As many take a day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, some are spending the day doing service projects.  A group of students in Providence celebrates with art.

In the gym at Martin Luther King elementary school, dozens of elementary school students are screen printing t-shirts, painting murals, and jewelry painting.  It’s part of the nationwide “day of service” program.  More than 100 Rhode Island School of Design students are working with the kids on their projects. 

RISD student Indhu Solayappan is a volunteer.  She says the day reflects Dr. King’s message, because art has the power to connect. “Just by doing something creative together, they’re communicating with each other in a way, and that’s really nice.  That’s kind of why all of us are here; in art or design, we’re trying to communicate with other people,” said Solayappan.

Roughly 200 elementary school children are expected to take part. This is Rhode Island School of Design’s fourth year participating in the day of service.

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Reporter John Bender was the general assignment reporter for The Public's Radio for several years. He is now a fill-in host when our regular hosts are out.