350 volunteers paint murals, build bookshelves at Carson Academy for 'City Year Milwaukee' MLK Service Day

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — For Monday’s MLK Service Day, 350 volunteers came to Carson Academy of Science to work on beautifying projects.

It's part of the annual day of service happening around the nation to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. Every year, "City Year Milwaukee" chooses a Milwaukee school to beautify. This year they painted more than 30 murals throughout the halls of Carson Academy.

The school principal, Erika Minzlaff, says it was deserved and needed.

"It's kind of a no-brainer seeing the walls," said Minzlaff. "It certainly is a necessity."

The plain blue and white painted walls were chipping, but now they're being covered with murals of quotes and public figures that showcase the diversity of the school and the community.

One volunteer, Daramika Flowers, graduated from Carson Academy in 2013.

"They actually do look the same so when City Year told us that we were coming here I was happy," said Flowers.

Not much has changed in the last 10 years, and Flowers came ready to leave her mark on the school.

Flowers was working on a Malcolm X quote, "Education is the passport to the future."

It's a full circle moment for her.

"Where I came from and where I started in my journey...this quote just brings out everything about that," she said.

Volunteers worked in shifts starting at 8 a.m. Monday morning. They also worked to build bookshelves for classes and younger children made bracelets and crafts with inspirational messages.

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