Cultivating Civic Engagement & Participation in Selma
Although Selma is globally recognized as the birthplace of the voting rights and civil rights movement, voter turnout today is alarmingly low. Alabama and many other states are passing increasingly restrictive voting laws, sidelining Black residents through lack of access, limited information, and diminishing people’s trust in democratic principles and processes.
An urgent effort is needed to engage people civically and reignite their sense of self-determination.
In the 2024 election, voter turnout in Selma’s Dallas County fell to roughly 53%—11% below the national average
65% of Black Belt residents, including Selmans, have little to no trust in elected officials to act in their interest
Alabama’s racial turnout gap hit a
16-year high in 2024, increasing from 9% in 2022 to 13%
Shaping the future of civic engagement
We envision a Selma where every resident is informed, empowered, and confident in their voting rights and civil rights and able to fully participate in democracy at every level from the ballot box to community decision-making.
Through our programming we:
Activating civic participation as a
catalyst for change
Building on the legacy of those who came before us, we aim to cultivate the next generation of foot soldiers and everyday people committed to upholding democracy and Selma’s legacy, strengthening community resiliency and prosperity, and advancing a more inclusive and just society.
We achieve this through:
We empower residents of all ages with comprehensive education on civic structures, political representation, and the electoral process. We also equip them with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, transforming everyday people into active participants and protectors of democracy.
Through preserving Selma’s history and amplifying the enduring stories of its original foot soldiers, we empower individuals to find their voices, step into leadership roles, and become catalysts for change in their own communities.
By transforming harmful narratives, removing barriers, and connecting residents’ lived experiences with institutional power, we make civic participation a meaningful act of self-determination that counters disenfranchisement. By elevating the stories of past and present leaders, we create counter-narratives that strengthen belonging and inspire self-actualization.
The blueprint for an informed, engaged and inspired community
The programs in our Civil Rights in Action Impact Area activate Selma’s residents by providing access to civic and voter education, inspiring engagement and participation, leading community organizing, and developing advocacy campaigns that honor and preserve Selma’s historic legacy.
The Community Engagement Corps (CEC) is a paid civic public engagement program made up of Selma-based contractors who are trained and equipped with the skills, tools, and resources to lead voter outreach, public education, and community-based organizing. The CEC serves as the implementation arm of Foot Soldiers Park’s civic education and engagement programs, Footprints (K–12) and Voter Education & Registration (18+).
The Footprints program offers a comprehensive K–12 civic education rooted in Selma’s history and youth engagement. Through history-based storytelling, mock elections, mentorship, and hands-on learning projects, the program connects Selma’s civil rights legacy to the lived experiences of today’s students.
The Voter Education & Registration (18+) Program is a year-round civic empowerment effort that engages adults across Selma who are disenfranchised, uninformed, or unregistered, including those reentering society from incarceration. Grounded in principles of community-led dialogue, cultural relevance, and healing justice, the program aims to restore civic trust and increase voter registration and participation in the democratic process.
Faith and Family is a community and partnership-driven initiative that seeks to reignite and reimagine the historical civic and social role of Black churches and faith-based institutions in Selma and the surrounding region. By working with trusted congregations and faith leaders, the initiative creates space for critical dialogue, civic education, and collective activation.
Foot Soldiers Park created these programs to make sure our community has the support, knowledge and tools to fully engage in the democratic process. We want residents to not only vote, but be active members of society, have civic pride, advocate for themselves and hold elected officials accountable.
Kimberly Smitherman, CEO and Founding Partner
Support Foot Soldiers Park as we confront the ongoing threats to democracy and reignite Selma’s civic legacy.
