This Saturday, October 25th, USA Weekend Magazine hosted it’s 20th Make A Difference Day. The publication, in partnership with Points of Light hosts this annual event as the nation’s largest day of community service.

The DC team representing the Martin Luther King, Jr biopic “Selma“, set to release nationwide this December, organized an educational activity for local High School students. Three local “dream builders” were invited to speak to and inspire the students with their personal success stories and how what MLK and other civil rights leaders paved the way.

Panelists included  blogger Panama Jackson of VerySmartBrothas.com, one of the most dynamic young leaders on Capitol Hill, Angela Rye and author & Spiritual Advisor to President Barack Obama, Joshua Dubois.

While Jackson encouraged the kids to find their passion and pursue it fiercely, Dubois left them with the 3 P’s of Success: Prayer, Planning and Persistence. Rye shared her inspiring story of not getting into the law school of her choice, but later realizing the school she did attend was the perfect fit for her and gave her tools she didn’t know she even needed.

The group walked the memorial, stopping at 14 of MLK’s quotes etched in the granite, highlighting the qualities: Equality, Faith, Nonviolence, Education, Love, Leadership, Selflessness and Hope. Students were encouraged to share their dreams, experiences with inequality and how they hope to positively impact their communities. They were also encouraged to paint these thoughts and enjoyed a free lunch in the grass of the National Mall. A packet was also distributed to the students for them to keep containing MLK’s quotes, definitions of the above characteristics, the full “I Have a Dream” speech and a self-esteem building activity.

It was a pleasure participating in this event as photographer and I wanted to share my images from the day. The expressions on the student’s faces are priceless and illustrate the impact this event had in their lives.