As our nation celebrated the character and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Chesapeake supported Oklahoma City’s Martin Luther King Holiday Parade with sponsorship and volunteers. One of the largest Martin Luther King Jr. parades in the U.S., the event — local to our corporate headquarters — draws thousands of parade participants and spectators from across the Oklahoma City metro area. The OKC MLK Coalition has organized the event annually for 40 years, with a goal to not only celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy but create a diverse event where all are welcome.
“Sponsoring the MLK holiday parade gave us an opportunity to support the Oklahoma City community through our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts,” said Michele Sprague, DEI & Talent Development at Chesapeake. “As a company, we stand with the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., working to protect civil rights through the respect of all people.”
Chesapeake volunteers assisted with parade staging, managing entries and guiding spectators along the parade route. This was our first year to sponsor and participate in the event, which is a natural extension of the company’s diversity efforts.