Sullivan County Youth participate in 4th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Youth Summit

[Loch Sheldrake, NY] – The 4th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Youth Summit was held on January 17, 2025, at SUNY Sullivan with over 120 students and 60 adult chaperones and volunteers. For the fourth year in a row, Sullivan 180 has proudly partnered with over twenty area non-profits and businesses, to coordinate this very special event for high school Juniors & Seniors.

The day included a screening of the famous Dr. King speech, “Blueprint for Life” which focuses on the principles of; Belief in Oneself, Determination and Commitment to Succeed. Students participated in critical thinking workshops, led by community leaders, where they analyzed various MLK quotes and how they apply to themselves and their communities. They also participated in activities and networking designed to open their minds and hearts to greater service for themselves, their schools and their communities. Several students from Monticello My Brother’s Keeper Program served in key roles during the Summit including providing music, poetry, dramatic readings and master of ceremony duties. These students were Julian Young, Tobias Brown, Anthony Ortiz, Orrin Hutchinson III, Jayden Berrios Cuevas, Traven Davis, Julio Santiago and Dion Knight. Keynote speaker John Johnson, communications specialist and mentor passionate about empowering youth reminded youth participants that they are indeed “here for a purpose.” A major highlight of the day was a visit from New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado who also addressed the theater of youth participants, acknowledging their role and their voice.

Summit participants visited a “Tree of Service” where they took a leaf with an idea and contact information for a community service project they could implement at their school or community. They were also gifted an MLK journal and a commemorative sweatshirt from Sullivan 180.

“Sullivan County’s Youth Bureau is committed to providing the kind of opportunities—and hope—that Dr. King often spoke about,” said Cathie Paci Youth Internship Program. “We want our children and teens to feel that their lives matter, that what they do and say is meaningful and that we value them as growing members of our community. We take Dr. King’s wise words literally: ‘Make a career out of humanity.’”

“The College community is so pleased to have hosted Sullivan County students at such an inspiring youth event. The partners produced a wonderful program in celebration of Dr. King’s legacy, filled with engaging activities and meaningful conversations designed to ignite the change-makers of tomorrow,” said SUNY Sullivan President Dr. David Potash.

“What amazes me most, in this fourth year of the MLK Day of Service, is the growing number of organizations and community partners involved each year,” said Amanda Langseder, Senior Director of Prevention Programming at Sullivan 180. “Nearly twenty supporting non-profits, businesses and service organizations helped with the event this year. What none of us can do alone, all of us can do together. This is the power of collective impact!”

The MLK Day of Service Youth Summit is presented by Sullivan 180 and SUNY Sullivan with support from several community partners and organizations including: Action Toward Independence, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the Center for Discovery, Choosing Happiness 365, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, Hope’s Compass Fund, Go Beyond Greatness, Monticello My Brother’s Keeper, SALT (Sullivan Allies Leading Together), the Sullivan County Youth Bureau, the Center for Workforce Development, Tobacco Free Action Communities, and Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers.