Community Associates are volunteers of the Black Belt Community Foundation that share our vision for their communities in the region. They have the opportunity to serve on committees, organize grant-seeker’s workshops, host fundraising events, and provide a source for future Foundation board members. Many of these Associates are grounded leaders of their community who wish to improve local disadvantages.

The mission of the Community Associates program is to build and enhance the leadership capacities of citizens and organizations in the Black Belt. BBCF is committed to establishing a well-trained pool of Community Associates with specific grassroots leadership skills and competencies that are both applicable to Black Belt communities and transferable throughout the Black Belt region.

The BBCF serves a 12 county region and understands that each may have different needs. Community Associates appoint themselves to bridge the gap between the BBCF and these needs. These individuals have been gathered from each Black Belt county in order for representatives of the Black Belt to participate in the development of stronger Black Belt communities, as well as with the building of “community” with BBCF. With a considerable amount of time, talent, and treasure concentrated on empowering their communities, residents now have more control in the transformation taking place in the Black Belt.

If you are interested in becoming an engaged leader through our Community Associates Program, please complete the Community Associate Application and send to BBCF, P.O. Box 2020, Selma, AL 36702 or fax to (334) 874-1131. Contact Florence Williams or Kimani Varner at (334) 874-1126 or email fwilliams@blackbeltfound.org and kvarner@blackbeltfound.org respectively.