Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message from the President
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Promoting Peace Through Service to Others
As the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. draws close, I am reminded of the words of King's late wife, Coretta Scott King: "The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness and service to others."
Last year's King Day celebration marked the beginning of a new service tradition at MDC in partnership with Service for Peace. Dr. King's birthday presented an opportunity for civic engagement through the College's service-learning projects. These are efforts deeply in tune with both Dr. King's legacy and the College's mission. The projects provide our students, faculty and staff the chance to participate in service and reflect on the social and economic progress that was central to Dr. King's message.
Last year, more than 120 MDC students and employees took part in Service for Peace projects during the weekend before the holiday. This year, the College and Service for Peace once again are offering a variety of opportunities for MDC students and personnel to pay respect to King's legacy and help improve our community.
Projects for this year's January 19 MLK Day of Service include the creation of a Peace Garden in the city of Miami Gardens and the beautification of a housing unit in Overtown, among others.
By taking part in one of these activities, you will bridge social and cultural gaps, and demonstrate compassion and commitment to making a difference in our dynamic community. To participate, please contact Harold Silva in the MDC Center for Community Involvement at hsilva@mdc.edu.
Thank you.
Eduardo