Black History Month at Legacy Health: A Look Back
March 14, 2023
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An interesting fact: Black History Month got its start way back in 1915, courtesy of a Black historian named Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Educated at Harvard, Dr. Woodson started Black History Month to honor the history and culture of Black people in the United States.
Legacy Health celebrated Black History Month in five-star fashion with inspiring stories from across the company. A guiding theme for this year’s Black History Month was the importance of mentorship. Specifically, having mentors during the formative periods of one’s career and then becoming a mentor subsequently in order to “pay it forward.”
Dr. Khayree Butler
Dr. Khayree Butler, a colorectal surgeon at Legacy Health, shared a compelling vignette on why mentorship for Black professionals matters. Dr. Butler’s own experiences have revealed to him the importance of Black mentorship over different periods of his career, including medical school, residency and beyond. For Dr. Butler, the advice of other Black professionals on myriad issues has made his life and career both easier and more fulfilling.
Watch Dr. Butler’s reflections
Thelma Hale
Thelma Hale, senior social media specialist, shared a moving part of her personal biography when she spoke about the influence of Pamela Weatherspoon, who works in Legacy’s community relations department. Hale was just starting her career when she reached out to Pamela to be her mentor. Over the years Pamela has helped boost Thelma’s confidence in her abilities and guided her to fully blossom in her role as senior social media specialist.
Watch Thelma’s reflections
Monique Norwood
Registered nurse Monique Norwood speaks openly and emotionally about the influence that nurse manager Cindy Hill has had on her life and career, especially when Monique first started as a nurse at Legacy Health. Monique speaks with eloquence and affection for Cindy and describes specific interactions with Cindy that lifted her career. Monique also talks about how she intends to further Cindy’s legacy as a mentor into the next generation.
Watch Monique’s reflections
LinkedIn: Further Inspiring Stories
On LinkedIn, Legacy Health staffers — and other community members with connections to Legacy — offered thoughts on the importance of having Black mentors in honor of Black History Month. Dr. Kecia Kelly, Legacy’s senior vice president and chief nursing officer, and Chartisha Roberts, a Legacy program coordinator, were among those who shared, with moving candor and honesty, personal stories of how advocating for Black voices matters to both the employees and the companies they work for.
Read about Dr. Kecia Kelly
Read about Chartisha Roberts
Read about Sandra Evangelist
Read about Dr. Bimpe Adewusi
