When you think of Black History Month, you may think of prominent figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and Maya Angelou. Along with this notable group of activists and cultural icons, there are countless other individuals whose profound stories may be lesser-known.
Throughout February, PAH highlighted the contributions and achievements of Black Americans, submitted and told by staff, which were then featured on the PAH Intranet and available to all staff to read. An initiative created by the People workgroup, a subcommittee of PAH’s DEI Committee, it allowed employees to give recognition to individuals they personally wanted to commemorate, ranging from pioneers of the civil rights movement to doctors caring for patients in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s an opportunity to remind us that there is more than one history that we’re aware of. There’s a history outside of our textbooks,” said Lars Peterson, Patient Experience coordinator and chair of the People workgroup. “There are stories that have been buried in time that we need to find and honor, and at the same time, we also want to recognize our staff and their place in history.”
Employees were also able to submit their own messages throughout February, describing what Black History Month means to them. Their personal paragraphs and photos were compiled into a slideshow presentation and displayed on televisions across the hospital.
“At PAH, we wanted to show how Black History Month is personal and unique to all of us,” said Peterson. “We are honoring our staff, celebrating individuality, and recognizing that each of us holds this month in our hearts a little differently.”