Livingstone's Education Department Builds the Block

On a brisk Friday morning, teacher candidates from the Department of Education at Livingstone College journeyed to serve their community by participating in Block Work, an initiative of the City of Salisbury Planning and Neighborhoods, Salisbury Housing Advocacy Commission, and the Salisbury Community Appearance Commission.

Students met on the campus of Livingstone College at 8:45 on October 25 in jeans, sweatpants, sneakers, and Livingstone shirts to make a difference in their community. Though everyone who participated is a resident of another city, students rallied together to support the community where they currently live. The future educators began their morning by putting air into the wheelbarrow and gathering tools they would need for the morning. Freshman Ja’Ziyah Harrison confessed, “This is my first time seeing a wheelbarrow in person.”

A few students worked with homeowners for yard beautification while others scraped paint in preparation for the larger audience of volunteers who planned to paint on Saturday. In sum, students met members of the community with open arms as they shoveled, spread, dug, scraped, and sweat. “This was a lot of work, but it was fun,” stated freshman Dayja Jones. Many students asked if they could come back Saturday to further their commitment to their tasks and their community.

Once finished, students were served lunch and headed back to campus to finish their academic day; and as always, Dr. Charlease Roper questioned, “So what are we going to do next?”