Raleigh, North Carolina- January 21, 2008 - North Carolina Campus Compact, a coalition of 35 higher education institutions in North Carolina, is honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by recognizing MLK Day as "a day on, not a day off" and participating in the national MLK Day of Service. NC Campus Compact member institutions are mobilizing over 500 diverse college students and youth to complete service projects throughout the state of North Carolina while reflecting on Dr. King's life. Nine campuses have organized 50 projects that assist local agencies in expanding or improving their abilities to help the people they serve.

 

Peace College will host the first ever MLK Challenge on their campus. Approximately sixty students, faculty and staff will serve together to impact five different agencies in the community. A request was sent out to agencies in December of last year and there was a tremendous response. The community partners are very excited to see what amazing projects can be accomplished during this day of service. The campus is rallying around this event. Students seem to be most excited to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through their active service.

 

Additional funding for these projects was provided by a mini-grant from North Carolina Campus Compact. NC Campus Compact works to promote civic engagement by uniting campuses, engaging communities and impacting North Carolina communities. NC Campus Compact was awarded a Building the Beloved Community grant for the MLK Day of Service by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, through support of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The objective of the grant is to honor the memory of Dr. King through service and to impact disadvantaged youth by engaging them in service and/or engaging volunteers in service to impact disadvantaged youth.

 

For more information about local events or to get involved, please contact: Julie Lawson, 919-508-2015 or jlawson@peace.edu. For more information on North Carolina Campus Compact, please visit www.nccampuscompact.org or call 336-278-7278.