PHOTO BY RICHARD GRECO
NEWARK, N.J – January 22, 2025: In a powerful tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, Newark Public Safety’s 9th/Metro Precinct Community Service Officer K. Felder partnered with students at Great Oaks Legacy Charter School’s Downtown Elementary School on Friday, January 17, to lead a collaborative “Peace Tree” project. The event combined hands-on creativity with meaningful lessons about equality and unity, bringing Dr. King’s legacy to life for young scholars.
The event was facilitated through the efforts of Ebony Howard, Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) Special Projects Coordinator, who played a key role in organizing the day’s activities, and Brianna Mayers, Downtown Elementary School Director, who supported the coordination and ensured the event’s success. Together with Officer Felder, they created a welcoming and impactful experience for students that brought Dr. King’s teachings to life.
At the heart of the celebration was the creation of Peace Tree “leaves”, which were colorful handprints crafted by students. Each handprint carried the phrase “I have a dream…” and showcased the children’s personal hopes for the future. The Peace Tree will be displayed at the 9th/Metro Precinct, symbolizing the shared commitment between Great Oaks and local law enforcement to create and support a community rooted in empathy and respect.
“As a community service officer, my goal is to support all ages and demographics within our community,” said Officer Felder. “I’ve always felt welcomed by the staff at Great Oaks, and I wanted to return that kindness. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, I brought treats for the team and students while talking about the importance of equality. Dr. King’s legacy reminds us to treat everyone with fairness and respect, no matter their background or identity. Let’s continue to uplift each other and work together to create a community where everyone feels valued.”
Officer Felder also led students in a brief “Equality Egg” experiment – demonstrating that while brown and white eggs look different, they are the same inside – to illustrate Dr. King’s message that external differences do not define our inherent worth.
“It was so educational, and the scholars really enjoyed having a police officer in the classroom,” said Ms. Parada, a Kindergarten Teacher at Downtown Elementary School. “We look forward to more events in the future.”
This event underscores the strong partnership between Great Oaks Legacy Charter School and Newark’s Department of Public Safety in creating meaningful opportunities for community engagement. By blending classroom learning with real-world examples of Dr. King’s values, Officer Felder and the Great Oaks team aim to inspire students to dream big and make a difference in their communities.
