One day can make a profound difference in the lives of many.

Next semester, Temple students, faculty and staff have an opportunity to illustrate that maxim by returning to campus a day early to participate in a national day of service in remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr.

On January 19, 2009, the day before spring semester classes resume, Temple will host the 14th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. Organized by Philadelphia-area non-profit organization Global Citizen, the event will launch MLK 365, a program designed 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.

“Every day, through a wide range of programs, members of the Temple community are deeply engaged in the life of Philadelphia,” said Kenneth Lawrence, Jr., the university’s senior vice president for government, community and public affairs. “Through MLK 365, students, faculty and staff have a unique opportunity to connect with others from across the city and begin a new era of service to our community.”

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. On-site projects will include a community health fair, home weatherization seminars and children’s activities. In addition, Temple is sponsoring several service projects and encouraging broad participation from across the university community:

• The University Community Collaborative of Philadelphia (UCCP) will host a cleanup project at Penrose Recreation Center, located at 12th Street and Susquehanna Avenue.
• The Department of Nursing will host health screenings and activities for youth at the Temple Health Connections, a nurse-managed wellness center located in Norris Homes at 11th and Berks Streets.
• The School of Social Administration Center for Social Policy and Community Development will collaborate with the Campaign for Working Families to provide income tax training and will undertake other projects to assist nearby residents.
• The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Chi Omega Chapter, will help remove outdated computer equipment from Mt. Zion Methodist Church, located on the 1500 block of North 11th Street.

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.

The university’s participation in day of service projects is a tradition that marks the beginning of each semester. In the fall, freshmen work with their new neighbors on a variety of service projects as part of FreshServe; since last year, the university has also launched the spring semester with service activities in remembrance of Dr. King.

“Since its founding 125 years ago, Temple has played a leading role in advancing the quality of life in the region,” said Lawrence. “We are delighted to continue that tradition by joining with Global Citizen and the City of Philadelphia to sponsor the region’s largest day of service in honor of Dr. King.”