By Alaina Denean

The Selma Times-Journal

Community members gathered Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to make squares for a unity quilt.

The quilt symbolizes a unified community and will be part of a walk that will take place Sunday, March 1 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

“To me it’s special because you’re really bringing people together in a new way,” said Jamie Alvey, who helped organize the event.

As people made their way in the door, they collected items to make their own unique square, which represents themselves, churches, organizations and all things Selma.

Joyce Flagg, a member of Beach Island Missionary Baptist Church, made a square that characterized her church and desire to unify Selma.

“I wanted to join the unity march with all of the churches coming together because Selma needs to come together as one,” Flagg said. “I just wanted to be a part of that.”

Flagg said the community coming together is vital, and she is happy to be a part of something so significant.

“I hope that everybody takes away that as one unit we can do great things,” she said.

Faces lit up as ideas came to those working on the squares. Some squares were bright and colorful, while others represented more somber events from 50 years ago. But no matter what was on the square when it was finished, a sense of unity filled the room.

“Making a quilt together and creating something beautiful together is really powerful,” Alvey said. “I think it’s special because a quilt is, to me, a physical sign of bringing things together.”

Although the quilt was not completed Saturday, it will be finished by the date of the walk.

“The quilt will be nice, it will be beautiful, but to me it’s more about bringing people together for fellowship in a new way,” Alvey said.

Some said it would be great to start a quilting group in the community.

“I’m hoping a lot of good will come out of it, and I think it will,” Alvey said. “I hope people will make new friends, [and] I hope that new connections will be made.”