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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 # 1071

By

Senator Hank Sanders

*********************************

“I am so proud of you. After three years, we still have great productivity, great commitment, great excitement.” Those were my heartfelt words at the end of last week’s Black Belt Action Commission (BBAC) meeting. And I meant every word.

I wish you could have shared this meeting and moment. The excitement, the determination, the accomplishments, the commitment were manifested in every report. In other meetings, a report is just a report. At BBAC meetings, a report is a moment of celebration. I celebrated. We celebrated.

BBAC is more than three years old. When we started under Governor Riley’s leadership, I was sure that the flood tide of energy would wane after one or two years, eventually slowing to a shadow of its former self. I was wrong, and I am indeed glad.

It is not just the passing of time that BBAC has weathered. It appeared that the Alabama Rural Action Commission (ARAC), Governor Riley’s new statewide effort inspired by BBAC, was the new focus for state leaders. In fact, for a moment it appeared that BBAC might be swallowed up by ARAC. It escaped by the skin of its teeth. It now continues to forge strongly ahead. I am so proud.

I had my own ideas about the enduring strength of BBAC. Still, I wanted to talk to others. I talked with four members if the BBAC Executive Committee. The essence of this Sketches is what I gleaned from our conversation.

One thing that continues to carry BBAC is the deep down commitment and dedication of its executive committee members. They really believe they are on a mission to transform the Alabama Black Belt. It shows in their attitude. It shows in their continuity of effort over the years. It shows in their daily work. One leader said, “I’m still here because I understand that it is up to us. We must take what we have and make what we need. We welcome other’s help but it is us who must do this.” That’s ownership.

Another thing is the vision. The vision is real. The 13 leaders are visionaries. They truly believe in transforming the Alabama Black Belt. They understand it is not a one year or two year or three year challenge. It is a life commitment because the life of our community is at stake. What is amazing is they have continued a hundred meter dash pace over this marathon of time.

During these three years, some people did take leave. However, others came in with equal or greater fire and commitment. So instead of waning, efforts were strengthened. Two examples are the Workforce Development Committee and Infrastructure. The passion of the new leaders was evident as they celebrated their reports. And they reported real work.

The Executive Committee members really decide, really act. It is not top down as are so many initiatives. There is no separation between responsibility and authority. Those who conceive and plan also act. Executive Committee members report but do not need approval to act.

We never got sidetracked by money. We devised solutions first and then sought resources to implement them. Therefore the solutions were real, not just what available resources would allow. It freed folk to be real in their mission as well as vision.

A strong willingness to collaborate with other entities and efforts makes a powerful difference. There is no competition. In initiative after initiative, collaboration has been a way of life. I help you, you help me, we help each other. The Alabama Black Belt is the better because BBAC members have no need to reinvent the wheel.

It is good that there are so many committees, 13 to be exact. Some would say that that is too many. I say it allowed leaders to be closer to their real passion. It also made room for lots more leaders to be involved.

These leaders also understand that every form of development is connected and therefore important. They seem to say, “My area if development is important but so is yours. Every area must move forward if any one area is to achieve excellence.” That kind of attitude makes a difference.

We as Co-Chairs of the Executive Committee may have helped a little bit. We helped insure that committee chairs were the central focus because they had the central responsibility. In short, we kept ourselves out of the way.

Sometimes there are intangible things we cannot quantify or qualify. It’s just there impacting the whole in recognizable but unexplainable ways. BBAC has those intangibles to go with all the other things. Frankly, I do not know what it is but I know it works. And that’s the most important thing to know.

Finally, it’s time to not just celebrate in BBAC meeting. It is time to celebrate with the community. When there is a victory, we must celebrate.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday – I was in Montgomery for the Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) Presidential Endorsement Convention. I facilitated one session with representatives of Presidential candidates presenting and answering questions. Leaders, including youth, also debated and discussed the issues. Barrack Obama was eventually endorsed. I talked to various leaders from across the state including the following: Former Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley; ANSC President Robert Avery; Roger Watts of Gadsden; Judy Cumbee of Auburn: former State Coordinator for the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) Jerome Gray; Congressman Artur Davis; Senator Vivian Davis Figures; and National Co-Chair of the Hillary Clinton Campaign Dr. T. Lane Brandt. I also participated in a press conference and returned to Selma where I got completely away from all work by watching college football games with a friend and fellow community leader.

Sunday – I did Radio Sunday with Dr. Margaret Hardy, Radio Education with Perry County School Superintendent John Heard, and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School before traveling to West Blocton for a funeral of a young man who died from senseless violence. I returned to Selma to handle various issues including communicating with the following: Morgan Lewis of Selma who was in the hospital; Senator Roger Smitherman; Dr. C. A Lett of Calvary Baptist Church; Dr. Joseph Lowery, President Emeritus of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); Barnette Hayes of Selma; Dr. Margaret Hardy of the State Employment Service; Dr. James Mitchell of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS); and Dr. John Johnson of Alabama Southern Community College.

Monday – I met over a 7:30 a.m. breakfast about the Selma Renaissance Commission Initiative. I then traveled to Marengo County where I talked with several leaders. I returned to Selma to work on various matters. Among those I talked to were the following: Senator Bobby Denton; Representative Yusuf Salaam; Patricia Lett of Monroe County; Senate President Pro Tem Chief of Staff Charley Grimsley; Laddi Jones of the Greene County Democrat; and Rev. John Mobley of Selma.

Tuesday – I talked to the following: Deborah Kennedy of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Margaret Gunter of ACHE; House Education Budget Chair Representative Richard Lindsey; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Senator Myron Penn; Senator Wendell Mitchell; and Senator Vivian Davis Figures. I traveled to Montgomery for a series of meetings including the following: Senate Democratic Caucus; President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem; and several senate leaders. I participated in a Senate Democratic Fundraiser before returning to Selma to go straight home.

Wednesday – I handled various matters before traveling to Lowndes County. I returned to Selma to host Law Lessons with Abina Billups and participate in several other meetings. I communicated with the following: Dr. Roberta Watts; former Supreme Court Justice John England; Selma Times Journal Reporter Victor Inge; and Senator Quinton Ross. I worked on various matters.

Thursday – I communicated with the following: Julian Smith of Alabama Power Company; Congressman Artur Davis; Ted Quant of New Orleans; BBAC Co-Chair Mayor Shelton Day of Thomasville; BBAC Co-Chair Margaret Bentley; Joyce Bigbee of LFO; and Audrey Mason of Wilcox County. I helped facilitate a BBAC meeting at Wallace Community College and shared lunch with Dr. Carol P. Zippert and Dr. James Mitchell after the meeting. I also participated in an ANSC conference call and attempted another conference call with several senators. I began working on Sketches and handled various on other matters.

Friday – I continued working on Sketches and met many challenges during this day. I talked with various leaders including J. L. Chestnut, Jr. of Selma and four leaders of the BBAC.

EPILOGUE – Sometimes we don’t know why something really works. However, we rarely can leave good enough alone. It is enough that it works. We must provide our own explanations. I am equally as guilty. In the end, I know that what really matters is that it works.

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