[HURLEYVILLE, NY] – The 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Youth Summit, which will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre. This is a free event, open to Sullivan County youth (grades 11 & 12) to participate from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The MLK Day of Service Youth Summit promises teens will be inspired by the importance of their voice, their ability to act for change and help them create their personal blueprint for life. Students will experience interactive workshops and collaborative activities designed to open their minds and hearts to greater service for themselves and their schools.

Back by popular demand will be dynamic keynote speaker, Duncan Kirkwood, Director of the Center for Resiliency at Villa Maria College, Army National Guard Master Resilience Trainer and Author of “Rerouting: Resilience Tools and Tactics”.  Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Duncan attended Alabama State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications before completing his master’s degree in public administration.  While in his last year of undergrad, Duncan enlisted in the Alabama Army National Guard and went on to become a Master Resilience Trainer, where he discovered his passion for helping others build resilience and overcome adversity.

The day will also feature the famous Dr. King speech, “Blueprint for Life” which focuses on the principles of; Belief in Oneself, Determination and Commitment. Lastly, each student in attendance will receive four hours of community service time to be used toward graduation requirements. 

The MLK Day of Service Youth Summit is presented by Sullivan 180, Action Toward Independence Inc., Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre, MISN CAPP (Maternal Infant Services Network Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention), Rural Migrant Ministries – YEG (Youth Economic Group), SALT (Sullivan Allies Leading Together), the Sullivan County Youth Bureau and the Center for Workforce Development, and Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers. To learn more or get involved with the MLK Day of Service Youth Summit, contact Amanda Langseder, Sullivan 180 Managing Director amanda@sullivan180.org or 845-295-2681.