Reflections Coffee Shop owner Jackie Smith stands proudly with the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Director Sheryl Smedley at the shop's grand merge celebration. Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Monday, The Reflections Coffee Shoppe held its official grand merge celebration that officially tied the legacy of its original coffee shop known as The Coffee Shoppe to its main location on 1014 Water Avenue. Coffee Shop Owner Jackie Smith said at the coffee shop’s celebratory closure event held on Dec. 29 that the Broad Street location was run for 14 years and that it contained a unique asset that kept customers coming back — its drive through. “We have a great idea [coming to Reflections] to replace the drive through,” Smith said. “We are going to designate two parking spaces out front curbside so people can call in their order, make payments, and when they are outside, they can either call us or [we are] going to strategically position those parking spaces [where they are visibly seen], like if you are standing at the register, you can look right out and say, “there’s a car in curb space number one or there’s a car in curb space number two.” Smith said not only are the coffee shop operations undergoing active changes, but that the menu at Reflections is too. “The traditional menu are salads and sandwiches,” Smith said. “That’s our specialty and what we are adding to the menu will be a soup of the week. We will have Wednesday on the Plate, which means we will have a special plated meal including the addition of breakfast items. We are going to have short stack pancakes with eggs and a choice of meat. Also, breakfast croissants that will be loaded with eggs, cheese and turkey sausage or bacon and our signature breakfast dish will be candied bacon.” Smith said the menu is online but not readily active because it’s under construction, but hopefully in the next 30 days, she said the website will be back up and running. “That’s a work in progress,” Smith said. But I will say by the end of the first quarter, we will have everything in place and hopefully operate like a well- oiled machine.” Smith said alongside new additions to the menu, there will also be brunch held at the coffee shop every second and fourth Saturday. “We have also hired a culinary specialist,” Smith said. “She’s in control of the menu and the offerings, the prep and the execution of the total menu and we are so happy to bring her on board.” Erial Hunter is the newest member of the Reflections Coffee Shoppe team and is the culinary specialist, whom Smith considers a Sous chef. Hunter was born and raised in Selma with deep roots in the kitchen from a very early age and said her interest in the culinary field came from her grandma. “My grandma started a business called Mary’s Exceptional Catering,” Hunter said. “It’s still up and running and has been [in business] for over 30 years now and when my grandma’s health started to decline, the business was passed down to my mom.” Hunter said her mom would help her grandmother with the business when she was a kid until her teenage years. Like her mom, Hunter took the same initiative years later as an adult after she quit her corporate job to assist her mom with the catering business to take it further than it has ever been. Hunter said she has solely worked with Exceptional Catering for three years and that she knew at the tender age of 10 years old that cooking was something she was passionate about. “I am already grateful, already mind blown at what God is doing,” Hunter said. I’m very faith-based from my head to my toes but yes, [this opportunity to work with Reflections] is huge. I’m beyond blessed,” Hunter said. Hunter said her feelings regarding the new position are beyond words. Hunter is the first culinary chef hired by the coffee shop since it opened last year in March. “This is history for Reflections,” Hunter said. “Emerging from the coffee shop to here and where Reflections is about to go. It’s very huge.” Smith said since the transition of both shops, customers do not have to worry about the issue of seating because the coffee shop can comfortably seat 118 people inside and 22 people on the outside in the patio seating area. “So, we have a capacity to do anything that you can dream of,” Smith said. “We also have a balcony that overlooks the Alabama River and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and I say it’s the best view on this side of the bridge. So, don’t be surprised at whatever you see Reflections Coffee Shoppe doing down here because we are here to improve the quality of life for our citizens and our tourists that come in.” Smith said the new hours of operation at The Reflections Coffee Shoppe are 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays are closed for business unless there is a special event. For more information about the Reflections Coffee Shoppe, contact Jackie Smith at 334-878-5282.

