Ohio Northern University law graduate, attorney, and Lima mayor Sharetta Smith, JD ’10, delivered an impactful address during the University’s MLK chapel service on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Smith is Lima’s first woman and first African-American mayor. She was elected in November 2021.
In her remarks, Smith reflected upon the powerful words delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at ONU in January 1968, just a few months before his assassination.
While Dr. King is remembered for being a tireless advocate for justice, equality, and freedom, he was also a preacher, she reminded the audience.
“Many of his messages centered on essential themes that were foundational to his Christian faith,” she said. “As Christians we are called to shape society instead of being shaped by it. Or in Biblical terms, we are called to be the salt and the light, to be in this world, but not of this world.”
She encouraged the audience to be open to change, even though it’s often difficult.
“Perhaps we can continue Dr. King’s legacy by remembering that transformation, even when it’s uncomfortable, helps us achieve a world that reflects not just the spirit of the civil rights movement, but the love and justice that God desires and requires from each of us.”
Change, she added, often begins with listening.
When he spoke at ONU, Dr. King said: “I happen to feel that dialogue is mighty good and something that we constantly need, and it’s always a tragedy when a society seeks to live in monologue instead of dialogue.”
As mayor, Smith says she is always listening to her constituents, “knocking on doors, answering questions, responding to emails” and going out in the community to learn what matters to people.
She often tells her team “we never want to lead our city just by our perspective from City Hall, but by whatever we hear from the people.”
In that same spirit, she encouraged audience members to listen to others with an open heart and mind.
“As we engage in difficult conversations about race, about privilege, about justice, let’s remember to lead with love and understanding and mutual respect.”
She added: “Dr. King believed in the power of non-violence. He believed in listening. He believed in dialogue.”
“I ask that as we move forward, that we carry Dr. King's legacy with us, reshaping our communities, our neighborhoods, our homes, through justice, love, understanding and an unwavering determination to recognize the humanity in others.”
After earning her law degree, Smith became a public defender and spent six years in Tennessee as a magistrate. She returned to her hometown of Lima and served as the city’s chief of staff before running for mayor. Under her collaborative leadership style, Lima has experienced a renewed focus on neighborhood and downtown revitalization, youth development, and improvement of government operations.