At the University of Maryland College of Education, we believe that everyone should become better informed and play a role in improving our communities.
Civic engagement has the potential to help students develop their capacities for understanding their role in complex social, economic, and political systems. Through our new EdTerpsEngage initiative, COE will provide resources and information to our community on how they can maximize their impact, stay informed, stay involved, and exercise their civic rights and duties.
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 17 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. and honoring his achievements toward racial equity. Dr. King dedicated and sacrificed his life advocating for civil rights and nonviolent resistance against racial injustice.
As a College community, we know well that education is part of the solution to threats to an equitable and just democracy. MLK Day presents an additional opportunity for us to reflect and act in our communities.
"Observed each year on the third Monday in January as ‘a day on, not a day off,’ MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. " Americorps, MLK Day
In the same spirit, this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service has been extended to a full week of reflection and action. From January 17 to 21, we invite you to engage with, learn about, and serve in our communities by volunteering to make a positive difference.
Thank you for using MLK Day as "a day on, not a day off" to make a positive difference in our world and community.
Every vote matters and every vote counts. Through our #EdTerpsVote campaign, COE helped our community members stay informed and provided election and voting updates. We hosted a series of virtual events, including teacher preparation workshops on how to teach civic engagement in the classroom. We partnered with local organizations to explain the impact of voting on K-12 and higher education. Our students, faculty and staff shared videos across multiple digital platforms on why they vote. And we collaborated with peers throughout UMD's campus to elevate our civic engagement goals and encourage everyone to 'Get Out and Vote!'
Upcoming Events
Monday, January 17, 2022: National MLK Day fo Service
Monday, January 17th - Friday, January 21st: MLK Day of Service Week
Past Events
January 18 - MLK Day of Service
September 11 - 9/11 Day of Rememberance
October 15 - Teaching About Voting and the 2020 Election: A Workshop for Secondary School Teachers
Community engagement directly impacts the policies, programs and public services in our local communities. Now is the time to tap into our networks to stay informed and involved. We all have a part to play to move our mission forward and to create a more equitable world. Check here for updates on volunteer opportunities and ways that you can stay engaged in your local communities.
We know that many members of our community are already involved in meaningful volunteer work, but we would like to share some additional volunteer opportunities and encourage everyone to find a way to get involved—maybe even make this a regular part of your schedule throughout the semester.
On-Campus Opportunities
One opportunity for this semester that directly addresses needs on our campus is the UMD Campus Food Pantry. GlobalUMD is another opportunity in which facilitators can register to (virtually) help international students, visiting scholars and community members practice their oral communication skills with the English Conversation Partners Program. We also welcome you to explore other volunteer opportunities with the UMD Office of Community Engagement (click on “events”).
Off-Campus Opportunities
The Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps is accepting applications to assist with COVID-19 vaccine distribution, where you would be assigned to your county's "Maryland Responds" volunteer unit. You do not need to be a medical/health worker to volunteer. Many county governments across the state also publicize volunteer opportunities all year long (e.g., https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/). And, a number of virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities can be found through the AmeriCorp Volunteer Search and Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism websites.
Sustainability Opportunities
First things first, join us in our pledge! I commit to making small changes one step at a time for a healthier planet.
Now, here are a few sustainable actions you can consider taking:
- Take advantage of sustainable forms of transportation UMD offers, such as Shuttle-UM and UMD Smart Commute.
- Support farmers markets, such as the UMD Farmers Market or find a local farmers market in Maryland.
- Donate to the Green Maryland Gift Fund, which supports the University Sustainability Council and Office of Sustainability.
- Apply for a grant from the Sustainability Fund to make campus facilities more sustainable. All students, faculty, and staff are eligible to receive funding.
- Review the UMD Waste Guide to learn more about waste and recycling and SustainableUMD ProgressHub to see the campus' progress towards its sustainable goals.
Ways to LEARN | Link |
| Attend a Maryland Equity Project presentation | https://education.umd.edu/research/centers/mep/colloquium%C2%A0series |
| Watch "Takeover" (by Emma Francis-Snyder), an NYT OpDoc: "On July 14, 1970, members of the Young Lords took over Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx. Among their demands? Accessible, quality health care for all." | https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000007959477/takeover.html?playlistId=video/op-docs |
| Read something that widens your perspective: Book recommendations | https://education.umd.edu/file/coe-mlk-week-recommended-readingspdf |
| Read Ibram X. Kendi: Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America | https://www.ibramxkendi.com/stamped |
| WATCH: EdTerps Dialogue on enhancing learning and classroom engagement through teaching effectiveness strategies and equitable leadership practices.Presenters: Professor Mia Smith-Bynum, Ph.D., Alana D. Murray '98, Ph.D.'12 and Alison Jovanovic '98. M.Ed. | https://youtu.be/q2OB1mNV5hU |
| Read: "Want to be happier? Try volunteering, study says." (by Elizabeth Hopper) Washington Post, July 29, 2020. Extend your learning by discussing it with with a colleague, friend, or family member. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/07/29/volunteer-happy-mental-health/ |
| Watch: Dr. Stephanie Timmons-Brown 2021 Terrapin Ed Talk "More than Athlete" | https://youtu.be/tEDihbh9q5o |
