When I reflect on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and how he has inspired me to give back, I always refer back to my favorite line in his I Have A Dream speech….”What affects one directly affects all indirectly.” That quote resonates with me each and every day because I see how an act of kindness from one person to another can brighten each other day. MLK, Jr. challenged us to be selfless and not selfish, meaning giving back to those that aren’t able to do for themselves, be the voice for the voiceless and be the hope for the hopeless.  We can do so by beautifying your neighborhood, reading books to children in school, feeding the homeless or spending time with the elderly.

For me, I help prepare sack lunches to feed the homeless on Saturdays at Ebenezer Baptist Church Crisis Closet. I volunteer with Hosea Helps for various events. I even feed the homeless community on my own. I try to give back as much as possible because I know that by giving back to the marginalized community directly will affect everyone indirectly.

As part of our Black History Month celebration this year, we want to highlight that it’s also history in the making, and share the idea that anyone can be a hero. We’re sharing a series of stories about the community at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta Georgia.  The church has been a part of the community since 1886 and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as co-pastor alongside his father.  Today the church hosts a congregation of over 6,000 people and continues to serve the Atlanta community and beyond.  Join us in learning how a group of impressive young leaders from this historic church continue to be inspired by Dr. King’s vision and to inspire others through community service.