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Avery Dennison – Children designed tote bags in honor of MLK Jr. Day 2022 – blog

Children designed tote bags in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to support Wilberforce University

Apparel Solutions

September 14, 2022

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, on January 17th, Patched Together, Avery Dennison’s not-for-profit brand, released a collection of tote bags designed by its employees’ children.

The Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) at Avery Dennison held a Children’s Art Competition in 2021 to honor, engage and learn about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through the eyes of our employees’ children. The BERG was established to promote Avery Dennison’s value of diversity by driving greater inclusion of self-identified African American/Black employees across the organization.

The children crafted their unique interpretations of Black History Month, to celebrate the life of this great man. The winning bags feature powerful quotes from Martin Luther King including: “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.”

Proceeds from the tote bags were donated to Wilberforce University, the United States’ oldest private, historically Black university, owned and operated by African Americans.

To commemorate this project, a giant patchwork featuring all of the winner’s artwork will be on display in the Avery Dennison Mentor office, Ohio.

 

Reflecting on the project

When reflecting on this campaign, Vic Riches, Creative Design Specialist, says: “We are so moved by the creativity of each young artist. The depth of thought behind the drawings shows just how much the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is profoundly relevant in the minds of young people today.”

Adding to this, Jennifer Hairston, Corporate Environmental, Health & Safety Manager and co-chair of BERG, Avery Dennison, says: “The Black Employee Resource Group was established to promote Avery Dennison’s value of diversity by driving greater inclusion of self-identified African American/black employees across the organization.  

“We know we can accomplish this by building a strong support network, bridging cultural gaps, and creating allies with all employees. This project - in partnership with BERG, Avery Dennison families and the Apparel Solutions business - is a perfect example of the impactful network at Avery Dennison.”

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