Madison has its iconic Roundhouse, Knockout rose as signature plant and Madison Street Festival as its annual community gathering. Hoping to add another icon, Alex Riley has authored the “Madison City Anthem.”

Alex Riley is promoting civic pride with his "Madison Up" campaign.

Riley compares the goals in his “Madison Up” campaign with the “Shop Madison First” concept. “Support your local artists — whatever genre of music. I plan on making ‘Madison Up’ a nationally noticed name,” Riley said.

“Madison City Anthem” “will make people speak their thoughts and ideas — what would they like to see in Madison,” he said. (hhvisionary.com, youtube.com/watch?v=lJLqOF6fkys)

In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Riley moved from New Orleans to Madison. He graduated from Bob Jones High School in 2008 and then worked at Integrated Airlines. At this time, he founded the non-profit organization, Heart.Head.Foundation.

His organization collected empty soda cans from individuals and companies for recycling. “Whatever proceeds I received went towards shopping for underprivileged families,” Riley said.

However, “in 2010 the economy crashed” and Riley lost his job in a layoff. “I was unemployed close to a year. Not only was it brutally stressful, but it also gave me time and the outlook to focus on what I want out of life,” he said.

He channeled his energy into starting a company involving music. “Madison is much like me — just a small town trying to find its own identity to make a impact on society,” Riley said.

Riley is targeting young adults to youth “because they are the future of Madison city.”

Recently, Riley presented his “Madison Up” project to Mayor Paul Finley. “I love Alex’s enthusiasm for Madison and his creative way for sharing this in song,” Finley said. “Alex is a hard working, determined young man who has big dreams, which hopefully will build city pride with our young adults.”

For more information, call 256-318-2824, send email to Heart.Head.funding@gmail.com or visit HHvisionary.com, Facebook/HHvisionary and @2pacheadphones on Twitter. Riley’s mailing address is P.O. Box 1959, Madison AL 35758.