Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Celebrating a King: Recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023
Undraye HowardPeople across the country will recognize Jan. 16, 2023, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, commemorating his life and legacy with days of service, marches and parades, and celebrations of Black culture.
The King Center will honor the day with its strategic theme: ‘Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems.’ “This theme defines the 2023 King holiday observance events and programming while serving as a compass for all the work we will do this upcoming calendar year and beyond. The pioneering work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated that Kingian Nonviolence (Nonviolence365™) is the sustainable solution to injustice and violence in our world, ultimately leading to the creation of the Beloved Community, where injustice ceases and love prevails.”
It is important that we take the time to remember Dr. King’s enduring fight for justice and equitable systems. We also must challenge ourselves as leaders to renew the spirit and intentionally lean into our equity journeys in ways that honor the legacy of Dr. King.
Although we have come a long way in making King’s dream a reality, we still have much work to do to create a truly equitable and inclusive society for all. As our country experiences staggering division in our ideologies and disparities in outcomes, we need to remember that we are stronger together. Though the current climate may make our vision feel elusive, we’re reminded of Dr. King’s words, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We must embrace the discourse, have the difficult conversations, and work together to help all people thrive. Social Current is committed to serving as a convener and helping leaders conduct necessary, yet difficult, conversations. We are committed to the work that will realize our shared dream—an equitable society where all people can thrive.
Community-based organizations, which serve a critical purpose within communities and systems, can play a large role in realizing Dr. King’s dream by advancing equity within their programs, practices, and workforces. While a long-term strategy that requires dedication and commitment, building equitable workplaces is a key strategy an increasing belonging, resilience, and innovation.
In addition to resources from Social Current, these articles offer helpful suggestions for advancing equity in the workplace:
- Questions to Further Your Group’s Racial Equity Journey (Creating the Future)
- How Can Organizations Improve Workplace Equity? (SHRM)
- Race, Equity, Access, Diversity, and Inclusion in Everyday Practice (Nonprofit AF)
How We Can Support Your Equity Journey
Social Current’s SPARK 2023 conference will focus on critical topics including EDI, belonging, and justice. Save the date to join us Oct. 16-17 in Bethesda, Maryland. If you’d like to share your expertise, submit a workshop proposal by Jan. 27.
Social Current’s experts help leaders advance their equity journeys and embed equitable practices and strategies at the organizational and systems level. In addition to focused equity, diversity, and Inclusion consulting, our workforce resilience consulting is rooted in equity and psychological safety. Our Jan. 24 webinar will give an overview of four cores strategies for workforce resilience.
About Undraye Howard
Undraye Howard currently serves as vice president of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Social Current. In his roles over the years, he has provided invaluable consultation to community-based organizations. In his current role, he leads Social Current’s efforts in providing strategy, solutions, and support for the development of leaders in the social sector, with an emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Through his strategic leadership and direction, he and a team of network leaders have co-created helpful resources, consultation, and workshops that uplift and disseminate best practices to help community-based organizations advance their EDI journeys.
