Service groups see link to King

Several campus community service organizations came together Wednesday night to discuss their work's connection to Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideas and, more importantly, what the groups have in common with each other. The discussion, held in Houston Hall, started with a keynote address by University Chaplain William Gipson exploring the role of community service in King's vision. The event --Esponsored by the Penn Volunteer Network and the Greenfield Intercultural Center -- was designed to "[unite] people to bring about change," according to PVN Chairperson Mindy Glazier, a College sophomore. About 25 people attended the discussion. Gipson explained that in rereading and thinking about King's writings, he understood that this "man who changed the social landscape of the country" did so because he had a vision, a will and a program. These three things are "what community service is all about," he noted. Gipson described the process that is involved in making a change -- as King did -- through community service. It starts with the human instinct to ask "how can I help?", a search for the root of the problem and what can be done to correct it, Gipson said. Community service is based on the will to make things right, he continued, and the "strong determination that the present situation must change." He noted that it is also important to include other students who are "susceptible to providing service to others" and went on to praise students who do community service because "they actually walk the talk." Following Gipson's address, a panel of students from various service organizations discussed the work that they do and their connection with King's vision. College sophomore Leslie Heredia, a member of La Asociacion Cultural de Estudiantes Latino Americanos, described the organization's tutoring and mentoring program in North Philadelphia and encouraged every student to "give back to [their] community. College junior Seung Lee, a member of the Asian Pacific Student Coalition, said that he sees King as representative of the "definite link" between community service and politics -- a link that results from the changes volunteer work can potentially make in society. The panel was followed by a question and answer session, which revolved around issues of motivating others to get involved, as well as the importance of uniting various community service organizations. Gipson remarked that when people see the volunteer work that others are doing, "commonalities will rise to the surface," similar to the way in which King's movement inspired others who were oppressed to organize themselves into a cohesive movement. College senior Vince Mukkada, who helped organize the event, noted that this program stemmed from a desire to bring together many of the University's community service groups, and that King was "a good tie-in" to that effort. The event was part of the University's 7-week commemoration of King's birthday.