On Jan. 15, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) will kick-off the University’s inaugural National Day of Service to commemorate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to community service.
T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, FAMU alumna and famed actress, director, and producer, will serve as the honorary chair of the event. Keymáh’s Day of Service project will include speaking and reading to elementary school students in the Washington, D.C. area.
“In this day, when the very existence of HBCUs is being called into question, it is fitting that FAMU, which is among the nation’s top producers of Black college graduates, should set an example of service, especially in honor of an HBCU graduate who lived his life in service to others,” Keymáh said.
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The event, an initiative of the FAMU Office of Alumni Affairs in partnership with the FAMU National Alumni Association, is the vision of President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D. It extends through Jan. 18, and encourages the completion of charitable acts by FAMU alumni, students, faculty, staff, and supporters across the nation.
“From sock donations for the elderly in Lakeland, Fla., and serving the less fortunate at a soup kitchen in Birmingham, Ala., to a children’s book drive in Philadelphia, Pa., and a community education project in University Park, Ill., Rattlers everywhere will display the heart of FAMU’s mission – advancing knowledge, resolving complex issues, and empowering citizens and communities,” said John Lee, Ph.D., assistant vice president for Alumni Affairs and University Relations.
In North Florida, community service activities will include a choir program for the sick at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital hosted by the Jefferson County Alumni Association. Local alumni, students, faculty, and staff will partner with FAMU Athletics, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 100 Black Men, the Community Neighborhood Renaissance Partnership (CNRP), and the Leon County Alumni Association to host a suit drive for men and women in need in the Big Bend area.
The suit drive will take place on Jan. 16 from 12 – 4 p.m. at Gaither Gymnasium and the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium, located at 1755 and 1800 Wahnish Way, respectively. The group will also host a free community unity barbecue. Those who donate suits will be admitted to the FAMU vs. Morgan State basketball games beginning at 4 p.m. for a discounted price of $5 as an expression of gratitude.
Terrance McNeil, executive director of CNRP, said that residents of Tallahassee must be willing to take action to improve economic conditions, and the FAMU Day of Service is a great example of how everyone can participate.
“There is an untold story of the number of people who decline or are denied opportunities based on not having the right attire to attend interviews and conferences,” said McNeil about the importance of the suit drive. “We are willing to do anything we can to contribute to the professional development and betterment of the community.”
Gregory Clark, alumnus and newly elected president of the FAMU National Alumni Association, challenges all community members to participate.
“I am asking everyone in the FAMU community from all over the world to contribute one hour of their time and talent to this great cause,” Clark said. “Our University has given so much to us all, and we must give our time and talent and help others in return.”