Foot Soldiers Park: Three Years Strong

As we enter a new year, we are marking a major milestone with our very first impact report.

We’re excited to share our inaugural impact report! This report marks a significant milestone for Foot Soldiers Park – a celebration of the progress that our organization, community and supporters have made together and an opportunity to reflect on the journey that brought us where we are today.

For years, our co-founders Chief Strategy Officer Ms. Jo Ann Bland and CEO Kimberly Smitherman recognized a need to safeguard the stories of the Selma people who created the conditions for the marches across Edmund Pettus Bridge, the places where they gathered, and their critical role in shaping voting rights in the U.S. They also recognized an opportunity to leverage the city’s historic legacy as a blueprint for fighting for the civil rights of today and as an engine for economic development in a city that has struggled for decades to provide its residents real opportunity to thrive.

In 2021, the two Selma natives founded Foot Soldiers Park with the vision to improve the wellbeing of Selma’s underserved residents by bringing economic opportunities to the city and developing amenities, resources, and programs that are co-created with and for the benefit of the community.

In just three years, Foot Soldiers Park has made huge strides toward building a vibrant community-driven organization poised to lead, innovate and build a brighter future for Selma.

As we look ahead with a bigger vision and more ambitious goals, take a moment to join us in celebrating the stories, partnerships, and milestones that have shaped who we are today and where we are headed.

To all of the community members we are grateful for your trust and partnership. And to all of our partners, donors and funders we value your commitment and investment in our success.