizations are offering virtual volunteer opportunities in light of COVID-19. Resources for where and how to volunteer can be found on United Way of Northwestern Vermont or VolunteerMatch. Here’s some more resources for organizations looking for some help:

• Samaritan House (St. Albans)- Provides emergency shelter to homeless people in Franklin and Grand Isle counties. 
• Meals on Wheels (through Age Well)- Help bring meals to senior citizens in need.
• FGI Bookmobile (St. Albans, VT)- We are always in need of volunteers to help us bring literacy to the youth of Northwestern VT.
• Your local library- Most libraries have a volunteer program in place, with duties varying from shelving books, general cleaning, or planning activities. 
• Franklin County Animal Rescue (St. Albans)-From cat cuddlers to cleaning litter boxes, help homeless pets in Franklin County find a home!
• ReSOURCE (Burlington, Williston)-This organization operates on the values of being environmentally friendly and reducing poverty through job skills training.
• Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources Inc. (South Hero)- This organization aims to provide resources to residents of Grand Isle County that allow them to live in dignity.
• American Red Cross (Burlington)- Help out at a blood drive, make some phone calls, and more!
• Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity (Williston)- Help build homes for people in need. 
• Vermont Works for Women (Winooski)- This organization helps women find career paths and training in Vermont.
• Local food shelves-Food shelves are always looking for people to help stock shelves, hand out food, and donate!

Volunteering at these or any other organization is a great way to remember Martin Luther King Jr. I’d like to end this post with a final quote from MLK, “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” Helping those in need is so important, but never forget that there is change we can create to make it so that help is no longer necessary. As always, MLK dedicated his life to change so that people may have freedom and no longer suffer, and we would do well to remember this and act with that in mind.