SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
(HUNTSVILLE, ALA- BAMA) – – On Thursday, January 11, 2024, Lynne Berry and Brenda Martin were honored with the prestigious Unity Award during the 39th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast in Huntsville at NASA, highlighting the theme “It Starts with Me.” The event, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the city’s oldest black fraternity, highlighted the outstanding contributions of individuals dedicated to the principles of unity, justice, and equality.
The Unity Award recognized two unsung heroes, Berry and Martin, and their selfless commitment to these noble causes. The recipients were celebrated for their unwavering efforts in promoting unity and striving for justice and equality within the community.
The keynote speaker was Kevin Powell, an American writer, activist, and television personality. Powell is the author of 16 books, including The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood and When We Free the World, published in 2020. Cornell University owns The Kevin Powell Archive, documenting his work to date in print, photos, videos, books, handwritten notes, speeches, and select memorabilia, beginning with his appearance in the first season of the first television reality series MTV’s The Real World: New York in 1992.
Other speakers included Kenny Anderson, Huntsville City’s Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Dr. Darrell Ezell, Social Scientist, Administrator, Professor, and Corporate Strategist; Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ties Alabama; and Dr. Bryan Samuel, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UAH.
This significant occasion occurred as part of the an annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Celebration, the largest event in the southeastern United States. The event drew an impressive crowd of over 1300 attendees at the Von Braun Center, showcasing the widespread support and engagement of the community in commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
