On Tuesday, March 24, the Smithsonian’s RI Director Andy Mink came to Selma to introduce the Smithsonian Rural Initiative to its residents and talk about the potential partnership in the community. | Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Tuesday, March 24, Smithsonian’s Rural Initiative Director Andy Mink came to Selma on the behalf of Arts Revive Director Becky Youngblood to speak with residents and community partners about the Smithsonian Institution and its efforts toward rural communities. Mink told the community that the presentation called “More than “Not Urban”: Serving People and Places in Rural Alabama” was for the city of Selma as whole, its citizens and its community leaders to sort of think about ways that the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. could really be an authentic partner. Mink told the history of the Smithsonian Institution and its foundation to give the Selma community a closer look at what the institute is and what it stands for. “So, the Smithsonian itself is nearly 180 years old,” Mink said. “It was founded with a gift from Britain. James Smithson gave his fortune to the United States to start the Smithsonian Institution, and his sole directions were to create an organization for the increase in diffusion of knowledge among men.” Mink said the same ideology that Smithson had for the Smithsonian Institute nearly two centuries ago is the same ideology that is embedded in and deep rooted in the spirit of the Institution and its work as we know it today. “One major misconception that I hear is that the Smithsonian is a single building, a single museum and that you come to Washington, D.C. and you walk into this single doorway and you have this singular experience in the U.S.,” Mink said. “But of course, the Smithsonian, instead, is a massive institution of 6,000 employees, of 21 museums of the National Zoo and 14 education and research centers. So, this facility itself is really globally known, recognized and massive. I say “massive” actually in the best possible use of that term right now and it is an organization with expertise in a wide variety. 7 million objects in our collection but only 1 percent are on the supply.” Mink continued by saying, “That I’ve been told and I have heard from historians who work at the Smithsonian that that’s only about 15 percent of objects and artifacts that make up the American story and all the rest of them are sitting in shoe boxes underneath your bed.” As Mink’s presentation went on, he showcased several artifacts and objects that the Smithsonian has to the public such as the desk that Thomas Jefferson carried until his death in 1825. “Then Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, then all of a sudden, this pile of wood becomes a much different shazam moment,” Mink said. “It becomes something that illustrates the birth of this country and of American Democracy and the ways that we imagine the community that we live in.” Speaking of communities, Mink went from the exploration of artifacts and objects that you could see in the Institution in D.C. to a much tighter view of scope, speaking about the effect the Institute has on rural and small-town communities. “We currently have three institutions in Alabama who are apart of our [ Smithsonian Affiliates Program],” Mink said. I think of it a little bit as a co-op, where you are a part of a membership, you have access to Smithsonian branding, Smithsonian resources, Smithsonian speakers and Smithsonian amplification.” Mink then gave examples of how the Smithsonian can be in Huntsville, Birmingham and Anniston, Alabama and he also spoke about a popular program that the Institution has called MOMS (Museum on Main Street). “For thirty some years, MOMS has been sending traveling exhibits to small towns all over the country that share exhibits that usually are six to 800 square feet. They are relatively small and my good friend Becky Nichols of the Selma and Dallas County Library hosted one of these in the past where the exhibit comes and spends maybe six weeks. There’s a big topic that all small towns can communicate around. It’s waterways, crossroads, its innovation and the idea isn’t necessarily to come and see an exhibit. The idea is to come and interact with the exhibit about where you are from, to be inspired, to talk to the people you are with about crossroads, that train you got stuck behind, to talk about innovation and the people that we are.” Mink went on to talk about the Smithsonian’s digital footprint and how the three-year rural initiative program came into effect to help smaller communities. “We receive about 30 million unique visitors every year,” Mink said. “These would be virtual speakers, webinars, instructional resources for teachers and different kinds of cohorts. We are always thinking of ways to expand our reach to the communities that we need to serve. But, this is where the rural initiative was initially conceived. This idea of being in every community and every classroom in America and how can the Smithsonian respond to the very unique characteristics of Rural America and not treat them as an afterthought and not sort of be unavailable because they are far away from Washington and the places that the Smithsonian sits." So, you may wonder how does Selma fit? Mink said through his presentation about the Smithsonian Rural Initiative and the examples provided through other smaller, rural cities that Selma could be a part of this initiative by first making the collaborative effort to work together with him and think about creative and meaningful ways to introduce the efforts of Smithsonian to Selma. “Let’s just start working together,” Mink said. "Earn each other’s trust, develop, contribute show up, not disappear.” So, number one, there are ways [ we can work together through] our shovel ready programs and I have shared some of them where we can start working in service of Selma almost immediately, through the library, school systems, through Mrs. Pitts, working with Mrs. Becky Youngblood in various ways.” Mink said there could be an arts and culture hub in Selma through the Smithsonian and through their shovel ready programs. He said they can immediately apply some of the things that they are doing in other smaller cities to Selma and become a part of its historic fabric. Mink also said another way that the Smithsonian could be involved in the frameworks of Selma is by being included in our events such as the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee, our local galas or just through the service of being a part of our programs that impact our youth, our public library and our rotary club. “Would you like us to speak to them,” Mink told the crowd. “Would you like us to be a part of a brand application, not to bring money to us, but to amplify and improve your energy? Mink said the last way that the institution could work with Selma is through one puzzling question of, “How can we make something up together and both bring our skills and our expertise in the development of making Selma better? At the end of the presentation, Mink opened the floor for more questions about the Smithsonian and its rural initiative and brainstorming efforts from guests for the potential partnership in Selma. For more information about the Smithsonian and its rural initiative, visit https://www.si.edu/education/rural-communities

