With community service programs and initiatives rampant on campus, the Honors College has developed a new program that targets the needs of Alabama’s Black Belt region.
Black Belt Action, a subset of Honors Action along with Alabama Action and Outdoor Action, was envisioned to provide freshmen with community service opportunities outside the Tuscaloosa community.
“Honors Action provides incoming freshmen a great transition onto campus and a chance to meet like-minded students, all while beginning their college careers by serving communities,” said Chris Joiner, staff sponsor for Black Belt Action.
Joiner said Black Belt Action exists under 57 Miles, the Honors College initiative born from its five-year relationship with Perry County, Ala., and experienced a very successful first year.
“Black Belt Action specifically worked with the community of Marion, Ala., through physical improvements to one of three Berean Baptist Head Start Pre-Kindergarten locations,” Joiner said.
Maxton Thoman, a student leader for Black Belt Action and a sophomore majoring in biology and Spanish, said the program effectively introduces freshmen to the area. By immediately teaching them about the social, economic and historical issues facing the Black Belt.
“It also provides them with insight into the incredible community system that has been built up there for generations in an attempt to spur involvement and interest in the Black Belt from the start of their college careers,” Thoman said.
Joiner said guest speakers and discussion groups focused on Alabama’s Black Belt region, which stretches across the middle of the state, to help participants become familiar with the area they are to be serving.
“Each day of the week represented a theme of community: education, economics, community engagement, or how they as students can get involved,” Joiner said.
Erin McMinn, a junior majoring in biology and Spanish, also served as a student leader for the program. Her responsibilities included traveling with the students to Marion, Ala., daily and acting as a point of reference when there were questions about projects. She said the program’s organization and size also differ much from that of Alabama Action. The students worked as one group rather than breaking into groups of 10, as is done with Alabama Action.
“This allowed all 25 students to interact and also allowed us, as student leaders, to form a relationship with all of the participants,” McMinn said.
Joiner said the largest benefit to students that participate in Black Belt Action is the smooth transition it offers them as they head into their freshman year.
Although Black Belt Action does not participate in service projects throughout the school year, freshmen in the Honors program can begin applying in the spirng.
“Our hope is that the experience will inspire the new students to continue serving the community of Tuscaloosa, Marion and beyond,” McMinn said.
