Partners Celebrates MLK Jr

The third Monday in January was chosen for the observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as it was closest to his date of birth; January 15. It honors the total legacy of King; focuses on the issue of civil rights; highlights the use of nonviolence to promote change; and calls people into public service.

At Partners, we are committed to building community and a sense of belonging, seamlessly in line with The King Center’s theme for Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023; “It Starts With Me: Cultivating A Beloved Community Mindset To Transform Unjust Systems.”

Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

Disney+ offers a focused category to Celebrate Black Stories that includes the Black Panther Collection and Pixar’s “Soul” as well as documentaries like “Summer of Soul” and episodic programming like “The Wonder Years.”

Your local public library may offer classes, events, and reading lists to celebrate Dr. King and his legacy. For example, the Orange County Library System with locations in Orange County, Florida, Orange County (Fla.) Library System is hosting “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (I Have A Dream)”; a program for children using arts, crafts and conversation with our children about justice and equality.

You can also visit a museum that focuses on the history and heritage of African Americans. The California African American Museum in Los Angeles, California, is hosting “King Day 2023.” The theme this year is “MLK: A Legacy of Service.”

In Orlando, Florida, the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture, The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Orange County Regional History Center are all available to learn more.

The Walt Disney Company Resources

At The Walt Disney Company, Cast Members can choose to join Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) that are formed around a shared identity, interests, or pursuits. These employee-led groups bring together employees for insights, support, career development, and community engagement.

The Wakanda BERG champions both business opportunities for Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and professional opportunities for Black talent. They do this through their four pillars of Consumer, Career, Community, and Culture.

The California Pulse BERG advocates for nurturing the cultural, educational, and professional development and well-being for Cast Members of African and Caribbean descent and backgrounds.

The Florida Pulse BERG community exists to advance equity, inclusion, and belonging for Walt Disney World and Florida-based, Black Cast Members, Crew Members, and Imagineers in addition to influencing our Company brand in the Marketplace and Community.

BERGs are a great way for The Walt Disney Company’s Cast and Employees, including Partners employees, to connect, network, and be active in different communities.

In January, we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and in February we’ll celebrate African-American Heritage Month. Fifty-five 55 years ago, Dr. King was assassinated outside room 306 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Today, the Lorraine houses the National Civil Rights Museum.

“Dr. King’s legacy provides a staple model for how we combat inequality today. We cannot get comfortable in our current state. Too many people are relying on us to recognize and fight the inequalities that exist today,” the museum says on its website, “Dr. King’s generation did their part. Now, it’s time to do ours. The next generation needs us. As you engage with Dr. King’s platforms and interact with the timeline of monumental civil rights accomplishments and events, reflect on how far we have come, and recall how far we have to go”

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and all days of the year, seek out and enlarge your community service efforts by learning, volunteering, and expanding your horizons.

It starts with us.

Related Links:

The King Center

Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service

Mayor's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Events (Orlando Fla.)

MLK Day of Service (AmeriCorps)