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Video Credit to Ilouisa Salazar
On Monday, January 18, the University as well as many members of the Dade City community came together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s life of civil rights advocacy and service to others with a children’s fair.
Students and faculty, as well as local families, gathered on the SAB Green to play games and enjoy food together in honor of MLK’s dedication to service. Games and activities included bike racing, corn hole, a strength tester, spin art, and even a large and colorful blow up caterpillar obstacle course.
The goal of this event was to reflect on the University’s core value of community, which is why many different campus groups were involved in the fair’s production for the university and locals. Groups in participation were the Greeks, athletics, the political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha, the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, and others. Each of these groups had tables set up with various activities available for students and kids to enjoy.
“I think it’s great that our campus community gets together for these events,” said junior communications major Nancy Kelly.
According to the fair’s coordinator, Assistant Director for Greek Life and Community Engagement Thomas Martin, the community fair was put on to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of togetherness and unity. Since MLK Day is an ideal time to reflect on service because of Dr. King’s life of hard work for so many people, Saint Leo felt that having an event dedicated to serving the entire Dade City community seemed appropriate. “We made it a community fair focused on children specifically because of MLK’s lifelong message of investment in the future of our children,” said Martin.
Father Stephan Brown stressed the importance of actively showing that this university promotes the value of community, rather than just saying that it does. “We must be consistent in not only word but also in deed,” said Brown. Saint Leo did just that through the production of this fair.
