Building Wealth
Building wealth through the power of partnership
Transforming Selma’s economy and future starts with investing in people today. We aim to build residents’ financial literacy, foster entrepreneurship, grow Black-owned businesses, and foster economic stability to help address needs and support prosperous futures.
Working to transform harsh realities
Generations of institutional neglect and barriers have created a fragile economic foundation in Selma. The city’s historic role in advancing civil rights stands in stark contrast to the hardships facing residents today:
41% of residents live below the poverty line
30% of residents experience food insecurity
Only 20% of residents have earned a Bachelor’s degree
Only 15% of businesses in Dallas County are minority-owned
46% homeownership rate in Selma, compared to 65% nationally
$27,000 is the median annual income for Black families, compared to $66,000 in Alabama
The time is now to work together and co-create solutions that reflect Selma’s potential to become a place where history fuels economic development and Black ingenuity, hard work and perseverance builds cross-generational wealth.
Our Vision
Creating the path from survival to prosperity
At Foot Soldiers Park, we envision a Selma where individuals and families move successfully from survival to stability to prosperity.
We invest directly in Selma’s residents and partner with them and others to build a strong economy. We believe in the transformative power of partnership and the strength that comes when members of the community lead the way.
To achieve this vision, we:
- Foster Financial Stability: Healthy financial habits, financial literacy and access to support can lead to informed decisions about earning, saving, and investment. We provide financial education for youth and adults, building a stable foundation for generational wealth – helping families move from crisis management to homeownership, financial stability, startups and intentional investment in their futures.
- Cultivate Black Entrepreneurship: We foster entrepreneurship and support residents in envisioning, launching and sustaining small businesses that fuel local markets, create jobs, grow wealth and help build long-term economic mobility.
- Build Trusted Partnerships: Collaborations with financial institutions, advisors, and professional associations can provide expert insights and open doors. We facilitate connections and provide Selma’s residents with a larger network of educators, startups, organizations and business leaders, bridging longstanding gaps in access to capital, resources and mentorship.
- Close Skills Gaps: We work to disrupt multigenerational cycles of poverty by tracking needs and progress, and creating opportunities for residents to gain relevant skills and move from training into stable employment – making Selma an attractive place for investment and economic development.
- Transform Narratives: Our community-centered model prioritizes people over institutions. We disrupt negative narratives of marginalization by using data and telling powerful stories of progress – empowering residents to gain cultural and social autonomy as equal participants in Selma’s economy and democracy at large.
Our approach
Community-driven and rooted in partnerships
Our approach to building multigenerational wealth is rooted in community empowerment, financial education, and meaningful access to tools, partnerships and opportunities. We believe that sustainable economic growth begins by equipping people with knowledge, tools, confidence and access to support.
Our programs
Building the foundation for long-term, sustainable progress
The programs in our Building Wealth impact area are centered around learning, collaborating and increasing the financial literacy and economic stability of Selma’s residents by providing educational opportunities, tools, resources, and creating community-led initiatives designed to promote engagement and healthy financial habits – ultimately transforming disparities into multi-generational wealth.
Community Resource Center
The Community Resource Center is a free online resource for Selma residents that connects people to existing local educational and support programs and services in four key areas: financial literacy, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and homeownership.
LIFT UP
The LIFT UP program equips Selma-area adults with the knowledge, skills, tools and opportunities needed to achieve economic stability, build entrepreneurial confidence and create generational wealth. The program meets participants where they are and helps them design personal blueprints for success.
BUILD UP
The BUILD UP program equips Selma and Dallas County students with knowledge, practical skills and tools to build early financial habits and secure their pathways towards stable financial futures. The program is designed to steadily build money skills, providing culturally relevant lessons and hands-on financial experiences, and connecting financial literacy into core subjects such as math, civics, social studies and economics as a reinforced theme.
For me, wealth is a community project, and it’s held in communities. It’s passed down from generation to generation, and it is really a source of economic stability. When we talk about wealth, I think about destiny, what you’re able to do with wealth and being able to have self-determination over your life. Without it, you know you’re really left to the whims of the powerful.
Robert Stewart, Chief Financial Officer
Let’s build a better future together
Invest in Foot Soldiers Park as we transform Selma into a thriving, equitable city where every resident has the opportunity to build wealth, shape their future, and fully participate in the economic life of their community.
