By Mayor Tommy Battle, City of Huntsville, Alabama

Mayor Tommy Battle accepting the MLK Unity Award from the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. during the 34th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast
It was the greatest honor this past Monday to be among two recipients to receive the Unity Award at the 34th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
The Unity Award is presented by Alpha Phi Alpha to “recognize and honor two unsung heroes from our community who give unselfishly of themselves to the causes of unity, justice and quality.”
I am deeply humbled and honored by the recognition, and I gratefully accept the award on behalf of the 195,000 residents living in the Huntsville and the City’s 2,100 employees.
This community has worked hard to live up to the ideals of Dr. King by committing ourselves to become an inclusive community. We must be willing to all sit together, around the table, to achieve Dr. King’s dream. Mayor, Council members, clergy, businessmen and women, community leaders, and citizens – all working in concert for openness, tolerance and respect.
My pledge to Huntsville is that the Mayor’s office – and all offices in City Hall – will always have an open table for conversation. Anyone who wants to build an inclusive community is welcome at our table. Together, we will continue to move forward, to unite, and to live up to Dr. King’s ideals.
Jan. 21, was also a National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As mayor, I encouraged our residents to participate in community service as part of the “Day On, Not a Day Off” effort, inspired by the words and good works of Dr. King challenging us to re-think our place and responsibility in the world. It’s really about servant leadership. Dr. King understood that true leadership requires a servant’s heart. Getting out of your comfort zone, helping a stranger and leaving this world a better place.
For my part, I spent time at Free-2-Teach helping stock shelves and over at Manna House, a wonderful charity providing food and resources for those in need. My hope is that people will engage in these service opportunities year-round. There are many needs in Huntsville and a host of non-profits are eager for time and resources. It can be as simple as helping a neighbor in need with chores and yard work, serving meals to the homeless, or spending time at a senior center. Others may want to create a project or schedule volunteer hours at a non-profit of their choice.
By performing service, we break down barriers and grow into more compassionate human beings. This is our community, and how we serve sets an example for generations to come.
As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments at contact@huntsvilleal.gov or by calling 256-427-5000.