The Office of Diversity and Inclusion invites all members of the VUMC community to a pre-MLK Day virtual event on Friday, Jan. 13 at noon.
The program features guest speaker Dr. W. Antoni Sinkfield, Associate Dean of Community Life, Wesley Theological Seminary and MLK Scholar, who will reflect on Dr. King’s timeless teachings.
Colleagues who helped develop the Racial Equity Plan will discuss the history-making path to MLK Day becoming an observed holiday at VUMC starting this year. VUMC’s MLK Day holiday occurs on the third Monday of January, this year on Jan. 16.
“Dr. King’s legacy as an iconic leader of the American Civil Rights Movement helped shift us toward a more equitable nation. His teachings emphasize that we each play an important role in creating our world, or even our workplace. His message is of equality for all people, not a specific few,” said Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, VUMC’s Chief Equity Officer and Senior Associate Dean, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“Like so many, I look forward to celebrating Dr. King’s legacy each January. But this year will be special,” said Kristy Sinkfield, M.Ed., Associate Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. “Now that MLK is a VUMC holiday, we can each use this day to volunteer in the community, participate in one of the many parades, reflect on his teachings, share his message with family and friends or another way of our own choosing.
Use your phone, table or desktop computer to pre-register at tinyurl.com/VUMCMLKDAY
For additional ways to celebrate Dr. King, visit the Office of Diversity & Inclusion website for ideas and resources.
