On this day, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most remarkable and inspiring leaders w in our country’s history. During a time of serious economic precariousness for so many families across New York, it feels fitting that we renew our call to action to prioritize anti-racist economic security. Dr. King was a champion of economic security and equity for Black Americans and spoke out against unacceptable levels of poverty amidst material prosperity, an issue that persists even in 2025. In his final speech, he poignantly asked, “Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day? And they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation.” These words strike a chord as we look at data in New York on child poverty. New York has one of the largest economies in the world, but New York children are more likely to live in poverty than in 32 other states, amounting to a rate of roughly 1 in 5 children. The poverty rate approaches 1 in 3 among children of color and affects nearly half of children in some areas like Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. New data also shows that in over half of U.S. states, more than 50% of people were in families with resources below the true cost of living threshold, meaning most people lacked the resources to meet the true cost of economic security. In New York, a staggering 54% of families are economically insecure by this measure. In a 1967 speech, Dr. King proclaimed, “The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.” We agree. Data proves many times over that poverty is a policy choice and we have the tools we need to end child poverty in New York. We know what policies and investments will work to bring economic security to millions of families in our communities and we will work to address inequity and to ensure every child is healthy, housed, educated, and safe. Today we honor Dr. King and his legacy in uplifting equality, equity, and economic justice. #MLK #MLKDay #MLKJr #PovertyReduction #Advocacy #NY #NYC
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This MLK Day, we reflect on the powerful connection between Dr. King’s vision and the ongoing fight against homelessness. A recent report by the UIC Center for Research on Race and Public Policy in Illinois,(https://lnkd.in/gcDa-rVk) Black Homelessness in Illinois: Structural Drivers of Inequality, highlights how systemic racism and inequality perpetuate this crisis. Dr. King fought tirelessly against the intertwined evils of racism and poverty. Today, we honor his legacy by recommitting ourselves to justice and equity for all. Together, we can continue his work and build a brighter, fairer future. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?' – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. If you're interested in joining us and giving back, visit www.beds-plus.org to learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can continue to answer Dr. King’s call to serve others and make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. #ThankYouVolunteers #MakingADifference #MLK #VolunteerWithBedsPlus #CommunitySupport
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𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗿.'𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 - 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲. As we celebrate MLK Day, let's reflect on how we can embody Dr. King's principles in our industry and daily lives. At Afrika.vc, we believe celebrating MLK Day goes beyond a day off. It's an opportunity to 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. Here are some meaningful ways to honor Dr. King's legacy: 1. 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: Dive deeper into Dr. King's teachings beyond the "I Have a Dream" speech. His writings on economic justice and housing equality are particularly relevant to our industry. 2. 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: Volunteer with local organizations working to address housing inequality or homelessness. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the U.S. faces a shortage of 7 million affordable homes for extremely low-income renters as of 2023. 3. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Advocate for policies that promote equitable access to housing and combat discrimination in real estate practices. 4. 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: Implement inclusive hiring practices and create opportunities for underrepresented groups in the real estate sector. 5. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲: Host or participate in discussions about racial equity in housing and community development. Dr. King's vision of a "𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆" where all people have equal opportunities for housing and economic prosperity is still relevant today. As real estate professionals, we have a unique opportunity to contribute to this vision. Let's use this MLK Day as a catalyst for ongoing commitment to equality and justice in our industry. Remember, as Dr. King said, "The time is always right to do what is right." 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴'𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲? #MLKDay #SocialJustice #RealEstateEquality #CommunityService #EconomicJustice #FairHousing