Students from surrounding Selma and Dallas County schools line up at the Jemison-Owens Auditorium to attend the university's first student leadership conference. | Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Tuesday, Selma University kicked off its first-ever two-day Black student leadership summit conference at its Jemison-Owens Auditorium and Gymnasium with the idea in mind to enrich the lives of students located around Selma and Dallas County. About 400 students from various schools in the Black Belt attended the event’s opening day that was geared towards the university’s mission to prepare procreant servant leaders from its communities for its communities while creating an environment where students can heal, realize their power and step into their change-making abilities, according to the university’s program itinerary. “I’m just excited that all of you could come and that your advisors, high school counselors and coaches would bring you all and I’m just thrilled,” said Selma University President Dr. Stan Angion to the crowd during the ceremony. Like Angion, there were various speakers like Dr. Carlos Williams, who spoke on the topic of being a procreant servant leader and how the role could be demonstrated in a student’s day-to-day life. Dr. Dominica McBride also spoke on the topic of the students becoming a change maker and what that process looks like while also incorporating to the students the importance of healing. The opening ceremony concluded with breakout sessions, classroom workshops geared towards students being the change, the shift in leadership while also learning how to heal and show up strong. “Showing up strong” is a workshop that encourages students to be present at school both physically and mentally and it teaches them how to show up strong because in our communities, we’ve had issues with student absenteeism and so with this workshop today, we are reaching out to help students know that their presence makes a difference in class,” Angion said. The event also included a networking lunch, an interactive procreant servant leadership fireside chat alongside the unveiling of a documentary about the life of Thurgood Marshall as well. There were also other events held leading up to a reflection of the day and a circle full of students ending the day in prayer. “We wanted the students to have fun,” Angion said. “We wanted them to enjoy and get the message, but we also wanted them to leave saying, man we had a good time and be intrigued not just by what they learned but also about how they can have good, clean fun in a wholesome environment.” Angion said the networking portion of the event was a gateway activity for students to connect with the speakers of the day including their peers and others who could be a resource for them in the near future. A local food truck vendor named Southern Groove was also a contributor to the networking portion of the event, providing students with fresh meals catered to its distinct southern cuisine. Due to its presence near the university’s auditorium, students lined up in hurdles to fellowship and grab a quick bite to eat. Southern Groove owner Robert Childers said once he received the call that students from all surrounding schools were coming to SU for a leadership conference, he said he knew he couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to support. He said through his small business he hopes that the students can see the idea of entrepreneurship and will always be willing to help anyway he can. “Today’s menu at Southern Groove consists of wings and fries,” Childers said. “For me, I try to be creative in everything I do, even though it is wings and fries. The way I serve my fries, I do a fried medley, which is waffle fries, straight cut fries and crinkle cut. I’m Just trying to be different and give a lot of options.” Childers said the flavors of wings that were sold during the conference were lemon pepper, sweet chili and plain. Plates were around $12 and if the students wanted a drink, he said it could be added as well. One customer standing in line at Southern Groove food truck, waiting on her food admired the scenery of fellowship on SU’s campus that she said she will always cherish and never forget. “Selma University was a place where we came and played under the guidance of some ministerial students. My parents owned the land just past the dorm that was sold to the university many years ago,” said Carolyn Pickett, a retired educator of the Selma City Schools System and volunteer coordinator at the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation. “My mother was a graduate of Selma University, so I have love for this campus, and I am so excited to be here this morning and to see the number of young people in one space, in the gym, I got chill bumps. It’s been a long time since I saw students like this in an educational setting. I’ve seen a lot of young people at football games and some at the other sport activities, but to see this number of young people under a covered roof and to also see the people who are mentoring them, their teachers, is such a great thing to see.” Pickett said she was excited for the up-and-coming activities that university plans to offer to the students and that she hopes she can participate in the students’ conference for the second day. “I am hopeful that the takeaway for them will be someone is interested in them, individually and collectively and that the leadership of Selma University had the thought process to hold an event like this and to reach out and engage them,” Pickett said. Pickett said she would tell tourists who never seen or heard of SU that it is the oldest HBCU in the state of Alabama and that this is a campus where they should come and schedule a visit because there is history on this campus and it’s surrounded by other Civil Rights history, but it has its own place in history as well. Angion said the conference’s second day will consist of more student breakout sessions with various speakers and will act as a subtle reminder for students to become who they were created to be through the daily commitment of healing and empowerment.

