Greene County Democrat

Tag: Black Belt Community Foundation

  • Unity In The Community

     

    On Monday, November 24, 2025 a cooperative effort between the Black Belt Community Foundation, ASAC Farmers, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Greene Count HealthCare System Foundation, and Woman To Woman, Inc. provided bags of groceries along with fresh collard greens to citizens of Greene County. Many homes and families were served. The aim was to provide meals and reduce food insecurity during the holiday season.
    The Chief of Police, Reverend Kendrick Howell, and his department, provided police protection to ensure a smooth traffic flow and helped to reduce congestion.
    The volunteers shown above (Left to Right) Shelia Daniels, Darlene Robinson, Johnnie Knott, Calvin Knott, Mary McInnis, Terrance Bell, Pinna Hines, Barbara Carpenter, and Judy Spree. Not shown Bernice Barnes, Bessie “Bone” Davis, Willie Mae Davis, Annie Gaines, and Geraldine Walton.

  • Felecia Lucky to depart 
Black Belt Community Foundation

    Felecia Lucky  and Christopher Spencer

    Board unanimously appoints Chief Community Engagement Officer 
Christopher Spencer as new CEO and President

    (June 10, 2025) SELMA, AL— Black Belt Community Foundation today announced founding Chief Executive Officer and President Felecia Lucky plans to step down from her role, effective September 30, 2025.

    The board has unanimously appointed Black Belt native Christopher Spencer, the foundation’s Chief Community Engagement Officer, to succeed Lucky.

    Lucky, who has led the foundation throughout its entire 21-year history, is leaving to become President and CEO at the F.B. Heron Foundation.

    “Felecia has been a visionary leader and a tireless champion for the Black Belt,” said Kennard Randolph, chairman of the foundation’s board. “Over the past two-plus decades, she has put our community at the front and center — making sure every decision is made with the input and guidance of the people of the Black Belt. She has built an extraordinary organization and we wish her nothing but the best as she moves into this next chapter.”

    Under Lucky’s leadership, BBCF has become a powerful force for change in one of the nation’s most economically challenged regions through strategic investments and innovative community-led initiatives.

    During her tenure, BBCF has deployed nearly $100 million into the Black Belt through partnerships with more than 200 regional nonprofit organizations throughout the Black Belt and with the guidance of 150 Community Associates.

    The foundation has also formed partnerships with some of the nation’s leading philanthropic and academic institutions — including the Ford Foundation; Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation; F.B. Heron Foundation; Alabama Power Foundation; the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation initiative; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; NOVO Foundation; The Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation; Black Voters Matter Fund; The Educational Foundation of America; Wellspring Philanthropic Fund; Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; The Daniel Foundation of Alabama; The Regions Foundation; Protective Life Foundation; Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation; U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities; Trust for Civic Life; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama; HOPE Enterprise Corporation/HOPE Credit Union; Office of Head Start; the Alabama State Council on the Arts; the University of Alabama; the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Auburn University; and Tuskegee University.

    “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve BBCF and the Black Belt. Together, we’ve built something special,” Lucky said. “The decision to leave is a difficult and emotional one, yet I feel this new opportunity is my next calling. Heron shares our commitment to supporting communities in shaping their own future. That’s exactly what we’ve done in the Black Belt and it will be an honor to continue this work at a national level.”

    Spencer, a native of Bellamy, began working with BBCF more than 20 years ago as a Community Associate and has spent his adult life serving his country and his community. He was awarded the prestigious Gen. Douglas McArthur Leadership Award as an Army officer during Operation Desert Storm and is Pastor of the St. Matthew-Weston Missionary Baptist Church of Boligee.

    Before joining BBCF, he worked in education at the Sumter County Board of Education and as Director for Resource Development for Community Engagement at the University of Alabama. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Sumter County Commission and was recently appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey as a Trustee for Alabama State University.

    He’ll assume his new role with BBCF on October 1, 2025.

    “The strength of this organization is its people. I don’t know of another community foundation that works the way we work — guided by the voice of the people in our community,” Spencer said. “Felecia and our board have built and nurtured this culture. As I move into this role, we’re going to continue to nurture the seed that’s been planted so we can continue to support and empower the Black Belt.”

