Stories

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Just like Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us, people are not truly living unless we shift our perspectives to embrace the shared struggles, resilience, and humanity of others. This year, the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education hosted two community engagement opportunities to honor the late Martin Luther King, Jr. and provide SCU students with a new perspective. The first event was an Urban Plunge with Faithful Fools in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. The second event was Tree Planting with Our City Forest in San Jose. Both experiences capture Dr. King's vision - real change begins when we listen and transform understanding through meaningful engagement with those around us.

The main theme of the MLK Urban Plunge was “Understand our Common Humanity,” and for Krista Gorham ‘25, this idea guided her transformative experience in the Tenderloin and offered her an opportunity to challenge her preconceived notions and witness the strength of a community in San Francisco that is commonly misunderstood.

Initially, Krista felt anxious as a woman in an unfamiliar environment, but rather than shutting down, she reflected that it was really the media narratives that had shaped her perception and preconceived notions about homelessness. According to the media, the Tenderloin has a reputation of socio-economic challenges, like poverty, homelessness, and crime. It is known to have people who are considered outcasts and outlaws of San Francisco. 

While she spent four hours in the Tenderloin, her fears turned into understanding. She observed the resilience and connection in people playing music, sharing meals, and supporting each other, despite all the hardships faced by members of the Tenderloin community. 

“People are so much closer to homelessness than we actually realize,” Krista stated.

“Certain scenarios like a natural disaster, job loss, or a medical emergency can easily happen to anyone and are the root of the complexities of homelessness. Individuals need to have an open mind to understand the systemic barriers, personal struggles, trauma, and resilience with those affected, rather than relying on stereotypes and misconceptions.” 

Krista’s Urban Plunge experience taught her the importance of listening to those who are directly affected by these hardships.

“When you actually get to talk to someone who is experiencing it and share how it impacts them, it offers you a greater understanding of what change can look like, focusing on the root of the issue rather than what we think should be done to fix it,” she reflected. 

Organizations like Faithful Fools play a crucial role for people in the Tenderloin because they provide a safe and communal space, help those to navigate systems and access essential resources. For Krista, seeing the Jesuit pillars of service and action transformed her understanding of solidarity and reminded her that real change starts by uplifting voices of those most affected. Krista’s reflections on resilience and interconnectedness in the Tenderloin portrayed the importance of understanding and solidarity. 

Inspired by Krista’s experience, I decided to participate in the MLK service weekend by planting trees with volunteers all around Silicon Valley with Our City Forest. Volunteers from all over came together to plant seventy-five trees at a local park.

I wanted to honor Dr. King’s legacy and although the act itself was simple, it was profoundly meaningful to me. When working with my group, there was a quiet sense of purpose. Each tree that we planted felt like a small contribution to something much larger than ourselves. Digging into the earth, planting a young tree, covering its roots with soil and just getting dirty with shovels in our hands was a grounding reminder of what it means to nurture growth. 

After four hours of planting trees with a group of volunteers, I realized that it carried a lot of powerful symbolism. Each young tree represented life and legacy that would outlive us, providing oxygen and shade for future generations. As the trees grow stronger with deep roots, so does a community thrive when its members are doing work together for a collective good. It’s the shared effort and care that we nurture the kind of world of which Dr. King dreamed: one that is rooted in love, justice, and unity. 

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy means fostering understanding, unity, and action. Both the Urban Plunge and tree planting service events provided participants with the opportunity to reflect on how being in fellowship opens the door for deeper empathy and love for the community around us.

These experiences are not just service events, they are also opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge ourselves to see the humanity in everyone. They inspire us to be the change that Dr. King envisioned. I encourage you to take the time to listen to those directly affected by systemic barriers, and seek these conversations with curiosity and an open heart. As a community, we can all plant seeds, for a better, more connected world, just like Dr. King dreamed.

- Camila Perez '27