Dear IHP Community,

As we consider the life and contributions of Martin Luther King today, I’m struck by the question he asked in a 1957 speech in Montgomery, Alabama, when he told his followers, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

 Dr. King certainly practiced what he preached and led a life filled with service to others: religious, humanitarian, and educational. Driven by a desire to make the world a better place, Dr. King’s impact is still seen today in those who are moved by his writings and speeches.

Each year, themes are selected to amplify the work of this civil rights leader. Chosen by the City of Philadelphia, this year’s theme is, “Creating the Beloved Community,” which highlights Dr. King's inspiring vision of a world anchored in justice, equality, and compassion - where love triumphs over hate. I was drawn to this because we are creating a beloved community at the IHP. We often talk about living our values of justice, equity, and inclusion, of exemplifying that through simple gestures of kindness and being in community with others - donating to our Food Pantry is just one example. In addition, we’re committed to the free and civil exchange of ideas, and we are dedicated to the dignity of every single person in the IHP Community - key facets of the beloved community Dr. King espoused.

On this MLK Day, I reflect on the work we have been doing to prepare health care providers and help improve the lives of patients. Central to this is our commitment to equity and anti-oppression, a path I announced we would take in June 2020, along with regular updates on our progress. The following are some examples of our accomplishments over the last six months:

  • Conducting the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) Survey and sharing the results with the IHP community in the fall. Kimberly Truong has shared findings with the JEDI Council, Executive Council, Faculty and Staff Townhall, SHRS Dean’s Office, SON Dean’s Office, SHL Dean’s Office, Strategic Planning priority focused on student experiences, and academic department leadership in SON, PT, OT, GC, PA, CSD, PhD Program, and interprofessional education. Academic departments have been invited to reflect on their CECE Survey results and present their action plans at upcoming JEDI Council meetings.
  • The JEDI Council has continued to have conversations about JEDI strategy at the IHP, including fall conversations about community building during the elections, the CECE Survey results, and the JEDI values of the IHP related to the partnerships with MGB.
  • The IHP was a host site for two national convenings this fall:

The Amplifying Student Voices convening on October 5th focused on the future of belonging, diversity, and equity in higher education and on strategies for fulfilling the promise of an inclusive democracy. The MGH Institute was one of 41 sites selected for the convening, which was organized by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) in partnership with the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers. It was sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Lumina Foundation.

The MGH Institute served as one of the host institutions for the Restorative Communities of Practice convening on Friday, November 15th. The event, organized by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), brought together more than 200 senior-level diversity leaders from higher education at 21 sites to reflect on and develop plans for responding strategically to the challenges to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

  • Members of the IHP attended the Racial Equity and Justice Institute (REJI) Summit at Bridgewater State University on November 13th. The REJI Handbook (volume 2) was unveiled where Kimberly Truong, Callie Watkins Liu, Corliss Kanazawa, and Kanayo Sakai contributed a chapter focused on the development of the JEDI Core Competencies.

We will continue with our journey toward equity and anti-oppression in alignment with the IHP mission and vision of improving health outcomes and equity.

As always, I hope you use this solemn holiday to reflect on the many teachings of Dr. King and the life he lived in the service of others. Please consider Dr. King’s question: What are you doing for others?

I wish you peace.

 

Paula