24 Jan Antioch Honors MLK’s Legacy With Day of Service

Story and photos by Gabbie Munoz

To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the city of Antioch hosted a series of events Monday, inviting community members to engage in a “Day of Service.”

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents were encouraged to visit the Senior Center, Antioch Community Park or Fremont Elementary School to participate in volunteer activities that supported local initiatives and honored MLK’s legacy of service.

The Senior Center hosted a special day of service designed to foster interaction between seniors and the wider community. The event featured two hands-on activities: balloon painting and tie-dyeing T-shirts. The Oakland Zoo collaborated on the event to incorporate animal-themed designs into the balloon art, while Antioch Youth Services helped facilitate youth involvement.

According to the city’s recreation services manager, Shahad Wright, more than 40 people volunteered.

Among them was college student Kimberly Figueroa, who shared why the event is important to her.

“I really enjoy working with the elders. I had a grandpa at home, and these events bring back a lot of nostalgia for me,” Figueroa said.

Event organizer Maelvy Saucedo-Hinke, the Youth Services program coordinator, explained that the goal was to create activities where youth could collaborate with seniors and engage in meaningful service.

“We wanted to offer opportunities for young people to help, while also giving seniors a chance to participate in something creative,” she said.

Wright said it was the second year the city hosted the Day of Service in this format, stressing the importance of bringing young people and their elders together.

“They lived during the MLK and the civil rights movement and they have firsthand experience that can be shared with the young people,” he said. “Instead of playing MLK speeches or some thing like that it was more about individual relationship building between the different generations.”

He wants to see more of the same in years to come.

“Working with the school district is important and It’s something that we want to keep doing in the future,” Wright said. “This was a group effort, and I think the recipe is there where we can do this for every MLK Day.”

Izzy Jaime, president of the Interact Club at Antioch High School, also volunteered at the event. “We love giving back and helping out with events like this,” Jaime said, noting that the club members assisted seniors with crafts and served lunch.

For seniors like Verinta Matthews, the event offered a chance to connect with family and the community while enjoying the activities.

“I came to participate in the crafts and spend time with my family,” Matthews said.

The event also featured a live performance by the Antioch High School orchestra, which was enjoyed by attendees, including Stella Black, who was there to support her granddaughter’s cello performance.

“I loved the performance, and it’s wonderful to see so many volunteers here today,” Black said.

To stay updated on future volunteer opportunities and events in Antioch, residents can follow the Antioch Recreation Department on Instagram.