Saturday’s Back to School Bash, which was held at the School of Discovery, proves that parents and students in Selma are ready to build better communities.

The event focused on  gang awareness, cyber-bullying, fire safety, HIV awareness and a class called Parenting 101.

There were also sessions where participants rapped in role-play to teach them how to interact with each other.

Each of these classes can, and will, have a positive impact on those who attended.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the Saturday classes was the attendance and enthusiasm of those who took part in the classes.

More than 400 parents and students, which doubled expectations, lined the halls to  learn more effective ways to make a difference in their city. It was also  encouraging to see those in leadership positions take time out of their busy weekend schedules to speak to the crowd.

There are a number of people who want to make Selma a better place to live. There are a number of people who have ideas than can move the city forward. Unfortunately, these people do not always know how to get their opinions to difference-makers.

This program teaches them to not only voice their opinions, but to take action whenever possible. The people that want to make a positive difference in Selma and lead the next generation down the right path far outnumber those who would prefer to have crime and gangs running the show.

Programs like the Back to School  Bash let those who want to make a difference know they are not alone. The city, school system and everyone who helped organize this event deserves praise for taking time out of their weekend to help out. Programs like this remind us that Selma can move forward if we all keep working together as a unit.