Dear Year Up Team,
I hope 2022 is treating you, your family, and friends well. It is very fitting that we, as a nation, commemorate one of America’s most iconic leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who made a profound impact on this country and the world, during the first month of each New Year. With the beginning of a new year, comes the opportunity to start over and set our priorities to do and be better than we were in the prior year. On Monday, January 17, we will celebrate Dr. King’s birthday (MLK Day) and have the opportunity to reflect on his life and legacy.
Dr. King, as one of the founding leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, used his non-violent philosophy in hopes of creating a just, humane, equitable, and peaceful world. It is an ongoing struggle that persists to this day and at times the setbacks and disappointments can feel daunting. However, as Dr. King so aptly said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” I am proud to work with colleagues who push past the disappointments we face due to systems that are still in place that uphold the unjust and inequitable treatment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and yet remain hopeful things will change for good. You share a passion to see Dr. King’s dream come to fruition by inspiring the young adults we serve to dream big, stand up for what is right, and push for social justice and equality in the workplace. The work you do on behalf of the Year Up community and our country matters and it is making a difference, a difference I believe Dr. King would applaud.
Dr. King said, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” The racial reckoning we are living through in this country weighs on my conscience every day and as the year progresses, our organization will continue to work towards becoming anti-racist and align ourselves with partners who will stand with us in these efforts. We will have the opportunity to discuss our anti-racism strategy and how we are implementing it in the coming days, so stay tuned for more information.
I leave you with these powerful words from Dr. King as you celebrate his legacy, “For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” Our mission and our belief in our young adults are right and the work you do each day brings us one step closer to victory.
I encourage us all to get caught up in looking for meaningful ways to serve in honor of Dr. King this Monday and beyond. To help with that here are a few regional and national opportunities to celebrate MLK Day (search for virtual or local celebrations in your area):
Atlanta: https://www.handsonatlanta.org/mlk
Boston: https://www.bostoncares.org/mlkday
Chicago: https://www.chicagoparent.com/things-to-do/mlk-day-events-for-kids/
Dallas: https://dallasmlkcenter.com/mlk-celebration-week/
Bay Area: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/10/7-bay-area-celebrations-for-martin-luther-king-jr-day/
Thank you for all you do in the name of justice and equality.
Happy MLK Day!
Gerald