By Antonia Ehlers
Kaiser Permanente East Bay employees and physicians partnered with Urban Tilth on Monday for the annual MLK Day of Service. Richmond residents of all generations spent the holiday participating in a beautification project at Unity Park.
“Participating in the annual MLK Day of Service in Richmond is an exceptional way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy,” said Kaiser Permanente East Bay Senior Vice President and Area Manager Dante Green, FACHE. “Kaiser Permanente’s history of providing care in the community started in Richmond at the height of the great Black migration in America.”
Approximately 250 Kaiser Permanente physicians, employees and their families pulled weeds, spread mulch, and cared for native plants while enjoying music and pony rides.
“Our roots run deep in the community of Richmond. We have cared for our community for 80 years, and it’s a pleasure to put new roots into the ground today,” said Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center Physician in Chief John Morehouse, MD. “This was such a wonderful day of camaraderie and community spirit as we honored Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of serving others.”
During the month of January, more than 1,700 Kaiser Permanente volunteers will honor the vision and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by working on nearly 30 service projects with a host of community partners across Northern California. The volunteers are taking part in a wide variety of on-site activities including cleaning up public parks and open spaces, sprucing up community centers and schools, and packaging groceries and meals for people in need.
“Today, our Kaiser Permanente family gave back to this culturally rich community,” Green said. “The diversity and teamwork displayed at this event is another example of Dr. King’s dream personified. We at Kaiser Permanente remain committed to making his dream a reality.”
This report was submitted for publication by Kaiser Permanente of Northern California.
