Archived News Release: December 19, 2017 - Natural Area Preservation will lead Ann Arbor residents in volunteer service Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Volunteers will join hundreds of thousands across the country on this national day of service, answering King's call to serve and make a difference in their community.
Locally, volunteers can participate at Barton Nature Area on Jan. 15, 1–3 p.m., helping protect biodiversity by removing invasive shrubs such as honeysuckle and buckthorn. Those interested should meet at the Barton Dam parking lot on Huron River Drive and also dress in layers and wear shoes suitable for snow or wet ground. All participants must complete a release form; and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks and know-how provided.
In recognition of King's incredible legacy of service to all, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service in 1994. The MLK Day of Service shines a spotlight on service as a powerful force to bridge economic and social divides. National Days of Service provide Americans with an opportunity to join neighbors and local leaders to tackle community challenges and strengthen the nation. The Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS) leads the annual MLK Day of Service, working with the King Center in Atlanta and thousands of nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, schools and businesses nationwide.
City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic among its citizens. This involves conducting plant and animal inventories, ecological monitoring and stewardship projects in Ann Arbor parks. Both staff and volunteers perform these tasks. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
The MLK Day of Service is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Volunteer Generation Fund programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
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