MLK work day

"But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice."

--Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream"

On Monday, I got to be a part of an amazing project collaboration through my work at MedBridge. We organized a day of service project at the Westside Boys & Girls Club and re-did their back patio space which they will use as an outdoor classroom. Lead by our awesome contractor, Dan Ribbens, we put pavers to create an outdoor space where kids can play, as well as assembling planter boxes for decoration and for the gardening club (with the kids' hand prints as a colorful addition :)). During the afternoon, a group of MedBridge staff also got to organize MLK activities with the kids and we enjoyed a lunch together catered by a local Westside restaurant, Super Cucas (delicious Mexican cuisine!). As the paver crew was working hard, the Westside Initiative group (which I'm also a part of) was busy re-vamping the garden area that is being used for a weekly garden club. They dug out old plants and put in new planter boxes, dirt, mulch, and new spaces for edible plants to grow.

I walked away from Monday so thankful to be apart of a company that gave up significant financial resources and allowed our employees to give up half their work day to come serve on the westside. I'm also thankful to be a part of a faith community that is engaging in a neighborhood that I am growing to love. A lot of people gave up significant time and energy to make the day happen -- cheif among them our contractor! -- and it was a blessing to see community and service happening on this day.

I love the quote "we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt". There are times where that bank does seem bankrupt or running on low funds. Days like Monday prove it wrong and encourage me to keep seeking out the people and organizations who care about justice and change within our community.