On January 26, the Community Engagement team attended the Smithsonian’s Day of Action, hosted by the National Portrait Gallery, where DC Greens was one of several local organizations featured at the event. Accompanied with my team members, we interacted with many of the hundreds of attendees gathered to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his commitment to community action.

It was a joyous event. Rising above the buzz of conversations from the exhibitor tables, live music soared as a performer belted inspirational songs to carry the day. We played trivia with attendees and offered seed packets as prizes for a correct answer. For those whose thumbs are not green yet, it was a joy knowing that DC Greens could help them start their agricultural journey.

Meeting new people is one of the joys of my life. And after speaking with D.C. locals and tourists alike, I found that many of us agree: investing in our community is paramount to ensuring we live in the society we want. The diversity I saw — the joy from children and families — this is what it’s all about. And the work of DC Greens is a piece of that puzzle.

I took a break from the table for a moment and stumbled upon something amazing happening at the museum. Fred Gray, a civil rights lawyer most known for representing Rosa Parks and Dr. King, was at the museum. A portrait of him was being unveiled and he was standing next to it as I walked by. In that moment, my inspiration gained from this event intensified. According to the National Portrait Gallery, one of the goals of this day is to “discover activists in the museum’s exhibitions.” And that’s exactly what I did. I discovered an activist and a living legend. Seeing Gray stand proud gave me hope. It reminded me that work is just beginning.

Our country was very different when Gray was my age. I thank him for his courage, and he has earned his right to rest. Now, I aspire to have such an impact on the world. It’s time for the next generation to step up. And maybe someday, someone will paint a portrait of me to hang in this museum, too.