This is the day we pause to honor and reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was born on January 15, 1929, and stood steadfast for non-violent activism against racial discrimination. Interestingly, I share this birthday with him. Thus, with every year I celebrate, I ponder how far we as a society have come in the fight for civil equality. And how far we have to go.
As leaders of consequence, our ODLC membership has worked tirelessly to transform our environments and industry into places of inclusion and belonging, where diversityis sincerely valued, and equity of care and opportunity is elevated. No doubt, this work is overwhelming and complicated. It requires enormous amounts of strength, faith, compassion, and patience. In his 1956 sermon, “The Death of Evil upon the Seashore”, Dr. King said:
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”
Necessary change does not happen through apathy and passivity. It occurs through the actions and advocacy of those who are invested in our communities. I applaud those in our membership who have stayed steadfast in the mission, even when it was unpopular, professionally risky, and just plain hard. And even though this is a complex struggle, the reward is so great. I consistently see and feel the differences we aremaking through the power of our great collective.
Take a few minutes to review this article (linked below) that was published last year as a foundation for healthcare leaders advancing to where we all need to be as one team with a common mission.
We Can, And We Will
Dr. Erica
