Alabama Politics in
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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

Senate Sketches # 1059

By

Senator Hank Sanders

*****

An extraordinary puzzle of struggle, creativity, and transformation was emerging before our very eyes. Each puzzle piece was powerful but their coming together one piece at a time intensified the power and the moment.

It was the Sixth Black Belt Community Foundation (Foundation) Grants Awards. When I walked into the room, I felt the hope, the determination, and the thankfulness all rolled into one powerful emotion. It filled the room and lifted me long before a single award was presented or a single word was spoken from the podium.

The moment was captured, framed, and distilled by a group song led by grassroots organizer Sy Cohn. The refrain, We Honor the Dreamers Who Work for Our Dreams, pulled us in, lifting us higher. It spoke personally to each person present because each is a dreamer working for our dreams.

The BBCF does not send its grant checks in the mail. Nor does it deliver the grant checks. Neither does it have recipients come by the Foundation to pick them up. Instead, it holds grant awards ceremonies where the people come together to celebrate the experience.

On this Saturday afternoon, each grant was presented individually. A spokesperson for each group had one minute to say something about the group and how the grant would help. Each group was a piece of the puzzle. Each story was a piece of the puzzle. Each grant was a piece of the puzzle. Each piece helped complete the puzzle’s vision of hope, determination and struggle.

Thirty-eight (38) grants, ranging from $750 to $3000, were presented. It was not a lot of money, but each grant was a symbol that said “Your struggles to make your community better is recognized, remembered, and rewarded.” Even a little money is such a powerful symbol.

Most recipients brought several persons from their group. Some brought lots of children, helping those gathered to span the age spectrum from the very young to the very old. Two visually impaired persons came. It was community gathered in hope, anticipation, reward, and celebration.

A portion of the power pervading the crowded room sprung from each person seeing and hearing others in similar struggle. The power grew as each spoke, placing their piece in the community puzzle.

The variety of initiatives from across the 12 Alabama Black Belt Counties was vast: tutoring students; lifting women; sharing community theatre; determining unknown ancestors; fostering adult literacy; educating foster and adoptive parents; improving a farmer’s market; supporting a community museum; teaching art; helping volunteer fire departments; assisting the blind; renovating community buildings; rebuilding old bicycles as gifts for children in the neighborhood; and so on.

The Black Belt Community Foundation operates on the belief that the community knows what it really needs. Therefore, there are no designated categories for grant applications. Groups apply for whatever they think the community needs as long as it is important enough for them to be already working on it. These grants support good works and good workers, not just good ideas.

Sometimes when we work to build our communities with little financial or other resources, we feel so alone. These grants awards illustrate in living color the vast number and variety of fellow strugglers. It also allows each to see other initiatives that could be pursued in their communities. The awards celebrations are powerful in so many ways.

Some have urged the Foundation to pursue more “transformative initiatives.” I beg to differ. To me, it cannot get more transformative than helping grassroots people take what they have to make what they need. With this approach, the work does not start with the grant; is not built around the grant; and will not stop when the grant ceases. The work goes on because it is a part of life. But it goes on with more hope, more determination, and more results.

Empowering grassroots folk transform people and communities. I am reminded of that African Proverb which says, “When enough spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” The grants awards bring lots of spider webs together in a real and powerful moment.

I left the grant awards feeling proud and assured. I am proud because “dreamers working for our dreams” from 38 groups scattered across 12 of the most challenged counties in Alabama are more motivated and determined. I am assured because I know that these “dreamers working for our dreams” are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg: there are lots more that we don’t see.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I handled various matters before attending a Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) meeting and subsequent Grants Awards Gathering. I talked with many persons related to the Foundation including the following: Felecia Jones; Dr. Carol P. Zippert; Julian Smith; George McMillan; and Ken Webb. I also talked with Selma Businessman Floyd Tolbert, Harry Wormley of Alabama Power, and Wallace College President Dr. James Mitchell. I worked into the night on various challenges including calling Erica Williams of BBCF during her struggle with death in the family.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School and Radio Education before traveling to Eutaw, AL to speak at the 11 o’clock services at St. Paul United Methodist Church. I traveled on to Biloxi Mississippi for a conference and participated in a gathering of shared conversation, food, etc. During and in between the events of the day, I talked with the following: Rev. Joseph Mason of St. Paul Church; James and Priscilla Mitchell; SCLC National Treasurer Spiver Gordon; Greene County Businessman Luther “Nat” Wynn; Senator Pat Lindsey; Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem; Donna Alexander of the Wholesale Beverage Association; Senator Lowell Barron; Senator Bobby Singleton; Senator E. B. McClain; Senator Roger Bedford; Representative Ken Guin; Representative Jack Page; Representative Mac Gipson; Sharon Wheeler of the President Pro Tem’s Office; Ray Crosby of the Legislative Reference Service (LRS); and Lobbyists Deborah and Jeff Miller.

Monday and Tuesday - I was still in Biloxi attending several convention gatherings and talking with various leaders. I participated in several Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) discussions with individuals as well as two (2) groups by phone. I worked on Sketches and talked with a number of leaders including the following: Senator Vivian Davis Figures; Senator Quinton Ross; Senator Myron Penn; Consultant Steve Raby; former ANSC president Barbara Pitts; ANSC Board Chair Dr. Carol P. Zippert; and Laureshia Bennett of ANSC.

Wednesday - I left Biloxi early and traveled to Selma where I did the following: attended the Alabama Partnership for Prescriptions Drugs (Partnership) event at the Dallas County Health Department in Selma and J. Paul Jones Hospital (Hospital) in Camden, Wilcox County. I returned to Selma to host the Radio Program Law Lessons before traveling to Greene County and back to Selma. I talked to the following: Ashvin Parikh of the Dallas County Health Department; Libby Kennedy of the Hospital; Byron Atchison of the Partnership; and George McDonald of Channel 8 News. I shared dinner with Fannie and Bobby McKenzie before a late night conference call with several senators. I worked into the night on various matters including community service grants, education bond, incentive funds, economic development, etc.

Thursday - I met separately with three groups of fire Chiefs from Dallas, Perry, Conecuh, Monroe, Lowndes, Marengo, Wilcox, Lowndes, Clarke, and Autauga Counties. I shared lunch with Ola Morrow and Erica Williams and served as a Team Selma panel member in a presentation to Leadership Dallas County. I worked on Community service Grants, education incentive funds, economic development, and talked with the following: Lorraine Capers of Selma; Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Josh Hayes of Tuscaloosa; and Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery. I traveled to Lowndes County where I shared dinner with the Lowndes County School Superintendent and board members. I returned to Selma to work into the night.

Friday - I worked on Sketches, the ANSC Convention, Community Service Grants, the free prescription drugs initiative, community development, and other issues. I talked to the following: Dr. Margaret Hardy of the Alabama State Employment Office; Wayne Vardaman of the Selma Centre of Commerce; State Treasurer Kay Ivey; Norris Green and Joyce Bigbee of the LFO; Gus Towns of Montgomery; Dr. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton; Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Ron Sparks; former State Representative William “Noopie” Cosby; Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery; Erica Williams of the Black Belt Community Foundation; Selma Postmaster James Howard; and Randy Wilhelm of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

EPILOGUE - Sometimes we look so hard for the big things that will make a difference we fail to recognize the difference an accumulation of small things can make. The BBCF is making a powerful difference by helping people take the little they have and make what the community needs.

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