Blackburn Institute

Travel Summary: Burt Jones Travel Experience to Alexander City

January 30, 2007

by Meghan A. Stringer
2004-2005 Blackburn Fellow
A senior from Montgomery majoring in Political Science and minoring in English and Blount Undergraduate Initiative Liberal Arts

To see photos from the trip, please click here.

The 2007 Burt Jones Travel Experience took the 2006-2007 Blackburn Institute new fellows to Alexander City. The trip was intended to educate the Institute’s new fellows about the challenges facing rural communities in Alabama. Alexander City was selected because it is a location currently in the process of forging a new identity following the dwindling of its textile industry and downsizing of its major economic provider, Russell Mills. Our hosts in Alex City helped show us how new initiatives have brought new business to the area and that the community is now focusing on taking advantage of expansive growth occurring by the nearby Lake Martin. While we examined the growth occurring in Alex City, we also toured the area, including the dilapidated Camp Hill, and learned that there are still communities struggling to provide a high quality of life for their residents.

Photo from Alexander City Travel ExperienceOur group of over 30 student fellows, alumni fellows, advisory board members and University administrators began our experience at Haven Memorial United Methodist Church, where we listened to the Reverend Kanunu Busambwa’ s message concerning the role of the African American church in rural communities. After a wonderful lunch at the church, we listened to a panel on the same topic. We learned the importance that the church has as an educator, an economic entity, and also as a hub of social advocacy within Alabama’s rural African American communities.

That evening, city leaders met with us at the Willow Point Country Club for a panel discussion on Strategic planning and growth. Mayor Barbara Young informed us of the city’s efforts to aid the aging population and also discussed her plan for economic growth within the city. Our conversation with Don McClellan, the director of the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, showcased the area’s debate on the advantages of controlled versus unbridled growth. We next heard from a panel of young professionals who discussed the stagnant population growth of young people in Alex City. Their stories showed many problems that the city is facing—a lack of middle-income housing, sparse entertainment options, and few other young people. They also shared with us some of the positive aspects of life in Alex City, such as great schools, activities on Lake Martin, proximity to other Alabama cities, and the construction of new restaurants. We concluded Sunday with a discussion at the hotel focusing on what we learned and what we needed to examine the following day.

The next morning, we traveled to the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College. Our first panel discussed education in the area. We met with Representative Graham, Tallapoosa County Schools superintendent Ginger East, and Alexander City Schools superintendent Tommy Bice. Our conversation with these area leaders showed us the success that the area schools, though underfunded, have had and helped highlight many important lessons for education success that could be replicated in other Alabama communities.

Our next panel examined the history and future of Alex City’s major economic entities. Listening to representatives from Russell Lands, Russell Corporation, the Russell Medical Center and Robinson Iron, we are amazed to see the proliferation of industries with a national and international focus located here in this small community and all have some roots in the vision of the town’s most noted citizen, the late Benjamin Russell. Lunch on Monday was held at the Aliant Bank headquarters and sponsored by UA trustee, John Russell Thomas. Our final panel examined the administration of justice in non-metropolitan communities; in this panel, noted local trial attorney, Larry W. Morris, several local judges, and advisory board member Don Siegal spoke about the legal environment and challenges within the state’s rural communities.

As our experience came to an end, we evaluated what we had seen, learned, and discussed. We met with an array of community members and had studied multiple aspects of life in a rural town. Though Alex City’s changes have altered the face of the area, citizens and leaders are working together to ensure stability and progress in the future.

Fellow Honored as One of EBONY’s Top 30 Under 30

January 26, 2007

Deidra Perry, a 1996-1997 Blackburn fellow, was recently named to EBONY magazine’s list of 30 Young Leaders Under 30 for 2007. Ms. Perry is the only person from Alabama named to the list and says she is “absolutely ready to accept the torch of leadership being passed from Dr. Blackburn.” Perry works as a recruitment account executive for the Birmingham News and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in communication management. She was nominated for this prestigious award by Rep. Artur Davis, The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and The University of Alabama.

Perry says that her experiences at the University of Alabama equipped her with the leadership skills necessary to change the future of our state, asserting “The level of leadership preparation at Alabama allowed me to perform well.” She also credits the Blackburn Institute with much of her passion and audacity about Alabama, stating “The Blackburn Institute allowed me unparalleled access to the leaders of the state and also showed me what our role was going to be for the future of Alabama.” Ms. Perry is very passionate about carrying out Dean Blackburn’s vision to change state and feels we need to begin with education. “The gap between the haves and have-nots is only growing larger in Alabama” Perry says.

Perry advises current fellows to “connect with those in your class and take advantage of all the opportunities you are presented as fellows. Blackburn was allowed me to connect with the leaders of Alabama while I was still a student…don’t miss that chance.”

Click here to download a PDF version of the EBONY feature.

Kevin Garrison ‘05 Welcomes Addition to the Family

December 15, 2006

Kevin Garrison ‘05 and his wife Jessica welcomed Moseley Bancroft Garrison into the world Monday, November 27. According to Kevin he weighed in at a whopping 8 lb, 13 oz. and is 21½ inches long. Both mother and baby (and father) are doing very well.

Aldrich D. Callins ‘05 Reflects on Experiences in Japan

December 14, 2006

Aldrich D. Callins ‘05 is currently studying in Japan.

As a member of the Blackburn Institute, I have been given many opportunities to learn about issues that affect the state of Alabama with the aim of forming actions that will improve the quality of life for our state and nation. Interestingly enough, while I study abroad in Japan I have connected with local and foreign individuals who share this same ideal for their respective nations. One thing that the Blackburn Institute has taught me is that we should always seek out opportunities to build creative partnerships with others who share similar goals. Fortunately, these partnerships do not have to be contained within our state or even our country. By expanding these networks, I have learned to form bridges between two outwardly unrelated topics and discovered that we all go through the same struggles in our communities, albeit often at different times. It takes this sharing and understanding of cultures, ideas, perspectives, solutions, and underlying values to ultimately create an ideal society not only in our own backyard, but also in those of our neighbors on the other side of the fence.

In Japan this sharing has not once taken place in any formal meeting where we sit down to discuss “issues”. In fact, many times this exchange of ideas has come about on a bus ride to campus, a conversation at dinner, or at a toss of a frisbee.

Most of the pictures below are from an Intercultural Exchange at which I volunteered to speak. This was a time where Japanese high school and college students came together to learn about and share other cultures. It was loads of fun!

Victoria Starks ‘01 Weds Ronald Ward

October 27, 2006

Victoria Starks ‘01 was married to Ronald Ward on Saturday, October 7, 2006 in Pigeon Forge, TN. One of Victoria’s bridesmaids was another Institute fellow, Lorraine Erhunmwunsee ‘03. After graduating from the University, Victoria attended Thomas M. Cooley law school in Lansing, Michigan. Victoria is currently an Associate Attorney at Bryan P. Hilton, P.C. where she practices real estate litigation, juvenile law, wills and estates, as well as family law. Victoria and Ronald will be moving into a new house in Atlanta, GA in February of 2007. Ronald is a physical trainer in the Atlanta area. She attends the Cornerstone Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir. Victoria is also a regular volunteer in her community by assisting children in education and reading programs every other week.