Dane County Executive Agard, Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway Announce 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award Honorees
January 08, 2025
Aaron Collins
County Executive
MADISON - Today, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway proudly announced this year’s recipients of the City-County Humanitarian Awards honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The 2025 honorees are Charles Tubbs and Sheray Wallace. Selected by the City-County Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, these community members embody the values of service, equity, and justice that Dr. King championed.
“Charles and Sheray represent the very best of our community through their unwavering dedication to service and advocacy for equity,” said County Executive Agard. “Charles’s remarkable career in public service and Sheray’s grassroots efforts in public health and community engagement inspire us all to work towards a more just and inclusive society. Congratulations to both honorees on this well-deserved recognition.”
“Dr. King said life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ Charles and Sheray have earned this recognition because they answered that call to serve with persistency and urgency,” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. “Our honorees are also a reminder that to truly serve our residents, we need leaders at every level working together to reach the same shared goal. Thank you, Charles and Sheray, for your unwavering efforts to better our community.”
The City and County will present the awards at the annual City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The event will take place at the Overture Center for the Arts. More information can be found at mlkingcoalition.org
Charles Tubbs
With over 52 years of distinguished public service, Charles Tubbs has expertly navigated the complex fields of emergency management, law enforcement, corrections, and community safety. Recognized as one of the “Top 100 Law Enforcement Officials/Heroes in the USA” by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and George H. Bush, Tubbs has garnered national and international acclaim for his initiatives addressing civil unrest, public health, mental health, addiction, racism, socioeconomic disparities, and educational challenges.
During his tenure as Director of Dane County Emergency Management, Tubbs played a vital role in the county’s COVID-19 pandemic response, ensuring equitable resource distribution to protect vulnerable populations. He also demonstrated exemplary leadership during the racial and social justice demonstrations following George Floyd’s death, fostering peaceful protests while upholding public safety.
Tubbs’s advocacy extends to addiction awareness, inspired by the loss of his son to an accidental overdose. His efforts have broken barriers, created support networks and fostered education for affected families. Charles Tubbs continues to serve as a national Adjunct Faculty Instructor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, and his work remains a testament to the principles of integrity, compassion, and justice.
Sheray Wallace
Sheray Wallace is passionate about community health. Arriving in Madison in 1999, Sheray has lived in the Meadowood neighborhood for 20 years. She joined the Meadowood Neighborhood Association and was soon serving needs by organizing quarterly community suppers and forming partnerships with the police and non-profits to support families in need. Sheray worked full-time at night while working without pay during the day to help those in need of food and medical care. Sheray became the first certified community health worker in Madison and founded Meadowood Health Partnership, where she currently works.
In 2016, Sheray created her own community health care office and organized the first Stop the Violence, Save the Children parade in southwest Madison—a tradition she continues annually. She works with Focused Interruption and partners with Madison and Dane County Public Health on violence prevention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheray was instrumental in organizing vaccine clinics in marginalized neighborhoods, supporting families facing eviction, and connecting landlords with federal CORE funds to keep people housed.
Sheray also operates high blood pressure and diabetes education clinics, supports new mothers and babies, provides immediate aid to those facing homelessness due to domestic violence, and distributes food and gas gift cards to those in need. Her tireless efforts have set the standard for community health work and outreach, making her a bridge to health care networks across the city. Sheray Wallace and Meadowood Health Partnership serve as a model for the transformative power of grassroots health care advocacy.
Sheray’s impact is deeply felt in the neighborhoods she serves, where she has built resilience and fostered hope. She is truly a treasure in our community.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Aaron Collins - Dane County
Phone: (608) 800-1127
Email: collins.aaron@danecounty.gov
Dylan Brogan - City of Madison
Phone: 608-267-1998
Email: dbrogan@cityofmadison.com