A Day of Service on MLK Day with CYLA

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” 

As part of City Year’s nationwide Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, City Year Los Angeles brought together over 400 volunteers to beatify Fairfax High School, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary supporting the students in West Hollywood. Fairfax High School Principal, Leonard Choi, shared that “the school beautification fosters a college-going culture and school pride as students walk through the halls.”

The event featured special guests – 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, and LAUSD School Board Member, Nick Melvoin, who rolled up their sleeves to serve with us to take a day “on” not “off.”

This school beautification project, which was sponsored by The Vitality Institute, is the first MLK Day of Service event since the COVID-19 Pandemic, making it extra special. With activities like on-site mural painting, building planter boxes and assembling student success kits, our volunteers were committed to giving back to the students of Los Angeles through the strength of service. 

Our City Year L.A. alumni and their families also participated in serving with current AmeriCorps members and volunteers, exemplifying the true essence of the City Year family: A strong connection to service that leads to lifelong friendships and community engagement.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all our volunteers who actively embraced Dr. King’s powerful example of service.

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