Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration
Keynote Address
by Susan Grindle
Director, Hope Source
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. So wrote Edmund Burke.
MLK was a good man who did something.
He was the second of three children born in Atlanta, GA. He began university studies at 15, was ordained a minister at age 19, and received a Doctorate of Theology from Boston University at 21.
Through nonviolent direct action, what he called "meeting physical force with soul force", he brought significant changes to the social fabric of American life; gave direction to the civil rights movement; galvanized the conscience of a nation, and reordered its priorities. He inspired men and women, young and old, to a different ideal of justice.
MLK held a deep and unshakable belief in the country that was founded on the edicts of: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. He held a deep and unshakable belief that all men were guaranteed inclusion and equality in the American Dream ... rights he believed were given by God.
Dr. King's "Dream" began with God for he believed that without God there is no absolute truth on which to base a call to justice. His life was devoted to challenging the nation to live in ever more consistent obedience to the moral absolutes of the God's Word ... brotherly love and the Golden Rule.
MLK was able to inspire, lead and move a nation not simply because of his passion or vision, but because he understood the power of language in articulating that vision.
He didn't say
I have an idea that I think could really make a difference
He said
I have a dream
He didn't say
If we keep pursuing our goals we can eventually achieve them through hard work and perseverance
He said
We shall overcome
He didn't say
Eventually we will apply the principles of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
He said
One day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed
He didn't say
If we believe in what we are doing, we can at least make a small beginning
He said
With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope
He didn't say
It will be a great day when we are all able to live with dignity and respect
He said
Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last!
Dr. King had a passion to make justice a reality for all of God's children; he had a vision for how people should treat each other. He did not think he could change the world, but he did think he could change people one at a time. He did not think he could force people to change, but he did think he could live by his beliefs and be an example. Dr. King's words still resonate with every soul seeking justice for their lives today, here, in this community. His words echo in the ears of those of our brothers and sisters who have not yet shared in Dr. King's dream of inclusion and equality.
HopeSource, the organization I am privileged to work for, reflects Dr. King's vision of inclusion, equality and justice. HopeSource has a passion to move people, step by step, to a greater self-sufficiency, a greater sharing in the life of this community. The economic life, the commercial life, the political life, the social life, and the spiritual life of this community.
Kittitas County is among the top three highest counties in the State, in every demographic category, of people living at or below the federally designated poverty level. Poverty is defined as an income of $18,000 or less, per year, for a family of four. This does not include the cost of child care, insurance, transportation or medical expenses. The other two counties on this list are not urban centers such as King County, they are our fellow eastern counties of Whitman and Okanogan.
The population of Kittitas County today is approximately 34,000, and is expected to expand considerably in the next five years. 7000 residents of Kittitas County meet the criteria set for poverty. Approximately 4500 of these residents access our services each year. So that there is no misunderstanding, less than 2% of those we serve are university students, and of that 2% the vast majority are families with children. It is helpful to understand the true face of need in our community.
Kittitas County Action Council (KCAC), now doing business as HopeSource, was created through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Part of the legislative charter of an Action Council such as HopeSource, is to act as a catalyst in making their whole community more responsive to the needs and interests of the low-income population they serve. HopeSource is measured not only by the services we deliver but by the improvements and changes that are achieved in our community's attitudes and practices toward those who do not enjoy an equitable standard of living.
We are measured by the State not only on whether we provide resolution of immediate need for members of our community, but on how the lives of the individuals and families we serve have been substantively moved toward self-sufficiency.
The primary goal of self-sufficiency is to equip people to live lives independent of any public or charitable assistance. To do this they must make good decisions for themselves and their families. Central to the ability to make good decisions is access to education and training, and access to jobs that provide real potential for skill development and advancement long term. It is a step by step process and getting there may require temporary assistance
In this movement to a self-sufficiency mindset, HopeSource programs now focus on people's strengths, address their multiple needs, and operate within the context of the whole family and the community.
When we began to think of our programs, not as revolving doors of need, but as stepping-stones to a self-sufficient life we first had to examine our own motivations and convictions about those we serve. We had to move ourselves from a poverty mentality to an abundance mentality. We had to think differently about our work. Matthew 8:13 says, "As you believe in your heart, so shall it be done unto you" .
We had to speak differently about our needs.
HopeSource, like Dr. King, understands the power of language to inspire a world, a nation or a community, and move it to action.
In 2005 we reinvented ourselves, as a Phoenix from the ashes, with a new name that proclaims who we intend to be: HopeSource, and a new Purpose for how we intend to live out our dream: Belief, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Partnership.
HopeSource no longer deals in issues of poverty
We deal in the creation of self-sufficient families
We no longer give handouts to the poor
We give people a path to independence
We, like Dr. King, do not believe we can force people to change ... but we believe we can walk with them in our Purpose
We, like Dr. King, do not believe we can change the world ... but we believe we can change one person, one family, at a time
HopeSource pays tribute to MLK by living out his dream, in our own unique way, on behalf of this community.
We believe this community, all members of this community, will rise up and say:
When the least of us is free, then we shall all be "free at last, free at last".
Copyright by Susan Grindle, 2005. All rights reserved.