Local leaders and community stakeholders gathered Wednesday, May 7, to announce the launch of Progress Partners for Selma, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty and driving economic development through a massive tech-focused revitalization of the city’s historic infrastructure.

Project Progress’ flagship project involves the total renovation of the historic building at 528 Washington St., formerly known as the YMCA. In partnership with the Selma Housing Authority, Progress Partners intends to transform the building into the Selma Community Technology Center, a multi-generational hub designed to bridge the digital divide and curb the city’s population decline.

The project is the result of 15 months of planning by a group of concerned citizens and leaders who believe the Queen City is at a turning point. Board members expressed a vision inspired by the 1968 campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Sr., to combat both material poverty and the lack of purpose and dignity in society.

“We were determined not to just be an organization that puts ideas on paper, but to think them out and then attack it,” said John Deamer, vice president of Progress Partners. He noted that the challenges facing Selma must be solved through immediate action rather than long-term deliberation.

The new technology center will serve as a lighthouse for the community, providing high-speed infrastructure for workforce development in fields such as artificial intelligence, coding, and broadcast engineering. Shaon Berry, CEO of Metro Sports and Entertainment Group, explained that the facility will feature a creator studio where young people can learn the digital skills necessary to participate in the global creator economy.

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