USciences Holds Virtual MLK Day of Service

Editor's note: This article was written prior to University of the Sciences' merger with and into Saint Joseph's University and does not reflect the current, combined institution. References to programs, offices, colleges, employees, etc., may be historical information.

USciences annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a time for the campus community to remember Dr. King and honor his legacy. While this year’s event was not able to include the usual in-person acts of service that have happened in years past, the day was still filled with a series of virtual service and learning sessions.

Service events included a virtual crafting event where participants learned how to create reusable bags out of unwanted t-shirts, activities in collaboration with the Cancer Support Community to encourage and uplift their members, and a virtual health fair where members of the community could connect with USciences volunteers to as questions about medications and other health issues.

In addition to service activities, the day included other sessions which focused on learning and discussion. Chair of the USciences department of Humanities Kevin Murphy, PhD, spoke in historical context about Dr. King’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” and a lunch session was hosted by the University’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council to allow participants to meet and engage with the newly formed group.

Youth Action, a local non-profit that inspires students to lead and support their communities, held two events during the day. The first Youth Action session, “Anti-Racist Tools to Defeat Ignorance,” allowed participants to discuss how society can combat racism. Their second session included a screening of Anton Moore’s docuseries “The Weight of Death” followed by a Q&A with Moore.

Student organizations also had the opportunity to host events this year. USciences’ Black Student Union (BSU) held an open forum discussion which focused on bridging the gap between social justice and healthcare.

Other virtual service and learning events throughout the day allowed for students, faculty, staff, and the local community to come together and honor Dr. King’s legacy of service and justice, and opening up opportunities for connection and learning.