"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." - John Lewis in 2018

Civil rights activist and Georgia Congressman John Lewis was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and helped organize the 1963 March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr.  Lewis died in 2020 after a battle with cancer, but his words inspired Medtronic employees around the country to take action to help advance racial equity during Black History Month.

Throughout February, a number of Medtronic African Descent Network (ADN) hubs around the U.S. are embracing Lewis’ call to “make good trouble” and build a stronger future for employees and communities. The Medtronic ADN is a resource group open to all employees. Its goal is to raise awareness about racial equity issues and provide recruitment and retention tools to help develop and advance Black employees in their careers. ADN is intended to not only give employees a voice, but a pathway to success. 

Check out highlights from some of the ADN hubs:

Atlanta

ADN Atlanta is embracing the opportunity to give back to their community this Black History Month and throughout...

Bay Area, CA

Following the George Floyd protests, and a 310% increase in hub membership, the group focused on...

Colorado

A variety of virtual events will highlight Black history and continue important discussions about race, with topics...

Dallas /Fort Worth

The Dallas/Fort Worth ADN used “Brain Pop” YouTube videos to organize “Story Time on MLK Day,” an event that...

Memphis

ADN Memphis is hosting a series of virtual activities, including a presentation by Black surgeons and discussions...

Minneapolis

The Minneapolis ADN and Medtronic Muslims and Friends volunteered at Ubah Medical Academy, a public...

Connecticut

Employees worked with a local high school to build a three-phase program that allowed more than 400 students...

Northridge, CA

Quarterly “Virtual Movie Clubs” show movies that spark deep, thoughtful discussions about racism...

Tempe, AZ

ADN Tempe is working to strengthen their community by mentoring engineers of the future. ADN Tempe teamed...