By Mary Stewart

The Selma Times-Journal

The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Selma Center for Nonviolence are hosting a community listening session with a focus on the education system.

The two are teaming up to answer questions about the school system as well as hear feedback from local parents and students.

Callie Greer, who is coordinating the event, is hopeful that the community will come out to support the session.

“We just want to hear from the community, from the families, the students and other people who care about the city of Selma, Dallas county and our schools,” Greer said.

“So, it’s an open session, and it’s free to the public. Southern Poverty Law Center wants to listen to their concerns and try to answer questions that they are going to have about the policy and the code of conduct.”

She said the session is open to everyone who would like to educate themselves on the education system.

“Our overall goal is to help the students and parents better understand the code of conduct, the policies that the school has, how to deal with those policies and what questions to ask if they have questions for the teachers or principals,” she explained.

“So, it’s just an education tool to help the students and parents better communicate with the principals and the teachers when they have issues.”

The SPLC has done other community listening sessions, but this will be the first one done in Selma.

“They are just getting the opportunity to come to Selma and Dallas county now, and we think it’s a great opportunity and a great time because you know schools are closed, children are out, students are out and have the opportunity to come and speak for themselves because they actually lived these days in school,” she said.

“It’s just been presented at an opportune time for us so they have the ability to collaborate with us a little in order to do this listening session.”

Greer said that there is a possibility of the two doing more sessions together in Dallas County, but they will decide if more are needed after this Saturday’s session.

“It will totally depend on (the attendees) because we will be listening to what they are saying and what they are asking for and trying to accommodate them,” she said.

She and others involved in the planning of this event are very excited to see its impact on the community.

“I am so excited that I am offering to pick people up if they need a ride,” she said. “So that is how excited I am.”

There will be free childcare offered at the session as well as a free lunch.

For more information and possibly a ride call Callie Greer at (334) 375-0660.