Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: It starts with the power of one

Natalye: Points of Light is a global non-profit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world where every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. We’ve been partnering with companies for many years to help guide their employee engagement in the communities where they live and work. Today, I’m here to talk about the power of one and Dr. King’s inspiring belief that anyone can be great because anyone can serve.

Natalye: More so than ever before, we are living through a moment of change, led by the power of people, spurred by increased access to technology, and accelerated by a global pandemic and an uprising in response to systemic racism.

Through our research, we know there is a universal desire to do more in the future and help convert good intentions into positive action. We are seeing a significant shift in our culture. We are at the dawn of a “Civic Century,” an age when people become the driving force that transforms our world.

At this moment, we see our challenge as follows: How can we create a society where it is easy for every individual to take action and accelerate positive impact within their community and around the world?

Natalye: If you value inclusivity, diversity and equity, and want to stand with people taking action for a more just and equitable world – every action you take will matter. The important thing is to take the first step.

There is so much work to be done, and no one person can do it all. But we each can pick an issue area that we feel deeply about and use our Civic Circle as a framework to create lasting, meaningful change in that area. Doing good comes in many forms. Everyone has the power to lead, lend support and take action for causes you care about.

Natalye: The power of one speaks to each individual. It’s about focusing on one issue, one idea, one aspect of something that you’ve heard or learned and taking that to its end and really putting your energy and resources into making that happen.

Companies can accelerate change. We see this through The Civic 50, which recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States each year, including Dow. Social impact, civic engagement and community are moving to the center of business.

We must be willing to listen and learn from each other. It requires thinking differently, having courageous conversations and investing in culture, such as Dow’s new Volunteer & ERG Participation Policy, creating systemic and sustainable change.