Service with a Purpose: NCSSM Students Turn Cleanup into Advocacy on MLK Day
When Burke River Trail Association was invited to partner with the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for a Day of Service, the choice of project was intentional.
Rather than a generic cleanup, BRTA designed a service experience rooted in students’ daily reality: the route they walk from campus to downtown Morganton.
On MLK Day, 12 NCSSM students and 8 BRTA members served as Litter Gitters, collecting 20 bags of trash along Fleming Drive and College Street—an area that has become a focal point for pedestrian safety concerns following multiple incidents involving students at the Fleming Drive crossing.
But the day didn’t stop with trash pickup.
After a 1.6-mile walk, gathering trash along the way, the group met for coffee at The Grind Café to talk about the route they took and what it feels like to navigate it on foot.
Beth Heile shared updates on the Fleming Drive crossing, noting that school and city leaders worked with NCDOT on safety improvements even before the campus opened. Additional changes followed after two students were struck in 2024, and after another incident in 2025, state leaders Hugh Blackwell and Warren Daniel joined NCSSM for a called meeting with NCDOT which led to more improvements.
NCDOT continues to study and implement solutions at the intersection and the school continues to be supported in their advocacy for improvements by officials in the City of Morganton, Western Piedmont Council of Governments, NC School for the Deaf, and local state legislators.
BRTA member Ashley spoke about her long-standing advocacy for the College Street sidepath, explaining how the lack of safe infrastructure limits mobility—not just for students, but for families trying to reach parks, schools, and everyday destinations.
Students shared candidly that walking often feels unsafe or simply not worth the risk. One student described attempting to walk to Walmart once and deciding never to do it again. Another shared that her family now discourages walking altogether after recent pedestrian crashes, relying instead on ride services and delivery.
The message from students was clear: they want to walk more. They want to be outside, connected to the community, and less dependent on cars—but only if safe, accessible pathways exist.
What began as a cleanup evolved into action. By the end of the morning, students committed to forming an NCSSM Advocacy Club to serve as a collective voice for walkability and pedestrian safety—ensuring student perspectives are part of future conversations about Fleming Drive, College Street, and access to daily destinations, including the route to the Catawba River and the Burke River Trail.
“This was service with a purpose,” said Beth Heile, Burke River Trail Association. “Honoring MLK Day by caring for place and empowering young people to speak up for safer, more connected communities.”
