Volunteers honor King's legacy with school makeover

It was literally freezing outside, but volunteer Yaw Anokwa didn't seem to mind as he helped fill in new planter boxes outside West Seattle Elementary on Monday.

"I can't feel my fingers, but that's OK," he said with a grin. "I think it's important that you give a little back to the community."

The 26-year-old University of Washington graduate student was one of hundreds of volunteers who honored Martin Luther King's legacy of unity by helping spruce up West Seattle Elementary.

The school, formerly known as High Point Elementary, received fresh coats of paint and colorful murals on its walls, new flower-filled planter boxes and other improvements.

Most of the volunteers were from two youth community-service organizations, City Year and Seattle Works; some were Seattle Public Schools students and parents.

They gathered in the morning to listen to speeches from Gov. Chris Gregoire, Rep. Jim McDermott and others, lauding King and emphasizing his commitment to helping others and fighting injustice.

Though Monday was his own birthday, volunteer Lowell Weiss said he didn't mind spending it painting classrooms.

"I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday, and Martin Luther King's birthday ... than to do something that makes a difference in the community," he said.

His 5-year-old son, Sandor, isn't quite old enough for kindergarten -- but he's just the right age to learn "that life is not just about our family; it's about our community," Weiss said.

Down another hallway, Roosevelt High School sophomore Leah Pollock carefully dabbed yellow paint on letters that would eventually spell out "welcome" in several languages.

Though many of her classmates spent their day off relaxing, Pollock said she believes it's important not to forget the meaning of the holiday.

It's a time to appreciate the contributions King made to the world and recognize how different life would be if he hadn't existed, she said.

What better way to honor him, she reasoned, than by helping others?

"It's a great feeling," she said. "And I love it when you can step back and say, 'Look what we've accomplished as a team.' "