By Adam Dodson | The Selma Times-Journal

The Selma chapter of The Links, Inc. will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day unity breakfast Monday morning at 7:30 at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

This year’s breakfast will be the 25th anniversary of the event, which started back in 1992.

At the breakfast, members of the Links present their annual Citizen of the Year award and also award outstanding students with scholarships. The number of this year’s scholarships has doubled from three to six, according to Links member Cicely Curtis.

This year’s guest speaker will be Avis Williams, superintendent of Selma City Schools.

Curtis said there will also be some new additions to the breakfast this year. Along with the usual food and awards, there will be musical entertainment with a jazz band and choir.

Each year, about 350 people attend the Links’ breakfast. This year’s menu will include spinach quiche, bacon, croissants, fruit bowls, coffee, tea, juice and other items.

To close out the program this year, the Links will light their “unity candle,” which is intended to continue Dr. King’s legacy and keep his ideals alive.

“We want to end with a showing of peace, unity and love,” Curtis said. “That is what the breakfast is all about. MLK’s life will always be remembered for the impact he had on the world. This is a way to keep is legacy alive.”

Although the Links have been hosting this event since 1992, their chapter was not officially chartered until 1995.

“Our motto is ‘the heart of Linkdom is service’,” said Links member Juanda Maxwell. “Dr. King was the great unifier, and this breakfast is all about trying to unify our community. If we are all going in the same direction we can achieve our goals.”

Other than the Unity Breakfast, the Links have community service events throughout the year. This includes their October walk-a-thon to inspire health.

For more information regarding the Selma Links, visit their Facebook page at “Selma Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.”