“What I have learned so far, through this fellowship, is that questions are more powerful than answers. Asking people what they need and creating trust is more important and effective than assigning solutions.” – 2017-18 Civic Fellow Martha Grace Mize

The number one question people ask me since becoming a DMC Civic Fellow has been ‘Now, what exactly do you do?’ Usually because someone has noticed that Civic Fellow is not as self-explanatory a job description like being an accountant, doctor, engineer, etc. An immersive experience is easiest way to describe my Civic Fellowship. I work four days a week and live full time in Marion, AL through the DMC partnership with the non-profit Renaissance Marion Inc. and work primarily with Main Street Marion. Did that tell you what I do every day? No? Me neither, and that is because my job is somewhat different every day (which happens to be my favorite part).

My responsibilities are the part of the job that is clearly outlined. I am responsible for managing Main Street Marion’s economic impact data reports, Main Street Marion’s communications, especially through social media, as well as helping to oversee community development projects through the Main Street Marion board, Main Street Marion sub-committees, and community volunteers. Additionally, I advise the Main Street Marion board and subcommittees on strategies for community development. Through the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, I am also responsible for conducting original research on civic engagement and community resiliency practices in the Black Belt region, while developing best-practice public networking and non-profit marketing strategies. All of which requires three things: listening, meeting people where they are, and asking buckets of questions.

The Black Belt – the region in which Marion is located – is known for its poverty, issues in healthcare, access to resources, racial history, and economic struggles. These are the things most often brought up nationally when describing the place in which I now live. I have found that while this description is true, it does not fully encapsulate what Marion is today.

I’ve found that, when explaining my job, it’s always best to start with describing Marion, Alabama; however, describing Marion, Alabama is no easy task. A rural, historical Alabama town located in the Black Belt, Marion has a population of about 3,500 people, and a reputation that depends on the individual answering the question. There is a high chance that, as an Alabamian, an individual or someone they know has been to Marion, is from Marion, or has heard of Marion. The Black Belt – the region in which Marion is located – is known for its poverty, issues in healthcare, access to resources, racial history, and economic struggles. These are the things most often brought up nationally when describing the place in which I now live. I have found that while this description is true, it does not fully encapsulate what Marion is today. The town has the typical charming courthouse square, is home to a Baptist Women’s college (Judson), the second oldest Military college in the country (Marion Military Institute), and a Civil Rights history every 4th grader in the state has read about at some point (the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and the Selma March which was originally to start in Marion).

What I have learned so far, through this fellowship, is that questions are more powerful than answers. Asking people what they need and creating trust is more important and effective than assigning solutions.

The organization where I work every day is called Main Street Marion (MSM) and is focused on the revitalization of historic downtown Marion, AL by bringing jobs, dollars, and people together. Marion was designated as a Main Street community in June of 2017 with the purpose of community-driven economic revitalization centered around the historic downtown. This means that rather than a charity or philanthropy oriented approach, Main Street allows local everyday people to make the decisions, decide on the goals, and create the solutions to revitalize their home. Initiatives such as filling empty windows and #OneMarion, collectively, result in larger returns in community pride and engagement with the downtown district. As our wonderful board president, Donald Bennett, said best, “We want to take collective ideas and first build up the residents we have who are interested in investing in their own community, and then we’ll try to encourage other businesses, even outside ones, to invest in our community.”

In conclusion, the best way to find out what Marion, Alabama is like or even what I do every day is to visit and listen. There are many challenges in the Black Belt including healthcare, education, resources, infrastructure, poverty, hunger, etc. People often assume that because of the variety and scale of challenges, there is no hope, yet the people here are resilient. The people in Marion, both rich and poor, have been resilient for generations. Countless individuals here do not go home to full fridges or warm beds, but they are still willing to wake up and move forward with a determination for a better world. What I have learned so far, through this fellowship, is that questions are more powerful than answers. Asking people what they need and creating trust is more important and effective than assigning solutions. The kind of hope found in Marion, AL is what tells me to listen because I have a lot to learn.

-Martha Grace Mize, Civic Fellow