Author: Akilah Armand-Hazlip, IDEA Committee Member

Slavery is defined as the condition of being enslaved, held, or owned as human chattel or property, bondage. A practice or institution that treats or recognizes some human beings as the legal property of others. The state of a person who is held in forced servitude.

Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, declaring the slaves of the rebellious southern states “forever free,” is probably one the most important acts of his presidency or even his life. In 719 words, President Lincoln presented this proclamation that did not free slaves everywhere in the United States, but only the Confederate states during the Civil War. It also meant that freed slaves could be enlisted in the Union Army. It was actually the 13th Amendment, passed two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that outlawed slavery forever.

President Lincoln understood that slavery contradicted the Constitution. Slavery dehumanized people and stripped them of the rights the forebears died to protect in the American Revolution. The Emancipation Proclamation was the necessary legislation that gave slaves their opportunity to free life in the United States. People say President Lincoln had several reasons for why the slaves were freed; some were political as well as ethical and spiritual. All arguments resulted in freedom to abused and misused people in America.

There could be many reasons President Lincoln ordered the Emancipation Proclamation. One of the main reasons of importance still relevant today should be to ensure all people are treated equally and are entitled to all human rights. Unfortunately, different forms of slavery still exist today in the U.S. and other countries worldwide. There are various anti-slavery groups and organizations that continue the fight to end slavery. No one should be treated as property or be forced to perform any type of services against their will.

While it is good to know there are people in the world that received help from the Emancipation Proclamation, the fight to end slavery and solidify equality and justice for all is forever ongoing. In 2010, former President Barack Obama proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1. He called upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves”
― Abraham Lincoln, Complete Works - Volume XII

Sources:

1. Merriam Webster Dictionary, (2022). Retrieved from Slavery Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
2. Free The Slaves, (2007-2022). Retrieved from 719 Words That Changed History: The Emancipation Proclamation « Free the Slaves
3. BHM – The Importance of the Emancipation Proclamation, (2009). Retrieved from BHM - the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation > Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst > Display (jb.mil)
4. Proclamation on National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2021, (2020). Retrieved from Proclamation on National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2021 – The White House (archives.gov)

Join MPI’s Chicago Area Chapter at The Holiday After Glow for an evening of education and networking! The holiday season may have commenced, but it is time to gather and celebrate a new year. 

The Education Program will feature industry esteemed panelists discussing how to use the afterglow of an event to debrief, strategically plan, and increase the impact of the next event. Following the Education Program will be a Networking Reception to include passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations, open bar, and entertainment. Don’t miss out on an education glow up and a night of fun with industry friends.

Silent Auction is now live! Click here to bid on fabulous prizes.

See all of our available partnership opportunities here.

MPI-CAC's Annual Awards Recognition Celebration is held each summer to celebrate and recognize the talents, skills, accomplishments, and dedication of our members and industry colleagues. As we anxiously await further event details and registration, it's time to begin the nominations process. 

Do you know a current MPI volunteer member deserving an award? Nominate them today! 

For full award descriptions and criteria, click here. 

Available awards:

• NEW FOR 2022 - IDEA Champion of Change Award: The MPI-CAC IDEA Champion of Change Award winner is a chapter member who demonstrates and showcases the importance of embracing and engaging in IDEA best practices, and the positive impact that this has on all of us. This inspiring individual truly represents diversity and inclusion by leading as a champion of change, both within our organization and the industry. 
• Chapter Leader of the Year: The MPI-CAC Chapter Leader of the Year recognizes an engaged member who has contributed significantly to the chapter in the current fiscal year.  Nominees’ contributions may include inspiring other members, creating new initiatives or acting as a catalyst to bring about exceptional results in the chapter.  Nominees will also be considered for their MPI-CAC leadership, industry engagement, community service and recognition by their peers.
• Committee of the Year: The MPI-CAC Committee of the Year Award is presented to the committee whose efforts, initiatives, and creativity have resulted in significant contributions to the chapter. Nominees will be evaluated upon goal achievement, administrative excellence, committee member engagement, leadership succession, and innovation or creativity.
• Eleanor H. Woods Supplier of the Year: This award was renamed to honor the career and industry involvement of Eleanor H. Woods, following her passing. Eleanor was the owner of On the Scene, a prominent Chicago destination management company. She was universally respected as an active MPI-CAC member and a highly visible supplier member of the meetings community. This award is presented to a supplier member who has made significant contributions to the meetings industry and is an exemplary representative of our profession. Nominees will be considered for professional experience, involvement in MPI, industry engagement, community service and recognition by their peers.  
• Hall of Fame Individual: The MPI-CAC Hall of Fame is comprised of esteemed members and organizations that have made significant contributions to the awareness, professionalism, and growth of the meetings industry and the chapter specifically. Each year, the chapter may select an individual inductee or organization into the MPI-CAC Hall of Fame. Inductees will have served in a leadership capacity or have shared their time, talent, or resources with MPI. Nominees will be considered for professional experience, involvement in MPI (either locally or internationally), industry engagement, community service, and recognition by their peers.
• Hall of Fame Organization: The MPI-CAC Hall of Fame is comprised of esteemed members and organizations that have made significant contributions to the awareness, professionalism, and growth of the meetings industry and the chapter specifically. Each year, the chapter may select an individual inductee or organization into the MPI-CAC Hall of Fame. Inductees will have served in a leadership capacity or have shared their time, talent, or resources with MPI. Nominees will be considered for professional experience, involvement in MPI (either locally or internationally), industry engagement, community service, and recognition by their peers.
• Planner of the Year: The MPI-CAC Planner of the Year Award recognizes a planner member who has made significant contributions to the meetings industry and is an exemplary representative of our profession. Nominees will be considered for professional experience, involvement in MPI, industry engagement, community service and recognition by their peers.  
• Emerging Leader: The Emerging Leader Award is presented annually to chapter members who have made contributions to the chapter and shown dedication to MPI-CAC. They show promise to be future leaders through their chapter involvement, professional experience, industry involvement, or community engagement and recognition by their peers. 
• President's Award: This award is at the sole discretion of the current President of the Chapter. The President may select up to three (3) recipients of a special recognition award aptly named "the President's Award." Criteria for the President's Award should include at least industry service, assistance to the Office of the President, integrity, honesty and commitment to the success of the Office of the President and/or MPI.

Congratulations to Whitney Taylor of Quest Events, our November 2022 Spotlight Award winner! Recognized for her work on the chapter's Leadership & Development Committee, Whitney has been involved with the chapter for more than ten years, getting her start on the Holiday Party Committee! She’s also a past member of the Annual Awards Recognition Celebration and Industry Exchange committees.

As for her favorite memories, the 2021 Awards Gala is a prominent one for Whitney. She served on the committee prior to COVID, and the awards gala was the first major event–in many ways–emerging back to “normal.” “The first large gathering for the chapter in over a year and a half, and it was my first MPI sponsorship with Quest Events–the company I joined just two months prior. It was surreal–like riding a bike again–I wasn’t sure I’d be able to ride. Loading in, setting scenic on stage, getting to put a ‘sponsor’ name tag on–it was wonderful! On top of all of that, I was absolutely honored to win the Resilience Award, alongside Bunny Lee and Nicole Price. And celebrate so many of my esteemed MPI industry colleagues and friends. It was truly a special night that I was honored to be a part of.”

Want to know how you can earn a Spotlight Award? Join one of our committees and volunteer with the chapter! Check out this link to learn how you can get involved!