A proclamation to mark Martin Luther King’s legacy of serving others was unanimously approved Thursday by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
The unanimously approved proclamation declaring Jan. 18-20 as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Weekend in Multnomah County says, in part, that Dr. King devoted his life to serving others, reminding us that “human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable.”
One such opportunity to serve others is being provided by Commissioner Loretta Smith, who discussed the Jan. 20 Day of Service at Highland Christian Center to create personal care packages for vulnerable people.
Quoting from King, Commissioner Smith said the weekend reflects the civil rights leader’s credo that, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.”
Other opportunities locally to volunteer throughout the Weekend of Service are available on the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette's website.
“We commemorate the 27th anniversary of the holiday recognizing one of America's greatest visionary leaders,’’ the proclamation said, “and we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King by engaging in services to our community for justice and equality, sowing seeds of hope for a day when all people might claim "the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
“Despite Dr. King’s efforts and the ongoing work of visionary leaders across the country, communities of color continue to face inequities across a variety of measures of health, opportunity and well-being,” the resolution continues.
“The Multnomah County Board’s commitment to social justice and promoting equity in the community is demonstrated in our mission statement and our commitment to the Equity Lens, the Health Equity Initiative and many culturally specific programs throughout our organization,” the resolution states. “We acknowledge that there is more work to do and commit to working together in a spirit of mutual recognition and respect with the Coalition of Communities of Color and other culturally specific organizations.”
Before the board voted at its Jan. 16 meeting to approve the proclamation, commissioners heard from Kalissa Canyon-Scopes, interim Director of the county’s Office of Diversity and Equity; as well as ReGina Guion and Mark Lewis, co-chairs of the county’s, Managers of Color.