Here at Penn Nursing, we are so fortunate for the many eminent leaders who speak to our fellow faculty members, staff and students. Sometimes they are renowned scholars, sometimes they are global activists, sometimes they are political figures, but always, they are revolutionaries who care to change the world.
On February 11, 2008, we were honored to have Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) speak about “The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the areas of Healthcare and Education.” It was an event we co-sponsored with the Office of Diversity and Cultural Affairs, and Congressman Fattah was an ideal speaker because he exemplifies Dr. King’s goals. Recently appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Chair the Congressional Urban Caucus, Congressman Fattah will lead its members to concentrate on issues such as health, education, public safety, employment, transportation, housing, and strengthening the nation’s infrastructure.
We also took this opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s vision of justice, equality, compassion and service because these are the ideals we work to achieve in our school and hope for in our students. Our tripartite mission – education, research and practice – are all built on Dr. King’s tradition and commitment to diversity and equity. For instance, look at our nursing seniors who went to Pearlington, Mississippi to help post-Katrina health recovery efforts. Or take, for example, Dr. Loretta Sweet-Jemmott, a high school classmate of Congressman Fattah’s, who has spent a career working to solve health disparities in HIV/AIDS prevention among African-American adolescents. Or think about our LIFE program in West Philadelphia, which aims to maintain quality of life for our elder, Medicaid-eligible neighbors.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” It is a question that as students, scholars and practitioners, we answer every day.
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