Oh my goodness, Jael Charles thought. It was only Monday, the first day of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration week, and yet the two most important events were happening within hours of each other. “If I can get through this, then I can get through anything.”
Charles, a Penn State student and the executive director of the MLK week celebration, had been in the HUB-Robeson Center since 6 a.m. with her team of directors, preparing for the 200-plus volunteers who participated in the Day of Service. Immediately after that, they rushed to meet keynote speaker Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, before her presentation in Schwab Auditorium.
Despite the rush, Charles did get through the week, and is now reflecting on what her experience as executive director left her with: plenty of leadership experience and a good idea of what she wants to do after graduation. The senior criminology and sociology major is looking forward to graduating from Penn State and attending law school.
Charles is an overachiever by any standard: while planning MLK week, she worked as a resident assistant and a teaching assistant; applied to several law and graduate schools; and was spending 14 hours a week on LSAT preparation courses.
Some day, she hopes to work in criminal or family law as an advocate for children in need and victims of domestic abuse. She attributes her direction in life to her work with MLK week and King’s message of service and compassion.
“It all connects,” Charles said. “The advocacy, public service and social justice; all Dr. King sought to teach turned inward. It helped me find my niche.”
Charles entered Penn State undecided. She didn’t know what she wanted to do, but said that over the course of her three-year involvement with the MLK Commemoration Week, she realized that she had always been on the right track.
“If I can touch just one person, I can help them,” Charles said.
Weeks later, the now former executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration week is taking a breath, patting herself on the back and thanking her directors and volunteers. Charles had only good things to say about the MLK week events, the result of nearly a year’s planning. Everything went well, everyone was very receptive and there was a lot of support from the Penn State community, from students and professors reaching out and from the media, she said.
“I loved all of the events. Everything just came together. But my favorite part was seeing how many Penn State students came out to be involved, how many people we were able to reach, and just how much people loved participating.”
Charles said that the point of the week was to spread King’s message, the same one that helped her find her calling. Each year, the team chooses a theme that is both contemporary and historical in the sense that it ties current events to lessons that King taught. This year’s theme, Keep Moving Forward, which Charles said is “all about action,” is a reflection of this union.
“My interpretation of this year’s theme is basically to encourage action. It’s a statement encouraging movement, which is exactly what we want everyone to do,” Charles said. “We want people to act on the social justice issues they are passionate about.”
Charles’ adviser, Kelli Dowd said that Charles worked extremely hard on the commemoration.
“I am extremely proud of all that she accomplished this year and all the goals she met,” Dowd said. “Overall, the commemoration would not have happened without the hard work of Jael Charles and the entire planning committee.”
The MLK week events are extensive - this year’s included several social justice poster fairs, a community showcase, and an oratorical contest - and are the result of many people from across the community coming together. As executive director, Charles was in charge of coordinating it all, an experience that she said was invaluable.
“Being in a leadership role gives an entirely different perspective on an experience,” she said. “It’s learning to be responsible and responsive, to connect with the people you’re working with and for and to lead by example. You can’t ask your directors to do something you’re not.”
Beside this, she had advice to give for future MLK executives: look for people who are committed, people who think your cause is important.
“I never realized how important this can be,” Charles said, “but when you care about something, it shows.”