JMers Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For members of embRACE (the JM Diversity & InclusionÌýEmployee Resource Group focused on general race and culture), Martin LutherÌýKing, Jr. Day was one of celebration, an opportunity to give thanks and a timeÌýto express their dedication to ensuring that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dreamÌýof equality for all becomes reality.

Members of the embRACE group walked inÌýthe Dr.ÌýMartinÌýLuther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission’sÌý“Maradeâ€� on JanuaryÌý17.ÌýThe annual Marade is the only event of itsÌýkind in theÌýnation, bringingÌýtogether as many as 90,000 people to
celebrate the lifeÌýand impact of humanÌýrights activist Dr. MartinÌýLuther King, Jr. The firstÌýMarade in Denver tookÌýplace in 1986.
Today, it includes events such as aÌýwreath laying, a march/parade, andÌýmore.ÌýYou can learn moreÌýabout the event .

On January 14th, a BusinessÌýAwards luncheon is held by the Commission to recognize individuals,Ìýcorporations and non-profit organizations for Celebrating Content ofÌýCharacter. JM Account Specialist Dominique Davis has been volunteering forÌýthis event alongside her mother (Deborah Kulas, Chief Reservationist) in theÌýpast andÌýpresented this event to the group for JM to participateÌýin.Ìý“We purchased a table for the MLK Business Awards LuncheonÌýthisÌýyear! I thought the luncheon would be something really great for JMÌýtoÌýparticipate in. I have been volunteering on the day of the event forÌýthe pastÌýthree years now and that is how I was able to get JM involved. ItÌýis anÌýincredible event and a wonderful way to honor a man who was a
trailblazer forÌýpeople like myself,â€� Dominique said. You can learn moreÌýabout the luncheon .

In addition to these events, Dominique Davis and Steve Kondracki, HR Manager for Roofing Systems,Ìýinvited a former federal prosecutor to have a conversation about race at ourÌýJMTC location in Littleton, CO. Jason St. Julien, nowÌýLead Counsel of Community Trust for Airbnb, spoke withÌý20 JMers about transforming conversations about race as a tool to drive changeÌýand improve diversity and inclusion at work and in the community.

“(Jason) is a fearless leaderÌýand an individual who continues to have the tough conversations on race thatÌýnot everyone in his power is made to have, and I think that is very important,â€�ÌýDominique said.

Jason addressed the group by saying,Ìý“WhatÌýbetter way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. than to be able to have aÌýconversation such as this? I’m committed to facilitating this conversation inÌýsuch a way that you and everyone else in here have some new thought, view,Ìýperspective or action to take, as it relates to race, that you did not haveÌýwhen you walked in here this morning.â€�

St. Julien, whoÌýpennedÌýaÌý inÌý2020 in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, provided the group with tips on howÌýto talk about race, particularly in the workplace – encouraging people toÌýlisten with intent to understand, rather than to respond and to focus onÌýconnecting as humans.Ìý

He further urged attendees toÌýcontinue to have such crucial conversations in their communities and homes,Ìýadding, “I’d rather you blow it then to sit back and let your silence be seenÌýas agreement.â€�

“People shared their ownÌýexperiences with race-related fears, concerns and life experiences, and we leftÌýwith a call to action,â€� noted Kondracki.Ìý“We hope that this is a catalystÌýand that we’ll have more conversations and action items in the near future,â€� heÌýadded.

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