On January 18, the nation remembers a civil rights hero, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day named in his honor.
Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. MLK Day was designed to honor the activist and minister assassinated in 1968, whose accomplishments have inspired generations of Americans.
Equity and Diversity
We continue to embrace and prioritize the equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination efforts that Dr. King fought for decades ago. We initiated the first phase of a diversity training last year and will be continuing to improve cultural awareness and supports for all walks of life at our organization. A team is currently putting together a report of our recent diversity survey results and creating action plans for strengthening our organization through fully embracing our ‘inclusive’ core value.
The lessons of Dr. King could not be more important to remember than this year, when strong divisions and systemic racism in our country have arisen in nothing short of shocking ways. As we reflect on last weeks’ events in Washington DC and the clear inequities that underpinned the overtaking of the Capitol and related responses, we are reminded of a Dr. King quote: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’
Condemn the Violence, Hate and Racism
We strongly condemn any violence, hate and racism displayed last week. As we look towards another potentially charged week to come, we would like to remind everyone that we all deserve to work in an environment where we are treated with dignity and respect. We implore you to extend these values as you interact with others.
Most importantly, as the behavioral health care community works tirelessly to support so many through this stressful time, we encourage each of you to take time to care for yourself.
Let's be kind to one another.
