MKL EVENT1-2016MLK EVENT 2 1-2016When Glenmont Job Corps students were invited by one of Ms. Morin’s community contacts at the Albany Veterans’ Administration Hospital to attend a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event, CPP/Counseling Manager Ms. Dawn Hall jumped at the opportunity to involve our CPP students. Ms. Hall arranged for CPP Instructors Mr. Anthony Sanchez and Ms. Anjanette Tucker to escort their students to the event. Ms. Morin met them at the event to support students and make new contacts.
The MLK Day event took place on the 11th floor in the hospital’s chapel. Impressively, our GJCC students chose to sit front and center in the first two rows. The event started with an introduction by Ms. Brenda Roberts, a nurse at the VA Hospital. Then, guests were entertained with some sweet gospel singing by four members of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Then, Mr. Daniels, a pastor from the same church gave a presentation about Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The message he delivered was profound. He spoke of Mr. King, his focus on helping others and the risks and sacrifices he made to achieve more, not just for himself, but for his community and for generations to come. He spoke of this great nation in which we live and of how even though we have come a long way, we still must strive to improve our country in the future. At one point, he spoke directly to our students. He said to the students, “Glenmont Job Corps, do not be always just looking out for yourself, but look out to see how you can help someone else.” He added, “How does America get to heaven? Help those we pass every day and look down upon.”
When Mr. Daniels finished his message, the choir sang once again. This time, we joined in singing the “African-American Anthem” and “We Shall Overcome.” Afterward, all guests were invited to have a piece of birthday cake in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. While enjoying the cake, GJCC students had time to interact with Mr. Daniels one-on-one. He gave out generous hugs and encouragement to all those he spoke to. To one student he said, “Don’t give up. I came fromnothing. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. I am proof that you can.”
After the event one student said, ”It really opened my eyes to things going on. It hit home for me. I haven’t been to church in so long, but I feel I will look at things differently now.” Without a doubt, our students felt honored and were touched by the education and inspiration they received.
To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The time is always right to dothe right thing.”