“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
This has been a challenging year, particularly as we confront the role that race and racism play in our nation’s history and modern society. As we celebrated the life of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, we reflected on the role we all play during times of challenge and the importance of civic leaders stepping up to create change.
At the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, we have spent a lot of time over the past year to think about how we understand and can contribute to dismantling the racist structures and systems that are so inherent to our daily lives.
Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to and fought against the injustices he experienced, and we applaud the next generation of leaders as they continue the fight for equality. We must advocate for equal rights for all. We need to understand how these inequal systems were created and maintained. We cannot continue to shy away from tough conversations.
Tough conversations are critical for our community. That’s why we partnered with TIED (Talent, Inclusion, Engagement & Diversity) to create a new Virtual Voices series focused on race and racism, and the importance of history, systemic change, individual change, and collective impact.
Join us Thursday, Jan. 21 for our first Virtual Voices of the new year. The panel will feature Monica Williams, executive producer of the Equity Project LLC and president of TIED, Dr. Michael Benitez, vice president for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, MSU Denver, and Dr. Devon Wright, assistant professor of African American studies, MSU Denver. Attendees will explore how the history of the United States created today’s racial systems. Register for Virtual Voices: How Did We Get Here?
We would like to take a moment and recognize those in our community whose work and leadership honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Demesha Hill, a member of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board of Directors and past chair of the B:CIVIC Board, who received a 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Award. The Other Side Academy – a result of a Leadership Exchange Trip to Salt Lake City – also received an award. Congratulations on your awards and thank you for your tireless work for equity.
We hope you have taken today to reflect on the lessons from Martin Luther King Jr. and the ways we can utilize them in our daily lives
