Dear DGH community,

Monday, January 18, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on which we celebrate Dr. King’s legacy as a civil rights leader. His brilliant leadership, advocacy, and nonviolent civil disobedience were instrumental in fighting segregation and promoting the right to vote. His work and commitment to antiracism continue to inspire.

It is as critical and urgent now as it has ever been to mobilize for social justice and speak out against racial oppression. In the midst of continuing political unrest and violent displays of white supremacy and fascism, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an opportunity for us to uplift the power and resilience of community organizing, and work for a world where, in Dr. King’s words, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

On Monday, we encourage you to take time to reflect on actions you can take to bend the arc. Seattle’s MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition has organized a series of mostly online events on Monday and over the weekend (details on the Coalition website).

As a department, we are entering a period of strategic planning that, in accordance with our Antiracism Action Plan, will prioritize our efforts to become an antiracist institution. Stay tuned for information on ways to contribute to strategic planning and updates on the Antiracism Action Plan in the coming weeks.

We wish you all an inspiring MLK Day in this difficult time.

In solidarity,

Judy Wasserheit, DGH Chair

Judd Walson, DGH Vice Chair

Keshet Ronen, Interim DEI Director

Susan Graham, DGH Associate Chair for Academic Programs

Dana Panteleeff, DGH Director of Finance and Administration