Wednesday, January 21, 2026
UNT Dallas and UNT College of Law New volunteer program commitment: Contribute to goal of 100 million hours by MLK Jr's 100th birthday
Community service is foundational to UNT Dallas and the UNT Dallas College of Law. Now, employees and students who donate their time and talent can make it count for
another important cause: The "Realize the Dream" (RTD) global volunteerism initiative.
UNT Dallas and UNT Dallas College of Law Students and Employees Spreading the Word about "Realize the Dream" at MLK Day Festivities on Jan. 19, 2026 at the South Dallas Cultural Center
This week, as we honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday in his name, the University and College of Law publicly launched their partnership with RTD. It aligns perfectly with our mission to strengthen the communities we serve. “When you volunteer, you are putting action behind your caring and empathy,” said College of Law professor Cheryl Wattley. “This is about spotlighting and encouraging service.”
RTD's goal is to generate 100 million hours of volunteer service by Jan. 15, 2029,
Dr. King’s 100th birthday. We are promoting the project using the mantra or theme
“Make This Your Year to Volunteer.” This week, RTD leaders announced the project had surpassed 35 million hours.
UNT Dallas and UNT Dallas College of Law Students and Employees Spreading the Word about "Realize the Dream" at MLK Day Festivities on Jan. 19, 2026 at the South Dallas Cultural Center
Our relationship with RTD started last year when Dr. King’s son, MLK III, visited the College of Law at the invitation of Professor Wattley. She has been the catalyst in the collaboration with RTD. Wattley, along with students from the law school and main campus, helped spread the word about RTD at an MLK Day event at the South Dallas Cultural Center on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. They also helped sign up future volunteers.
WATCH: "Realize the Dream" Video Explains How You Can Make a Difference in 16 Minutes
UNT Dallas College of Law is known for its proactive community outreach, including its Community Lawyering Centers, related legal clinics and Community Engagement Program. Volunteerism and community service is also priority at the main campus, where a monthly food distribution is held in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank. Other service-related events include the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event advocating against sexualized violence, and numerous student, faculty and staff-driven activities for academic and extra-curricular purposes.
UNT Dallas Faculty, Staff and Students Volunteer at Thanksgiving Food Distribution on Nov. 21, 2025
All faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited to participate in the RTD movement by tracking volunteer hours to ensure they count toward the university's contribution to the 100 million hours goal. There are six categories of service and a simple online form to document time spent.
Students’ volunteer hours are already tracked through Canvas. Law students should the Canvas CEP page. College of Law students and faculty tracked nearly 12,000 hours of volunteer service in 2025 as part of RTD. The main campus contact for questions, concerns or ideas is EmilyVankirk@untdallas.edu.
When you volunteer, whether on or off campus, please wear UNT Dallas or College of Law attire and be sure to share your activities on social media using the hashtag #RealizeTheDream. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, check the university event calendar, the TrailblazersLIVE! app or the RTD website.
Join the “Realize the Dream” movement and Make 2026 Your Year to Volunteer! #RealizeTheDream.
UNT Dallas faculty, staff and students volunteer during monthly food distribution
From UNT Dallas – Community