The Greene County Democrat

Tag: BBCF

  • BBCF Greene County Community Associates hosts their first annual grantee showcase

    BBCF Greene County Community Associates hosts their first annual grantee showcase

    Greene County’s Black Belt Community Foundation Associates: Mr. Johnny
    Williams, Fatima Robinson, Mollie Rowe, Darlene Robinson, Nancy Cole,
    Johnnie Morning, Mollie Gaines, Geraldine Walton and Samantha Lenbetter
    By Maya Quinn, editor

    The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF)  Greene County Community Associates filled the Eutaw Activity Center’s main auditorium on Saturday, September 19th, to honor past and present grantees. Chairperson Darlene Robinson led the program, which featured a variety of Greene County organizations that used their grants to fund projects and build organizations committed to meeting the needs of Black Belt citizens. 

    A man in a suit speaking into a microphone at an event.
    Commissioner Elect Wesley Hodges describing how BBCF funded organizations such as the 21st Century Scholars impacted his life and the lives of others in Greene County

    Darlene Robinson began the program by allowing Mayor Corey Cockrell of Eutaw to extend his appreciation for the organization’s work, seen and unseen. “We’ve been doing this for 20 years,” Darlene explained. “Our goal every year is to fund more grantees.” The BBCF Greene County Community Associates hold various fundraising events throughout the year to have the ability to do so. Some funds are matched by the board, but the vast majority comes from cookouts, raffles, yard sales, and other creative ways to raise money.

    After a selection by the Greene County Mass Choir, BBCF Member Fatima Robinson addressed the crowd with a spoken word piece to describe what the foundation is and embodies. “We are the heart of Central Alabama,” she stated in one of the lines, and “We pour love back into our communities” in another. The work also described a desire for improved infrastructure and connection. The BBCF community associates have been continually working towards these goals by “putting resources where they are most needed.”

    A smiling man with glasses sitting next to framed certificates, wearing a blue plaid shirt, in a room with a light-colored brick wall.
    Terrance Fletcher from BOSS TIES LLC came to bless the program and attendees. He described how BOSS TIES prepares students for careers in agriculture and entreprenuership.

    Following Fatima’s piece, the grantees were each given the microphone to describe what they were able to accomplish with their grants. A menagerie of projects and businesses attended to give testament to what it means to be in the Black Belt community. Many dedicated themselves to teaching financial literacy, carpentry, agriculture, civics, volunteer firefighting, senior engagement, and more. The entire showcase  illustrated the foundation’s motto of “taking what we have, to make what we need.”

    A display board for Lower Gainesville Road Volunteer Fire Department featuring photographs of fire safety equipment, including helmets and hoses, along with a miniature fire truck and safety cones on a table.
    A smiling elderly woman wearing an orange t-shirt with 'Boligee Seniors' printed on it, sitting at a table decorated with yellow sunflowers in vases and a promotional flyer for the Boligee Senior Rail Experience.
    A woman standing by a display board celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Greene County Employees and the Federal Credit Union, wearing a black shirt with green text and a lotus design.
    A group of three individuals standing in front of a table with a blue tablecloth featuring the Eutaw Housing Authority logo. They are surrounded by informational materials about the organization and its initiatives related to health and community support.
    Display board for Boy Scouts Troop 945 from Macedonia CME Church featuring photos and information about troop activities, with a red and white tablecloth.
    A presentation board featuring the logo 'Release the Earth' in the center, surrounded by images of people working in agriculture, animals, and community engagement. The slogan 'Growing Food. Growing People.' is prominently displayed.
    A man stands beside a table featuring a banner for the 'Justice the Beaver' Criminal Justice Reform and Intervention Forum. The banner includes a cartoon beaver character in a superhero outfit, and the table displays informational materials.
    A man and a woman stand in front of an informational display featuring community programs, with text about 'Operation TBOC' and 'L&G Hope for All'. The man wears a black t-shirt with a religious message, while the woman wears a shirt with 'I Still Win'.
    A woman smiling beside a display board that reads 'MINISTRY' and 'PEOPLE' in bold letters, with printed documents and decorations on a table in a community event setting.
    Group of six individuals, including adults and children, posing in front of a display board at an event, with a table covered in black cloth.
    Two women sitting behind a table with a black tablecloth featuring the logo and services of Woman-to-Woman, Inc., including suicide prevention, diaper bank, GED program, fatherhood program, and computer lab.
    A woman in a black t-shirt with 'Greene County Community Association' printed on it, speaking into a microphone. She is standing beside a display board titled 'Baskets of Love' featuring images of gift baskets. In the background, other individuals are engaged in community activities.

