14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 16-22, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Living a Dream It takes a community and commitment to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision reality. By Vanya Quiñones FORUM As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20 and Black History Month in February, I find myself reflecting on how we can truly honor King’s vision—that one day all people will “live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” The challenges facing America cannot be addressed solely through top-down government mandates from Washington. Lasting solutions can only arise from a grassroots, person-to-person commitment to King’s vision. As we reflect on how far we have come, we must also recognize that our work is not done. Each of us must continue our personal commitment to building a nation where everyone is included equally and without barriers. As the president of CSU Monterey Bay, and in my personal life, my institution and I are committed to ensuring that we are on a path to continue the momentum toward equality for all. Today, we are making progress toward ensuring we graduate strong, compassionate future leaders who will be committed to Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision. Our efforts are centered on expanding access to higher education for all members of our community, regardless of race, by strengthening partnerships with K-12 schools and community colleges. By helping ensure that our diverse student body is prepared to thrive in their future careers, we promote equity and inclusion within the future workforce, reflecting the core values of MLK’s dream. Central to that dream was the spirit of service, and CSUMB is the only public university in California, and one of the few nationwide, that has made service learning a graduation requirement. Our institution’s core values emphasize social justice, social responsibility and community-building. We are committed to making CSUMB a hub for fostering conversations that inspire us to continue King’s dream. Our goal is to advance discussions on inclusion and equity within our community. On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the university will host “Empowered Love in Action: Transforming Ourselves and Our World Through Racial Healing,” facilitated by Kamilah Majied, from 1-2:30pm. Then on Feb. 23, we will host our All Black Gala to honor members of our community who are dedicated to advancing inclusion and equality. Dr. King’s words serve as a powerful reminder of the crucial work that still lies ahead. Despite the challenges, we need to remain steadfast in our hope to bring his dream to fruition. Our journey forward demands courage; each step we take brings us closer to change. King’s wisdom inspires us to tap into the inner strength needed to persevere. As he once said, “Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles.” We all possess the power to keep the dream alive, for, as King also reminded us: “If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means, keep moving.” Vanya Quiñones is the president of CSU Monterey Bay. She is also a neurobiologist, biopsychologist and noted researcher. OPINION King’s wisdom inspires us to tap into inner strength. MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 five programs EvEnts workshops rEsourcEs Thank You For Your Support! With your help, Harmony at Home was able to raise over $110,000 this year! This will help end the cycle of violence and abuse by empowering children, young adults, and their families with the skills and confidence ContaCt Us (831) 625-5160 • harmony-at-home.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==