Rep. Chestnut and Selma University President Stan Angion shakes hands in honor of check presentation. | Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Tuesday, Rep. Prince Chestnut came to Selma University to present its president Dr. Stan Angion with a check of $31,000 to help with the university’s efforts to expand their technology and to contribute to their student support efforts. Angion told Chestnut during the check presentation on the steps of Dinkins Hall that he was delighted and grateful to receive such a generous contribution for the university. “I want to thank him personally because I know how hard it is to fight for funding,” Angion said. “He’s been there with Selma University and for Selma University for several years since I’ve been here and so I personally want to say thank you. On behalf of the faculty, staff and students, I also want to say thank you and I think our entire campus community will greatly benefit from this donation.” Angion said the generous donation will help the university enhance their internet services that they currently offer to the students of SU including their academic services support that they currently provide for the students as well. “When I refer to internet access, we have computer labs that we make available to our students so that they will be able any time of the day to get on the website to complete activities and complete academic assignments. They also need student support services and that means that we have to have somebody who can provide access to these labs so that students can be able to come and get the help they need. So, with these funds we need to make sure that the computers are up and operational and that the students can get help when they need it.” Chestnut said since the university is the only HBCU standing in his district, he wanted to make sure that he supported the university, especially at a crucial time when HBCUs are having a lot of funding issues. “We need to keep these universities open,” Chestnut said. “And I, myself am a graduate of an HBCU.” Speaking of HBCUs, Governor Kay Ivey declared the month of October as HBCU Month on Oct. 1 and both Angion and Chestnut said that they stand firmly behind the governor’s latest proclamation. “I support the designation of October as HBCU month because it gives us an opportunity to agree with the governor that HBCUs are special and that we serve a population and a mission that many other universities do not serve, and the work that we’ve done in the past gives us an opportunity to highlight that. So, I am very delighted for this proclamation,” Angion said. Like Angion, Chestnut said, “I have every indication from other legislators, as well as the governor, that they are supportive of HBCUs. In fact, we’ve been able to get Selma University some other funding as well within the budget through different collaborations with West Alabama and other universities. So, I think that the state stands firm and committed to furthering educational opportunities for everyone. HBCUs are part of the higher education system, and we want to make sure that we are supporting in every way possible.” Angion said the university is a quite unique place for students to study because it stands out above any other college in the Selma area due to its true dedication to meet students where they are and to help them get to where they need to be successfully. “Now, you hear that cliché all the time, we meet students where they are, but many institutions just don’t because they are not equipped to, but we truly meet students where they are,” Angion said. “If a student comes in and they are barely are a C-student, we embrace you. We provide the academic skills and support services to help you get to the point where you can be a college level student.” Angion said not only is the university known for its mission catered to student excellence, it also is known for its timeless buildings full of history. “Dinkins Hall is our main administrative building,” Angion said. “We have classes in this building on the second and third floor and we have a 400-seat auditorium in this building, and it is one of our buildings among several others that are under renovation.” Angion spoke about university’s other buildings like Pollard Hall, that will soon be a museum for the university which will feature a video conferencing center. Then, he spoke about the university’s science building that has been totally renovated with a new roof, a new paint job in the inside and out and he considers it “ready for use.” He also spoke about the university’s gymnasium and how it has a new roof as well, new doors and that it is a building that has more additions coming soon. “The cafeteria is also undergoing a full renovation,” Angion said. “We just put a brand-new roof on it as well and we are putting a whole new design in place for it soon for students to be able to have a nice environment to eat and relax. So, we’ve done a whole lot this year and over the last couple of years or so, we have spent over $ 4 million dollars for campus renovations.”