RCCHC sets aside Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday – this is intentional, deliberate, purposeful and a reflection of our values.

 

Rev. King was just 39 years old when he was killed by an assassin’s gun. It still shocks me; my own son is 39 years old. How can someone have had such an influence in less than 40 years on this earth?

 

As a Community Health Center, birthed in conjunction with the Civil Rights Movement, we were created to have such an influence. CHC’s are approaching 60 years and RCCHC is approaching 17 years - just think of how we have impacted our communities in this time!

 

In Jim Collin’s book Good to Great, one the indicators of a great organization is, "if it went away, what impact would there be ?" Would the people, industry, services and benefits be missed? CHCs can answer this without even a moment’s hesitation: our communities would be devastated.

 

This is why we can’t remain silent when it comes to grassroots advocacy for our patients and community health center. When you receive the e-mail notices from the National Association of Community Health Center’s Advocacy Team to respond by reaching out to our elected officials – please take action. This is how we influence policy to continually provide and improve care for our patients.

 

Truly, I know we are all in need of a day for respite and, thankfully, Monday, January 17, we will have this day - and we know Tuesday, January 18, we will be back at our GREAT, often difficult, work in service of taking care of our friends, family and neighbors. I encourage reflection on this day of Service in honor of Rev. King. How will we use our influence for good?