De Blasio Administration Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With Day of Service, Calls New Yorkers to Lifelong Civic Action

January 18, 2016

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NEW YORK—To honor the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the de Blasio administration held a Day of Service, partnering with the Brooklyn Nets, to spotlight student mentorship as well as working with local nonprofits, City agencies and public schools on ten other service activities across the City with the support of over 200 service year members. The City also encourages all New Yorkers to commit to serving one another year round.

“What better way to honor Dr. King’s legacy than through volunteerism and community involvement,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “If he were here today, he would say there is much work to be done related to inequality- especially economic inequality. That is why I urge everyone to lend a hand and work together to create a safer and more equitable city, not just today, but year round.”

“The power of Dr. King’s sermons and speeches, and what he stood for is very much with us in 2016," said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “The beauty of his legacy is that we can continue it. And it's up to us keep working, keep serving and keep giving back. That is the greatest honor we can give this great man."

“NYC Service is proud to honor the legacy of Dr. King through service activities across New York City that empower individuals, strengthen our neighborhoods and shift us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community,” said Paula Gavin, Chief Service Officer of NYC Service. “We are grateful to every volunteer who gave back to their fellow New Yorkers today and encourage all residents to commit to service year round. Today and every day, let us remember that service is an investment in our communities as well as ourselves.”

This morning, NYC Chief Service Officer Paula Gavin joined the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center to co-host a speed mentoring event for high school students recruited through the Center for Youth Employment. Through 15-minute conversations, mentees interacted with several adults representing professions across different industries such as tech, finance, legal and entertainment.

“We are proud to celebrate a Day of Service with the de Blasio administration on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment. “The Brooklyn Nets are committed to making a positive community impact by promoting mentorship to empower local youth and help them develop skills needed for a bright future.”

NYC Service also partnered with local nonprofits, City agencies and public schools on 10 additional service projects in the City, from beautifying schools in the Bronx to creating college survival kits in Queens for graduating high school seniors and current college freshmen.

“Dr. King once said, ‘Everyone can be great because everyone can serve,’” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares. “Today, we not only celebrate his legacy but his commitment to service as an important goal to which we can all aspire. New York Cares was founded on similar principles and offers year-round volunteer opportunities that engage 63,000 New Yorkers and benefit 400,000 of our city’s residents.”

About NYC Service
NYC Service, a division of the Office of the Mayor, launched in April 2009 in response to President Barack Obama's national call for volunteerism and a goal of engaging 100 million Americans in service by 2020. NYC Service promotes volunteerism, engages New Yorkers in service, builds volunteer capacity and mobilizes the power of volunteers and service year members to impact New York City’s greatest needs. Our Vision is to inspire and empower all New Yorkers to volunteer and serve New York City and each other.