On Monday, March 23, Mayor Johnny Moss, III highlighted several pillars of the city's progress during the State of the City Address held at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center. | The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information It’s been 100 days since Selma’s newest leader, Mayor Johnny Moss, III has been in office. On Monday, community members, city officials and employees of the City of Selma attended the state of the city address, awaiting remarks from Mayor Moss on the city’s progress. “This is not just a report,” Moss said. “This is a honest conversation about where we are, where we’ve been and where we are going as a city.” Moss said when he took office on Nov. 3 that him and team did not walk into a city that was not working but said it was a city that was working without structure. “Departments were working, but not always aligned,” Moss said. “Work was happening but not always tracked. Problems were being addressed, but not always resolved at the root and as we dug deeper, what became clear was this: good people were doing good work, but too often the work existed in silos. One department didn’t always know what the other was doing. Processes weren’t always documented and in many cases, success was depending on one person and not a system. “When knowledge lives in people instead of systems, you don’t have consistency. You have risk and we cannot build a future on risk.” Moss said the city operations had to be moved from “personality driven” to “system driven” and that it took a transition team that consisted of co-chairs and team members to make the city’s newest vision come to life. “These individuals gave their time, their expertise, and their honest perspective to help us understand where we are and because of their work, we are not guessing,” Moss said. “We are moving with clarity and that clarity led to action.” Moss said during his time so far in office that they have brought every department head together, not for any other meeting but to align their priorities. The four priorities Moss spoke about that he considers is crucial for the city are enhanced and accountable systems, visible improvements in the quality of life, the ability to strengthen public safety and trust and to continue the expansion of economic opportunity. Moss said with these four priorities in place, this is considered the first time that the city is moving in the same direction. The next pillar of Moss’s speech focused on the city’s systems and its finances. “Here’s the truth,” Moss said. “You cannot fix a city without fixing how it operates. When we took office, we knew that in order to move and settle forward, we had to build structure, build accountability and systems that work.” Moss said one of the most important steps that they are implementing right now is Open Gov. “This system will officially go live in October,” Moss said. “The work has already begun because implementing a system like Open Gov is not something you rush. It requires planning, training, data, organization and alignment across every department, and that’s exactly what we are doing now. We are preparing our departments, cleaning up our data, and building the internal structure needed so that when Open Gov goes live, it works.” Moss said when Open Gov is fully implemented, it will allow them to track revenue, expenditures in real time, monitor departmental budgets with greater accuracy and improve transparency for both leadership and the public while making more informed, data-driven decisions. “Because one of the biggest challenges cities face is not just revenue, its visibility and Open Gov changes that.” This system will work hand in hand with other changes we are making including strengthening internal financial processes, improving reporting standards and transitioning tax collections to the Alabama Department of Revenue. Because this is not just about one system. This is about building a complete financial infrastructure for the City of Selma. When Open Gov is fully implemented, we will have the ability to see what is coming into our city, what is being spent, and where adjustments need to be made and that means better decisions, better accountability and better results for our citizens.” Moss said that the new systems that they are implementing will allow the city to move from uncertainty to control. Moss also spoke about the city’s general fund and its budget. Currently, the city’s general fund is just under 21 million with approximately 10 million collected to date, according to Moss. “So that puts us at about 48 percent of our projected revenue, which means we are on pace,” Moss said. Our largest revenue drivers continue to be sales tax, business licenses and property taxes. But, here’s what we are focused on, not just maintaining revenue but growing it. Moss said one of the biggest structural changes that the city is making is transitioning to their department. “The state has stronger enforcement mechanisms, which means more accurate collections, more consistent reporting and less revenue falling through the cracks,” Moss said. “This is about making sure that Selma receives each dollar it is owed.” As the state of Address continued, Moss spoke to the public about several topics from the importance of businesses being licensed in the city of Selma to the focus of how the city plans to grow revenue in the right way. He also spoke about the importance of public safety. “Nothing matters more than the safety of our citizens,” Moss said. Since November, Moss said the fire department has seen real, measurable progress. He said the fire department has undergone a full operational restructure that has resulted in a 28 percent reduction in overtime, while still maintaining the coverage standards required to protect the city. “They have also hired six new personnel to strengthen their ability to respond and reduce the burden on existing staff and they have also taken the hard work of cleaning up the department’s finances, resolving over 40 outstanding purchase orders and debts, restoring accountability and credibility.” Moss said at the same time, the fire department has launched a new in service training program allowing firefighters to receive continued education while on duty, reducing costs and increasing readiness. Like the fire department, Moss also spoke on the Selma Police Department and his effort to work closely with the department to get them where they need to be. “This is an area where we all know there is still work to do and I’m not going to stand here and pretend otherwise, but I will say this, we have men and women in uniform who are showing up every day and doing a difficult job under difficult circumstances. They deserve to be supported. At the same time, we are focused on improving how we serve this community.” Moss said he is partnering with the Selma Police Department to strengthen staffing with new officers that are already added to the staff and will continue efforts to recruit and retain talent. “We are expanding community based strategies including neighborhood watch efforts and increasing engagement between police officers and residents. We are exploring new tools and technology like drone support for critical incidents to improve response and officer safety but more importantly, we are focused on building trust.” Moss said public safety is not just about enforcement but relationships, communication and ensuring that every citizen feels safe and heard. Moss also discussed the improvements of the city’s IT department and the various developments happening through the city’s parks and recreation department that he said would attract visitors and residents to fill up hotel rooms and restaurants around the city. He also spoke about the city’s public buildings and their functionality and how the public buildings department has made real progress by improving maintenance, responding faster to service requests and ensuring its facilities can support daily operations. He also highlighted the cemetery department, the Human Resources and Personnel department, the public works department and the planning and development department and its efforts in place to make Selma a better city. “Leadership is never a one person effort,”Moss said. "It takes a team and we are not where we want to be at but we are no longer where we are. We now have direction. We now have alignment and we are building the kind of system that will move this city forward.” For Mayor Moss's full state of the city address, visit the City of Selma’s Facebook page.

