The following is a blog post by Diana Desmornes, an AmeriCorps Member working out of our Fairfield County Offices.

On Saturday January 14, 2012, CHC AmeriCorps members joined the Stamford Community to honor   Dr. King’s Legacy. We participated in a variety of community service projects, ranging from helping at soup kitchens and homeless shelters to playing bingo with the elderly.

We were not only encouraged to honor him through community service; we were also reminded, not too long ago, blacks were legally required to be segregated in their daily activities. People of African descent were considered inferior to whites; we all know the story of the great Rosa Parks and the murder of Emmett Till. Well, I would definitely not be allowed on the same team as my fellow AmeriCorps members.

Although we have come a long way from that time, crimes and drugs are taking away the freedom of a lot of young African Americans.  A skit presented by “Driven 2 Inspire” encouraged young people to take advantage of the opportunities available to them and make a difference in our communities. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders fought for our freedom to attend school, to vote, and to serve our country!!