Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) is celebrated on the third Monday each year. The purpose of this holiday is to celebrate the advancements made by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an activist and minister who played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. King advocated for justice through nonviolent means and was instrumental in civil rights protests and initiatives, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As a result of his efforts, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Act were passed, and at the age of 35 in 1964, King became the youngest person at the time to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He faced animosity throughout his life and was assassinated in 1968.
The call to have a holiday in King’s name started shortly after his assassination. Twenty years after his death, the federal government began to observe and recognize it as a holiday in 1986. The marking of this holiday was met with resistance and several Southern states combined the holiday with an existing holiday commemorating Confederate leader Robert E. Lee. To this day, Alabama and Mississippi still recognize both Robert E. Lee Day and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Monday of each year, which critics believe disrespects the legacy of King by pairing the celebration of freedom with that of slavery.
MLK Month of Service Activities
Serving our communities is central to what we do. In each market across the Southeast and Midwest Regions, there are many ways Advocate Health teammates can honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality for all. These opportunities are available to all Advocate Health teammates.
DEI Video Gallery
Watch recordings of past DEI Events.
The National Day of Racial Healing is an opportunity for Advocate Health to call for racial healing, bring teammates together and encourage action to create a more just and equitable world. The national day was created in 2017 by more than 550 U.S. leaders and is observed every year on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Watch the recording
The Men’s Diversity Leadership Network System Resource Group is an SRG of diverse men focused on professional development, service and supporting the mission of Atrium Health.
Affinity: Men of color who are either in leadership position or aspiring to leadership roles at Atrium Health and allies.
Mission: The Mission of the Men’s Diversity and Leadership Networking Group is to assist in the recruitment, retention and development of minority male employees while advancing the interest of group members and to contribute to their overall success and the success of Atrium Health.
Greater Charlotte Market: For more information and to become part of this System Resource Group join their Viva Engage group or connect with them on LinkedIn.
Wake Forest Market: This group is currently only available in the Greater Charlotte Market
January 6: Feast of Epiphany (Christianity)
January 7: Orthodox Christmas (Christianity)
January 13: Lohri (Hinduism)
January 14: Maghi (Sikhism)
January 14: Makar Sankranti (Hinduism)
January 4: World Braille Day
January 20: MLK Day
January 21: Day of Racial Healing
January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 29: Lunar New Year
