On Martin Luther King Day and beyond, DOT engages in service

DOT takes service seriously.

Like many Americans, we honored the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday. But earlier today, we went a step further by challenging small and minority-owned business leaders to use their unique skills to serve others on a sustained basis.

We can forget Dr. King's legacy; we can remember Dr. King's legacy; or we can build on Dr. King's legacy. I prefer to build on it.

President Obama is calling on us once again to embrace the spirit of public service.

And it is in that spirit that on Monday, DOT senior leaders and employees joined me in a clean-up project near DC's Garfield Park. There, we removed graffiti, cleared debris, and cleaned up trash.

And we weren't alone. A number of local organizations joined us, including Living Classrooms, the Capital Riverfront BID, and Friends of Garfield Park. And across the country, thousands did their part in their own communities.

As Nicola Goren, head of the Corporation for National and Community Service said, "Dr. King spent his life in service to others, and it's exciting to see so many Americans out doing the same today."

It's simple, really. Each of us can make a difference, and each of us must. And that is what we told the small and minority-owned business community today.

As Brandon Neal, Director of our Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, said,

"This business community offers a unique resource for building on Dr. King's legacy. Together, we can harness our energies to make our communities better places to live."

We were honored to be joined by Phylicia Rashad, who told the business leaders that "Service is a way of life."

And that's the point, isn't it? We start with one day of service. Then we nourish that one day by asking business leaders to do what they can.

And that one day flowers into something that demonstrates a return to one of our nation's core values, responsibility to one's community.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

Everyone can give back to the community if they want to. Our People First Orange County Chapter has a Communihty Enclusion Project on the Oso Creek Trail that has been very successful at cutting the amount of general litter, removing graffiti, starting an abandoned grocery cart patrol, getting plumbing problems fixed, and getting general repairs for benches, fences and cleaning of flood control structures. The Oso Creek Trail is a wheelchair accessible trail and there is wheelchair van access at the trail entrance. People First Orange County is made up of disabled persons in the regional center system. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Goldberg]

This is what we should do.We should build on the ideas and principles laid down by Respected Martin Luther King.

And rightly said 'Service is a way of Life'.A simple but strong motto to follow.

[Hawaiian Shirt]

I was a little kid at the time, but I was there in person for the "I Have A Dream Speech" in Washington. I like to believe that Dr King's work has helped us come a long way in such a brief flash of history.