    About Black Belt Community Foundation
    Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) serves 12 counties of the Alabama Black Belt — dedicated to improving the quality of life in the region through education, the arts, economic development, housing, health and wellness and community engagement. Since its founding, BBCF has awarded millions in grants and scholarships to support local initiatives and empower future leaders.

  • Part of 20th anniversary celebration Black Belt Community Foundation moves to new office in Selma

    On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the Board, staff, and supporters of the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) moved from their previous office  to dedicate their new office at 410 Church Street in Selma, Alabama. The move, ribbon cutting, office tours, and street festival were all part of the foundation’s year-long 20th anniversary celebration.

    The move from the 609 Lauderdale Street office to the new office, which is owned and has been renovated by BBCF was accomplished in a parade of the staff and leadership of the community foundation. They were accompanied by the Selma High School Band and Cheerleaders.

    Felicia Lucky, BBCF President of the foundation, serving 12 counties that cut across the central part of the.” state, welcomed the crowd. They were assembled in a tent in the blocked off street in front of the new office. There were food trucks, a bounce-house and other games in the blocks of Church Street closed for the occasion. Lucky said, “People and communities are the central focus of our foundation and its activities. This new building will help us to accomplish our mission and better serve the community.

    A proclamation was read from Alabama Governor Kay Ivey designating May 1 as Black Belt Community Foundation Day in Alabama.

    Dr. Carol P. Zippert, founding Board chair of the foundation, was invited to make remarks. She said, “I am glad to be here to tell the story of the BBCF. We must always be ready to tell our own story.

    “We, the 16 members of the organizing committee and first board, went through months of discussion and planning in 2003 and 2004 to develop the name, mission, logo, slogan, and plans for our own foundation. We went to visit each of the 12 counties, asking people about their assets and strengths, not their problems and deficiencies. We wanted to start our community foundation to build philanthropy from the grassroots, recognizing our community needs and ways the community could work together to fulfill those needs. After twenty years of work, we have begun to realize the promise and work of our community foundation.”

    Former State Senator Hank Sanders, a Selma attorney, who was part of the formation of the foundation said that work on developing a foundation had begun for five years before the formal incorporation of BBCF. The idea for a community foundation came out of discussions of a “Selma Collaborative” which was an alliance of social justice non-profits in Selma and surrounding counties.

    “Carol Zippert, who was serving on the Board of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, had visited with community foundations across the country, brought the idea to the Selma Collaborative, as a way to raise and assemble funding for community groups. Then we were contacted by Dr. David Wilson of Auburn and Julian Smith of the Alabama Power Company, who were also looking into the possibility of a community foundation to serve the Alabama Black Belt counties,” said Sanders.

    “Our group in Selma, already had incorporated the BBCF Inc. to be a community foundation. We changed the name by dropping the Inc. and the BBCF was born and has moved forward ever since,” said Sanders. He also explained that the motto of the foundation, “Taking what we have, to make what we need”, came from a saying from his mother, who used it to encourage her large family of 13 children, when things got hard.

    George McMillan, a former Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, who was an original BBCF Board member also attended and spoke. “We had days and days of meetings to work out the details and plans of BBCF. One thing that we can all be very proud of is our foundation in ‘community associates’ which guide and advise the foundation in every county, help to raise money, and serve as points of contact for people to communicate with the foundation. This is a unique element of BBCF’s structure and operations that other groups wishing to start community foundation have studied and tried to copy,” said McMillan.

    Felicia Lucky introduced the current Board of Directors, the staff including Headstart Staff, Community Associates, and other supporters in attendance. She gave a check for $1,000 to the Selma High School Band Director for their participation and invited various ministers to give dedicatory prayers for the dedication. Then current and past board members
    Assembled to officially cut a ribbon to open the new office.

    Persons interested in learning more about, or to donate to, the Black Belt Community Foundation, may contact the BBCF at 410 Church Street in Selma, Alabama 36702; or by going online to their website at: blackbeltfound.org, or calling 334-874-1126.

