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The Blackbelt Community Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary with a block party on Wednesday.

City and county leaders joined local business leaders at a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the organization’s new headquarters in downtown Selma.

Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed the first day of May as “Black Belt Community Foundation Day,” which opened in 2004.  Counties that make up the Black Belt region are Dallas, Bullock, Choctaw, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox.

“I want to say what an honor it is to serve the people in this region for 20 years,” BBCF president Felecia Lucky said.  “It is an honor to be the organization that serves its citizens best and that we get to work in service to our communities in the Black Belt and that is a gift that we get to do. Our journey is a reflection of resilience, compassion and dedicated commitment to empowering communities to thrive.”

Former State Sen. Hank Sanders said the seeds were planted for the BBCF in 1999. 

“Twenty years is a long time, but 25 years is even longer,” Sanders said. 

Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn, Commissioner Vivian Rogers, Dallas County Circuit Court Judge Marvin Wiggins, Selma Housing Authority executive director Kennard Randolph, former Selma City Councilwoman Angela Benjamin and former Selma Mayor Darrio Melton attended the event. The Selma High School marching band performed.