This year, Temple will play an integral role in the annual service event by hosting hundreds of projects including a community health fair, home weatherization seminars and children’s activities at the Liacouras Center.

“Temple has a strong tradition of supporting programming and events that help improve our community. We hope that this event will encourage students, faculty and neighbors to become more engaged in community-based efforts,” said Kenneth Lawrence, Jr., the university’s senior vice president for government, community and public affairs.

The annual day of service will be the kick-off event for MLK 365, a program designed by Global Citizen to stimulate year-round civic engagement and volunteerism in areas such as literacy, homelessness, poverty, sub-standard housing, bridging the digital divide, the environment, energy and healthcare.

Although classes officially begin on Jan. 20, many students are returning to campus early to serve among the 65,000 volunteers who are expected to participate in more than 650 community-service projects in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

“Events like this help students get better acquainted with the needs of Philadelphia’s communities,” said Osizwe Eyi di yiye, candidate for a Ph.D. in African American Studies. “From there, it’s up to us to decide how were are going to make service and volunteering part of our educational experience at Temple.”

Volunteers will participate in several community-based projects including the creation of an environmentally friendly playground at the Winchester Recreation Center, on 15th Street near York, and health screenings and activities for youth hosted by the Department of Nursing at Norris Homes at 11th and Berks streets.

In addition to service-based programs, the day will include informational workshops led by Temple faculty, including a seminar lead by Molefi Asante, a professor in the African American Studies Department, designed to train educators on how to incorporate African American content into educational and training programs.

Organizations from the region will convene in the Liacouras Center, which will serve as home base for a range of community service projects throughout the day. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the complex.

For more information or to register to participate in any of these events, please contact Andrea Swan, neighborhood and city relations manager, at 215-204-7409 or aswan@temple.edu.