Honoring Dr. King with Hands in the Soil

It was a gift to spend MLK Jr. Day with students from the NC School of Science and Math. The day began with conversation—about food systems, local food insecurity in Burke County, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s conviction that lasting change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we pay attention to how systems are built, who they serve, and who they leave out.

Then the students got to work!

Together, they started tomatoes, peppers, and flowers that will grow under lights in our grow house before making their way back into the community as shared food. As the students pressed soil into trays and seeds were carefully placed, workshop conversations turned to responsibility, stewardship, and the power of small, consistent actions. The students quickly saw how something as simple as seed starting connects to bigger ideas—food access, community care, and long-term impact.

This is what honoring Dr. King’s legacy looks like at The Overflow. It looks like young people learning not just about systems, but actively participating in building better ones. It looks like minds engaged, hands dirty, and a deeper understanding that meaningful change often starts quietly—one seed at a time.

We are deeply grateful for the students, partners, and volunteers who made this day possible. Moments like these remind us why we do this work and why investing in the next generation matters so much.