On Monday, January 15, we come together in celebration of the life of a true American hero: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We as a nation owe Dr. King a great debt. His dreams, his vision, and his words forever shaped our history for the better. He ensured that our citizens live up to the principles of our founding. He helped America acknowledge its shameful past, and opened the door for a brighter future. And, nearly four decades after his death, he remains a powerful voice of conscience and a beacon of hope for America.

Dr. King's legacy of equal opportunity lives on at HUD in many ways. His dreams for this nation are deeply woven into both our history and our ongoing work. During his lifetime, Dr. King fought for the voiceless to find their voice, helped the powerless find power, and worked for the hopeless to find hope - the same things the Department strives to do every day.

Dr. King once said, "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve." On Monday, as we celebrate the life of a great leader, I encourage everyone to join the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who will serve their community in the spirit of unity and volunteerism in which Dr. King preached and lived.