  • Black Belt Community Foundation announces the 2026 Levitt Amp Selma Music Series

    Black Belt Community Foundation announces the 2026 Levitt Amp Selma Music Series

    Submitted by the Black Belt Community Foundation

    SELMA, AL— July 14, 2026: The countdown to an unforgettable season of free, live music under summer sunsets and into autumn evenings in historic Selma is officially underway. The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) announces the themes and calendar for 2026’s return of the Levitt AMP Selma Music Series.

    Beginning Saturday, July 25, the series will bring seven unique cultural experiences to Selma’s Riverfront Amphitheater. Families, friends, and neighbors from across the region are invited to bring their blankets, sunbrellas and lawn chairs to the amphitheater lawn to experience the transformational power of free, live music in bringing community together.

    Supported in large part by the Levitt Family Foundation, a social impact funder at the intersection of music, public space, and community building, the Levitt AMP Music Series program injects new life into public spaces through free, outdoor concerts across the country. The 2026 season marks an exciting new chapter for Selma, building on the success of past seasons to present professionally produced, immersive themed festival dates running through late October.

    “This season is about so much more than just the music on stage,” says Lydia Chatmon, TRHT Selma Director. “It’s about bringing people together, supporting our local business ecosystem, celebrating our rich cultural heritage, and showcasing the very best of downtown Selma.”

    Season of Immersive Themes:

    Instead of focusing purely on individual performers, the 2026 series is designed around seven planned experiences that offer something for every member of the family.

    • July 25 — The Inaugural Bridge City Jazz Festival: The season sets sail with an elegant, smooth- jazz atmosphere. Concert-goers are encouraged to come dressed in all-white attire for this premier opening night event.
    • August 8 — Joy Jamboree: A dedicated day of play, music, and smiles designed specifically for children and families, featuring bounce houses, face painting, games, and youth-oriented fun.
    • August 22 —

    Smoke in the City: BBQ & Blues Festival: Fire up the grill and claim your bragging rights! This date blends a competitive community barbecue atmosphere with a soulful soundtrack of regional blues.

    • September 12 — Classic Cars & Chrome: Cruise in for this celebration of sleek vintage automobiles and deep musical grooves, featuring a car show paired with the absolute best in classic R&B, Soul, and Funk.
    • September 26 —

    Gospel Fest: An uplifting community favorite that elevates local and regional voices, celebrating the profound spiritual and musical heritage of the Black Belt.

    • October 10 — Fiesta on the River!: A vibrant cultural celebration packed with high-energy Latin music, salsa beats, and a community taco-eating contest, so don’t forget the hot sauce.
    • October 24 — Southern Soul: The Grand Finale: The ultimate season closer, bringing the community together one last night to celebrate some funky soul, great food, and collective joy.

    Event Details & Vendor Info

    To satisfy every craving, a diverse rotation of local food trucks and vendors from across the region will be on-site for every event. The Levitt AMP Selma Music Series is held inside Selma’s Riverfront Amphitheater and surrounds, located at 3 Lawrence Street in Downtown Selma

    (directly across from the Evans Reception Hall). Admission to all events is completely free and open to the general public.

    Specific artist announcements, finite scheduling details, weather updates, and information regarding parking and wheelchair accessibility will be updated continuously. The public is highly encouraged to visit the official website at http://www.blackbeltfound.org and follow the Levitt AMP Selma Music Series on social media, including Facebook, for the most up-to-date schedule. The main FB page-“Levitt AMP Selma”- is found at https://www.facebook.com /LevittAMPSelma.

    In 2023, the Black Belt Community Foundation was named one of a select group of nonprofits across America to receive a Levitt Music Series grant from the Levitt Family Foundation to present free outdoor concerts. This ongoing initiative is made possible through vital local partnerships, including the City of Selma, the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation, and the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, all under the umbrella of BBCF’s TRHT Selma begun through a multi-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

    About Black Belt Community Foundation:

    The mission of the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is to forge a collective stream of giving that transforms our 12- county region in Alabama and connects those interested in having an impact in this region with nonprof- its that are making a difference today. Founded in 2004 with the idea that those living and working in the Black Belt best knew the area’s challenges and opportunities, the Black Belt Community Foundation actively puts needed resources into the region that make a lasting impact.

