Normandale Students Help Make a Wish Come True

By Meghan Aanenson

In honor of MLK Day, twelve Normandale Community College students gathered at Make-a-Wish Foundation to assemble wish bags for children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening medical condition.  After a wonderful orientation highlighting the organization’s history, the process of granting a wish, the critical role of volunteers, and the stories of incredible wishes granted to children around the world, the students were excited to start their projects.

Wish bags are brought to the child at the very first meeting between the family and Wish Granting volunteer.  This volunteer works directly with the family to help plan the child’s wish from start to finish. Filled with age-appropriate books, toys, and gifts, wish bags help the child open up and get comfortable with the volunteer.

The Normandale students also decorated boxes, each filled with a paper chain link, that are sent to a child’s home 30 days before their wish takes place. The paper chain is a great visual countdown; each day a link is removed until the day the child’s wish is granted.

So much of Make-a-Wish-Foundation’s work is driven by volunteers.  Because of the dedication of individuals and groups like the Normandale students, over 3,000 wishes have been granted in Minnesota over the past 28 years.

MLK Day in St. Paul

By Maria Ortiz

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

The message I heard so strongly at the annual Martin Luther King Day celebration in St. Paul, was that “there is a serious urgency to act NOW! That we should not put off for tomorrow what you can be done today. Because time is not on our side, we have but precious moments to be the change we want to see in this world. We must seize the moment and act as individuals “rising above the narrow confines of our individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”  We need to regain a capacity to listen, to hear, and to discern the implications of the pains and possibilities of our Nation. The fierce urgency is now, will you make that change?

The day, themed, The Fierce Urgency of NOW- “Make That Change,” began with a rally in the auditorium of Central High School. People of all ages, races, religious backgrounds gathered together to once again be inspired by the words, images and work all in the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. Speakers reminded all to support youth, our future leaders, in the continued fight for our human rights in a righteous manner. Reverend Christopher Henry, Champlin Park Step Team, and other speakers, musical, and dance performances kicked off the Rally. With a strong message of urgency.

By 10:30am the half-mile march from Central High School to Concordia University began. The march was a re-enactment of the 1965 March from Selma to Montgomery.  During the march we were joined by many people, including hometown hero, Representative Keith Ellison.  About 2,000 people participated in the march this year. Students and organizations displayed positive, creative and colorful banners along the way.

Upon arriving at the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia University for the main program we were greeted by Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who came to show support. We were also joined by Senator Amy Klobuchar, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Mayor RT Ryback,  Mayor Chris Coleman, and other elected officials. A number of people spoke of the legacy of Dr. King. It was inspiring to see so many elected officials spending their time and energy to show support for this community.

This year’s MLK Day Celebration featured a keynote address from Nekima Levy-Pounds, Professor from University of St. Thomas Law School. Her knowledge of the criminal justice system shed light on so many more issues that need be addressed. Her words of wisdom and encouragement no doubt left many inspired to act and act now. The program also included musical, dance, spoken-word and poetry performances, as well as awards and the unveiling of a new postage stamp in honor of the African American struggle in the United States. Following the main program an Education Fair was held at the Gangelhoff Center with numerous booths available to share information.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically… Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mobilizing Students to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Julia Quanrud

In just a few days, Minnesota Campus Compact and seven of its member institutions will kick off a series of service projects to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter), Anoka-Ramsey Community College (Coon Rapids), Concordia University (St. Paul), Lake Superior College (Duluth), North Hennepin Community College (Minneapolis), Normandale Community College (Bloomington), and Saint Mary’s University (Winona) were all awarded a micro-grant from Minnesota Campus Compact to support student-led service projects that honor the life and work of Dr. King.

Concordia University MLK Day 2009

The first service project will launch on Thursday, January 14th, when students from Normandale Community College host a youth carnival for children at Ginew Golden Eagles, a program that helps American Indian youth make positive decisions through life skill training.  The following day, Normandale students will head to Richfield with students and teachers from Richfield Middle School where they will help ARC Value Village set up for its MLK Day Sale.  At the completion of their project, the volunteers will all have lunch together and reflect on their service activity.  On the official MLK Day Holiday (1/18/10), Normandale students, led by a group of Citizen-Scholar Fellows students, will also sort gifts for the Make a Wish Foundation and organize and convert space for the Ginew Golden Eagles.

Students from the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity at Gustavus Adolphus College will also be hosting a service event on the MLK Holiday.  Together with community members, students will host activities and read stories that reflect the life and work of Dr. King to local elementary school students.  Lake Superior College in Duluth also intends to work with local school children on MLK Day, facilitating activities and projects that commemorate Dr. King’s Life such as reflection, poetry, and collages.

After a city-wide celebration of Dr. King on the 18th, students at Concordia University in St. Paul will be challenged on the 19th to complete service projects at various St. Paul community organizations.  Meanwhile, over in Minneapolis, students from North Hennepin Community College will be reading and acting out stories for patients at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, while volunteers also help the children to create their own story books.

The North Hennepin Students and students from Anoka-Ramsey Community College will help pack meals for malnourished children across the globe at Feed My Starving Children on the 21st and 28th, respectively.  Students from Anoka-Ramsey will also be invited to reflect on their experiences and the life of Dr. King in a post-service presentation and reflection session.

Concordia University MLK Day 2009

The service activities will conclude with a month-long project in Winona, hosted by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.  Working together with New Beginnings in Church, students from Saint Mary’s will help complete construction on a home for recently-released inmates.  Combining secure housing with social services, the facility promises to provide inmates with a chance to reenter society successfully.

In total, these seven campuses have organized eleven projects in seven cities spanning 46 days.  Together, they are working together towards mobilizing at least 500 volunteers across the state.  To learn how you can join the movement, email julia@mncampuscompact.org or visit serve.gov.