Tulsa Nonprofit Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through Service Projects At School

City Year Tulsa believes Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day on, not a day off.

However, this year winter weather got in the way.

The nonprofit's annual MLK Jr. Day of Service was rescheduled to Tuesday, February 20th at Monroe Demonstration Academy. It is a day when its AmeriCorps members and community volunteers come together to transform and beautify a local school.

Elizabeth Edwards, Managing Director of External Affairs, said this is just a small part of what City Year Tulsa does for area students.

"City Year works with students in twelve Tulsa Public Schools working on their attendance, behavior, and academics in math and English," said Edwards

These student success coaches wear many hats.

"We do tutoring with them, we also are mentors to them, we work on social and emotional learning, as well as academics and attendance," said Daniela Rustria.

She only sees her students at school, but her impact on their lives reaches far beyond.

"I personally did not have a City Year growing up, but I did have people that were able to mentor me, and I am where I am because of them," Rustria continued, "I am just grateful to be that person to students."

Tulsa Public Schools was out on Tuesday, so City Year hung up murals and worked on other projects at Monroe Demonstration Academy to transform and uplift students, staff, and teachers.

Rustria said, "I think the murals are a great way for them to see color, see life and opportunity, and just as an inspiration for them to be able to follow their dreams and do whatever they put their minds to."