    The Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation initiative in Selma (TRHT Selma) is a core program of BBCF and serves as the lead programmatic organizer implementing the Levitt AMP Selma Music Series. TRHT Selma is a comprehensive, community-based process to plan for and bring about trans- formational, sustainable change while addressing the historic and contemporary effects of racism, all supported by a multi-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

     

    About Levitt Family Foundation:

    The Levitt AMP Selma Music Series is supported in part by the Levitt Family Foundation, which partners with changemakers and nonprofits to strengthen the social fabric of communities in America through free, live music in outdoor public spaces. Presenting high-caliber talent and a broad array of music genres and cultural programming, Levitt concerts are welcoming, inclusive destinations where people of all ages and backgrounds come together. In 2026, the Levitt Family Foundation is supporting over 900 free concerts in 90+ towns and cities across the country, bringing joy to over a million people. In addition to supporting free concerts, the Foundation is dedicated to advancing vibrant music ecosystems through partnerships, field-building initiatives, and research. levitt.org

    Featured image: Festival goer from the Levit AMP Selma Music Series 2025 (Black Belt Community Foundation)

  • Black Belt Community Foundation awards over $358,883.81 in community and arts grants

    Black Belt Community Foundation awards over $358,883.81 in community and arts grants

    by Barbara Amerson, Office Manager and Reporter

    Through this annual grant cycle, BBCF will award Arts Grants ranging from $500 to $3,500 and Community Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support com- munity-led projects across the foundation’s 12-county service area: Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox coun- ties in Alabama’s Black Belt region.

    The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) awarded $358,883.81 to 148 community grants and arts projects across its 12 county service area in the Alabama Black Belt Region, including Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox. The presentations were made at its 2025 Arts and Community Grant Ceremony held Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Wallace Community College Selma. “As we continue to celebrate BBCF’s 20th anniversary through May, the Black Belt Community Foundation is proud to award these funds in 148 different grants to community and arts organizations across the 12 counties we serve,” said BBCF President Chris Spencer.

    Community organization grant winners

    Greene County received 13 grants for community and arts projects, in the amount of $40,500.00 awarded to the following organizations:

    • 4realtho Foundation Greene County Human
    • Rights Commission “Justice” the Beaver (Criminal Justice Reform and Intervention)
    • Mount Pleasant Home Protection Society
    • First Responders Committee of Green County
    • Freedom Rock Church 
    • Boligee Senior Center Boss Ties, LLC 
    • Operations Taking Back Our Community (TBOC) 
    • Release the Earth United Purpose Inc 
    • Lower Gainesville Road Volunteer Fire Department 
    • Illogic Red Clay Collective
    • GCF & APA Imagine Me
    • Woman to Woman, Inc 

    The 2026 arts grants, including the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival and GCF & APA Imagine Me, totaled $14,000.

    Art grant winners

    Ms. Darlene Robinson,The BBCF board member representing Greene County, stated that each of the 12 counties has a group of volunteers, known as Community Associates, who raise funds for the Foundation, and these resources, which receive a percentage match from BBCF, are allocated in grants to the respective county. “We hold a lot of fundraising activities in Greene County, but that money can only be spent in Greene County through grants,” she said.

    These grants support projects that strengthen, uplift, and empower communities across Alabama’s Black Belt. “These grants are a key part of how we support community-led work across the Black Belt,” said Chris Spencer, President and CEO of the Black Belt Community Foundation. The 2026 grant cycle will conclude with an Arts and Community Grants Awards Ceremony on April 25, 2026, in Selma.

  • Black Belt Community Foundation Has Awarded $80,000 in Arts Grants to 27 Organizations Across 12 Black Belt Counties

