On Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, we reflect on his legacy, his life and his dream. It’s a day to reflect on how far we have come and the progress still to be made. Cambia’s Black Organization for Leadership Development employee resource group (BOLD ERG) asked its members and allies to reflect on what Martin Luther King Day means to them and what quotes from Dr. King resonate with them today.
The sharing continued on Friday afternoon when BOLD invited Cambia colleagues to a virtual gathering in celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All Cambia employees were invited to attend. The sharing was spirited and meaningful.
Antoinette Awuakye, Public and Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Favorite Dr. King quotes
- "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?
- "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
- “We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters- or perish together as fools”
- “The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.”
Rene Brown, Programmer Analyst
Reflection: MLK day is a time to reflect on what we can do personally to help continue towards equality. We are in 2023, and we still live in communities that use “freedom of speech” as a means to deliver hate, prejudices, and bigotry. Will this ever change? It should not be once a year though, but it should be at the forefront of all our minds. We all have to stand up and say no more. Because when equality is good for the minority, it is good for the whole. We are all in this thing called “Life” together.
Jennifer Ellis, Comp Risk Adjustment Auditor
Reflection: MLK day is a time to think about his leadership, a time to remember our fellow human beings that he so courageously fought for, and a time to think about ways that we can help to carry on his legacy and work. The way that my family and I celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day is by watching his “I Have a Dream” speech. It never fails to give me chills whenever I hear his powerful voice. He also has so many influential quotes that I like to reflect upon. It’s hard to have just one favorite, but one that has always seemed the most compelling to me is “Faith is taking the first step even though you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Saavedra Flores, Internal Audit Tech Data Analyst II
Reflection: My grandmother was the biggest influence on me growing up. She instilled a servitude leadership style. My grandmother shared the stories of how inspired she was by Dr. King’s message. At the time she was supporting a family of six kids and working two jobs to make ends meet in 1963. My grandmother was living in Lansing, MI at the time, when the March on Washington was going to happen. She told me that we often do not realize how a small contribution can make a big impact. Regardless of whatever skills you have to offer. My grandmother knew the importance of what the men and women were doing as they began the March to Washington. She made tamales, lots of tamales. She made tamales for those in her neighborhood to take with them. A small contribution, but huge in my eyes.
It was this story that my grandmother told me, that became a huge factor for me. I call upon this message when I encounter opportunities, when I want to help and do not know how. Dr. King’s message of character, resilience, and sincerely helping those who need it the most -when they are at their worst. This is the message I carry with me. I realize that we all can contribute and help in different ways, to the community, our coworkers, our families. For some of us it’s making tamales, and for others it’s standing with them.
Jarad Legard, Associate General Counsel
Reflection: Let us continue the effort to improve access, experience, and quality outcomes for all members no matter their backgrounds. Every day is MLK day because every day is a fight against inequality.
Debbie Reynolds, Clinical Services Operations Quality Assurance Spec I
Favorite quotes: “It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.”
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
Janira Robertson, Account Executive
Favorite quote: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving.”
Reflection: This is an important time to reflect and acknowledge the opportunities our ancestors fought for, so everyone would be allowed to sit together at the conference room table. We must be thankful for their struggles and battles for equality and never give up because there’s always work to be done. We have the power to keep moving forward and never give up.
Tamara Tiggs, Manager, Operations Knowledge & Training
Reflection: MLK Day is a time to remember the importance of fighting for what is right even if you are alone in your fight. It’s a reminder of the past and the faults of the present times we are in. I plan to celebrate MLK Day by spending time with my children and going to the 34th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at the Tacoma Convention Center.
