Honoring Dr. King Through Our Daily Work: Advancing Inclusion & Belonging at FOML Health and St. Dominic
By LaTina Williams
VP, Chief Health Equity and
Belonging Officer, FMOL Health
Each year on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we pause to reflect on how we can continue Dr. King’s pursuit of justice, compassion and equitable opportunity in our communities. At FMOL Health, this commitment is woven deeply into our identity. Rooted in our Catholic mission and values, we believe every person is a beloved child of God, deserving of dignity, respect and the opportunity to flourish. Our Inclusion & Belonging Councils across the system — and especially here at St. Dominic in Jackson — strive each day to live out this calling through intentional action.
This year, our observance of MLK Day includes something deeply meaningful: a moment of silence at the exact time of Dr. King’s death, allowing our teams to pause, reflect and recommit to the work of justice and peace. In our St. Dominic cafeteria, we will also honor Dr. King by serving one of his favorite meals, reminding us that food, community and culture are powerful connectors.
Our mission continues through year‑round initiatives designed to strengthen equity and belonging. One powerful example is the Sister Trinita Community Clinic, a ministry providing free, walk‑in primary care to low‑income families and individuals experiencing homelessness across Jackson. Offering routine checkups, acute care, chronic disease support, prescription assistance, health education and more, the clinic stands as a beacon of dignity, compassion and hope — an embodiment of our Catholic call to extend Christ’s healing presence to those most in need.
Our Inclusion & Belonging Council also champions efforts to expand access to care for underserved communities, build workforce development pathways and embed cultural understanding into patient care. This includes our partnership with Project SEARCH, a nationally recognized workforce development initiative preparing young adults with disabilities for competitive employment, an initiative rooted in belief in the inherent worth and capability of every person.
We are equally committed to supporting the health of our local communities through improved access to nutritious food. Each week, St. Dominic hosts a farmers market supported by the Inclusion & Belonging Council, providing team members, patients and neighbors with access to locally grown produce while also uplifting local farmers and small businesses. This weekly market is promoted internally and continues to operate year‑round with strong support from hospital leaders.
As we look ahead, we are excited to launch our Unity Quilt activation for Black History Month, inviting team members to contribute quilt squares that represent their stories, hopes and commitments. Together, these pieces will form a collective expression of unity, culture, and belonging.
On this MLK Day, and every day, we reaffirm that inclusion is not a project. It is a responsibility. And through our shared efforts, we continue building a health system where every person feels seen, valued and supported.
More information on our ongoing work is available at fmolhs.org/about-us/inclusion-and-belonging.
