Success Stories

Here are some ways the Alabama Power Foundation is contributing to Alabama Power’s legacy of caring:

Black Belt Treasures
Created and supported by the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission and the University of Alabama, Black Belt Treasures was created to promote tourism and spur economic development in the Black Belt. Located in a former car dealership in Camden, the building now serves as a gallery for artisans across the region. Through this organization, about 250 artists display their original crafts such as quilts, wood carvings, gourd art, paintings, baskets, pottery, jewelry and local foods.

In addition to serving as a gallery, Black Belt Treasures offers summer art camps for children aged 6 to 13. Students are guided in the use of acrylics, watercolors and pastels.

Black Belt Treasures showcases the rich heritage and history of the region while it enhances the earning potential of its entrepreneurs. Since it opened almost two years ago, the gallery has welcomed visitors from 39 states and 12 countries. Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission and the University of Alabama, as well as organizations like the Alabama Power Foundation, continue to support it.

"Black Belt Treasures has the privilege of sharing with the world the wealth of talent found among the people of the Black Belt region of Alabama," said Sulynn Creswell, director, Black Belt Treasures. "The realization of our goal of marketing the work of these talented artisans would not be accomplished without the generous support of individuals and organizations such as the Alabama Power Foundation. Additionally, opportunities for providing a venue for arts education would be severely limited."

 

McWane Center
In 2006, Alabama Power was proud to be the premier sponsor for ScienceWorks, a new program at the McWane Center in Birmingham. A collection of interactive exhibits, ScienceWorks allows visitors to experience the ways that science affects the world around us. The exhibit consists of four thematic areas: illusion, animation, environment and technology.

ScienceWorks enhances learning by giving students a firsthand opportunity to experience environmental phenomena. Through this exhibit, a class that has studied weather systems at school can actually utilize meteorological tools. While ScienceWorks' goal is to spark interest in science, it does not end there. These exhibits may also transform individuals’ scientific interests into exciting career paths.

The ScienceWorks Education Sponsorship seeks to improve science literacy and its applicability in Alabama. Science literacy is critical to the economic development of a community and applicable in daily interactions. This program will broaden classroom lessons by introducing participants to new vocabulary, knowledge and skills, while expanding their ability to solve basic problems by applying scientific analysis. The McWane Center strives to develop skills that will guide students toward success in both the classroom and the work force.

Blue Star tribute
It was his personal experience after serving in the Vietnam War that inspired Glenn Nivens to get involved with the Blue Star Salute Foundation. This patriotic organization seeks to honor all branches of America’s military with an annual day of appreciation at the American Village in Montevallo on Memorial Day.

It was Nivens' experience that he and his fellow troops were never welcomed home from Vietnam. Instead, he said, they were often shunned. This inspired his commitment to displaying military appreciation. "I want to make sure that no American soldier ever has to experience what I did," Nivens said.

Nivens now helps coordinate the Blue Star Salute program, which features military equipment displays, a military flyover, a performance by the 151st Army Band and an operating U.S.O.-inspired canteen with 1940s music. In addition to honoring active and veteran military troops, the event also includes a solemn Gold Star Salute to recognize those who have lost their lives while fighting for American freedom. Families and friends of these fallen heroes present Red Rose Remembrances near the end of the program.

"The object is to host an annual event to pay specific honor and respect to our nation’s guardians of freedom," Nivens said.