“Progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 14, 1967

On Monday, January 17, 2022, our country remembers and honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his enduring message of justice, love and peace, which is just as relevant and urgent today as when he spoke those words over 55 years ago.

We encourage you to take a moment to reflect and learn more about Dr. King’s legacy by participating in some of the activities below.

Learn About a Civil Rights Legend
Watch the documentary about Andrew Young as part of the “Our Voices: Our Stories” series produced by the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Andrew Young Foundation. You’ll hear Ambassador Young share stories about his time as a pastor, politician and activist while serving as a close confidant to Dr. King throughout the civil rights movement and as Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He reveals how these experiences shaped him and prepared him for public service as a U.S. Congressman, United Nations Ambassador and Mayor of Atlanta.

As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, the Ford Fund provided financial support to produce the “Our Voices: Our Stories” documentary series which raises the voices of Black Americans to ensure their legacies are heard and shared today, and for generations to come.

The King Center
The partnership between Ford and The King Center spans more than 40 years, beginning when Henry Ford II first chaired The King Center’s Freedom Hall fundraiser campaign. Over the years we have continued to support The King Center’s work, and as part of this year’s holiday observance, the Ford Fund is supporting the Beloved Community Global Summit and its Youth Leadership Summit.

The summits gather civil rights leaders and advocates from across the country, from both public and private sectors, including both younger generations and longtime veterans from the frontlines fighting for a more just and equal society.

To learn more and register to participate in the virtual programming offered by The King Center, please visit thekingcenter.org.  

Other Ways to Get Involved
Ford aims to embody the legacy of Dr. King by cultivating a culture of belonging that advances and elevates diversity, equity and inclusion.  One way you can support the lessons of Dr. King is by making a commitment to continue to learn and grow. Take time to review the helpful resources on the DEI page of @FordOnline. It includes stories, videos and a link to the DEI learning plan on Degreed where you can select a pathway and navigate your own learning journey on Degreed where you can select a pathway and navigate your own learning journey.

Your personal DEI journey can also take place outside of Ford by serving your community. Whether you take time this Monday, during Black History Month in February, or any other time throughout the year, you can connect with the Ford Volunteer Corps to find an organization that needs your support. You can also visit the United Way to identify community needs closest to you. However, you are able to do so, please take a moment to learn about and recommit to racial and social justice through nonviolent means at work, home and in your community.