In a testament to their unwavering commitment to service and community, over 500 students, faculty, and staff of Stevens braved wintry conditions to convene for the university’s third annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on January 16. Despite the icy grip of the weather, attendees embraced a day marked by profound lectures, captivating performances, and meaningful service activities benefitting 14 local nonprofits and community organizations. This event was partly made possible by a generous $5,000 grant from AmeriCorps, alongside its partners Engage NJ and The Partnership Alliance.
Liliana Delman, the orchestrator of the event and director of Stevens’ Office of Student Culture and Belonging, set the tone for the day with a poignant invocation of King’s timeless declaration: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” She underscored the day’s purpose as a collective endeavor to inch closer to King’s vision of a beloved community anchored in love, service, and unwavering commitment to non-violence.
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Takeem Dean paid homage to King’s enduring legacy as a beacon for justice, aptly likening him to “a drum major for justice.” The event unfolded with a soul-stirring performance by Lambda Tau Omega Sorority, Inc. members, who showcased a step routine, a tradition deeply rooted in African dance customs, symbolizing unity and solidarity.
The program further highlighted the winners of Stevens’ second annual MLK Oratorical Contest, a platform hosted by Stevens’ Phi Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which invited students from New Jersey and New York City to offer their interpretations of King’s speeches or present original works inspired by his legacy. The speeches, songs, and poems from winners across various educational levels captivated the audience, amplifying the spirit of King’s message.
Jacob Agbata, a distinguished fourth-year electrical engineering student and prominent leader within Stevens’ Black Student Union (BSU) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) chapter, introduced the morning’s keynote speaker, Tylik McMillan. McMillan, a fiery civil rights activist and movement strategist, implored the audience, particularly Stevens students, to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for progress, stressing the imperative of advocating for societal change.
In the aftermath of the enriching breakfast sessions, volunteers dispersed to engage in a myriad of service activities both on and off campus. The impact was palpable, from assembling hygiene kits and writing letters to elders and hospice patients to leading STEAM activities for elementary students and facilitating panel discussions for high schoolers — the community-wide effort extended to cleaning, organizing, and refurbishing projects at local shelters, libraries, and community centers, amplifying the ethos of collective responsibility and compassion.
Events concluded in a stirring reception at the UCC’s TechFlex Auditorium, featuring captivating performances by “The Crowned,” a group within the BSU, and a soulful rendition of “Too Beautiful for Words” from The Color Purple by Valentina Vasquez, a second-year music and technology major. Assemblywoman Linda Carter M.S. ’00, delivering the closing keynote address, underscored the transformative power of individual action in realizing King’s vision of a beloved community, emphasizing the ripple effect of positive influence emanating from grassroots engagement.
As the echoes of King’s timeless message reverberated through the halls of Stevens, attendees departed imbued with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to effecting meaningful change in their communities — a testament to the enduring relevance of King’s legacy in shaping a more just and equitable society.
