On Monday, we will celebrate the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to honor the vision and legacy of this great American.
This year, the observance of Dr. King’s birthday comes at a tumultuous time in our country’s history; a time that beckons for self-reflection as we examine our own individual values and beliefs and ensure our words and our actions are in alignment with them. It is in moments such as these that I find inspiration in the lessons and legacy of Dr. King which rest on the cornerstones of freedom, equality, justice and love.
Here at Covanta, I feel privileged to work side-by-side with so many who share these same values; people who strive every day to live up to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity by being honest, respectful, trustworthy and committed to the communities in which we live and work.
As a nation, the United States has a proud and storied history of standing up for what is right. It also bears an equally vivid history of struggles and challenges encountered on its journey toward the “more perfect union” envisioned by the framers of the United States Constitution, the basis upon which the U.S. government was founded. These words should remind us there is much more work to be done as together we strive to form that more perfect union. Especially at times like this, the journey to “more perfect” may seem long and unending, but I can’t think of any goal more worthwhile. We simply must keep going.
In Dr. King’s words, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
Dandy Martin is Vice President of CEO Action for Racial Equity at Covanta. He is currently participating in the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellowship from CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™. The fellowship is focused on identifying and developing racial justice policies and corporate best practices in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace.