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01/20/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/20/2025 10:34
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 20, 2025
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encompasses influential decisions, monumental actions and steadfast progressions of humanitarian rights that reach far beyond the Civil Rights Movement.
A leader of all people, Dr. King never chose fear, but always chose courage and determination when fighting for civil rights in the face of oppression, ignorance, and violence. He refused to allow prison, violence, or the threat of death sway his end mission.
Instead, he stood beside his goal of achieving rights for all through nonviolent protests.
As we celebrate and commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., COUNTRY Financial Government Affairs Manager and chair of the Multicultural Resource Group (MCRG), Alisha Howell, shares her personal experience and how others can join in and honor his legacy.
Tell us about who you are and your role at COUNTRY.
"I've been with COUNTRY for 10 years. One of the main roles of the Government Affairs team is to monitor new laws and regulations of potential impact to the organization and communicate that information internally to applicable business areas. We also serve as a liaison between internal business partners and outside trade associations that advocate on our behalf with state and federal government leaders.
I reside in Georgia (the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). Given Dr. King's Atlanta roots, the MLK holiday is a huge deal in this part of the country and the annual fanfare is certainly well deserved."
What does the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mean to you?
"Dr. King's life of service stressed the importance of breaking down invisible walls that keep people who have more in common than they realize from connecting with one another. Dr. King unapologetically vocalized that no one is inherently better than or superior to anyone else.
One of his most famous quotes from his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963, is that he yearned for the day when his children would, 'live in a nation where they were not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.'
Dr. King believed that outward appearance was not an indicator of being better than but could perhaps be an indicator of being better off. King's life and legacy serve as a beacon of hope and instruction for me to refocus on the blessing of being better off, the reasons for it and how to actively pursue justice and be a blessing to others who are less fortunate."
You are involved with the Multicultural Resource Group - what does that group mean to you? How has it helped you and others?
"Feelings of joy and belonging resonate strongly with me when I think about the MCRG. At its core, the group is a celebration of what makes our organization so amazing, which are the people who work here and our unique differences and perspectives that have been shaped by all the cultures we represent. We are truly better together and the group to me is a place where people are united for the purpose of lifting each other up and implementing efforts that align with COUNTRY's mission, Vision, and values.
When the Employee Resource Groups kicked off in 2018, I had the honor and privilege of serving as MCRG's Programming Manager and worked with the inaugural leadership team to put some structure in place for the group. From there, the many leaders that came after us have developed an even more cohesive and meaningful community, and it's been tremendously rewarding to watch the group evolve and grow over the years."
What do you think is important for others to know and what action can they take?
"Dr. King was also a pastor whose faith guided his nonviolent actions toward racial justice and reconciliation. I watched a recent Meet the Press interview with two U.S. Senators (who are ordained ministers) on different sides of the aisle that spoke about faith, racial healing and unity. One mentioned he often asks people of all backgrounds whether they have ever invited a family of a different race or ethnicity over to their home for dinner. Way more times than not, the answer is 'no'. Hearing this was shocking to me, as my answer is a resounding 'yes' and has been a common occurrence for decades. But the reality of the 'no' to me speaks to part of why Dr. King's dream has not fully come to fruition. It really is up to each of us to do our part and make the time to get to know people who are different from us and learn about their character and aspects of their culture.
If you haven't already, my recommended action would be to get to know a family or individual that doesn't look like you and invite them over to your house for dinner to help foster the strong and inclusive community that Dr. King envisioned and spoke of often.
COUNTRY employees will have an opportunity to meet others at an upcoming co-sponsored PRIDE RG and MCRG quarterly event on Jan. 23. The event will focus on our organizations' values and in attendance will be employees from all different backgrounds and experiences to connect with and learn from."
COUNTRY is dedicated to creating a culture in which all voices are heard, and everyone's contributions are valued. Learn more about careers at COUNTRY.