Leah Hart jumps rope with kids at the Rec Center on MLK Day.
Accommodating children and teens of the Boys & Girls Club who spent the day at the University of Michigan-Flint’s campus on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day required a significant volunteer effort from campus administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
The day was filled with fun recreational games, craft activities, engaging educational demonstrations, and cultural learning experiences for the kids to enjoy.
On the volunteer side of the event, it meant major planning, registering children and assigning them to groups, assigning group leaders and helpers, and collectively supporting the kids throughout the busy day.
Alan Hackett led a group of kids on MLK Day.
Sapna Thwaite, Associate Dean for the School of Education & Human Services, taught a mini-class for the kids about learning and living in a different culture, India.
Kids played a variety of games at the Rec Center.
“I thought it would be interesting to talk about customs, people, and events that were not a typical part of their everyday lives,” she said. “I also wanted to help them see the philosophical connections between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. King, since both were well known world leaders who employed non-violent principles and peaceful disobedience in their approach to life. The children were inquisitive and asked some great questions!”
UM-Flint volunteers led games with balls, scooters, parachutes, and nets. Watching kids participate in various activities throughout the day energized the volunteers while giving them ideas for improving the event for next year.
Christine Kenney helps a boy with a craft project.
Many departments and leaders of the university cooperated together to make the event a success, including SEHS, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, Recreation Center, Human Resources, Public Safety, University Outreach, University Relations, Women’s Education Center, and the Early Childhood Education Club.
Jean Harkins leads a teen group on MLK Day.
Education faculty along with staff and students, facilitated a popular craft activity that gave kids free reign to create whatever they wanted to with a variety of materials and glue.
Lori Rathbun, secretary for the Education Department, enjoyed working with the kids in her group. “I like to volunteer to impact the community and to have a positive influence in a child’s life,” she said.
SEHS Dean Bob Barnett helped keep the recreational activities running safely and smoothly, and managed the volunteers and groups throughout the day.
Lori Rathbun volunteers on MLK Day.
“The sixty-five UM-Flint volunteers who helped make this event a wild success truly embraced the spirit of giving back and helping others,” Dean Barnett said. “Through our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, we were able to show the young people of our community the goodness that can be achieved when people work together. It was such a joy to see the level of cooperation and commitment on behalf of our faculty, staff, and students. Plans already are in the works to expand the program for next year.”