– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today we celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a civil rights activist and leader of the movement against racial injustice in the 1960s, Dr. King was a champion of human rights, justice, and equality. He believed in the principle of non-violent protest, and he spoke often of the power of love, kindness, and compassion in confronting aggression and eliminating discrimination. His writings and speeches continue to inspire, teach, and influence people of all ages in the United States and around the world.
Please join me this morning from 10-11:30 a.m. for our annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. This year, we are hosting a virtual event focused on racial equity and anti-racism. The session will be led by Team Dynamics, a team of educators who are experts in facilitating education that begins with identity and builds to develop skills for being anti-racists. Our Team Dynamics presenters will work with attendees to find some shared meaning and understanding of core concepts like diversity, equity, inclusion, and culture. They also will lead participants to explore the ways our identities impact our lived experiences.
The President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is using this event to launch a series of racial justice and inclusion educational opportunities for Gustavus students, faculty, and staff to continue their learning during the spring semester. You will hear more about these additional education and training options after today’s event. This morning’s session begins our community’s shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion education throughout the spring and beyond. I look forward to partnering with each of you as we undertake this important work.
We have an opportunity today to stand together in support of racial justice and inclusion, to “think intensively and to think critically” about our ongoing work to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion at Gustavus, and to commit to learning and growing as individuals so that our community is a place where everyone feels like they belong. I believe that together we can do our part to continue the movement that Dr. King started and actively pursue his vision for a just society.
Yours in community,
President Bergman