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In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. I remind myself of his most powerful messages that still ring true today - 1) "the Triple Evils" & 2) "Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change": Triple Evils: Poverty – unemployment, homelessness, hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy, infant mortality, slums… Racism – prejudice, apartheid, ethnic conflict, anti-Semitism, sexism, colonialism, homophobia, ageism, discrimination against disabled groups, stereotypes… Militarism – war, imperialism, domestic violence, rape, terrorism, human trafficking, media violence, drugs, child abuse, violent crime… Six Principles for Nonviolent Social Change: 1) Nonviolence Is a Way of Life for Courageous People. 2) Nonviolence Seeks to Win Friendship and Understanding. 3) Nonviolence Seeks to Defeat Injustice, or Evil, Not People. 4) Nonviolence Holds That Unearned, Voluntary Suffering for a Just Cause Can Educate and Transform People and Societies. 5) Nonviolence Chooses Love Instead of Hate. 6) Nonviolence Believes That the Universe Is on the Side of Justice. source: https://lnkd.in/drP2f_m
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Today, we pause to reflect on the immeasurable impact of a man who transformed America through his commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolent resistance. Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the work of the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968. Dr. King is remembered for protesting racial discrimination in federal and state law and civil society. Dr. King's dream wasn't just about racial harmony – it was a vision of a society built on the foundations of dignity, respect, and equal opportunity for all. In 1967 in Birmingham, King famously said: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" Communities across the country plan on celebrating with acts of service, prayer, and parades. Volunteers are renovating schools and creating safe corridors for students, packing meals for food-insecure families, cleaning up neighborhood parks, and planting trees. As we honor his legacy today, here are meaningful ways we can carry his mission forward: 👉 Find local volunteer opportunities or participate in the MLK Day of Service projects in your area. 👉 Take time to read Dr. King's writings beyond the famous "I Have a Dream" speech. His "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?". 👉 Consider donating to or getting involved with organizations that continue Dr. King's work for social justice and equality. 👉 Create spaces for open, honest dialogue about race, inequality, and social justice in your workplace and community. 👉 Invest in the next generation by sharing Dr. King's principles of leadership, nonviolence, and social change. Help them understand how they can be agents of positive transformation in their communities. Dr. King's legacy reminds us that progress is possible when we have the courage to dream and the determination to act. How are you contributing to positive change in our world? Tell us in the comments. #MLKDay #SocialJustice #Leadership #CivilRights #Community #ServiceToOthers
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✊🏾 Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, we reflect on Dr. King’s enduring fight for racial and economic justice and his unwavering vision of a world where equity and dignity are non-negotiable for all. At A Way Home America, we carry his legacy forward by addressing the systemic inequities that lead to youth homelessness—focusing on Black, Indigenous, youth of color, and LGBTQIA+ youth, on a pathway to ending and preventing homelessness for all. 🏛️ Dr. King reminded us that poverty is not inevitable—it is the result of unjust systems and policies. In his words, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Guided by this truth, we are committed to transforming systems through public policy and advocacy that centers: ✔️ Economic Justice, including raising wages, supporting universal basic income, and direct cash transfers for youth with lived experience. ✔️ The fight against systemic racism and white supremacy that disproportionately harms Black, Indigenous, and Brown communities. ✔️ A path to housing justice for all. 💡 On this day of remembrance, we recommit to creating a future rooted in Dr. King’s vision of justice, equity, and liberation. Together, we can ensure every young person has a safe place to call home. 📢 Learn more about our work: AWayHomeAmerica.org #MLKDay #EconomicJustice #HousingJustice #EndYouthHomelessness #AWayHomeAmerica
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"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King spoke these powerful words during a press conference in Chicago on March 25, 1966, at the annual meeting of the Medical Committee for Human Rights. He emphasized that health care is a basic human right, and that disparities in health access and outcomes are among the most devastating forms of injustice, as they can lead to preventable suffering and loss of life. At Sunflower Health Plan, we are inspired by Dr. King’s unwavering belief in equity and justice. His words guide our commitment to addressing health disparities and ensuring that all Kansans have access to the care and resources they need to thrive. This MLK Day, let’s honor his legacy by working together to create a healthier, more equitable future for everyone. How are you carrying forward Dr. King’s vision in your community? Share your thoughts with us. #MLKDay #HealthEquity #Justice #CommunityCare #SunflowerHealthPlan #Kansas
