This article was written by Alyssa Haney, iACT’s Outreach VISTA

I write this the day after attending the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival at Huston-Tillotson University. While spreading the word about Interfaith Action of Central Texas, I was able to meet hundreds of unique individuals, all excited about the power of community action. This day of celebration solidified for me how meaningful the work of iACT truly is.

A large part of my role as a VISTA member in the past eight months has been building iACT’s volunteer capacity, primarily within the Hands on Housing program. Similar to the attendants of the MLK festival, iACT volunteers are as passionate as they are diverse. Through recruiting and coordinating volunteers for Hands on Housing events and Handy Helper projects, I have met many wonderful people. Mormon, Muslim, Jewish, Protestant and Catholic faith communities spent hours working on homes of families from different faiths than themselves. College students spent precious holidays in community service; school aged children, already understanding the importance of service, have reached out to learn more about their neighbors and how they could help.

Breaking down barriers through service has a profound impact. As stated by Megan Clapp, leader of a recent Handy Helper project with First Baptist Church’s youth group, “Going to [the clients’ homes] and learning about iACT enabled [the students] to see that poverty is at the root of many justice issues…I really think working with y’all helped us shift focus…to look at the broader reality of injustice effecting our community in many ways.”

Volunteers are not confined to a specific age group, or a particular demographic.  They come from all age groups and all walks of life. What they have in common is the desire to see others given opportunities, to see everyone under a safe shelter with access to basic needs. What they have in common is the desire for justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr., and other amazing leaders before and after him, sacrificed so much to promote justice. It is up to us to carry on their work through our daily actions. I am honored to work with so many incredible volunteers who are ready to carry the torch.