CEO Discusses Healthcare, Education, Affirmative Action in MLK Symposium Speech
Paulo Patwardhan, BBA1
Issue date: 2/14/05 Section: News
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As part of the University's MLK symposium last Tuesday, Dr. Emmett Carson, the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation, talked about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have felt about the way philanthropic foundations are handling themselves with respect to the issues of healthcare, education, and affirmative action.
Speaking about healthcare, Carson said few organizations have taken up the issue. He said that in 2003, 15.6 percent of the population was without health insurance and that the situation in Harlem was worse than it was in Bangladesh. Foundations need to focus more on education, he said and added, "more black men are in prisons then in college." He added many rural towns are pleased that there are overcrowded prisons as communities think of prisons as an economic lifeblood. He said that few foundations recognize this issue and have done something to take action.
Talking about the affirmative action trials that took place two years ago, Carson was surprised that no foundation supported the University in the amicus briefs. He said there were 20 retired military personnel and 65 major corporations such as American Express, and Coca Cola supported the University. He was surprised that corporate America felt it was important to be part of this cause but the foundations were missing.
Carson spoke about the connection he felt to Dr. King and how his dreams have shaped his life. He talked about King's vision of the world. He said King wanted an integrated society, access to good education, and healthcare for all. Carson said foundations agree and support King's ideals but they do not necessarily reflect his actions.
Carson added that organizations are not interested in making real changes but rather just want to do good things. On the other hand he said King was outspoken and committed to fostering social justice and change. King drew strength on the power of community and had a clear sense of religions principles. When asked about the Minneapolis Foundation, he said that they had taken action in Minnesota by advocating rights of immigrants and fighting against budget cuts. He hoped that more organizations would do work in eradicating social injustice. "We've got a long way to go," he said.
Speaking about healthcare, Carson said few organizations have taken up the issue. He said that in 2003, 15.6 percent of the population was without health insurance and that the situation in Harlem was worse than it was in Bangladesh. Foundations need to focus more on education, he said and added, "more black men are in prisons then in college." He added many rural towns are pleased that there are overcrowded prisons as communities think of prisons as an economic lifeblood. He said that few foundations recognize this issue and have done something to take action.
Talking about the affirmative action trials that took place two years ago, Carson was surprised that no foundation supported the University in the amicus briefs. He said there were 20 retired military personnel and 65 major corporations such as American Express, and Coca Cola supported the University. He was surprised that corporate America felt it was important to be part of this cause but the foundations were missing.
Carson spoke about the connection he felt to Dr. King and how his dreams have shaped his life. He talked about King's vision of the world. He said King wanted an integrated society, access to good education, and healthcare for all. Carson said foundations agree and support King's ideals but they do not necessarily reflect his actions.
Carson added that organizations are not interested in making real changes but rather just want to do good things. On the other hand he said King was outspoken and committed to fostering social justice and change. King drew strength on the power of community and had a clear sense of religions principles. When asked about the Minneapolis Foundation, he said that they had taken action in Minnesota by advocating rights of immigrants and fighting against budget cuts. He hoped that more organizations would do work in eradicating social injustice. "We've got a long way to go," he said.