    BBCF
    Twenty-seven nonprofit organizations from across the Black Belt region of Alabama were celebrated and received a helping hand this Saturday, April 29, 2017 in Selma, Alabama at the Black Belt Community Foundation’s (BBCF) 12th Black Belt Arts Initiative (BBAI) Grants Ceremony. The awards ceremony was heldat at the Selma-Dallas County Library, Selma, Alabama. In total, $80,000 was awarded to variety of area museums, community theatres, festivals, and youth organizations offering concentrated arts programs.
    Included below is a detailed list across of all grant awardees across the 12 counties.
    BBCF President Felecia Lucky stated:
    “Through these individual projects, it is anticipated that nearly 22,000 Black Belt residents will be inspired, affected, or touched in some way – whether by taking a local art class, by viewing a musical or theatrical performance, or by visiting a local folk arts festival. Seeing these folks come together, representing all 12 counties and celebrating their impactful, hard work while we honor them and help them to continue to be able to do it, is very inspiring on so many levels!”
    BBCF was established in 2004 to support community efforts in the Black Belt that contribute to the strength, innovation, and success of all the region’s people and communities. A partnership formed in 2006 with BBCF, the Youth & Cultural Committee of the Black Belt Action Commission, and the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA), which established the Black Belt Arts Initiative. The goals of this project are to work in partnership with local community based organizations to forge collaborations with local schools to advance arts education, to document and promote the region’s artistic assets, to assist arts organizations in becoming more efficient and effective and to Provide opportunities for citizens of the Black Belt region to be exposed to and participate in the arts
    Since 2006, $1,320,671 has been awarded through BBAI Arts Grants to support various arts activities across BBCF’s twelve-county service area. In total, BBCF has invested over $3.7 million from BBAI Arts, Community and other grants into regional nonprofits, based in and serving Alabama’s Black Belt.
    For more information on the Black Belt Arts Initiative, please visit http://www.blackbeltfound.org, or contact BBCF at (334) 874-1126 or HYPERLINK “mailto:info@blackbeltfound.org” info@blackbeltfound.org. All Media inquiries can be directed to DK Harris at 256.592.9153 or HYPERLINK “mailto:dharris887@aol.com” dharris887@aol.com.
    The Black Belt Arts Initiative has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment on the Arts.
    Bullock- Bullock County Black Belt Community Associates Festival- $3,000 – To support the Bullock County Black Belt Festival which brings performing and visual arts to the citizens of Bullock County
    Bullock County Social Justice Foundation – $3,000 – To support the expansion of Chilly’s Ice Cool Band by adding more instruments and equipment to accommodate the students who are on the waiting list for the band

    Choctaw – Choctaw County Public Library – $1,500 – To expand the arts education programming to include music and add more visual arts programming to the summer arts programs
    Dallas- ArtsRevive CDC – $2,950 – To support the fifth annual Tale Tellin’ in the Schools 2017 by placing storytellers in schools in Selma and Dallas County from October 23-27, 2017
    Black Belt African American Genealogical and Historical Society – $2,696 – To create a video presentation of the Pauline Dinkins Anderson Historical Photography Collection for Black History Month 2018.
    Orrville Volunteer Fire Department– $1,200 – To support the children’s art making activities and to help with stipends for demonstrating artists at the 15th West Dallas Antique Tractor, Car, Gas Engine and Craft Show

    Greene – Bottoms Up Diaper Bank – $1,655 – To support introducing art and literature through the use of picture books to help parents better engage with their children
    Greene County Children’s Policy Council – $3,000 – To support the “This is Myne” summer art camp which will provide four art classes in the visual arts to the mentoring programs of the Children’s Policy Council
    Imagine Me – $1,500 – To support the program “Imagine Me & You with Paint and Glue” which is a year-long project in the visual arts for the youth of Greene County sponsored by the Foster and Adoptive Parents Association.
    Society of Folk Arts and Culture – $3,000 – To support the artists who will be performing at the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival 2017

    Hale – Sawyerville Day Camp – $1,500 – To cover the cost of John Scalici’s drumming workshops, art instructors and art supplies for the Sawyerville Day Camp in Greensboro, Alabama

    Lowndes – Okra Festival – $3,000 – To support the annual Okra Festival that incorporates the arts, crafts, music and food, focusing on the vegetable okra

    Macon – George Washington Carver Commemorative Festival – $1,500 – To support stipends for the performing artists at the GW Carver Commemorative Festival 2017
    Too Good For Drugs – $3,000 – To support the To Good for Drugs Photo-Journalism program which teaches photography skills, creative writing and news coverage skills

    Marengo – Friends of Gaineswood – $1,500 -To support the traditional arts and crafts demonstrators at Heritage Day 2018
    The Sport and Art Society – $1,500 – To support the visual arts section of the S & A Community Initiative. The initiative will serve underprivileged individuals by providing and merging sports and visual arts opportunities

    Perry – Marion Perry County Library Association – $3,000 – To provide and promote educational training and enrichment and the perpetuation of traditional arts and crafts and performing arts during the Marion Perry County Public Library’s Camp Doodle

