MLK Week of Service: Faith, Unity, and Collective Work
Honoring Dr. King Through Faith, Unity, and Collective Work
MLK Week of Service at International Girls Academy
At International Girls Academy, we believe that girls are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders right now. This year, our MLK Week of Service is a powerful, youth-led way to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through faith, unity, and collective work in action.
From January 19–24, we are hosting a virtual week of activities designed by and for girls who are ready to lead. Throughout the week, students will explore what it truly means to live out Dr. King’s values in their own lives, schools, families, and communities.
Learn more and sign up here:
MLK Week of Service – Faith, Unity, and Collective Work
Why MLK Week of Service?
Dr. King’s legacy is rooted in courage, service, faith, and a deep commitment to justice. At International Girls Academy (IGA), we see those same values reflected in our students every day.
MLK Week of Service is our way of:
Creating space for girl-led leadership
Centering youth voice in conversations about justice and community change
Practicing collective work and responsibility in real, tangible ways
Encouraging students to see service not as a one-day project, but as a lifestyle and calling
All of our activities are virtual, making it possible for students from IGA and our partner schools to join from wherever they are. Participants can engage in one day or multiple days—each touchpoint is designed to spark reflection, creativity, and action.
What the Week Looks Like
Our MLK Week of Service weaves together creativity, advocacy, service, and reflection. Each day is intentionally crafted to help girls connect Dr. King’s legacy to their lived experiences.
January 19 — Creative Expressions of Faith and Unity
We begin the week with a celebration of imagination and storytelling. Students are invited to submit one creative piece—a poster (photo), short essay, poem, or video—that answers:
“What does keeping faith and unity look like?”
Submissions will be featured in a virtual gallery, uplifting student perspectives and honoring the many ways young people interpret faith, connection, and hope. The most thoughtful submissions will receive IGA swag, but every participant’s voice is valued and seen.
January 20 — Youth and Advocacy Lab: MLK Youth Advocacy Session
On January 20, we center youth voice and real-world advocacy through our Youth and Advocacy Lab: MLK Youth Advocacy Session.
This year, we are honored to welcome two distinguished guest speakers:
Mayor Jenny Mundell
Chenoah Porter Blount, Senior Marketer at DoSomething.org
During this virtual session, our guest speakers will share their personal journeys in advocacy, leadership, and service. They will talk honestly about the challenges they have faced, the pivotal moments that shaped their paths, and the work they are leading today to build more just and equitable communities.
What makes this day especially powerful is that our girls are not just in the audience—they are at the center of the conversation.
Student leaders from International Girls Academy will moderate the discussion, guiding the conversation with questions rooted in their own leadership experiences, cultural backgrounds, and community perspectives.
Through the Youth and Advocacy Lab, students will:
Practice public speaking and facilitation
Strengthen their critical thinking and questioning skills
Learn directly from leaders who model service, courage, and purpose-driven work
Begin to imagine their own pathways to impact beyond MLK Day
This session reflects a core IGA belief: when girls are trusted to lead conversations about justice and equity, they help shape a better future for everyone.
January 21 — UJIMA: Collective Work and Responsibility Service Day
In Partnership with The Allstate Foundation (5–6 PM)
On January 21, we move from dialogue to hands-on service through our Ujima — Collective Work and Responsibility Service Day, held from 5:00–6:00 PM.
We are proud to share that this day is supported by our program partner, The Allstate Foundation. Their commitment to youth leadership, safety, and community impact aligns deeply with our mission at International Girls Academy and with the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy.
Ujima, a principle that centers collective work and responsibility, is at the heart of this evening. Students will work in teams to lead a Care‑Kit / “Box of Hope & Love” assembly, preparing meaningful packages for community members in need.
Throughout the service day, girls will step into real leadership roles across:
Operations: organizing supplies, managing check‑in, and coordinating the flow of the event
Communications: capturing stories, photos, and reflections from the day
Impact tracking: helping us measure how many kits are assembled and how many community members are reached
By the end of Ujima Service Day, our goals include:
Documenting service impact metrics (kits assembled, community members served)
Capturing a photo set and 2–3 student quotes that highlight youth leadership
Drafting partner thank-you notes to honor organizations and supporters—especially The Allstate Foundation—who make this work possible
Ujima reminds our students that collective work is powerful, and that when we show up together—with partners, families, and peers—we can create real hope and love in our communities.
January 23 — Movie Night: Stories of Faith and Unity
Stories are powerful tools for learning and reflection, especially when they center courage, connection, and hope.
For our Movie Night: Stories of Faith and Unity, students will:
Share the title of a favorite movie that showcases faith and/or unity
Submit a short written reflection or 1‑minute video review about why the story matters to them
This experience encourages students to think critically about media, identify themes of resilience and community, and connect those lessons back to their own leadership journeys. Thoughtful submissions may receive IGA swag, but more importantly, students will practice reflecting on the stories they consume and the values they want to live out.
January 24 — Week in Review: Reflection and Impact
We close the week with intentional reflection.
Students will submit a Week in Review reflection sharing:
What they learned about faith, unity, and service
How the week shaped their understanding of leadership
One concrete action they plan to take moving forward to continue Dr. King’s legacy in their daily lives
Select reflections may be featured by International Girls Academy, spotlighting student voices and the impact of the week.
This final step matters. Service is most powerful when it is paired with reflection and a commitment to keep going—long after the official week ends.
Who Should Join
Our MLK Week of Service is open to:
Current International Girls Academy students
Students from partner schools and community organizations
Youth who are curious about service, justice, faith, unity, and leadership
Whether a student is just beginning to explore leadership or already deeply involved in advocacy, there is a place for them this week.
How to Get Involved
If you know a young person who would benefit from a week of creative expression, youth-led dialogue, and meaningful service, we invite you to share this opportunity.
Learn more and register here:
MLK Week of Service – The International Girls Academy
Our Commitment
At International Girls Academy, we are committed to creating spaces where girls can:
See themselves as leaders and creators, not just participants
Practice the skills needed to build, serve, and organize
Carry forward Dr. King’s legacy through their voices, choices, and actions
MLK Week of Service is more than a calendar event—it is an invitation for our students to step into their purpose, deepen their leadership, and experience the power of community, partnership, and collective work.
We are honored to walk alongside them as they do.
