Courtney Washington, currently the Community Engagement Specialist for Selma City Schools, likes to call herself “a product of Selma.”

“Selma has been my foundation,” Washington said.

Washington moved to Selma as a child and, aside from attending the University of Alabama (UA) in Tuscaloosa, has spent her whole life in the Queen City.

“Through my lens, growing up here was easy,” Washington said. “It was fun and it was simple. You knew everybody and it was easy to get to know people here.”

Washington remembered the small-town vibe that she said permeated every aspect of life in Selma as a child, giving her an opportunity to be involved in a multitude of activities not as easily accessible to people in more metropolitan areas – she played softball, took dance lessons and played clarinet in the band before becoming a majorette.

“It was great just being able to do things and not have to travel,” Washington said, remembering the movie theatre and bowling alley that she enjoyed visiting in her youth. “It was comparable to what was in a bigger city, it was just easier to access.”

Perhaps the biggest part of her childhood was growing up in the church, where her father was a pastor. She noted that, at the time, going to church so often wasn’t always an exciting prospect but, looking back, those experiences shaped her life today.

“Everything I do is with the intention of serving others,” Washington said. “I always think about how it will affect the next person. Will it affect them positively? Will it give them joy and peace? Will it make them happy?”

After completing her studies at UA in 2008, Washington spent almost a decade working at Concordia College, where she served in a number of capacities but mostly as a business teacher.

“I really loved it,” Washington said of her teaching days. “Just the spirit of being able to work with the development of an adult learner – I loved that aspect of it.”

Seeing the old college close its doors continues to take its toll on her.

“Working there was like working with family,” Washington said. “It’s still unreal to me.”

In May of 2018, Washington took the job with Selma City Schools. Though she never had any intention of moving from teaching to an administrative position, she’s loving the new job.

“I enjoyed teaching,” Washington said. “But being here is also enhancing what I love to do.”

And Washington still has a lot of love for the city she was raised in – though it’s different from the Selma of her childhood, she still sees a place that has a lot to offer those who call it home.

“Selma, to me, is beautiful,” Washington said, talking about the old buildings downtown and the historic homes surrounded by trees and natural beauty. “I think we’ve forgotten a lot of that.”

Washington noted that she hopes to see Selma invest in providing more social opportunities for young adults, like dining spaces and nightlife, but noted that steps have to be taken to ensure the safety of those who call the Queen City home.

“People have to feel safe,” Washington said. “That’s the most basic need.”

Every city has its struggles, Washington added, but Selma seems to be moving forward and building on a rich history.

“Our history makes us important,” Washington said. “It’s a place where the beginning of a movement started that changed a nation. “Selma is a small-town with a lot of growth opportunities, but growth is slow and growth is hard.”