PG&E Currents
| 1.11.24

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Legacy of Hope and Call to Action

By Vincent Davis, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. each year, I reflect on the legacy of hope he left behind. I find myself wondering what he would think of the world today.

How would he continue to offer a message of hope to all of us? A message that would cause measurable and meaningful action to support his vision for our country that addressed many of the ills that plague us to this day such as racism, sexism, economic and educational disparity, and war.  

I also believe that just as he made a difference, so can each of us in our own way. We see this front and center at PG&E.

In 2023, we engaged in close to 2,000 acts of volunteerism through more than 35,500 volunteer hours in the communities we have the privilege to serve. I believe Dr. King would have a deep appreciation for this type of volunteerism.  

As I am grateful for the chance to serve our communities in this way, however I still desire our collective society to do more for and with each other.

If we had truly achieved Dr. King’s vision, we would have a world that had eradicated the ills and instead volunteerism would simply be a community festival or gathering to say hello to each other instead of trying to solve so many of our most challenging issues because the gaps still exist. 

Hence, the relevant beauty of Dr. King’s quote: 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

At PG&E, we prioritize six virtues: trustworthy, empathetic, curious, tenacious, nimble, and owners. Our virtue of empathy is a path to accomplishing remarkable achievements. It is a testament to Dr. King that we are creating a culture where we can express ourselves and push for continued change by lifting each other up and standing for community.  

We are faced with these choices every day. It is often nuanced but it is present, and we must, as good citizens, speak up and pursue the dream that Dr. King had for all of us: a world that embraces love, equity, and community.