Martin Luther King, Jr. Day memorializes the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. (more commonly known as “MLK Jr.”), a Baptist minister and one of the most respected and renowned leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement. MLK Jr. became a prominent civil rights activist in the 1950s. He fought for racial equality and social change through nonviolent resistance, such as protests, marches, and boycotts. MLK was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work. After he was assassinated in 1968, his supporters continually commemorated him, but MLK Day did not become a federal holiday until 1983 and was not nationally observed until 1986.

Today, we still celebrate MLK Jr.’s efforts and achievements every year on the third Monday in January, and we remember his incredible fight for the black community and all of the positive effects he had on our country.

MLK DAY AS A DAY OF SERVICE

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”

These wise words by the great Martin Luther King, Jr. come from his speech entitled “Drum Major Instinct,” which was given on February 4, 1968 to his congregation. MLK Jr. emphasized that everyone, no matter their education level or socioeconomic status, has the ability to serve others as long as they have a “heart full of grace.” He envisioned that service would be a way to break barriers between races, allowing everyone to work together towards a common goal.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the only federal holiday that has been designated by Congress as a National Day of Service. Whichever way that you serve, one of the pillars of MLK Day is to provide meaningful change to the community.

Continue reading MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY: A Day of National Service >

MBLB’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

MBLB strives to be a diverse law firm. Our goal is to create and maintain an environment that welcomes and fosters mutual respect for different perspectives, backgrounds and life experiences regardless of gender, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability. We are committed to ensuring that professional growth and advancement are based on capability and performance and recognize that a diverse workforce enriches our experiences and lends to our success. We value and support all who positively contribute to our practice and our community.

MBLB’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee members include Members Alan Brackett, and Mike Parks, and Simone Yoder, Associates Tyler Loga and Taylor Tran and Human Resources Director, Linda Castanza.

Among the initiatives the DE&I Committee has launched is the Affinity newsletter, which allows diverse voices and points of view to be shared, both within our firm and externally. The newsletter is intended to educate, particularly on historical diversity issues and their impact on or by the law. While these articles provide valuable perspective, they are not intended to espouse a position by the firm.

Let’s start a conversation!