Each year, communities across the country honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through acts of service. Our Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Members completed over 175 service hours during this year’s MLK National Day of Service projects. Our VISTA Members at Agnes Scott College, Stanford University, and George Mason University focused their day of service on promoting environmental sustainability.
Noemi Carrillo, Agnes Scott College
At Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, VISTA Member Noemi Carrillo prepared for nearly five months to assist in the college’s 2025 MLK Day of Service. Agnes Scott partnered with the MLK Service Project Weekend and City of Decatur, a volunteer-run nonprofit that assists low-income senior homeowners with home repairs and upkeep they might not otherwise be able to afford. Noemi’s role in this year’s project was to facilitate the partnership between Agnes Scott, MLK Service Project Weekend, and the City of Decatur, and to prepare volunteers to safely assist in diverting household items from low-income seniors’ homes from landfills.
As a result of Noemi’s service, waste management and invasive species removal projects were completed with the help of 36 Agnes Scott volunteers of all ages, totaling 177 volunteer hours over two days. A team of those volunteers worked at multiple locations across south Decatur, targeting eight homes. Based on the carrying capacity of four cars taking about ten trips each, it is estimated that approximately 4.5 tons of waste (appliances, electronics, plastics, glass, clothing, and furniture) were successfully diverted from landfills.
One of the most impactful moments of Noemi’s experience was seeing that her efforts made a difference. Noemi shares that it was inspiring for her to witness the Agnes Scott students in action, interacting with senior homeowners who may have limited social interaction and challenges with decluttering. Homeowners shared their appreciation for the volunteers, and all parties felt satisfied knowing that the items collected were going to places where they could be reused or recycled instead of discarded.
Reflecting on this year’s experience, Noemi is hopeful that next year’s project can build on this progress, finding ways to make waste diversion a long-term priority and strengthening partnerships to ensure that sustainability efforts continue beyond her VISTA term.
Noemi’s work with Agnes Scott College highlights one of the many ways our VISTA Members contributed to environmental sustainability during the 2025 MLK Day of Service. Two other VISTAs, Lolina and Carly, also dedicated their time and effort to projects that make an impact within their communities:
Lolina Bruggeman-Munoz, VISTA Member at Stanford University - Climate Resilient Communities
“Planting something that will last beyond our time felt like a perfect way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during our day of service.”
Carly Buyantogtokh, VISTA Member at George Mason University-CE
"Volunteering at the George Mason University greenhouse was a rewarding experience where I harvested fresh lettuce and learned about their hard work in providing dining halls with fresh, sustainable produce. It was inspiring to see their dedication to supporting the campus community through sustainable gardening practices."
Our VISTAs collectively contributed over 175 hours across 36 sites in service to their community, taking action to complete a variety of service projects for the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service. As their service year continues, Campus Compact’s AmeriCorps VISTA Members have a renewed commitment to make an impact on poverty in their local communities, echoing the dreams and legacy that Dr. King envisioned nearly 60 years ago.