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Occidental To Honor 9/11 with Service
Occidental College students, faculty, and staff will mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by lending a hand to campus beautification projects at nearby Franklin and Eagle Rock high schools as part of National Service and Remembrance Day.
Saturday, Sept. 10, Occidental volunteers will spend the day painting, cleaning, and planting on the campuses of its two long-time community partners in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Community Beautification. Participants will return to Occidental for a 5 p.m. candlelight vigil in the Herrick Chapel and Interfaith Center to commemorate the almost 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
"In mourning and remembering the events etched on all of our minds, we wanted to take an uplifting and positive approach, one that helps build community and has a tangible result," said Ella Turenne, Occidental's assistant dean for community engagement.
The first officially-designated September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance will be marked by service projects in all 50 states, with tens of thousands of volunteers expected to turn out to paint and refurbish homes, run food drives, spruce up schools, reclaim neighborhoods, and support and honor veterans and first responders.
Occidental also is part of citywide coalition, L.A. Remembers, made of up agencies that are planning service and commemoration activities throughout the Los Angeles area. The coalition includes the Mayor's office and organizations such as LA Works, Big Sunday, the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and City Year.
Occidental's relationship with Eagle Rock and Franklin high schools is an old one. Eagle Rock's graduation ceremony has been held in Occidental's Hillside Theater for 85 years, and Franklin students have participated in Occidental's Upward Bound program since 1966.