By: Warner Thomas, President & CEO, and Dana Beckton, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Sutter Health

As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day this Monday on what would have been his 95th birthday, we remember one of the most impactful and important Americans in our history. Dr. King’s message, vision and dream for America were clear. Today, we remain driven by his values of hope, courage and resilience.

On Martin Luther King Day, we not only honor Dr. King’s memory but also reflect on his teachings and the principles he lived by. Nearly 100 years after his birth, it stands as a day to recommit to his ideals, to embrace diversity, and to listen, learn and reflect on the actions we can take to foster a more inclusive society.

One of the ways we can honor Martin Luther King, Jr. is by engaging in service. In fact, it is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer in their communities. Dr. King believed in the transformative power of love and service to bring about positive change. While this can look different for each of us, engaging in acts of kindness, volunteerism and community service can help create a more just and compassionate world.

In the spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion and driven by our own mission of service, we are working together this year to bring a robust strategic plan to life that puts our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion into new levels of action. Offering a workplace where all employees feel heard, respected and empowered to reach their full potential is key to who we want to be and what we want to do.

We have the privilege to serve one of the most diverse patient populations in the country. We understand the importance of reflecting the diverse communities we serve and delivering healthcare with sensitivity to cultural nuances and understanding. Critical to this aim is the work of the Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity to uncover and address disparities in healthcare and develop health equity solutions to help drive more equitable care within our system and across the country.

Below are a few events Sutter Health is supporting to bring our communities together to honor Dr. King and his message. Here’s a resource offered by AmeriCorps for finding other opportunities for service. Let’s do all we can on this special day and every day to make his dream—of a future where everyone has the opportunity to live out their dreams without the barriers of discrimination and prejudice—a reality.

• March for the Dream Walk. Begins at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at Sacramento City College (3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento)
• MLK Celebration in Marin City. Begins at noon, Monday, Jan. 15, at Manzanita Rec Center (630 Drake Ave., Marin City)
• Oakland MLK Service Day. Multiple sites around the City of Oakland throughout the day on Monday, Jan. 15.
• MLK Day of Service in Santa Rosa. Begins at 9 a.m., Monday, Jan. 15, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1208 Hendley St., Santa Rosa)