Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to building community, advancing justice, and inspiring change. In that spirit, Pomfret marked the national holiday with a day on — a day devoted to turning ideas into action. While many schools were closed, the Hilltop was alive with energy, creativity, and thoughtful engagement.

The Hilltop community participated in a wide range of student-led workshops exploring creative expression, global perspectives, policy writing, and civil discourse. Leaders shared their passions with the community, highlighting the power of ordinary people to create extraordinary change.

“Pomfret’s celebration reflected Dr. King’s belief that meaningful change begins with people who are willing to lead with courage and purpose,” said Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cory McCarter. “Our students did exactly that. They designed and led workshops that created space for learning, dialogue, creativity, action, and fun.” Monday honored Dr. King’s dream not just through reflection but through student leadership, agency, and a shared commitment to building a more just and inclusive community.

In policy writing workshops led by Zahir Williams ’28 and Zach Kocienda ’28, participants identified school policies they hoped to improve and drafted evidence-based petitions proposing realistic solutions. In a related session, Mya Rodriguez ’26 and Crosby Price ’26 guided students in crafting a clear, persuasive policy proposal advocating for one mental health day per term.

Other workshops approached issues of equity through interactive and engaging formats. EJ Ehikioya ’26 facilitated Civil Rights Jeopardy, while Logan Venne ’26 led a Game of Life–style simulation that examined budgeting challenges and the racial wealth gap. Members of the boys basketball team designed adapted athletic challenges to illustrate how disability inequity affects participation, teamwork, and access.

Students explored creative writing inspired by Black artists, using poetry and visual storytelling to reflect on identity, heritage, and community. Yige Yuan ’27 led a workshop on blackout poetry, demonstrating how silence can shape meaning, while the Creative Writing Club invited students to write poems centered on ordinary objects that carry memory, identity, and cultural stories. Across these sessions, students discovered how creativity can foster empathy, preserve history, and inspire action.

The day also featured workshops led by guests from outside the Pomfret community. Krystal Carvalho P ’26, a state trooper with the Rhode Island State Police’s Community Diversity & Equity Unit, presented alongside Kal Birhanu ’26 and Grace Onyemakonor ’27 on the history and significance of The Green Book, highlighting its role in helping Black travelers navigate segregation. Social justice reform advocate Giovannie Hernandez and Leila Boland ’26 led a session examining how quick decisions can alter a person's trajectory, encouraging participants to stop, scan, and make choices that protect their futures and create positive change.

Throughout the day, leaders and facilitators encouraged students to think critically, engage respectfully, and reflect on the impact of their choices. From creative expression to civic action, the Hilltop community embodied Dr. King’s belief that meaningful change begins with intentional action and a commitment to justice. Pomfret’s MLK Day served as a reminder that honoring his legacy requires more than reflection — it calls for participation, creativity, and empathetic leadership.

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