Monday, March 11, 2024
History came alive at the Underground Railroad stamp ceremony
The speakers included an actor who played Harriet Tubman
The Postal Service celebrated the ingenuity, bravery and resilience of the men and women who helped guide enslaved people to freedom before the Civil War at the March 9 dedication ceremony for the Underground Railroad stamps.
The event was held in Church Creek, MD, at a visitor center named for Harriet Tubman, a conductor for the Underground Railroad and one of the 10 people featured on the stamps.
“For many enslaved African Americans, the Underground Railroad was their only hope to escape the brutality of slavery,” said Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors. “The Underground Railroad demonstrated the power of collective action and solidarity in achieving social change, even when the odds seemed insurmountable.”
The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that assisted and safeguarded enslaved people in their flight to freedom.
The stamps feature sepia-toned portraits of important figures in the cause, including Tubman, Catharine Coffin, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Garrett, Laura Haviland, Lewis Hayden, Harriet Jacobs, William Lambert, Jermain Loguen and William Still.
“I am honored to participate in this dedication that celebrates Harriet Tubman and other operatives of the Underground Railroad,” said Millicent Sparks, an actor and writer who performed as Tubman at the ceremony.
“Their secret network aiding in the escapes of enslaved people aggravated the institution of slavery so badly that a war was fought over it…. All of these individuals are the reason we wake up free every morning,” she said.
The ceremony’s other speakers were Joshua Kurtz, Maryland secretary of natural resources; Deanna Mitchell, superintendent of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park; historian Kate Clifford Larson; Daniel Hunter, an author and activist; and Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS who designed the stamps.
Other participants included descendants of some of the people honored on the stamps: Ernestine “Tina” Wyatt and Douglas Mitchell, descendants of Tubman; Bob Seeley, a descendant of Garrett; historian Valerie Still; and Tarence Bailey Sr., a descendant of Douglass.
Dana Paterra, Eastern region manager for the Maryland Park Service, served as master of ceremonies.
The Underground Railroad stamps are available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
A leader, on the court and off
John Wooden’s remarkable career is remembered in a new video
The Postal Service has released a video honoring John Wooden’s unparalleled success in college basketball.
Considered by many to be the greatest coach in the history of sports, Wooden’s record-setting success at UCLA made the Bruins one of the nation’s best-known basketball dynasties. He is also remembered for teaching his players how to achieve excellence — not only on the court, but in life.
The four-minute video features Wooden’s granddaughter, Christy Impelman, and Derek Kan, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, who both spoke at the Feb. 24 dedication ceremony for the John Wooden stamp.
Heroes
Looking out for others
The Postmaster General Heroes’ Program seeks nominations
Do you know Postal Service employees like Gary Sherman, a Warsaw, NY, rural carrier who helped save a customer’s canines from a house fire?
We want to know about them, too.
USPS is seeking nominees for the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program, which honors employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.
The program is based on a simple idea: Postal Service employees know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities and are often the first to notify emergency personnel when something is wrong.
Employees must be nominated for the award. Corporate Communications reviews nominations for accuracy, then sends them to the Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General for approval.
Following approval, each nominee receives a commendation letter from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
Honorees are also featured in Link’s “Heroes” column. Additionally, a heroes’ wall at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, displays stories and photos, which are updated monthly.
Employees who wish to submit a nomination must complete PS Form 400, Corporate Communications PMG Hero Nomination, and email it to PMG_HeroNominations@usps.gov.
To catch up on previously featured employees, check out Link’s “Heroes” archives.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered March 3-9
Labor talks, consumer protection and virtual job fairs made news
Last week, the Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers announced they are continuing to negotiate to reach a new labor contract but are also moving forward with preparations for a potential interest arbitration.
It was also National Consumer Protection Week, which the Postal Inspection Service observed by focusing on investment scams. To help spread the word, the USPS podcast, “Mailin’ It!,” released an episode featuring Eric Shen, a postal inspector.
Link also covered the USPS Sustainability Symposium, warned you about smishing and vishing scams, and told you about this year’s virtual job fairs for supervisory positions.
Additionally, we went “On the Job” with Kevin Terry, a Shreveport, LA, delivery support specialist who discussed how he enjoys mentoring others and helping them with their professional development, and “Off the Clock” with Cesar Guerrero, a Postal Police officer who enjoys golfing in his free time.
“I love helping others with their careers because, as a former rural carrier associate, I know how important it is to have a path to advancement,” Terry said. “When I became a career employee, I immediately began applying for customer services supervisor positions because I wanted to make positive changes for my peers and help improve our organization.”
From our vantage point, he’s succeeding.
Contractors have until April 17 to take cybersecurity course
Postal Service contractors must complete a cybersecurity training course by Wednesday, April 17.
The CyberSafe Fundamentals course provides the information and best practices contractors need to know to keep USPS electronic data secure.
Contractors can access the course through MyHR.
There is a one-time test-out option available.
Contractors who don’t complete the course by the April 17 deadline will have limited ACE system access until the course is completed.
For more information, visit the CyberSafe training page on Blue or send an email to CyberSafeComms@usps.gov.
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History came alive at the Underground Railroad stamp ceremony
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A leader, on the court and off
John Wooden’s remarkable career is remembered in a new video
-
Heroes
Looking out for others
The Postmaster General Heroes’ Program seeks nominations
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered March 3-9
Labor talks, consumer protection and virtual job fairs made news
-
Brief
Contractors have until April 17 to take cybersecurity course