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As I return to work today after honoring Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded that his words from 1967 continue to ring true in 2025. “There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it…Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any city, at any table, when [people have] the resources and the scientific know‐how to provide [everyone] with the basic necessities of life?…There is no deficit in human resources, the deficit is in human will.” Organizations focused on culture and belonging will benefit from keeping socioeconomic status in mind. To truly achieve equity in the workplace and beyond, we must consider and support staff who are or were poor. Poverty in the United States is an urgent crisis that too often goes unnoticed. Did you know that 51% of our children live in poverty, 135 million adults are either poor or on low wages, and a staggering 800 people die every day because of poverty? These statistics paint a dire picture of the systemic issues we face. Three insightful books—The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee, Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond, and White Poverty by Rev. William Barber and Jonathan Hartgrove— explore how our society permits the cycle of poverty to persist by maintaining a minimum wage that doesn't support a life of dignity. Three policy changes will move us more towards equity and justice: A fair tax system that doesn't burden the poor A true safety net that catches those in need A living wage for all workers to sustainably support their families Together, we can build Dr. King’s vision and advocate for systemic changes that promote fairness, compassion, and economic justice for all. #EndPoverty #LivingWage #EconomicJustice #culture #equitablebelonging #TheSumOfUs #PovertyByAmerica #WhitePoverty #HeatherMcGhee #MatthewDesmond #RevWilliamBarber #JonathanHartgrove #MLK
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This #MLKDay, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of justice, equality, and opportunity for all. His legacy reminds us that progress demands collective action, courage, and unwavering commitment. At WFS, we are doubling down on our commitment to advancing equity and justice, even as challenges like the overturn of affirmative action, erosion of reproductive rights, and threats to civil liberties persist. These struggles are interconnected, but so is our collective power to create change. Thanks to your support during our #CamelliaCampaign, we raised nearly $200,000 to directly invest in women of color leading transformative work across the South. Together, we’re amplifying their voices, advancing equity, and creating pathways to leadership and prosperity. Today, we're inspired by Dr. King’s words: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Your generosity answers this call, helping us build a future where justice and opportunity prevail. Together, we're creating lasting change. Thank you for your support. #MLK #Justice #Equity #ShiftTheSouth #Change #Give #WFS
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Just before his death and five years after his iconic 1963 I Have a Dream speech, Dr. King was organizing a return to Washington, DC, to dramatize the cross-racial impact of poverty in the wealthiest nation in the world. This Poor People’s Campaign was designed to draw attention to the lack of economic opportunity experienced not just in the Deep South, but in urban and rural communities throughout the United States. King believed that there had to be better ways to support the basic needs and the human dignity of the women, men, and children who were left out of America’s economic promise. Economic justice was not a new concept for King. He knew that the promise of progress contained in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 could not be fully realized for all Americans without full participation in the nation’s economic life. Indeed, though it is often truncated as the March on Washington, the full title of that historic gathering of 250,000 people was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The two were inextricably linked. Economic opportunity is closely linked to self-determination at JSMF as well. We believe that the opportunity to secure a thriving wage job, grow a business, and build and protect wealth makes it possible to direct the course of one’s life and provide for the future of one’s family. It gives individuals a say and a set of choices about their lives and their communities. As we at JSMF pause to honor the Martin Luther King holiday, we will be thinking of the beloved community he envisioned and recommitting ourselves to supporting the work of making the economic promise of our community finally and fully accessible to all. #MLKDay #EconomicJustice #BelovedCommunity #StLouis
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✨If you don't know what you would die for, you haven't started living yet.✨ ▪️ One day, Mártir Luther King said, “I have a dream,” and he lived and died for racial equality. ▪️Mother Teresa gave her life for poverty alleviation. ▪️One day, Steve Jobs challenged everyone to think; differently; his dream was to make technology and innovation accessible to everyone. You might be thinking: “Ohh, all these people were extraordinary people.” But, I must say: ✨They were ordinary people that did extraordinary things because they knew what they would die for. ✨God is an expert in using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Dare and be available. #businesspurpose #thoughtleadership #culturetransformation #igniteleaders
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