  • Mark Your Calendars

    Preparing for the 49th annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival

    By Carol Prejean Zippert

    Just four months before the annual community celebration of the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, scheduled for August 24 -25, 2024 on the Thomas Gilmore Courthouse Square in Eutaw, and phone calls, texts, emails, and other contacts are pouring in with the perennial question: We’re having the Festival this year, right? The inquiries are more a declaration than a question. So, yes community, we are preparing for the 49th Black Belt Folk Roots Festival.
    The festival was organized in 1975 to pay tribute to those persons recognized as bearers of the folkway, traditions and culture of the West Alabama Region, exemplified through their creations in craft, music, dance, storytelling and foodways. Recently, in observance of National Small Business Week, Representative Terri Sewell toured small businesses in her 7th Congressional District, stopping for lunch at Travis Chicago Style, a locally owned food truck in Birmingham known for their Polish Sausage and Bear Burgers. Travis Holmes is a regular at the annual festival. During the two-day festival activities, the line of folk eager for his delicacies is unending, continuing long after the day’s programs are closed down.
    Many of the festival’s founding elders, the bearers of the culture, have transitioned, signaling a greater need to preserve the stories of struggle, perseverance and the joy shared in How we made it over. Saturday’s Ole Timey Blues recounts hardship and pain. Sunday’s Ole Timey Gospel lifts the spirit in the joy of faith and hope. The grateful music is accented by the colorful crafts that adorn the grounds as well.
    There are fewer quilts, baskets and other traditional crafts of the earlier years, but the young folk come with their own brand of “handmade.” They bring a variety of handcrafted jewelry and other adornments; home made soaps in exotic scents but with useful purposes. They bring art works depicting their views of the world, or just living in a day. They offer decorative items to cheer a body and a home. But the young crafters come and claim the festival in their own ways.
    Belt Folk Roots Festival will again feature the Kid’s Tent with hands-on art workshops. The Kid’s Tent is a special adventure for children at the festival.  They don’t have to do “grown folk stuff.” They have their own piece of the celebration.  Various art supplies are provided for the children to work at their own creations, which they can keep.  The Kid’s Tent also offers pottery making, face painting and games.
    There are costs in producing the festival and we are grateful for the contributors who value the festival, including the Alabama Tourism Department, Alabama Power Foundation, Black Belt Community Foundation, grants from Legislators, other non-profits and local merchants. We appreciate the support of local and county government.
    This festival in unique in that there is no admission charge, simply because it is a community celebration. It would be like charging your family a fee to come home for Thanksgiving. The festival brings people together because they need and desire to be together.
    So, yes community, we are preparing for the 49th annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival.

  • Eutaw City Council urged by Fiscal Advisor to increase water and sewer rates

    At its regular meeting on March 26, 2024, the Eutaw City Council was presented with financial reports, by Ralph Liverman, Fiscal Advisor on several of its funds including the General Fund, Sewer and Water Funds, 3 Cent and 7 Cent Gas Tax Funds. These reports were for the first five months of the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2023, until the end of February.

    In his report, Liverman pointed out that both the Water and Sewer funds were running a deficit each month of the fiscal year. The city’s Water Fund had revenues of $283,399.14 with expenditures of $363,128.88, for a deficit of $60,004.72 for the five-month period. The Sewer Fund had revenues of $94,133.56 and expenditures of $178,569.62, for a deficit of $84,436.06 for the five months.

    In his accompanying report, Liverman said, “The Council must raise both water and sewer rates and do it sooner rather than later! Current collections will not support your present expenditures and debt repayments to USDA Rural Development on loans to improve the system. He also urged a review of personnel, overtime, and other expenditures, looking for ways to cut expenses in this department.

    Liverman also indicated that the City Water and Sewer Department needed to negotiate new rates with the Consolidated Catfish Plant, which had been receiving a special incentive rate since it opened 25 years ago.

    Liverman said in the past, funds from electronic bingo were used to cover the Water and Sewer deficits, but the city was no longer receiving bingo distributions from the Sheriff of Greene County, to handle these and other expenses.

    CPA Rick Harbin, the City’s auditor, also pointed out in a previous meeting, when reviewing the city’s audit report and finances, that an increase in water and sewage rates was needed.

    The current rate for water, for residential customers in Eutaw is: $14.41 for the first 2,000 gallons and $5.39 for each additional 1,000 gallons. The sewer rate is $8.59 for the first 2,000 gallons and $1.55 for each additional 1,000 gallons. There are higher rates for small business and commercial customers.

    Sarah Levelle, Chief Water Clerk stated, “We have had some rate studies by different agencies, recommending increases. We have not increased water and sewer rates since 2015 but the cost of all our supplies and workers has increased.”

    The Council deferred action on water and sewer rates until its next working session where they could discuss the issue in more detail.

