Selma Resilience Initiative
2026 Annual Report
Expanding Partnerships, Listening to Community Priorities, and Creating Opportunities
As we conclude the second year of the Selma Resilience Initiative, I am grateful for the community leaders, campus partners, students, faculty, staff, and supporters who have helped make this work possible. Your commitment continues to demonstrate the impact of meaningful, reciprocal partnerships between The University of Alabama and the Selma community.
The Selma Resilience Initiative was created to connect university resources with the leaders and changemakers of Selma, fostering partnerships that support the city's revitalization, preservation, and economic development. While honoring Selma's rich Civil Rights legacy and historic significance, we remain committed to investing in the people and organizations shaping its future.
Since stepping into the role of Community Outreach Coordinator in March, my focus has been on reaffirming The University of Alabama's presence in Selma as a trusted and reliable partner. This year, we continued investing in local entrepreneurs through our second annual Selma River Pitch Competition, awarding four $1,000 grants to help grow small businesses. In partnership with the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute and students from the Blackburn Institute, we also hosted the Entrepreneurship, Growth, & Strategy Certificate Program, equipping Selma entrepreneurs with practical tools, resources, and mentorship.
Our partnerships have also focused on strengthening Selma’s economic vitality and highlighting what makes the community special. Through a marketing course, Culverhouse students worked alongside six local organizations to develop pro-bono marketing strategies designed to support their continued growth and visibility. We have also collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce to enhance Selma’s visitor experience, including the launch of an interactive 3D downtown map highlighting historic landmarks and attractions. In partnership with local nonprofit ArtsRevive, we installed new signage for the Charlie Lucas “Tin Man” Studio, celebrating local artistry and encouraging visitors to explore historic Water Avenue.
Through Selma Ripple Trips, University of Alabama students, faculty, and staff partnered with community organizations on projects ranging from packing food boxes at the Selma Area Food Bank to preserving historic properties. These experiences allow participants to work alongside community partners while seeing Selma from a new perspective. We also welcomed students from Selma and Dallas County to our campus, helping them explore higher education opportunities and envision themselves continuing their educational journey at The University of Alabama.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding partnerships, listening to community priorities, and creating opportunities for collaboration that produce lasting impact. Thank you for your continued support of the Selma Resilience Initiative. Together, we are helping build a stronger future for Selma and the Alabama Black Belt.
Carly Bentley
Community Outreach Coordinator
Selma Resilience Initiative | Culverhouse College of Business
In the News
Blackburn Students, Support Selma
A group of five Blackburn Institute students partnered with the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute, the EDGE, and Selma Resilience Initiative to develop and deliver a one-day certificate program for small business owners.
Culverhouse Students Help Preserve History
Culverhouse College of Business students rolled up their sleeves and participated in a Selma Ripple Trip, part of the Selma Resilience Initiative. These regular events leverage student talents and energies to make tangible impacts.
Selma Resilience Initiative in Full Bloom
A team of Culverhouse faculty and staff members gathered on Friday, May 16 for a work day in Selma. Employees contribute their expertise to help local businesses — and roll up their sleeves — to make a visible difference.
VOLUNTEER POWER
115
Volunteers
A volunteer workforce of UA students, faculty, and staff provided 1,390 hours of service, with an estimated economic impact of over $50,000.
EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS
30+
Students
SRI coordinating visits to The University of Alabama for dozens of high school students from Dallas County where they toured campus and learned how to apply.
SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS
12
Certificates
SRI programming helped 12 individuals from Selma earn certificates in Entrepreneurship, Growth & Strategy from the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute.
“As the Selma Redevelopment Authority focuses on downtown revitalization and begins to implement the Selma Main Street program, it is most helpful to have the Selma Resilience Initiative as a supporting partner. Their assistance providing workshops for local entrepreneurs and using the Selma Ripple Trips to ensure successful downtown beautification efforts is invaluable.”
Sarah Aghedo with Selma Redevelopment Authority and Main Street Selma
Case Study:
Supporting local entrepreneurs in Selma
Earlier this year on March 12, aspiring and current entrepreneurs from Selma and Dallas County converged at the ArtsRevive space to participate in the second annual Selma Business Pitch Competition.
Four separate businesses won $1,000 to accelerate the growth of their operations:
Valerie Brown - Brown Sugar Sweet Treats
Lashun Langdon - Happiness Nutrition 27
Latanglia Dozier - BLOOM Girls Initiative
Kourtnie Nelson - Combat Cancer
Below, some of the awardees share how winning helped them scale their businesses:
Winning the River City Pitch Competition in March 2026 was more than a win for Brown Sugar Sweet Treats. The competition was a real learning and growth experience that helped me become a stronger and more confident business owner. The knowledge that was poured into me, the lessons I learned, and the opportunity to network and build relationships with other business owners have helped me think bigger and move my business forward with greater purpose. I am truly grateful to the Selma Resilience Initiative for believing in me, investing in my growth, and providing opportunities that continue to make a difference in both me and my business.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms. Carly Titus, Dr. Theresa Welbourne, panelists and each of the judges who took the time to listen, encourage, challenge, and believe in us as entrepreneurs. Your support went far beyond the pitch competition. Thank you for the pouring of knowledge and encouragement that we can carry forward as we continue building our businesses. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, the experience, and everyone who played a part in this journey.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Valerie Brown
Owner, Brown Sugar Sweet Treats
Winning the $1,000 pitch competition gave me more than financial support. It gave me greater confidence in the vision for Happiness Nutrition 27. The funds helped us invest in the business, expand our community impact, and continue creating a welcoming space focused on health and wellness.
Lashun Langdon
Owner, Happiness Nutrition 27
As we look toward the year ahead, we are filled with gratitude for the partnerships that have brought us this far and excitement for the new relationships still to come.
We are especially grateful for the UA students who dedicate their Fridays to serving Selma through our Ripple Trip series. Through their time and talents, they are helping make Selma a more vibrant, connected, and resilient community while experiencing the Alabama Black Belt and discovering the transformative power of service-learning.
In the year ahead, we look forward to expanding these opportunities and continuing to invest in Selma’s entrepreneurs and small businesses, including through the Selma River Pitch Competition and other programs designed to support local economic growth.
We cannot do this work alone.
The support of our alumni and donors makes it possible to sustain these programs, support community organizations, create meaningful opportunities for students, and strengthen our capacity to build lasting relationships throughout Selma.
Whether through financial support, mentorship, partnership, volunteering, or simply sharing our work with others, your involvement can help create opportunities that extend far beyond a single program or project.
Together, we can continue building a stronger, more connected, and resilient Selma, one partnership, one student, and one ripple at a time.
Reach out to get involved at crtitus@ua.edu.