Colleagues

On Monday, January 16, 2023, we join the Nation in remembering and celebrating the legacy and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King's life and achievements challenged the world to recognize that true liberty and justice depend on our acceptance of equality. Observed each year on the third Monday in January, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, encouraging all Americans to improve their communities through volunteering. This day shines a light on our ability to serve others and is a powerful reminder to bridge economic and social divides by empowering communities, developing relationships, and addressing social injustices.

Recent Executive Orders provide a framework for realizing Dr. King's dream in the federal workplace. The Federal Government must be a model for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). As Dr. King said, "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." Every person must be free to pursue their full measure of success regardless of their protected class. To that end, I anticipate the publication of the NIH-wide DEIA Strategic Plan in the near future, which will contain descriptions of our broad scope, aspirational goals, accomplishments to date, and plans for accountability.

I am very proud of the work we are doing here at NIH to promote change, foster communication, and enhance transparency. In addition to continuing our work within UNITE, last year we initiated a series of listening sessions (VPN required to watch) to engage with staff regarding challenges they are currently experiencing. We have also published the Racial and Ethnic Equity Plan (REEP) for each ICO on the NIH’s Ending Structural Racism intranet page. The REEPs outline how each ICO is advancing racial and ethnic equity in the workplace using evidence-based methods, including assessing progress and identifying opportunities for improvement. As a whole, NIH is committed to addressing the challenges that disproportionally affect diverse communities at NIH and in a broader social context. We are continuing these efforts to ensure we embody Dr. King's spirit of service to engage in DEIA principles and dismantle systemic racism and discrimination.

I encourage you to reflect on how we can mirror Dr. King's example of service in our own lives, not only during this holiday, but every day. You can discover more about Dr. King's legacy by visiting the MLK campaign developed by the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at the EDI website and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube

. You can also get involved by learning more about the Black Employment Portfolio.

Thank you for your service to NIH's mission and commitment to ensuring our work demonstrates the importance of Dr. King's legacy.

Sincerely,

Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Performing the Duties of the NIH Director

Dear NIH,

This Monday, the Nation will honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King dedicated his entire life to promoting, defending, and upholding justice. An indelible figure, Dr. King left a legacy that remains worthy of recognition and celebration. He challenged the world to recognize that true liberty depends on our willingness to treat everyone fairly. As we reflect upon Dr. King’s life and wonder what impact we can have, the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) wants the NIH community to focus on the following: “The Time Is Now – Remember. Act. Serve.”

Dr. King lived during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, which was a time of great social and political unrest. Because he had probably witnessed colleagues’ palpable fear, Dr. King penned these words that not only continue to resonate in 2023, but also should cause us to remember that: “The ultimate measure of a [person] is not where [they] stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where [they] stand at times of challenge and controversy.” – Strength to Love, 1963.

We must act by constantly exploring and employing strategies to eradicate systemic discrimination and barriers to equal employment opportunity and access. The occurrence of overt bigotry and injustices in recent years have sparked a renewed sense of unity, commitment, and a call-for-action in our Nation. There is no better time than the present to lead the charge of closing the gaps of racial disparities and inequities. I am proud that the NIH and EDI are at the forefront of making a difference through NIH-wide initiatives such as the EDI Engagement Committee, UNITE, and the Employee Resource Groups, as well as numerous efforts being led by the Institutes and Centers.

EDI’s mission is to identify and remove any barriers to equal employment opportunity by creating a culture of inclusion where diverse talent is leveraged to advance health discovery throughout the communities we serve. Our goal is to foster more equitable representation by strengthening NIH’s efforts in targeted outreach and recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, and retention of talent.

Learn more about the work we are doing by visiting: EDI's 2022 MLK webpage or by following EDI on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Williams, Esq.
EDI Director