Community in Action

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Oakwood School community came together across Los Angeles to honor Dr. King’s legacy: through service, connection, and collective action. From North Hollywood to South LA to the hills of Northeast LA, families, students, faculty, and staff rolled up their sleeves and turned a national holiday into a powerful morning of service. Across three locations, volunteers addressed the urgent community needs of food insecurity, clothing access, and environmental stewardship, while building relationships and strengthening our shared sense of purpose.

Big Sunday Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast

The day was full of energy at South Park School, where volunteers gathered for the Big Sunday Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast. Throughout the morning, families sorted, packed, and prepared thousands of bags filled with new and gently used clothing for community members in need, with donations spanning all ages and sizes. The campus was alive with activity as volunteers moved between stations boxing pantry items, assembling sandwiches and lunch bags, painting and beautifying the school grounds, and planting flowers and greenery throughout the play yard.

The scale of the day was unmistakable; hundreds of volunteers of all ages filled the campus, working side by side in a shared spirit of purpose. Even U.S. Senator Adam Schiff joined in, lending a hand alongside families, students, and community members. Beyond the hands-on work, the event was filled with connection and learning. Volunteers enjoyed a community breakfast, explored an interactive Civil Rights exhibit, and danced to a live Motown band, creating a joyful, multigenerational atmosphere that reflected the heart of the day.

Jenna Murdock, Oakwood’s Dean for Community Engagement and Belonging, K-6 helped capture the event, and shared, “Big Sunday connects people through helping. They offer an enormous variety of opportunities and projects that unite people to improve lives, build community, and give everyone a sense of belonging.” The celebration at South Park School embodied that mission fully, honoring Dr. King’s legacy while reminding us that service can be both deeply impactful and genuinely joyful.

Climate & Community Action with North East Trees

At Ascot Hills Park, Oakwood volunteers partnered with North East Trees, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit dedicated to restoring urban forests, improving climate resilience, and advancing environmental equity across underserved communities. Together, participants planted over 100 micro-local plants, and learned about Indigenous conservation practices, all with the goal of building a healthier, more resilient city.

This hands-on experience highlighted the deep connection between environmental stewardship and equity. Caring for the land is also caring for the communities that depend on it, today and for generations to come. Volunteers shared lunch, conversation, and a renewed sense of responsibility for the natural spaces we all share.

Food Kit Assembly with NoHo Home Alliance

Closer to home, Oakwood families gathered in the Elementary Courtyard for a Food Kit Assembly in partnership with NoHo Home Alliance, an organization committed to addressing homelessness in the San Fernando Valley through housing advocacy, direct services, and community care. Volunteers of all ages worked side by side to assemble sack lunches for vulnerable members of the North Hollywood community.

In addition to packing food, students and families created handwritten notes and affirmations, small gestures of kindness that carry deep meaning. This ongoing monthly partnership continues to remind our community that addressing food insecurity requires consistency, compassion, and collaboration.

Each of these events reflected the idea that meaningful change happens when communities show up for one another. On this MLK Day Morning of Service, the Oakwood community carried his legacy forward through meaningful action. 

Thank you to every volunteer, partner organization, and family who made the day possible.