    Liverman also recommended close attention to expenditures in the city’s General Fund, especially for street repairs and for the use of city owned facilities such as the R. H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver school) and the National Guard Armory. He said rental for the use of these facilities was not covering expenditures. He recommended closing one or both facilities. Earlier in the meeting, the Council had tabled a proposal for establishing rental rates at the R. H. Young Community Center, until the next scheduled work session.

    The Council approved a resolution declaring ‘Tony Rice Day’ for April 25, 2024, the one-year anniversary of Rice’s untimely death in an accident, while working to repair a water main in Branch Heights. The Mayor also honored Dr. Sandrall Hullett, former medical director of West Alabama Health Services and the Greene County Health System, with a moment of silence on her passing.

    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Scheduled a Council Work Session for April 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM at City Hall.
    • Approved a loan of $5,000 to the Eutaw Chamber of Commerce for painting a mural, with repayment from reimbursable state grant funds, which can only be received after an invoice is presented for work completed.
    • Approved use of meeting space, at no cost, for a meeting on March 28, 2024, of the Black Belt Community Foundation, Greene County Associates, at R. H. Young Community Center. The meeting was to explain the availability of Arts and Community Grants by the foundation.
    • Approved closing City Hall for a holiday on Good Friday, March 29, 2024.
    • Approved payment of bills.

  • 48th Annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival scheduled for August


    Blues musician Clarence Davis, Union Alabama, is one of founding folk artists of the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival; Ms.Vera Spencer cooking skins; Ms.Odessa Rice with crafts and
    Mrs. Claretha and Mr. James Gaines, Sr. singing old timey gospel.

    It’s that special time of year again and the excitement is escalating. The 48th annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is coming to town on Saturday, August 26 and Sunday August 27, 2023. This community celebration is held on the old courthouse square in Eutaw, AL, (Greene County). The festival features down home blues music, old timey gospel, traditional foods, handmade crafts and special events for the young people.
    All this and more is happening at the annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, an event that celebrates culture and traditions.
    Saturday’s events are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Ole Timey Blues and dancing featuring musicians Clarence Davis, Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Jock Webb, Lil Lee and the Midnight Blues Band, Willie Halbert and the Fingerprint Band, Lendell Peebles and the Grapevine, Scott Percer and the Roadhouse Blues Band, Lemon Harper, Russell Gulley on guitar and others.
    The handmade crafts available at the festival are traditional quilts and other needle works; baskets from white oak, pine needles and corn shucks, handmade soaps, candles and scents, handmade jewelry and other decorative items.
    The assortments of down-home foods include, barbecue, fried fish, chicken and pork skins, Polish sausage and Bear Burgers, ice cream, cakes and pies; snow cones, Italian ice, popcorn, freshly squeezed lemonade and more.
    Saturday’s festivities will also sponsor a Kids Tent, with complimentary hands-on art activities for the children. Special features will include pottery making and African drumming.
    Ole Timey Gospel is reserved for Sunday’s festival beginning at 2:00 p.m. and featuring the The Melody Kings, The Mississippi Traveling Stars, The Golden Gates, New Generation Men of Promise, Greene County Mass Choir, The American Travelers, Maxine Donald and the Chosen Ones, soloist Ms. Eddie Mae Brown and many others.
    “The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is homecoming time in the region. Many families, class reunions and social clubs plan their annual activities to coincide with the festival’s schedule,” stated Dr. Carol P. Zippert, festival coordinator. “The festival brings together musicians, craftspersons, storytellers, food specialists, community workers – all who are considered bearers of the traditions and folkways of the West Alabama region. This is a festival where people truly celebrate themselves – their joys and struggles and especially ‘how we made it over,’” Zippert states.
    According to Dr. Zippert, the two day festival is open to the public free of charge. The hours are Saturday, August 26, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Sunday August 27, 2:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
    The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is supported in part by the Alabama Department of Tourism, Black Belt Community Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation and other contributors.
    The festival is produced by the Society of Folk Arts & Culture. For more information contact Carol P. Zippert at 205-372-0525; Email: zippert.carol79@gmail.com

  • Annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, time for reunions, good food and music

    IMG_1098IMG_1127.JPG

    Lemon Harper of Sumter County shows off his dance routine at Annual Festival.  and John Kennedy Byrd prepares his famous Barbecue ribs at annual festival