    Pickens County – Creative Minds Performing Arts – $3,000 – To support a year-long performing arts/theatre program for the students of Pickens County

    Sumter County– Coleman Center for the Arts – $3,000 – To support a one-week, all day interdisciplinary arts program for 25 kids between the ages of 8-18.
    Sumter County Fine Arts Council – $2,000 – To subsidize the cost of bringing a chamber ensemble of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for six daytime educational concerts and one evening chamber event to the residents of Sumter and the surrounding counties.
    Voices of Triumph – $3,000 – To support a five-day intergenerational visual arts camp that will create awareness and expose the participants of all ages to the many different visual arts mediums and styles

    Wilcox County – BAMA Kids – $3,000 – To support the arts and cultural activities during the BAMA Kids summer enrichment program
    Camden Community Youth Development Center – $3,000 – To support a six-week summer art camp consisting of music, drama and visual arts for at-risk youth
    Lily Baptist Community Center and Youth Development- $1,500 – To support a six-week summer arts program for Pre-K through 12th grade in the performing arts and the visual arts for the youth of Red Creek Community
    National Council of Negro Women – Wilcox Section – $3,000 -To support an African and Caribbean film festival that will showcase innovative African films by upcoming African filmmakers. This will be a partnership with AframSouth, Inc. to expand the Tuscaloosa African Film Festival to Wilcox County

    Arts Education Grants-
    Tuskegee Repertory Theatre – Macon County – $10,000 – To fund rehearsal and production two theatre pieces during the summer 2017 and the winter 2018 time period for audiences young and old.
    Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area – Sumter County- $10,000 – To fund the Children’s Patchwork History Project in Sumter County schools. The project integrates Black Belt cultural history and arts with math, science, and storytelling.
    The Black Belt Community Foundation’s mission is to forge a collective stream of giving that transforms a 12-county region and connecting those interested in having an impact in our area with the nonprofits that are making a difference today. Founded in 2005 with the idea that those living and working in the Black Belt best knew the area’s challenges and opportunities, the Black Belt Community Foundation actively puts needed resources into the region to make a lasting impact.

  • BBCF awards $60,000 in grants to Arts Programs throughout 12 Black Belt counties

    Greene Co.-Woman-To-Woman.jpg

    L to R: Rev. Christopher Spencer, Vassie Welbeck-Browne, Johnnie M. Knott, Mary Beck, Darlene Robinson, Felicia Lucky.
     Woman-To-Woman , Inc. recieved a $10,000 grant to support the project, “Pathway to Nurturing, Strengthening and Changing.”   Greene County youth will use drama, dance and poetry to increase academic achievement, improve self-esteem, and develop communication skills.  Through this project, students will use several art disciplines to improve academics and creativity by working with community partners and professional artists.

    Greene Co. Art Grantees-Greene Co. Alumnae

    L to R:  Felicia Lucky, Rev. Christopher Spencer Andrea  Perry, Darlene Robinson and Braxton Carlilse. Greene County Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta:  $2,000 to support the DST Café project which will expose the community to a combination of arts by presenting creative expressions in  performing, visual and literary arts.

    Greene Co.-Society of Arts & Culture

    L to R: Rev. Christopher Spencer, Felicia Lucky, Debra Eatman and Darlene Robinson. Society of Folk Arts and Culture:  $3,000 to support the 41st Black Belt Folk Roots Festival which celebrates the culture, traditions and folkways of the West Alabama Region.

     

     

    •Greene County
    receives $15,000
    in grant awards

    The Black Belt Community Foundation, located in Selma, Al, awarded $60,000 in grants to fund programs throughout 12 counties located in the Black Belt Region to bolster efforts in the art programs.  The awards were presented in a ceremony at the Hank Sanders Technology Center, Wallace Community College, Selma, AL, on Saturday, June 18, 2016, to recipients who gathered for a day of celebration and fellowship.  Greene County received $5,000 in arts grant support for art related programs and a $10,000 Arts Education Grant.  The total of grant awards for Greene County was $15,000.  “The Black Belt Community Foundation has awarded nearly $3.2 million in grants to our 12 counties since 2005,” said Felecia Lucky, President of the BBCF.  It is gratifying to see the organizations and community leaders who work hard every day to transform our region through the arts gather together and attend the ceremony, which is a vibrant celebration of our mission.”
    This past April, community led organizations located in Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox counties were welcomed to apply for grants to support the arts.  The BBCF awarded $60,000 in grants  to arts initiative project.