Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting legacy reminds us of the value and necessity of service, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s MLK Jr. Days of Service reflect his profound commitment to community. Hosted by the Jones Center for Leadership and Service, the annual initiative organizes consistent volunteer opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to support 18 local nonprofit organizations over two weeks. A record-breaking 2,007 service hours over 772 impacts marked an extraordinary year.
Students at Ladies of Charity restocked shelves and organized donations. Partnerships with Keep Knoxville Beautiful, City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation, and Ijams Nature Center saw volunteers remove trash and invasive species from the local environment. Students and faculty supported “daily discovery” activities at Muse Knoxville to enrich the experiences of the day’s visitors. An ongoing collaboration with the Knoxville ReAnimation Coalition at Odd Fellows Cemetery supported Dr. Katherine Ambroziak and her team’s work to restore a historic East Knoxville cemetery.
“To be able to have the volunteers here for MLK Days of Service for everything from
the Be Kind party to cleaning and organizing—things we don’t usually have the time or capacity to do—made an immense impact,” said Kathy Mack, executive director of youth development at the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center. “One of the things I’ve told the volunteers is that it is so encouraging to see their attitudes. We notice how they’re here to serve. They come in there, and they have smiles. They’re eager; they’re ready.”
At the Young-Williams Animal Center, groups socialized with the animals, supported improvements throughout the building, and organized supplies. Volunteers with the Emerald Youth Foundation spent time at Emerald Academy. One student reflected, “I feel deeply inspired and proud of the hard work accomplished by our team of volunteers formed from the university. Coming together for this event highlighted the power of community and the impact we can have when we unite for a common purpose.”
Staff groups across campus came together to serve, too. Nine departments in the Division of Student Life participated—the Center for Student Engagement worked with the Humane Society of Tennessee Valley, and the Center for Student Advocacy and the Center for Basic Needs served at the Sertoma Center, an organization facilitating programs for adults with intellectual disabilities.
The program’s long history at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has enduringly supported local nonprofits in their commitment to serving the city. Natalie Frankel, assistant director of community engagement at the Jones Center, said, “The event first started in 2001. Over the years, the event has shifted and ultimately has taken us to the two-week format it is in now. One of the most important reasons is wanting to ensure our office and the university as a whole are prioritizing and meeting the needs of community organizations.”
The Jones Center staff coordinated 72 university-wide events with collaborative efforts across 18 Knoxville nonprofits. The program would not be possible without the dedicated contributions of our staff, who spend months communicating with community partners, organizing site leaders, facilitating program registration and check-in, and overseeing service shifts. Jones Center Ambassadors are also vital to the initiative’s success as they lead students through service projects and sustain positive relationships with community partners.
“The JCAs are liaisons to the partners and also lead a discussion after the service event to guide the meaningful reflection of the experience,” said Frankel. “Being able to have a dialogue after service allows participants to understand the impact of the project and encourages students to continue engaging in community work after the one event. It is an excellent opportunity to reflect on MLK’s legacy and his hopes for the world and ideally inspire our campus community to continue not just talking about their hopes and dreams for the world, but taking an active part in making it happen.”
The program’s remarkable and heightened engagement culminated in an astounding $67,214 in economic impact. The Jones Center is grateful for the students, faculty, and staff, and the Knoxville community uniting for a historic year, emulating the Volunteer spirit through and through.