Volunteers Honor MLK Jr.’s Legacy Through Service at Kellogg Polytechnic Elementary
In the spirit of service championed by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty and staff came together for the MLK Jr. Day of Service at Kellogg Polytechnic Elementary School.
Hosted by the Center for Community Engagement (CCE), the Jan. 24 event focused on strengthening the school’s learning environment while fostering connection, collaboration and community pride.
A total of 28 volunteers participated in the day of service, including 19 students, five staff members, one faculty member, and three friends and family members. Together, they dedicated their time to hands-on projects that directly benefited the Kellogg Elementary community.
Volunteers worked across several service projects aimed at refreshing and enhancing the campus, helping to create a more welcoming and inviting space for the students and families the school serves.
“Our biggest goal was to enhance the elementary students’ learning environment,” said Lauren Bernal, service learning and volunteer coordinator from the Center for Community Engagement. “To accomplish this, several volunteers painted the crossbeams at the entrance of the school to add color to the space, others painted the backdrop of the stage from a faded blue to a solid black for a more professional look, and the rest pulled weeds from the on-site garden where students learn about urban gardening and nutrition.”
“Together these activities worked towards Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of a beloved community,” Bernal added.
Throughout the day, volunteers embraced the collaborative nature of service, building connections while working side to side.
“I loved seeing the community created in each of the volunteer groups,” Bernal said. “Those in the garden talked with one another as they pulled weeds, those painting the crossbeams worked together to make as much progress as possible, and those working on the stage turned up the music and danced as they worked.”
One of the most meaningful outcomes of the day was the completion of a long-awaited campus improvement. The stage backdrop, a project envisioned for months, was nearly finished in record time thanks to the collective effort of volunteers.
For volunteer Timothy Obole, a civil engineering student, the experience held personal significance.
“As someone who grew up in socioeconomic conditions extremely similar to these kids who attend Kellogg Polytechnic Elementary, its strangely healing being able to help someone in a situation I’ve been through,” Obole said, “especially in honor of a man such as Martin Luther King Jr., who dreamed of an equal society where we pick each other up when we fall.”
The MLK Jr. Day of Service reflects the Center for Community Engagement’s ongoing commitment to building meaningful partnerships and advancing learning through action. By connecting Cal Poly Pomona volunteers with local schools and community organizations, CCE continues to honor Dr. King’s legacy by transforming service into a pathway for learning, empathy and collective impact, one that strengthens communities while inspiring students to lead with purpose.
For information on the days of service, visit the Center for Community Engagement website or contact them at cce@cpp.edu.