The Black Belt Community Foundation and the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation are teaming up to put the recent $3 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to use by bringing people together to talk and work out their differences.

Selma was one of 13 cities and one state that received grants earlier this year from the foundation to support Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) work in Selma.

Starting Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the group will begin meeting at The Coffee Shoppe on Broad Street to have community discussions about various topics surrounding blog posts.

The first blog post, written by Jackson, discusses the Battle of Selma, Civil War and slavery; civil rights; and the election of the first black mayor in the city and more.

“Since these are such sensitive topics, I thought it was [best] to start a conversation, but [also] have a situation where people can come together to discuss and build relationships,” said Ainka Jackson, executive director for the Selma Center for Nonviolence.

The “Chat and Chew” series will continue every first and third Thursday of each month.  The blogs can be found at http://blackbeltfound.org/cause/trht-selma/ and will also be provided at the meeting.

“Anybody can come,” Jackson said. “Whether you read the blog or not, whether you totally disagree with me or totally agree with me and everything in between, we welcome all to come.”