Operation Shoebox Packing Event - Berkeley College and VFW Community Event - Saturday 10/19 11-1

You, your friends, and family are all invited to participate in the first Berkeley College Operation Shoebox Packing Event! This event will take place at the VFW Post 809 in Little Ferry, NJ on Saturday, October 19 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Please RSVP to Nicole Turnbull at NLL@berkeleycollege.edu to register. If you are interested in helping to plan this event, please contact Nicole Turnbull. Help is needed to recruit volunteers, fundraise for Operation Shoebox, coordinate raffle prizes, and maximize community outreach the day of the event. All participants will receive a free Berkeley Cares t-shirt and a certificate of participation from SDCL on behalf of Berkeley Cares as well as our eternal gratitude for saluting our nation's heroes!

Living the Dream: 50th Anniversary March on Washington

          Living the Dream: for 24 hours on August 24, 2013, students and staff from Berkeley College will journey to Washington, DC, joining thousands who will again March on Washington to commemorate and honor a moment and movement that inspired hearts and changed history.  Learn more about the 50th anniversary celebration and the Berkeley College #mkldream50 trip here or visit http://storify.com/dociacino/berkeley-college-mlkdream50.

         Please read this special guest blog post, which comes to us from Berkeley College student, Kyeisha Harrison. 

Source: Kyeisha Harrison

          Two years ago, the thought of taking away my precious weekend to attend a rally for anything was not even an option. My time is valuable, and after putting in a 50 hour work week, I preferred to spend my leisure time on my couch.  A lot has changed since then, and today I am elated at the thought of being able to gain a practical learning experience from attending the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington.  I am going to be a part of history that my children will one day read about in books.  I have just recently become interested in civil rights and I believe that this experience will not only deepen my knowledge, but my also drive my passion.  

Source: www.npr.org

There are so many benefits that I, as an African-American woman, have received from Dr. King’s March on Washington that I often forget , and shamefully, some things for which he fought and stood for of which I’m even unaware. I love that I have the opportunity to educate myself further on injustices and civil rights laws.  I feel empowered in knowing that I will be utilizing my rights and privileges to be a part of the movement to make a change. 

Source: www.bet.com

         

I no longer want to just live and reap the benefits of others’ hard work, sweat, blood, and tears.  I have a new passion to be a part of a changing Nation. I want to channel my energy into something other than Twitter or Facebook.  I want to make a difference for not only myself, but for generations to come.  I want to march, and listen and be vocal for the needs of so many.

Source: www.archives.gov

      

This August, I will be marching for change and equality.  I will be speaking for those who have not yet found their voices, and listening to those of wisdom and knowledge who can impart a lively dream in my life.  I am not sure if Dr. King’s dream will ever completely come true, but I do know that it has come close to life, and we will never move further if we do not take one step at a time.  This will be the first march that I have ever attended and the first of many steps that I will take. I am attending  the 50^th  Anniversary of the March on Washington to not only commemorate the greatness of what Dr. King did and said 50 years ago, but to also begin my march, walking step by step in making a difference.