Together We Can Be The Dream

Authored by Shea Belté, Sr. EDIB/HR Advisor, JSI

On MLK Day, together we reflect on the leadership, social justice, and activism of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor his rich legacy and societal contributions by modeling Dr. King’s commitment to service and volunteerism. We will continue working towards his dream.

But, how can we “be the dream” together?

We can be the dream together by showing genuine respect to one another, valuing each other’s different lived experiences, perspectives, and talents, and advocating for services and delivering them to our community and kin.

We can acknowledge racism, characteristics of white supremacy, discrimination, and inequities that still exist in today’s society. We can acknowledge our role in dismantling this reality inside and outside our professional organizations. As Dr. King stated, “we are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.”

We must continue to “be the dream” together. What role can you take? Continue being introspective and recognizing how you may unconsciously or consciously perpetuate some of these sociocultural issues; advocate and call out discriminatory practices, behaviors or unfair treatment of those who are historically marginalized and silenced; and be empathetic and give grace to one another.

Lastly, remain curious, there is always work to be done and things to learn.

This Monday, January 16, 2023, celebrate, honor, and hold space for the many contributions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I also encourage you to take action, work together, learn from one another, for that is where change begins.

To volunteer, go to AmeriCorps. Use your zip code and filter your search by “MLK Day” at the top to see all the opportunities in your area.