history has taught us this painful truth: when democracy is treated as optional, marginalized communities pay the price first—and the hardest. We have seen it before. And we are seeing it again—right here in Minnesota.

Dr. Walé Elegbede delivered this speech Monday at the 2026 annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast in Rochester, Minnesota on 1/19/2026

As someone who has lived under despots and dictators, I know that words — especially from those in power — carry with them seeds to unite or destroy, to uplift or oppress.

https://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/columns/wale-elegbede-leadership-and-the-power-of-words

We have made great strides in our nation since Dr. King’s speech, but a lot of work still remains, including in Rochester.

https://www.postbulletin.com/rochester-in-color/wale-elegbede-building-trust-is-essential-in-our-society

When people think about trust, several words may come to mind such as having confidence in another person's intentions, motives and sincerity, or having a firm belief in the reliability or ability of someone or something. The topic of trust has been studied for a long time and scholarly research on it now spans over 64 years. In the context of society or social terms, social trust is the belief in…