This year, Concord Academy’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day program was a day of action inspired by one of King’s most poignant quotes: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” The community embraced giving back, engaging in activities in the spirit of service.
Students in 9th and 12th grades spent the day in dialogue about social justice. Based on their conversations, classes began the process of writing a collective letter to the CA community about striving for equity on campus.
Meanwhile, 11th graders traveled to Boston to connect with the cultural heritage that Dr. King dedicated his life to promoting. They explored the Black Heritage Trail, learning about the history of the free Black community that lived in Beacon Hill in the 1800s and visiting the Museum of African American History.
Committing their day to volunteerism, 10th grade students took a hands-on approach to answering Dr. King’s question. Concord Academy students gathered in the Ransome Room to create End Hunger NE packages for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Devens, Mass. Together, they crafted 2,000 packages that will provide 10,000 nutritious meals to those in need in Middlesex and Worcester counties.
“It was really wonderful to be able to go through the process of making each and every one of these 10,000 meals,” Chris Walsh ’26 said. “It was inspiring to see the exact amount of impact we made.”
Some 10th graders also left campus to participate in service. At the Concord Museum, students packed meals for OpenTable in Maynard as part of the Town of Concord’s recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. OpenTable provides groceries and prepared meals to families and individuals facing food insecurity throughout the MetroWest region.
Luke Schumacher ’26 said of their experience at the Concord Museum, “One of the main things we noticed today was the power of stepping outside of our comfort zone.” They added that packing meal bags for youth and decorating the bags with crayons made them see through the eyes of a child again.
Students stationed in downtown Concord promoted an essentials drive for Hope & Comfort New England, an organization committed to providing sustained access to hygiene products for those in need in Massachusetts. Students also lent a helping hand within their community by offering childcare and kitchen support on campus.
CA’s 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day program encouraged students to honor the legacy of Dr. King through community engagement. The program organizers, Co-Directors of Community and Equity Alex Holmes and Vicky Orozco, thanked the entire Concord Academy community for their commitment to exploring a powerful way of celebrating Dr. King—by contributing to the well-being of others.
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