Recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Today we recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. As we reflect on the legacy of Dr. King’s leadership in the fight for civil rights, we know this fight is not over. It is our social responsibility to take up his mantle and continue to fight for social justice in the issues our country faces today. It is necessary that we resist the urge to remain in the safety of silence.

We fight to protect, affirm, and uplift Black lives in the face of police brutality, to help transform the systems that incarcerate people of color at a disproportionate rate, to secure the right to vote where it has been unjustly denied, to advocate for fair treatment and access to holistic health care so that Black and Brown lives are not disproportionately taken by Coronavirus, and to ensure a future for our youth filled with promise, opportunity, equity and justice.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

— Letter from a Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

In the wake of the recent violent, white supremacist attacks on our nation’s capitol and here in Oregon, heed this call to service. Be inspired by the actions of MLK and civil rights activists who stood up in the face of oppression. Tune in to yourself and your communities and seek the opportunities for change. It is through individual and collective action that we can transform systems and create much needed opportunities for healing and community. At every step of the way, center those most impacted and engage with them as co-creators and leaders in the fight for justice.

What can you do?

• Volunteer to take direct action
• Learn to expand your knowledge base
• Explore your silence, pledge not to be silent and take action
• Donate goods or funds to benefit others
• Support businesses owned by communities of color
• Advocate to inspire others and bring change
• Amplify the voices of those most impacted in all you do
• Connect to create a beloved community

Photo by Jerónimo Bernot on Unsplash