Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy: The Labor Movement

Between now and January 19th, we’ll feature a series of guest bloggers on USAservice.org. Today we’re pleased to share a post by Fred Azcarate, the Voice@Work Director for the AFL-CIO.

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN. His final campaign was in support of sanitation workers struggling for dignity, justice and their freedom to form a union and collectively bargain for better wages and benefits.  As the Voice@Work Director at our country’s largest labor federation – AFL-CIO – I often think of Dr. King’s legacy as well as the legacy of our labor movement.

D.C. Mayor Fenty: Help Support Our Troops

Between now and January 19th, we’ll feature a series of guest bloggers on USAservice.org. Today we’re pleased to share a post by Adrian Fenty, mayor of the District of Columbia.

We, as Americans, are defined by our sense of service, our willingness to put our country and our communities first. It’s what makes our nation great, and now more than ever, we must renew this tradition of service by making a lasting commitment to be caretakers of our communities.

Join me in fulfilling this commitment on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19^th. As a federal holiday, it’s not only a day “off,“ but it’s a day “on” where we take up the work that needs to be done on the ground.

Young People Can Have a Powerful Impact

Between now and January 19th, we’ll feature a series of guest bloggers on USAservice.org. Today we’re pleased to share a post by Wendy Kopp, the founder and director of Teach for America.

As the founder and director of Teach For America, I see evidence every day of the power of channeling the energy and idealism of America’s youth against our most pressing social issues. Today, in the classrooms of more than 6,000 corps members who are teaching in 29 urban and rural communities, we see evidence that individuals with real leadership ability who serve as teachers can have a meaningful impact on their students’ academic and life trajectories.  And, we also see the impact of thousands of Teach For America alumni who— while still in their 20s and 30s—are already assuming significant leadership roles in education and social reform.

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