Saturday of Service

Although this post is a little late (about a week); I took the opportunity to be active in my community and make a positive impact over MLK Weekend 2016; for a day of service, which highlights his actions as we illustrate our continued efforts to thrive within our communities and take advantage to do so with our holiday from work and/or school.

It's interesting because in hindsight I don't recall very many individuals around me speaking volumes about this additional factor supporting the well know national holiday.  Although I struggle with community service opportunities focused upon the great outdoors, I'm so allergic to being outside I often think I should live in a bubble; evenstill, this year I found ways to actively contribute.

Last Saturday I toured the National Center for Human and Civil Rights; more specifically I participated as a member of Junior League Atlanta (JLA) within their pilot focus group related to generational poverty (to which I will elaborate within its own individual  post). Although it was my 3rd time touring I still truly saw portions of the exhibit for the first time. Having a guide for the tour was helpful as she helped us view the center as a whole, through the lens of MLK weekend, and with the focus of generational poverty.

I continued my day by participating as one of several alums on a panel for my undergraduate institution, Georgia Tech. The panel was specifically geared towards minority students seeking graduate degrees. I was apparently one of the youngest alum on panel and was one of very few having career experience within the non-profit sector.  Prospective students had several great questions and statements: 

"As a women of color with stellar education accolades how do you handle office politics and related ideals such as "the angry black black women?"

"To be present amongst this panel it's clear there are several ways to arrive at the same finish line- which is success, how do you measure success?"

"How was the transition from an undergraduate HBCU to a more diverse institution?"

Although individually these questions/statements prompted on hand conversation and feedback in the moment; for me as a room filled with a variety of backgrounds, hopeful goals and developed plans we all felt connected and shared a genuine moment of truthfulness as well as impact.  

I tend to have Saturday Shenanigans instead of Saturdays of Service but this one was well spend and left me wanting to give more, share more, and be more active within my communities.  As such I challenge you to make a deliberate positive impact. Challenge yourself to serve whenever you can and wherever you choose. I challenge myself to do the same, and hope you too rise to the occasion.