The University of South Florida’s largest annual community service program, Stampede of Service (SOS), will expand from a traditional one-day event to four days of students volunteering. Beginning the morning of Friday, Jan. 18, hundreds of students will spread out at more than 60 sites throughout the Tampa Bay community.
SOS Weekend is part of the university’s MLK Commemorative Week, held Jan. 18-25, which celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. SOS continues through Monday, Jan. 21, as student volunteers garden, prep food, clean, paint and perform many other activities for area organizations. The initiative engages students with current social issues as they experience the benefits of giving back to their community by sharing their time, skills, and compassion, while reflecting on the core values in King’s teachings. Given a choice of sites and dates, more students are anticipated to volunteer. Media can contact Renee Hunt for a list of site locations and times.
Another key event during MLK Commemorative Week is a lecture by Tarana Burke, social activist and founder of the ‘me too.’ Movement, as part of the student-run University Lecture Series.
Burke will speak at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater. The student organizers of the event expect Burke to share her story as the creator of what is now an international movement in a powerful message of unity, empathy, and outreach that inspires important healing conversations which support survivors of sexual trauma. The lecture is free and open to the public on a limited first-come, first-served basis following priority seating for USF students.
Other events open to the public during USF’s MLK Commemorative Week include:
MLK Jr. Candlelight Vigil, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 6 - 8 p.m., MLK Plaza
-Join Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for this annual event.
MLK Jr. Dedication Luncheon, Friday, Jan. 25, 12 - 1 p.m., MSC Ballroom
-Attend this luncheon to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.; seating is limited,
RSVP by Jan. 23 at usf.edu/multicultural.
More information on MLK Week and a full schedule of events is available here.
Real time captioning will be provided for the ULS lecture; additional reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request by calling 813-974-1001 (FL Relay 711). For more information about the lecture series, including the audience policy, visit www.usf.edu/student-affairs/involvement/our-events/lectures/.