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On Monday, January 19, Rainbow Park in San José came alive as more than 150 community members, students, and local leaders joined AmeriCorps and Climate Action Corps service members to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through action. As part of Our City Forest’s annual MLK Day of Service, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to care for the land—demonstrating that service and environmental stewardship remain powerful tools for building stronger communities.

A group of people gather to celebrate MLK Day in San Jose
At least 150 community members, students, and local leaders joined AmeriCorps and Climate Action Corps service members to celebrate MLK Day in San Jose’s Rainbow Park (image source:tara@ourcityforest.org)

In a statement, Our City Forest, a Silicon Valley urban-forestry nonprofit, said that they have marked MLK Day since 1994, by uniting neighbors to plant trees, restore public spaces, and invest in healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. This year’s efforts focused on expanding green access in an underserved community through tree planting, mulching, weeding, and park beautification.

The event drew broad civic support, with remarks from San José Mayor Matt Mahan; San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson; State Senator Dave Cortese; Assemblymember Marc Berman; Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; and several San José City Councilmembers, including Rosemary Kamei of District 1, whose office helped fund tree planting in the area.

“For more than 30 years, Our City Forest has honored MLK Day by bringing people together to take action,” said Rhonda Berry, Founding President and CEO of Our City Forest. “Every tree planted is a commitment to our neighborhoods. Seeing students, families, volunteers, and community leaders working side by side reminds us that climate resilience is built when people show up for one another.”

A group of young volunteers gather to plant trees to honor MLK Day in 2026
A group of young volunteers gathers to plant trees to honor MLK Day in 2026 (image:tara@ourcityforest.org)

That spirit of collective action is echoed in the California Climate Action Corps. Launched in 2020 with Our City Forest as an inaugural host partner, the program began with 28 host organizations and 63 Fellows to jump-start local climate solutions. Today, it has grown to more than 150 partners and 1,400 Fellows statewide—mobilizing efforts that have planted over 428,000 native plants and trees, engaged more than 50,000 volunteers, diverted 75 million pounds of organic waste from landfills, and recovered 35 million pounds of edible food.

This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.