Greenville Reporter

Community leaders, elected officials, and residents of eastern North Carolina gathered on January 20 for the 28th annual Community Unity Breakfast. The event was hosted by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and promote diversity initiatives in Greenville and Pitt County.

ECU Health was among the sponsors of the event and presented a speaker, Brian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer of ECU Health. Floyd emphasized love as a key theme during Dr. King's day. He likened community harmony to that found in relationships and marriages.

“The hardest thing sometimes is to put ourselves aside in the interest of someone else,” Floyd remarked. “Yet, relationships and marriages are hard – and that’s when you choose to be with someone you share common values, beliefs, and interests with."

Floyd highlighted ECU Health's commitment to unity across its nine hospitals and over 225 clinics. He noted that while team members are diverse, their dedication to care remains constant.

Training students from East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine and local nursing colleges is viewed as an opportunity by ECU Health. "If you read behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., you’ll note that love is at the core of the unifying work," Floyd said.

Portia Willis, a member of the Greenville City Council and co-founder of Young Scholars and Leaders Institute, delivered the keynote speech. She stressed communal responsibility in addressing challenges.

“This morning, we’re reminded not only of the words of Dr. King but the example he set," Willis stated. "Today is a call to action...a commitment to justice, peace, and unity."

Chad Tucker from ECU Health Medical Center introduced Willis at the event.