January 19, 2001
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Prayer, song, words of reflection and hopes for the future were shared among MGHers Jan. 12 at a special breakfast to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The annual celebration, sponsored by the Association of Multicultural Members of Partners (AMMP), featured guest speakers Rev. Ana Ruth Higbee-Barzola of MGH Chaplaincy and an AMMP member; Peter Slavin, MD, CEO of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization; Jeanette Ives Erickson, MS, RN, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse; Paula O'Connor, MD, of MGH Oncology and the Multicultural Affairs Office; Jeff Davis, senior vice president for Human Resources; and Patricia Beckles, RN, a former MGHer who was the first black nurse in the Neonatal Unit.
From left, AMMP member Mary Chambers,
Greene, Slavin
Ives-Erickson, Davis, O'Connor, Higbee-Barzola, Beckles and Thomas
Ron Greene, RN, BSN, of Case Management, and chair of AMMP, coordinated and emceed the event, and Anthony Thomas, of the Blake 2 Infusion Unit, sang "Give me Jesus" a cappella and led the audience in a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" song, which was written for King.
"Martin Luther King had a dream, and he was an inspiration," said Greene. "It is up to us to take that dream to any height we want to. He awoke an inspiration in all of us, and we are here today because we still are being inspired."
The celebration of King's life and legacy continues with a special presentation featuring Rev. Bernice A. King, who is the youngest daughter of King. Partners HealthCare and the MGH will be hosting this celebration Jan. 24 at 4 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. A reception will be held immediately following the celebration in the Trustees Room of the Bulfinch Building. For more information, visit http://intranet.partners.org/news/mlk.asp or call 724-0928.