    Where else can you smile and sway to ole timey blues, enjoy the delicacies of right-off-the grill barbecue and polish sausages, feast on freshly cooked country dinners with assorted pies and cakes and then top it all off with hand churned homemade ice cream.
    All this and more is happening at the annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday August 26 on the Old Courthouse Square in Eutaw, AL.
    The festival features down home blues music, old timey gospel, traditional foods, handmade crafts. Saturday’s events are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Ole Timey Blues and dancing featuring musicians Clarence Davis, The Liberators, Jock Webb, Davey Williams, Russell Gulley, Terry “Harmonica” Bean, and others.
    The handmade crafts available at the festival are traditional quilts and other needle works; baskets from white oak, pine needles and corn shucks. The assortments of down-home foods include soul food dinners, barbecue, fried fish, chicken and skins, homemade ice cream, cakes and pies; snow cones, Italian ice, and more.
    Ole Timey Gospel is reserved for Sunday’s festival beginning at 2:00 p.m. and featuring the
    The Echo Juniors, The Melody Kings, The Mississippi Traveling Stars, The Golden Gates, New Generation Men of Promise, Greene County Mass Choir, Glory Gospel Group, Angels of Faith, The American Gospel Singers and many others.

    “The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is home coming time in the region. Many families, class reunions and social clubs plan their annual activities to coincide with the festival’s schedule,” stated Dr. Carol P. Zippert, festival coordinator. “The festival brings together musicians, craftspersons, storytellers, food specialists, community workers – all who are considered bearers of the traditions and folkways of the West Alabama region,” she explained. “This is a festival where people truly celebrate themselves – their joys and struggles and especially ‘How we made it over,’” Zippert states.
    According to Dr. Zippert, the two day festival is open to the public free of charge. The hours are Saturday, August 25, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Sunday August 26, 2:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
    The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is supported in part by the Black Belt Community Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Alabama Department of Tourism and other local contributors.
    The festival is produced by the Society of Folk Arts & Culture.
    There is no admission fee for the Festival events.
    For more information contact Carol P. Zippert at 205-372-0525;
    Email: carolxzippert@aol.com

  • Black Belt Community Foundation announces 2017 Arts Grant Cycle

    bbcf-logo

    SELMA, AL: The Black Belt Community Foundation recently announced its 2017 Arts Grant Cycle. Community-based organizations from Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox Counties are encouraged to apply.
    The BBCF seeks to support organizations who engage citizens in the Black Belt region in the arts. The 2017 Arts Grant Cycle will support projects addressing the arts in these categories: arts education programming, arts exposure programming and arts professional development.
    The BBCF will offer funding in two ways:
    • Small grants pool with funding up to $3,000 will cover arts education programming, arts exposure programming and arts professional development.
    • Larger grants with funding up to $10,000 will cover arts education programming only.

    The BBCF will be hosting six grant seeking workshops for the organizations who are interested in applying for a 2017 Arts Grant. Attendance at one of the workshops is mandatory in order to be considered for a 2017 Arts Grant. The Grant seeking workshops will be held at the following locations:

    • University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL. on Saturday, February 11th from 10 am to 12 pm
    • BBCF office in Selma on Wednesday, February 15th from 10 am to 12 pm
    • BBCF office in Selma on Thursday, February 16th from 6 pm to 8 pm
    • Black Belt Treasures, Camden, AL on Friday, February 17th from 10 am to 12 pm
    • Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Center, Tuskegee, AL. on
    Saturday, February 18th from 2 pm to 4 pm

    • BBCF office in Selma on Saturday, February 25th from 10 am to 12 pm

    Please contact Jo Taylor at 334-874-1126 or jtaylor@blackbeltfound,org for more information about the workshops. Applications will be available by request, at the workshops and through the Black Belt Community Foundation’s website: http://www.blackbeltfound.org

    Applicants are encouraged to email completed applications to 2017artsgrants@blackbeltfound.org. or jtaylor@blackbeltfound.org.

    Grant Applications are due before 4:30 PM on Friday, March 3, 2017. These grants are made possible by the generous support of The Alabama State Council on the Arts
    As BBCF is a tax-exempt organization (ID 63-1270745) under the 501(c) (3) code of the IRS, your gift is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution to the fullest extent allowed by the law. In compliance with federal tax laws, we acknowledge that no goods or services have been received in return for your gift.