Montgomery, May 5-6, 2003

For two jam-packed days, members of the West Alabama Learning Coalition put their minds and their spirits to work on the behalf of education, its vital role in society and how it impacts the lives of the students.

The West Alabama Learning Coalition (WALC) is a network of partnerships among preK-12 schools, community and technical colleges, colleges and universities, social service agencies, business leaders and other civic leaders focused on connecting educational excellence with economic and community development in rural Alabama since 1997.

The group held their annual spring meeting May 5-6, 2003, at the Governors House Hotel and Conference Center in Montgomery. Educators and community members representing Clarke, Fayette, Lee, Macon, Monroe, Sumter, Wilcox and Hale counties heard from guest speakers ranging from state representatives to community leaders who came to be active participants in the discussion and share their own experiences.

The coalition is funded by the Jesse Ball duPont Foundation and coordinated and administered by the Truman Pierce Institute in the Auburn University College of Education.

"This was a time for us to put our minds together to celebrate our strengths, find ways to improve areas of weakness and discuss new possibilities for extending our partnerships," said Dr. Cindy Reed, director of the Truman Pierce Institute and associate professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology at AU. "These two days provided us all with opportunities to learn, to plan and to take actions to improve our communities."

One of the many highlights of the event was a visit from three students who were willing to share how WALC has impacted their school and in turn their education and hopes for the future. Two of the students were fifth-graders from Loachapoka in Lee County, Sigearie Porter and Brittany Grant, and one was a 10^th-grader from Monroe County, Dustin Broughton.

"The WALC has most certainly enriched my life. I believe it should be mandatory for all schools to have special programs that facilitate learning such as this one," Dustin said. "Many times the basic school teachers are so interested in leaving no child behind that no child gets ahead. That is why special programs need to continue being inclusive for both the slow and accelerated learner. This program not only broadened our technology and our knowledge, but also heightened our confidence in ourselves."

Sigearie and Brittany both spoke of how the partnership with Auburn University has brought learning to a new, exciting and hands-on level. They spoke enthusiastically about working with student teachers at Loachapoka's established pond, greenhouse and nature trail, where science and math come to life in practical ways. They spoke of the hope and career possibilities they now see whereas before they might never have considered pursuing a field in the world of science.

State Treasurer Kay Ivey, who is an AU College of Education alumna and a member of the college's National Advisory Council, also came to speak to the group about her commitment to West Alabama leadership. Ivey is a native of Wilcox County and she understands first-hand the lessons those living in rural communities learn at a young age.

"We are survivors in the Black Belt. By that I mean we know the value of hard work, dedication and change," Ivey said. "We want more than we have to share with our children and our grandchildren, and there is nothing we won't achieve by working together."

Her words of wisdom were echoed by other guest speakers including Rep. Yusuf Salaam of Selma and three of his colleagues, James Drury, Lawrence Wofford and McArthur Williams. These men have pulled together with those in the community of Selma to "weed and seed" and make Selma a safer and better place for all its residents.

Deputy District Director Kobi Little for Rep. Artur Davis was another guest speaker and he shared the congressman's vision for West Alabama. He said economic development should be seen as the platform for school reform and it is something that all stakeholders must become involved with.

"Schools don't just produce workers, they produce citizens. Schools don't just produce graduates, they produce people who want to live in the community," Little said. "The question of education is not something separate for the academic world; it's a question for the entire community."

Other guest speakers who were on hand to share their wisdom during the two-day conference include Dr. Joe Sumners, director of AU Economic Development Institute; Cheryl Cobb and Henry Brandhorst from the AU Samuel Ginn College of Engineering; Rep. William Thigpen; Dr. Bobby Hathcock, superintendent for Pell City Schools; and Ralph Stacey, president of Alabama Chamber of Commerce Association.

The last guest speaker weathered the storms in his hometown of Jackson, Tenn., and then in North Alabama to arrive at his scheduled time to close the conference on a positive note. Commissioner Dr. Page B. Walley, Department of Children's Affairs, came to share his thoughts on the topic of "The Importance of Collaboration on Behalf of Children."

Walley said there are great things on the horizon for the state of Alabama and its children. He believes that it is through collaboration at all levels that the vision for a better Alabama will be reached and we will all be taken to new heights.