Reflection on MLK Day & A New Definition of Love

Nearly a week has passed since MLK Day, a day to remind ourselves about the impact of vision. Dr. King's vision spread across the nation and grew to influence the lives of millions. Acumen also strives to revolutionize the current approach to deliver social change. We want to help spread the belief and faith in local communities to lead the way for change and to act in the pioneering spirit. We can start here in Atlanta.

This year on Valentine's Day - a day typically exemplified by chocolates and roses, we invite you to think about the greater meaning of love. While it can be easy to lose sight of this goal in between bribing for last minute dinner reservations and panicked scrambles to meet the gift expectations of our significant others, remember this day is an opportunity for us to take the time to appreciate those around us.

Love is often narrowly characterized to exclude non-romantic love. We should remember to cherish all of its manifestations; a concerned friend, an overprotective father, a nagging mother, and the sacrifice of personal desires for a greater cause. Love can extend beyond the individual. As Dr. King once said, "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity". The beauty seen in the love for one's neighbors and compassion for the greater humanity is what drives the development of social business.

To celebrate the many sides of love, Atlanta for Acumen would like to invite you to mark February 14th as Generosity Day- a day to not only express love to your significant others, but as a day to remember our love toward all humanity.  While we certainly would not want you to deny that box of delicious chocolate to your significant other, perhaps it would be worth to remember that $20 could deliver d.light's LED lanterns to two families. A stable light source may not sound like much, but it provides families living on less than $2 a day, the flexibility to continue life after dark. Children are given the ability to study and women the ability to work at night, both crucial to provide empowerment and social mobility.

As we approach February, we encourage you to consider a broaden meaning of Valentine’s Day, as a day to cherish not just our significant others, but to remember the importance of generosity and compassion toward all.

-Margaret Yuan