Our Impact Areas
Honoring the past and building the future
At Foot Soldiers Park, we believe that positive change happens only when you harness the strength and unique value that everyone brings to the table. It’s the philosophy that underpins our work, defines our goals and drives our impact.
Driving impact through connection and community
Our work is interconnected, community-centered, and focused on transforming Selma into a beacon for change, resilience, and prosperity. By working to impact four key areas we are able to honor Selma’s powerful legacy while creating a path to a brighter future.
Building Wealth
From financial literacy to building wealth
Generations of institutional neglect and barriers have created a fragile economic foundation in Selma. The city’s historic role in advancing civil rights in this country stands in stark contrast to the hardships currently facing residents. Transforming Selma’s economy and future starts with investing in people today. We aim to build residents’ financial literacy, provide support to entrepreneurs, grow Black-owned businesses, and foster economic stability to help address needs and support prosperous futures.
Civil Rights in Action
Cultivating civic engagement and participation
At Foot Soldiers Park, we believe that resilient and economically thriving communities are built by residents who are well-informed about their civic roles, understand the workings of government, and actively participate in local democracy as a means to building a just and prosperous society.
In today’s rapidly shifting political climate, Alabama and many other states are passing increasingly restrictive voting laws, eroding Black residents’ trust in democratic principles and their ability to participate in the processes. We focus on the need to engage people of all ages, reignite their sense of self-determination and civic duty, and provide them with the tools to exercise and protect their rights.
Historic Preservation
Preserving Selma’s history and lessons
Selma, Alabama – known worldwide as “Ground Zero” for the 1965 voting rights marches – exemplifies both the significance and the vulnerability of Black historic sites. We prioritize historic preservation as the physical sites and personal stories of civil rights heroes face neglect and erasure. At the core of our work is providing immersive tours, collecting and preserving the stories of our civil rights heroes, educating youth and creating opportunities for Selma’s historical significance to serve as an engine for economic development and racial justice.
Youth Engagement
Building the bench of future leaders
Young people are the leaders of tomorrow and the change agents of today who will carry forward Selma’s legacy and shape bold new futures. Throughout history, youth have transformed ideas into action and fueled progress with their passion and courage to think big, just as our founder, Jo Ann Bland, was inspired to take action in the 1960s. We work to create the conditions for young emerging leaders to learn, explore and gain new skills by providing them with hands-on experience and tools that can prepare them to be the next generation of civic, economic, and cultural leaders and powerful advocates for community well-being.
Foot Soldiers Park is at the intersection of history, art, health, economic development, and housing affordability. This is a very unique model that has potential to go way beyond Selma.
Foot Soldiers Park Funder
Our year in impact, from the ballot box to the classroom
Explore our 2025 impact report Step by Step, Building Power and Resilience and all the milestones that we achieved together with our community and supporters. Read about how we increased voter turnout, built a bench of trained civic and community leaders in Selma, launched a new financial literacy program for youth, and raised Selma’s profile as a vibrant and evolving center for creative expression.
2021 – 2024 Impact Report: Step By Step, Carrying The Legacy Of The Civil Rights Movement Forward
Let’s march together towards a better future
Invest in Foot Soldiers Park as we revitalize the city of Selma and seed the next generation of civil rights leaders.