As a way to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and honor deserving community members, the Selma Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is hosting a “Unity Breakfast” Monday, Jan. 21 at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

The theme of the annual breakfast, which will begin at 7:30 a.m., is “Moving forward in unity.”

Penny Williams, Links member and chairperson for the breakfast, said residents can expect a hardy breakfast and good program from the event.

“The breakfast itself will highlight the positive things Martin Luther King did,” Williams said. “One of the things we are going to do, something we always do, is have an honoree person who is our citizen of the year.”

This year, that person is Becky Nichols of the Selma-Dallas County Public Library.

“Ms. Nichols just serves the community so well so we thought it would be appropriate to honor her,” Williams said. “We sat down and we usually look through the community and find people who are extraordinary citizens who really do things to move the community forward. She is definitely one of them.”

The breakfast will also feature a special message, delivered by Probate Judge Kim Ballard. Williams said Ballard will highlight positive activities going on in Selma and Dallas County.

“I encourage everyone to come to this because first of all, the message from the speaker is always very good and it fits the whole community,” Williams said.

Proceeds from the breakfast will go toward educational, anti-bullying and childhood obesity programs at local elementary schools.

Williams said The Links chapter of Selma specifically targets these issues and creates programs each year that bring awareness to them.

“This year our programs are at Payne School but we’ve had it at Sophia Kingston and Clark School,” Williams said. “We spend maybe six to eight weeks working with those children on all kinds of things.”

Tickets for the breakfast are $15 and will not be available the day of the program. To purchase a ticket or for more information call Williams at 872-4816.

The Links, Incorporated is an international non-profit organization that cultivates influential decision makers and leaders. The organization was established in 1946 and currently has more than 12,000 members.