Johanna Valente, a second year AmeriCorps member teaching at Passaic High School with Teach For America – New Jersey, has not only excelled in the classroom, but is transforming her community. Johanna took the initiative and applied to have a local service organization, Jersey Cares, host her school as a service site to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. After intense planning and strategizing with Jersey Cares, Johanna motivated her school, fellow corps members and community members to take part in transforming Passaic High School. The event hosted over 300 volunteers who performed over 20 different beautification projects at the school in the spirit of service. Not only was the project a success, but Johanna was also able to teach her students, who volunteered throughout the day, the importance of service and instill in them a sense of pride for their community.