Family and Friends:
Today we commemorate the remarkable life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a social activist the nation remembers for his vision of unity and his contributions to the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s.
The theme for the 34th annual observance is "It Starts With Me: Shifting Priorities to Create the Beloved Community."
One of our top priorities for the City of Clarksville is 'people.' The diversity efforts we're undertaking will help us ensure we have a genuinely inclusive organization that makes everyone feel like a valued member of the team.
Outside of City Hall, when you look around the City and County, Dr. King's messages of equality, non-discrimination, and respect are embedded in our community. We embrace the different attributes, experiences, and backgrounds of our people. The diversity in Clarksville-Montgomery Country, along with its economy and cost of living, is what continues to make our City the number one place to live. It contributes to our already adaptive and culturally astute community.
In honor of Dr. King's legacy of service to others, individuals across the nation are currently engaging in community service projects to celebrate his birthday. With that, I ask you all to join in on the celebration with service to others. Volunteer to feed the hungry, mentor at-risk youth, donate supplies to schools or shelters, support our veterans, or find a project that needs your unique skills. Let's continue to do our part to keep Dr. King's dream alive. I believe we can be the trailblazers who will carve a new path for the generations to come by celebrating diversity and channeling our skills and talents into shaping our City.
I wish you all a safe and meaningful remembrance of this holiday.
Thank you, and God bless.