Editor’s Note: Candidates for mayor of Selma were given the option to publish one announcement in The Selma Times-Journal free of charge. This is the second of potentially five announcements.

Jerria Martin is a native of Selma. She graduated summacummlaude with a bachelor’s of arts degree in English from Stillman College. She is also a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, where she received a master of divinity and was the first woman of color to serve as president of the Student Government Association.

Martin currently serves on the board of trustees for the Black Belt Community Foundation, the Black Belt Community Development Coalition, Leadership Selma-Dallas County and Grow Selma. She is also a founding member of the Selma Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, a graduate of the Leadership Selma/Dallas County class of XXI, a member of the Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Martin serves as an ambassador for Selma in seven different countries: France, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Israel, Palestine and Jamaica. In the last five years, she’s served as a peace consultant to Israeli and Palestinian authorities, Alabama delegate to the Terra Madre in France, Italy and the Netherlands, special consultant to the mayor of Niagara Falls, Canada and also a special adviser to the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism.

The transformation of Selma Martin envisions will turn this city into a place where young people can have quality jobs; where families can live peacefully without worrying about uncontrollable crime; where businesses relocate because of the positive environment and quality workforce; where there is a strong sense of community between blacks and whites; where poverty is an urban legend; and a place outsiders speak about with envy.

“The Selma I see today has the same promise it had years ago. Our Selma is still beautiful, despite its fragile and fractured state. With your prayers, your support and your vote, we can start transforming our communities together,” Martin said.