We are honored to be recognized by the employee challenge winner and Duquesne Light Company with this donation!
Image credit: Duquesne Light Company website.
Duquesne Light Company’s (DLC) African American Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) invited employees to participate in its “Dr. King’s New Dream Challenge” in honor of Black History Month. Employees were given an opportunity to submit their ideas on what King’s iconic dream would look like today, with the winner receiving a $1,000 company donation for a charity of their choice.
The winner of the challenge, finance accounts payable support clerk Deirdre Spencer, submitted an impactful entry full of reflective poems, resources, and insights on the work that still needs to be done in order to achieve Dr. King’s dream. As she put it, “I think Dr. King’s dream would be the same today as it was back then…”
“This system was not and is not by accident. The system is, in fact, working as designed.”
-Deirdre Spencer, from her submission essay
We connected with Deirdre to learn more about her, her inspiration, and why she chose Neighborhood Allies to receive DLC’s donation. You can also read her interview with DLC here.
Why is it so important to consider what Dr. King’s dream would look like today?
“It [Dr. King’s speech] has become little more than a recitation to pull out during Black History month and placed back on the shelf after day 28 with many breathing a sigh of relief that it’s over for yet another year! For the month, people become riled and vigilant about past and present injustices but along with the speeches, historical articles and other memorabilia, efforts for change often become shelved for another year with only a smattering of people truly continuing to champion the causes and issues at hand.”
What do you hope people take away from your submission?
“We have allowed the past to repeat itself by our complacency; we must begin again to build the “waste places.” Do your part and make your voice heard. There are many ways to get involved [such as] volunteering in and outside of your company or neighborhood communities, helping with children and/or senior citizens, helping the homeless through soup kitchens, or clothing drives, rehabbing or building affordable houses, etc.”
“Don’t sit back and expect someone else to do for you what you are not willing to do for yourself. If you’re not willing to take part in helping yourself, your family, your community, then why should someone else?”
Why did you choose Neighborhood Allies to receive the company donation?
“Both of my parents (and theirs before them) were very active in community affairs, various committees, etc. and we were raised up in the midst of this very diverse group of people. My dad was at one point a social worker, then moved on to Bidwell Cultural and Training Center, Community Action of Pittsburgh, Director of Social Work at the Brashear Association on Pittsburgh’s South Side and then on to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, still in the area of social work, all while continuing to be very active in many diverse community activities. He also taught Social Work at Penn States’ McKeesport Campus. His mantra was “It’s not that you’re better than anyone else, it’s that you want better and strive for it.” My mom, after leaving Pittsburgh Public Schools as a substitute teacher, taught pre-school and sewing at the Brashear Association and later at Learning Tree Daycare. She, too, was active in community affairs primarily where children and women were involved.”
“I took dance at the Brashear Association for several years, and my brother built a telescope there, often as the only African-American children in class. We were always in the midst of a multicultural environment, spending time with those identifying as African-American, Italian, Serbian, Croatian, Caucasian, Asian, Indian, or other ethnic groups. While the adults were attacking social issues plaguing the communities, we children learned and grew together. Many of us are still friends to this day.”
“Based on their mission/vision statement, Neighborhood Allies seems to line up with what I and my family have championed for many years — choosing to be part of the solution instead of just spouting out what the problems are, pointing fingers, and getting nothing done. Neighborhood Allies appears to be about pulling resources — not just financial, but educational, knowledge-based, sweat-equity, and more to attack issues at hand. They also have a diverse staff which helps to bring a well-rounded wealth of knowledge and experiences and promotes inclusion rather than exclusion. You cannot know how to address an issue if you’re not aware of why there is an issue.”
Thank you so much, Deirdre, for choosing to support us with your winning donation. We are humbled to know that your personal mission and vision aligns with our own, and hope to continue embodying your spirit, and the spirit of others like you, in our work!
