Hundreds take part in MLK Day of Service in Elgin

Hundreds of Elgin-area students spent their day off school at the fourth annual MLK Day of Service and Youth Leadership Conference Monday at the Centre of Elgin.

The event featured a service fair, workshops and keynote speaker.

Students made exhibits to share their work on a variety of service projects, including work with Habitat for Humanity, PADS, and the Literacy Connection. South Elgin High School junior Brenda Pitones and her group from the Youth Leadership Academy set up a greenhouse at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center in Elgin. She said their goal was to provide "fresh food for people in Elgin," who will be welcome to take whatever they need.

Workshops following the service fair included a presentation on street art in Indonesia by YLA alumna Debbie Patiño, a talk about self determination, a seminar on how to make a great video and a yoga workshop.

Dr. DeSean Coleman, manager of the Upward Bound program at Elgin Community College, was the keynote speaker.