| Explore the Decolonial Atlas | https://decolonialatlas.wordpress.com |
| Read MLK's page on the NAACP website | https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/martin-luther-king-jr |
| Watch "13th" by Ava DuVernay who examines the country's history of racial inequality, leading to the high rate of incarceration in America. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8 |
| Learn about the Piscataway people | http://www.piscatawaytribe.org |
| Read: "The season of service doesn't have to be so seasonal" (by Tayna Ward Goodman) Washington Post, January 6, 2022. Extend your learning by discussing it with with a colleague, friend, or family member. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/01/03/volunteer-opportunities-year-round/ |
Ways to CARE | Link |
|---|---|
| Venmo a friend $5 to cover their morning coffee | N/A |
| Call an elder to ask how they are doing | N/A |
| Read a poem to someone | http://poets.org/ |
| Bake a treat for a teacher | https://adayincandiland.com/teacher-appreciation-home-baked-gifts/ |
| Send a letter to a health care worker | https://www.gbmc.org/messages-of-gratitude |
| Create a self-soothing kit | https://www.sharp.com/health-news/how-to-make-a-self-soothe-kit.cfm |
| Check-in on a family member or friend | N/A |
| Follow a guided meditation | https://youtu.be/U9YKY7fdwyg |
| Learn how to and about the benefits of journaling | https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1 |
| The event is centered around non-violence, peace, and social justice and how those subjects show up in teens’ lives today. At 2:00 p.m., HopeWorks hosts a virtual “I Can I Will” Create Peace Virtual Workshop. Participants (eight and older) will create art aimed to inspire healing, equity and transformation while listening to music and to a speech by King. | https://hopeworksofhc.org/event/the-i-can-i-will-create-peace-virtual-workshop-2/ |
| Watch Dr. Kimberly Griffin's Terrapin EdTalk on the importance of integrating CARE into professional and personal mentorships. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbBsu6sr5tI |
| Watch: Learn how to help children manage their emotions: Dr. Colleen O'Neil's Maryland Day 2021 Video | https://drive.google.com/file/d/179G6fvheeJL_UveFE8ISeRDARBjOGaAZ/view |
| DISCOVER: Tools to help your child maintain well-being. Emotion and Stress Regulation Magic Tool Box | Emotion and Stress Regulation Magic Tool Box |
| Watch Dr. Julie Park's Terrapin EdTalk on the importance of safe spaces and “charging docks” for students of color who are learning in predominantly white spaces. | https://youtu.be/7K2Lz12HhwM |
Ways to SUSTAIN | Link |
|---|---|
| Sign up for Smart Commute | https://transportation.umd.edu/sustainable-transportation |
| Donate to the Green Maryland Gift Fund | https://sustainability.umd.edu/about/donate |
| Review the UMD Waste Disposal Guidelines | https://essr.umd.edu/about/environmental-affairs/regulated-waste/waste-disposal-guidelines |
| Get involved in UMD sustainability efforts | https://sustainability.umd.edu/get-involved |
| Pick up litter in a local park or public space | N/A |
| Commit to planting a tree | N/A |
| Learn about issues around Guilford Woods | https://saveguilfordwoods.wordpress.com |
| Set a sustainability goal for your household | https://www.thegoodlifewithamyfrench.com/post/sustainable-goals-for-the-new-year |
| Learn how to compost | https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/composting/ |
| DONATE: Make a sustainable (reoccurring) gift to an organization that is working towards justice. Consider the Elaine Johnson Coates Fund: Created in honor of the first African American student to graduate from the University of Maryland College Park, this fund provides scholarships for students who commit to enhancing diversity through their community engagement and research. | https://giving.umd.edu/giving/fund.php?name=elaine-johnson-coates-59-current-use-scholarship-in-the-college-of-education- |
| Watch: EdTerps Dialogue on disrupting biases in the classroom. Presenters: Tiki Ayiku, M.A. '05 and Nathan Victoria, CAE | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPf73Gfnw-g |
Ways to SHARE | Link |
|---|---|
| Assist with COVID-19 vaccine distribution | https://mdresponds.health.maryland.gov/agreement.php |
| Contribute to the UMD Campus Pantry | http://campuspantry.umd.edu/ |
| Contribute to the UMD English Conversation Partners Program | http://ecpumd.weebly.com/facilitator-registration.html |
| Participate in the UMD Black Alumni Network MLK Day of Service Food Donation and Service Learning | https://alumni.umd.edu/events/umba-mlkservice-19 |
| Take your gently worn coats to a donation center near you | N/A |
| Record a reading for kids | https://www.volunteermd.org/need/detail/?need_id=512074 |
| Supporting the Baltimore Hunger Project by Making Snack Bags for Hungry Kids | https://www.baltimorehungerproject.org/blog/resources/making-snack-bags/ |
| Supporting the Baltimore Hunger Project by Making Birthday Packs | https://www.baltimorehungerproject.org/blog/resources/making-birthday-packs/ |
| Donate a new or gently used pair of shoes to Soles4Shoes | https://soles4souls.org/give-shoes/ |
| Donate to House of Ruth Maryland which provide a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and their children | https://hruth.org/ways-to-give/donating-goods-and-services/ |
| Send a letter to a St. Jude Patient | https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/online-card-message-patients.html |
| Donate a household item for a refugee family | https://opendoorsforrefugees.org/contribute-furniture-household-items/ |
Ways to REFLECT | Link |
|---|---|
| Write down one (or more!) ways that you engaged in MLK Service Week and brainstorm ways to stay engaged the rest of the year | N/A |
| Questions to consider: How has your definition of service evolved after this week? What opportunities are there to stay engaged back on campus? | N/A |
| Listen to the Benjamin Broadcast: Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast in which three African American, female, EdTerps reflect on their experience at the college, some of the challenges they faced, and what they learned. | https://education.umd.edu/news/02-25-20-benjamin-broadcast-episode-2-culture-eats-strategy-breakfast |
| Personal Reflection: What are you doing for others? Reflect back on your week and share what you have learned or what actions you have taken to inspire others. What will you do going forward? | N/A |
| Watch Dr. William Ming Liu's Terrapin EdTalk: Being on White Time & Living in White Space. | https://youtu.be/KMAjMcDJeUE |