On Monday, The Selma Housing Authority Job Plus Program partnered with Complete 3 Tech Solutions and several neighboring businesses to kick off its 2nd annual community training bootcamp. | The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Monday, The Selma Housing Authority Jobs Plus Program partnered with a Birmingham-based computer support company called Complete 3 Tech Solutions to bring a free technology training to its residents, equipping them with the skills needed for today’s workforce. Through the C3TS program’s partnership, residents of the GWC community alongside the Felix Heights community could take advantage of the hands-on basic technology classes offered through a quick sign-up process held at the SHA’s Job Plus office at 414 Martin Luther King Street. The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information also attended the technology training to highlight and showcase the efforts of the SHA Job Plus Program and its partnership with C3TS. “Through our program, we offer three courses,” said C3TS Executive Director Chris White. “Technology 101: Computer Basics, Technology 102: Digital Skills for Work and Life and Technology 103: Workplace Technology and Career Readiness.” White said the classes can give residents who sign up an opportunity to learn more about technology and its benefits while ensuring that they have the foundational skills down pack. “[We want] to make residents feel good about working with a computer, laptop or a tablet,” White said. “Then from there, we build our customized tracks for you. So, if you want to learn how to utilize AI for certain things, we help you with that. If you want to go into computer programming, cyber security, graphic designing or whatever in the space within IT because it’s so broad, we can help you find out your interest level and we are able to customize a good service track for you so that you can get the certification that you need.” White said each course that the residents take will be set up for three weeks and that they will meet twice a week. “We will meet and have a morning class and afternoon class, and we will discuss materials for two hours in the morning or two hours in the afternoon,” White said. “Residents can choose either option and we will be in training for three weeks, then we will take a week off and come back for another three weeks and then we would have the week off again for the next one. These will be hands-on classes for the first area and after that we will set up the hybrid or remote classes that will be more specialized with what each individual resident is looking for.” White also said residents who are interested in the technology training program must be 18 years old or older. In addition to White’s technology program, businesses such as Wallace Community College Selma, CarePro Community Health and Education Services, and Rise and Recover: Substance Use Recovery Services including several others engaged with SHA residents, sharing information about their services and how they can benefit them in the long run. SHA intake coordinator Kewanda Vandiver also spoke to the residents as well. “I work along with the Jobs Plus Program, and we know that a part of their commitment to the community is to bring resources to the tenants of GWC and Felix heights and so one of the resources that I provide is being an intake coordinator with them,” Vandiver said. “When residents come to see the case manager, I also grab them, and I sit down with them and assess what’s going on in their life. I gather information from them and with that information, it gives me a snippet of if some things are going on in the background that we need to dig a little bit more deeper in.” Vandiver said if she senses areas of need when talking to the residents, she will provide them with self-care tips, ways to help them manage stages of grief including providing other ways of support any way she can through her business, Designed to Uplift. On Tuesday and Wednesday, The SHA Job Plus Program hosted presentation days for the participating businesses, allowing them to highlight their services to the SHA community. The sessions held also gave residents who attended the presentation days an opportunity to ask questions, receive in person guidance and have a possible brighter outlook on their future. Job Plus Director Sandra Russell said she is proud of how the partnership with Complete 3 Tech Solutions and the other participating businesses has turned out. “It has been awesome,” said Russell. “We have had a lot of residents come out to participate in the program and sign up. I think this partnership will help them down the road because our program helps break barriers that they may run into trying to gain employment.” Russell said if there are any residents who would like to still sign up for the technology program or learn more about the other businesses’ that were present at the presentation day to contact their Job Plus office at 334-874-6271, ext. 309.