By SUSAN KEITH | Selma City Council, Ward 2

Our Mayor-elect, Darrio Melton, has been selected as a Delta Leadership Fellow. Only  eight people are appointed by the governor to attend this Leadership Partnership of the Delta Regional Authority, the University of Alabama, the University of Arkansas, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and our National Legislative Delegation.

If Mayor Melton’s Delta experience compares to mine, he will complete the year-long commitment with a different view of Selma and the vision of myriad possibilities.

The Delta Regional Authority is recognized by most people as a potential funding esource. In reality, the funding is minimal but can be used as match or layered of funding. It is so much more than a funding stream. If I were Queen of the World, I would send every elected official in the Delta Region to DLA.

They would learn so much about identifying and working with a broad array of people in their community.

It is human nature to work with people we’ve become comfortable with and are like-minded. Communities like ours, full of diversity and rich with history, call for a good representation of people to move a community forward. DRA teaches the importance, and methodology, of true collaboration and inclusion. DRA emphasizes innovation.

There are more unique things about Selma than I can recite. Add our uniqueness with our demographics and natural resources, and we are perfectly situated to take advantage of public/private/philanthropic partnerships that are currently the way to go.

DRA members experience examples of these partnerships and learn how to capitalize on competitive advantages.

Improving education, dealing with unemployed or underemployed, economic development, small business and population changes are amply covered.

One of the issues that resonated with me was developing the community at a pace commensurate with the infrastructure that the public can provide.

Infrastructure is a big topic in all of the Delta cities.

Our streets, pipes, and sewers are old — among some of the oldest in our states.

It is impossible to appoint everyone who wishes to attend. The Delta Regional Authority has annual meetings in which they have programs pertinent to issues of the Delta. Long before

I was a Delta Fellow. I attended DRA meetings at my own expense. That is where I learned about the military IRT, which eventually came to Selma for medical missions. These meetings are usually in January.

Anyone may go to DRA.gov and inquire about registering. It is open to anyone in the Delta Region who serves the public.