For almost 30 years, Goizueta Business School and the Rollins School of Public Health have partnered to host the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards. Since its inception, other colleges and schools from across the university have joined in this celebration to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., including the School of Medicine, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize individuals and groups from across Emory University and the greater Atlanta area who have “led with love and peace, while advocating for justice for all.”
This year’s theme is “Uplifting Humanity: Creating a Future of Justice and Equity Through Compassion and Service.”
The awards are centered around a quote from King: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands [in] times of challenge and controversy.”
Meet Goizueta’s Nominees
Vernon Smith: Senior Associate Director of Student Life and Engagement
This year, Goizueta has two nominees for the Community Service Awards: Vernon Smith and Start:ME.
Smith is the senior associate director of student life and engagement at Goizueta. He was nominated due to his leadership skills and impact on the Keystone experience.
When Smith joined Goizueta’s MBA program office, he assumed responsibility of Keystone, an annual event for the MBA students that features a community service day. During his time of leading this particular event, he’s focused on partnering with Atlanta metro-area organizations that address the needs of people affected by institutional racism and social injustice, explains Smith’s nomination.
“Under Vernon’s leadership, the past two years have been remarkable in terms of Goizueta’s engagement and impact on these important communities. By channeling the efforts of our students in this direction, Vernon has truly uplifted the people in our community who have been underserved and often forgotten.”
Smith says his nomination has left him with pride and gratitude. “It means a lot to me that people notice the work I try to do each day. Dr. King’s example shines bright, showing us that true change comes when we stand up for fairness, equality, and helping others—even when it’s tough.”
This recognition tells me that it matters to create welcoming spaces, lift up those who need to be heard, and make sure our spaces are places where everyone feels like they belong, are appreciated, and can make a difference.
Vernon Smith, Senior Associate Director of Student Life and Engagement
Start:ME
Start:ME, an initiative of Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute and Goizueta’s group nomination, began in 2013. The program provides entrepreneurs in under-resourced areas of Atlanta with 14-weeks of free business skills, training, mentorship, and grant capital.
Since its inception, Start:ME has trained 500 microbusiness owners in the Atlanta area, including 83% led by people of color, 74% female-led, 22% immigrant-led, and 62% led by individuals from low-to-moderate income households. The program welcomed its largest cohort to date earlier this year.
“Entrepreneurship is a pathway to economic empowerment—creating opportunities for income and wealth generation, local jobs, and serving local needs. This program provides crucial training and funding for individuals who have historically been denied or overlooked for investment support,” reads the nomination.
“Start:ME’s economic impact on our community is significant. Start:ME alumni employ more than 800 people, operate 84 brick-and-mortar locations, and generate annual revenues of $24 million. Start:ME’s seed investment pool has provided $420,000 in peer-selected start-up capital, which has positively impacted the business opportunities of those historically marginalized. Start: ME has meaningfully improved the lives of participants and strengthened the economic vitality of our community.”
This year’s event will be held on February 26 in the School of Public Health.
Learn more about Goizueta Business School’s Business & Society Institute and its programs supporting entrepreneurs and inclusive economic development.
