The MHS community recently took time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a morning built around Dr. King’s vision for a “Beloved Community.”

Miss Hall’s Dean of Equity and Inclusion Paula Lima Jones opened events by pointing out that the day was not about simply honoring Dr. King as an historical figure, but rather about making sure there is active, continued movement toward the justice envisioned by him and others in the Civil Rights Movement.

With that in mind, each of the day’s speakers, Dean LJ noted, was invited to share how their work moves toward Dr. King’s vision for a Beloved Community built on love, justice, inclusivity, nonviolence, and interconnectedness. “We also want to reflect on the words and legacy of Dr. King’s life, how he led it, and how it affects our lives today,” she said.

Keynote speaker Dr. Norm Jones, CEO and President of Integrated Diversity and former Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer at Amherst College, examined Dr. King’s leadership and what it means to lead in times of uncertainty. “Martin Luther King, like so many other leaders, had times when he was unsure, tentative, undecided….and, yet, he still led,” Dr. Jones noted, reminding students that leadership can be big decisive moments and moments of quiet determination. “Leadership doesn’t halt when things become less clear,” he added. “Rather, it is often in the moments of uncertainty when leaders do their best work.”

Dr. Jones shared some of his own journey, growing up with his mother and grandparents in Louisville, Kentucky, and the important lessons he learned from each of them. His path took him to Morehouse College — also attended by Dr. King — where he found a space that normalized leader behavior, which, he noted, does not always mean big moments or outcomes. Instead, it can manifest itself as “the quiet resolve that prompts you to take another step,” even when uncertain.

“Most of Dr. King’s leadership was anchored in the unknown,” he said, but his resolve was guided by three implicit principles: moral clarity, courageous action, and belief in the Beloved Community. “Just because you don’t know, just because you are uncertain, doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t lead.”

Following Dr. Jones’s remarks, students participated in breakout sessions spotlighting ways to move toward Dr. King’s vision for a Beloved Community.

Akilah Edgerton ’00, Deputy Director of the Davis Center & Pathways for Inclusive Excellence at Williams College (and former MHS co-Coordinator of DE&I Programs) presented “Where Do We Go from Here: Community or Chaos,” focused on how to discover, build, and co-create community with others. Students were asked to consider what steps they could take to build a transformative community at home or at school, and they were reminded that the work can not be done in silos and should be done with empathy, care, and grace.

Miller Fina ’14, Associate Attorney at Kennedy’s LLP, presented “What Does It Mean to be an Advocate,” offering students practical advice and pathways to action for moving the needle on issues of importance to them. Miller shared strategies she has used to build membership in EQUUS, a national organization dedicated to safeguarding the comfort and dignity of horses, and she offered details about the Class of 2014 collective advocacy for consent-based sex ed at MHS and her involvement in action toward legislative change on consent laws in Massachusetts.

Madeline Fralia, MHS Associate Director of DE&I and Horizons Coordinator, presented “Joy As Resistance: Embracing Life in the Face of Injustice,” which is not about ignoring problems, but rather about embracing joy as a way to create positive change around issues one cares about. “You have to be conscious about putting joy in your life,” said Madeline, who shared current and past examples of ways in which activists found joy among their efforts to create change. “These were not distractions from the work,” she added. “They were a part of the work.”

Kasey Swing, MHS Associate Director of Horizons, presented “Fighting for Queer Liberation,” a roundtable discussion about the strategies employed by lgbtq activists across different eras within the United States.

Carolyn Valli P’07, CEO of Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, and Erin O’Brien, Communications Manager at Central Berkshire Habitat, presented, “Beloved Community: Safe & Stable Housing is Essential,” focused on Habitat’s equity mission and community-first philosophy, and how stable housing — and its cascading benefits — contribute to community strength. They also shared examples of outcomes and impact, discussed ways of navigating systems change and respectful delivery of services, and offered strategies for engagement, including volunteer partnerships and youth/student involvement.

Paula Lima Jones, MHS Dean of Equity and Inclusion, presented “Leadership Development for Social Change,” using examples from Dr. Rev Martin Luther King’s leadership journey. Students explored the Social Change Model that promotes “individual reflection, promotes effective collaboration and direct action toward positive social change for one’s community.”

It was a powerful morning rooted in reflection and action.