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MLK Day at Emma Willard School is one of the most interactive community events of the year. With this year’s theme centered around “Greatness in Service,” a community service project was a highlight of the day’s activities. Student-led workshops and a panel discussion featuring local leaders made the day both enlightening and inspiring.
Beginning the day by listening to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s own words in his “Drum Major Instinct” speech, the Emma Willard community centered their minds on this key phrase: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” Poetry readings, skits, songs, trivia, and personal reflections filled out the opening program, which was hosted by Ava S. ’28 and Edith G. ’27 as members of the Student Diversity Leadership Group (SDLGs).
Director of International Recruitment & Retention Jing Zhang Benavot and Catherine C. ’26 performed Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
Tenth Grade SDLGs introduced a community art project in which everyone was invited to fill large letters—L-O-V-E—with ways that we can spread love within our community. “Loving is an action and a service we give to ourselves and to others,” they shared.
“Through this community art project, we hope that everyone feels empowered to spread love and positivity. The world we’re living in is constantly evolving, and we need love to uplift each other through each and every day.”
Throughout the day, 15 workshops were offered on a range of topics related to service, identity, and issues important to our diverse community. Whether directly or indirectly related to the day’s theme of service, the presenters performed an act of service to the Emma community, helping us all engage more fully with the world around us.
Christine I-K. ’27 and Masouda K-A. ’27 led a workshop on “Unboxing the ‘Perfect Black Person’” during the morning session.
In addition to the day’s workshops, a new part of this year’s celebration featured on-campus service projects: sorting donations and making care packages for distribution at our local Oakwood and Mount Ida food pantries and packaging children’s book donations to be shared with local Pre-K programs, hospitals, and bilingual/newcomer programs through Stories for Success.
Students decorate bags to fill with children’s books for Stories for Success.
The day culminated in a panel discussion featuring local leaders who are living examples of what it means to live with purpose, humility, and a commitment to others. In introducing the panelists, Nigel L. ’27 shared, “Each of our panelists embodies greatness in service not through recognition or status, but through consistent action, care for community, and a willingness to show up when it matters most.” In answer to questions moderated by Abbi P. ’26 and Paloma L. ’27, each panelist provided more nuggets of wisdom than we can recount.
“Each of us has gifts. There is something that you love doing. There’s something special about each and every person in this room. As you think about what it means to serve, consider what it is that is special about you. Start there, and then think about what you can give back to others.” —Bria Barnes-Coleman | Director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative & Community Engagement at Albany Law School, Board Chair of Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region
“You don’t have to raise your voice to raise the truth. Communicate with clarity and compassion, but don’t dilute your message to make others comfortable. Dr. King taught us that respectful truth can still be disruptive. Deep listening, speak honestly, set your boundaries, and remember that disagreement doesn’t mean disrespect. Your voice does not have to be perfect to be powerful.” —Starletta Renée | CEO of YWCA of the Greater Capital Region
“Dr. King reminds us that leadership doesn’t require visibility. It requires integrity. Sometimes leadership looks like asking the right questions, building the right bridges, and doing the behind-the-scenes work that no one applauds. As a Black woman and as a mother, I’ve learned that quiet consistency can be just as powerful. Showing up over time builds trust. Impact doesn’t always look loud. It looks like sustained care, accountability, and follow-through.” —Tershia Ellis | Doula and Board Chair of BirthNet
“It is very helpful and very grounding to have a teacher like nature as we talk about change. With the tenure of life, you buy into this reality more and more: impermanence is actually such a blessing. Change is inevitable…. We have such a short amount of time here, in the grand scheme of time. Who are you pouring your energy into? Who helps to combat that messaging [from what you hear in the news]? While it’s important to be informed, there’s also the truth that, in your relationships and the people you surround yourself with, there is tangible proof that there is something different.” —Taína Spicer | Artist, Farmer, Educator, and Chef at Soul Fire Farms
The final moments of the day were spent in reflection, considering the moments that stretched thinking and deepened understanding. Head of School Dr. Karen Lassey closed by thanking all those students, faculty, and employees who presented workshops and worked together to make MLK Day a beautiful experience. “I am struck by how deeply our community has embraced this year's theme of Greatness in Service," she shared. "We recognize that the qualities of leadership at Emma Willard and elsewhere are expressed in everyday actions regardless of titles. We express it by how we listen, how we care, and how we actively show up in service to one another.”
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