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A School's MLK Day Makeover

Paige Brettingen |
January 16, 2012 | 7:05 p.m. PST

Special Project News Editor

 

Mayor Villaraigosa clears space for a garden at Los Feliz Elementary School (Photo by Paige Brettingen)
Mayor Villaraigosa clears space for a garden at Los Feliz Elementary School (Photo by Paige Brettingen)
With pop music booming from loudspeakers and 150 gallons of paint waiting, Los Feliz Elementary School in Los Angeles hosted the seventh annual "MLK Day of Service" Monday morning, organized by the nonprofit L.A. Works.

Making a stop before his appearance in the Los Angeles “Kingdom Day” Parade, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed a crowd of over 1,000 volunteers at the school, commending them for their service on such an important day and singing part of Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday."
"Too often, we celebrate Dr. King's birthday with a nice speech and none of us can give a speech like Dr. King… The best way [to celebrate] is to do what he did.  He was a man who gave his life for others, a man of service…we're here because the best way we can remember Dr. King is in service for others," said Villaraigosa to the crowd.
The third Monday in January was declared a federal holiday in 1983 to celebrate the birthday of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  King won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership as a civil rights activist and is most identified with his "I Have A Dream" speech.  He was assassinated in 1968.
Villaraigosa expressed gratitude for the work King had accomplished, and he credited King for making it possible for him to be a leader today.
"It was the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act that opened up the country to me, and I couldn't be prouder to celebrate Dr. King's birthday as the mayor of L.A. I know full well just what he's done for me and what he's done to make the country a more perfect union," said Villaraigosa in an interview.
Before leaving for the parade, Villaraigosa, along with Secretary of Commerce John Bryson, raked leaves and debris to clear space for the school's community garden.
In a speech to the volunteers, Bryson applauded their efforts while also giving a subtle plug for President Obama's re-election campaign- mentioning the president's commitment to create jobs- especially for “all the young people.”
But it was clear that politics were not the day's focus.  Rather, volunteers had only one agenda in mind: working together to revitalize Los Feliz Elementary School.
Located at 1740 N. New Hampshire Ave., the LAUSD school of over 400 students has been deeply affected by budget cuts, said L.A. Works Executive Director Debbie Brutchey. 
"It's a historic school in L.A.- over 100 years old- and they don't have a plant manager anymore, so they really needed a facelift," Brutchey said. 
The volunteers mostly stemmed from the event's corporate sponsors including Target, Kaiser Permanente and Northrop Grumman.
Brandon Routh, the star of "Superman Returns," made a guest appearance and gave volunteers their project assignments that ranged from building a literacy garden to repainting the staircases.
"It's a unique opportunity for people to come together, work together from different backgrounds… to realize that we're not as different as we think we are.  We can work together for a common good and make a lot of change in our communities," Routh said in an interview
As a first-time volunteer with L.A. Works, Irene Rocha, 22, dug her shovel into the dry, crusty soil on the school's playground.  She was determined to make space for new flowers and expressed feelings similar to Routh's about the significance of being there in honor of King.
"We come from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, cultures, so just being able to come together for one day and unite with other members of the community, it's really great," Rocha said. 
"Had it not been for [King], a lot of us wouldn't even be here, or a lot of us would be taking a lot for granted.  It's really great to come out, keep serving the community to show younger generations how important it is to serve the community you grew up in," she said.
Arnee Jacob, 31, of Burbank was using the day as an opportunity to do just that- showing her 8-year-old twins, Jasmeen and Jase, how to carry out King's mission.
"It's important to give back to the community...to spread awareness and love to the people," she said.  "I love teaching them that."
As Jasmeen and Jase painted bricks for the literacy garden, they shared what they knew about King.
"He tells speeches and he takes care of our community," Jasmeen said. 
Her brother nodded in agreement.  "He was a special guy and he changed the world for civil rights," Jase added.
Juan Mendoza, 48, an LAUSD employee for 15 years and a resident of Los Feliz, had begun volunteering with L.A. Works 10 years ago. His task that day was to paint the school's three staircases, and with there being so many volunteers, he said they would finish the project right on schedule.
"When I see people coming out, helping out, it really feels good.  It looks like we're getting out there," he said.
Other improvements to Los Feliz Elementary included tile mosaics for its art deco facade, freshly painted basketball courts, and less squeaky chairs. 
"We're going to put tennis balls in the chairs so you can't hear them between the first and second floors," said Brutchey grinning excitedly.
Having the day off from Blair High School in Pasadena, 12-year-old Qaisia Boone enjoyed gluing the vibrant crimson and aqua marine mosaic tiles together with her 7-year-old brother assisting her.
"They really look pretty and they're turning out really good," Qaisia said.  "Knowing that kids are going to be able to have this on their school, it will be really cool."
Above all, L.A. Works hoped the day would remain centered on King's desire for people to connect with one another and that it might even be a springboard for continued participation in community service.
"I just want more people getting involved in their community, learning about their neighbors, meeting one another, and serving one another," Brutchey said. 
For Brutchey, having city leaders at the event made that message easier to convey. But for one guest speaker, the most important part of the day was not the leaders— it was each individual volunteer.
"You can have the greatest leaders in the world, but nothing will happen without you," Rosey Grier, 79, said to the crowd. 
A former NFL defensive lineman and the bodyguard who held down Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassin in 1968, Grier reminded volunteers that their individual self-worth should always remain the focus. 
But hearing it wasn't enough.  He wanted them to say it too.
"There is no one in the world like me," Grier said, urging the crowd to echo his words. 
"I am a winner…I am important…and I’m cute too,” said Grier.
“And I'm cute too," the crowd repeated with laughter and applause.



 

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