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关注... Tayna Longino P'17 '18 '21

泰娜·朗吉诺是 human resources consultant for The Kaleidoscope Group, 有限责任公司, a full-service diversity, 股本, 和包含(DE)&咨询公司. She had the pleasure of giving a speech about Dr. 马丁·路德·金. at Temple Judea, a synagogue near her home in Bucks County, for their MLK Shabbat on January 12.

 

 

Thank you, Rabbi Levin for your gracious introduction. Let me give thanks to my friends Jerel and Shari Wohl for sharing my name with Rabbi Levin and your congregation. It is an honor to be with you this evening and to share a little about myself and the meaning of Dr. 国王的遗产给我.

Dr. 马丁·路德·金. was a transformative figure in American history, whose impact on civil rights and social justice continues to resonate today. 这个周末, as we reflect on his life and legacy, it's essential to recognize the profound contributions he made to the fight against racial in平等 and injustice.

我们知道，博士. King was a charismatic and an inspirational leader to many, 像我们所有人一样, 他有缺点, 然而, his commitment to nonviolent protest and his unwavering dedication to 平等 made him a beacon of hope for millions of people striving for a more just society.

博士之一. King's most memorable moments was his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech delivered during the March on Washington in 1963. 在这个强有力的演讲中, he eloquently articulated his vision of a nation where individuals are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. This speech remains a timeless call for unity, 平等, 和正义.

Beyond his eloquence, Dr. King was a tireless advocate for change. He led and participated in numerous protests, 游行, 和抵制, challenging discriminatory laws and practices. His efforts were instrumental in the passage of significant civil rights legislation.

然而,博士. King's impact extends beyond legislative achievements. His legacy has inspired generations of activists and leaders to continue the fight for justice, 平等, 还有人权. His teachings on nonviolence, 爱, and compassion remain powerful guiding principles for those striving to create a more inclusive and equitable society. These are principles modeled for me by my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.  I was fortunate to have each of them pour into me from day of my birth. They set examples that were not performative, but deeply rooted in responsibility for your neighbor, 你的社区, and for those whose voices were silenced. You see, my early remembrances of service began in my church and in my community.  I stacked cans in the church and community food pantries, stuffed envelopes during elections, and cleaned up the neighborhood park.  Every Saturday, my grandfather, a Deacon in our church, visited the “sick and the shut-in.” I don’t recall ever being asked if I wanted to join him…. It was just what he and I did… I saw it as our time together carrying a cake, pie or meal made by my grandmother or mother for whomever we were visiting. I didn’t realize at the time, but these are the experiences that shaped and grounded me…to care for and have concern for others.  Stuffing envelopes during election time was more than just getting menial tasks done…it was listening to community issues, hearing the cries of a mother who walked into the center seeking assistance to pay her electric bill, or feed her children or the parent who needed warm clothes for their family. These were my early lessons!

When I left home for college, I developed my own interests and discovered my own voice for causes and activism.  While I did not depart from the values sewn into me by my parents. I joined service organizations that closely aligned to my personal interests -Education, 健康, 公民参与, 和社会正义. When it was time to declare my major, I decided on Public Policy and Business Administration. Intuitively I knew I wanted a career where I would advocate for policies that would positively impact lives. So, I found myself in a career where I could marry both my personal and professional passions. As an HR professional for several decades now, I have been privy to an evolving and fulfilling practice. Still helping people, looking at policies and practices through a lens of 股本 for all.  

Thirty-one years ago, I married my childhood sweetheart, and we were gifted 3 amazing children. 埃文-Eric 25, Mykal-Michele 24, 和约旦 Andrew 21. The principles and values I shared with you this evening; we have done our best to model the same for them.  While, they have always joined us in celebrating Dr. King’s Holiday and weekend events of service, they are all keenly aware of their responsibility to their community every day and not just a weekend in January. Our goal was to instill in them the principles of Civility-Love, Kindness, and Respect!

我们相信, if we can lead with those virtues then we can sit with each other, 一起吃面包, talk through our differences, be willing to change narratives and assumptions we’ve learned over time, and listen to each other for 理解 and not for the purpose of debate…it is then we can collectively advocate for the rights of everyone.

You have likely heard of Dr. King concept of the "Be爱d 社区." This was his vision for a just and equitable society. 亲爱的社区, was not just a utopian ideal but a practical philosophy that aimed at creating a world where all individuals lived together in harmony, 拥抱爱, 理解, 和正义.

At the core of the Be爱d 社区 was the idea that all people are interconnected and interdependent. Dr. King believed that true social change could only be achieved through nonviolent means and by fostering a sense of community that transcended racial, 经济, 社会分化. He envisioned a society where individuals, regardless of their background, treated each other with respect and dignity. As a guiding principle of the Be爱d 社区, Dr. King emphasized the power of 爱 and compassion in addressing social issues. He argued that hatred and violence only perpetuated a cycle of injustice, and true transformation could only come through 理解, 同理心, 与和解.

While the Be爱d 社区 may still be a work in progress, Dr. King's vision remains a powerful and inspiring call to action. It challenges us to reflect on our individual and collective responsibilities in creating a society where 爱 triumphs over hatred, 理解 triumphs over ignorance, 和正义 triumphs over injustice. Embracing the principles of the Be爱d 社区 is not only a way to honor Dr. King's legacy but also a pathway toward a more compassionate and harmonious world.

As many of us spend this weekend honoring Dr. 马丁·路德·金., let us not only remember the historical figure but also embrace the values he stood for. Let his legacy be a constant reminder that the pursuit of justice and 平等 is a collective responsibility that requires our ongoing commitment and action. Dr. King's dream of a truly just and united nation is a vision worth pursuing, and each of us has a role to play, 像我这样, 我的丈夫, 埃里克和我们的三个孩子, 埃文, Mykal, 和约旦.

Thank you again for your invitation and your hospitality. It has been my pleasure to share with you a little about myself and how Dr. King resonates within me!