Sacred Space, Inc.

10/03/2026

Chase fresh air, discover local culture, and find adventure right in your own backyard. From hidden gems to community roots—explore it, embrace it, be proud of where you’re from.

09/29/2026

To the Sponsors, Donors, and Financial Supporters of the Black Belt Paddle Festival and the festival goer that was compelled to donate — THANK YOU.

There are some things you can put a price on.

And then there are the things that are priceless.

A child discovering they are stronger than they thought.

A teenager finding a place where they belong.

A family spending an afternoon together instead of rushing from one obligation to another.

A person taking a deep breath, getting out on the water, slowing down, and remembering what it feels like to simply be present.

A community coming together and seeing itself, its people, its beauty, its possibility, with fresh eyes.

That is what you helped make possible.

The Black Belt Paddle Festival is about paddling, but it has never been only about paddling.

It is about community.
It is about slow living.
It is about physical movement and emotional well-being.

It is about mental health, connection, confidence, and self-awareness.
It is about young people experiencing something new and families creating memories together.

It is about taking pride in where we live, who we are, and what we can create when we choose to show up for one another.

And none of that happens without people willing to show up.

To the businesses and individuals who sponsored.

To those who donated financially.
To those who believed in the vision before they could see the finished product.

To those who gave what they could because they understood that an investment in community is an investment in people.

You didn't just help fund an event.

You helped create moments.

You helped create opportunities.

You helped create connection.

And somewhere, perhaps without you ever knowing it, someone may have gone home from this festival feeling a little more confident, a little more connected, a little more hopeful, or simply a little more proud of the place they call home.

That matters.

Showing up matters. Giving matters. Believing in people matters.

And when a community comes together to create spaces where our children can grow, our families can connect, our bodies can move, our minds can breathe, and our spirits can feel grounded, that is something worth celebrating.

So from the bottom of our hearts:

Thank you for believing in the Black Belt Paddle Festival.
Thank you for investing in our community.
Thank you for giving.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for helping us create something bigger than a festival.

You helped us create a reminder of what is possible when a community takes care of its people.

And we hope you know:

Your generosity was felt.
Your support was seen.
Your investment mattered.

With deep gratitude,
The Black Belt Paddle Festival and Sacred Space, Inc.

09/29/2026

A Day to Remember, A Community to Celebrate

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible youth vendor, Antavion Benison of A&A Italian Ice (334) 218-9382, youth committee members, Karen Howell, Cornell Richardson, and I'man Jones for hours of set up, break down, bag stuffing, picking up story-tellers, cleaning boats, and stepping into a position to make thing happen in your community. To the participants, and families who showed up, supported one another, and helped make this day so meaningful. Your presence mattered!

Showing up is powerful. It gives us the opportunity to try new things, step outside of our comfort zones, conquer fears, and create meaningful stories with people. It is through these moments that we build confidence, discover new possibilities, and weave relationships that can last far beyond a single day.

To our young people: never underestimate the power of your presence. Every time you show up, you are creating a story, building a connection, learning something new, and reminding yourself that you are capable of more than you may realize.

Creating spaces where youth feel seen, supported, safe, encouraged, and empowered is so important for their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Our young people deserve opportunities to gather, create, express themselves, explore their gifts, build relationships, and simply be themselves.

May this day be a beacon of light and a reminder of what is possible when we come together with intention, love, and community.

Let this be more than one special day. Let it inspire us to continue giving, creating, and investing in future spaces where our youth can thrive within their own communities.

To every youth vendor, participant, family member, supporter, volunteer, and community partner: THANK YOU for showing up and helping create the space.

Here’s to more opportunities. More connections. More courage. More creativity. More joy. And more spaces where our young people can THRIVE.

09/29/2026

I am deeply grateful to everyone who shared their stories, art, poetry, music, and voices with us and accepted a rather unconventional way of sharing stories- face to face, up close, and personal.

A heartfelt thank you to our storytellers from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Jason Lewis, John Alexander, Western Civilization professor and Greensboro Presbyterian Minister, Jessie Lavon, Black Belt folk artist, and The Flourish, Birmingham. Each of you brought a unique perspective, yet somehow, all of our stories found their way back to the same place, honoring the river.

The river became more than a landscape or a geographic place. It became a thread connecting our histories, our memories, our communities, and our hopes for the future. Through stories and poems, we were reminded that rivers carry the traces of everyone who has lived alongside them. They hold stories of people, struggle, joy, movement, loss, resilience, and belonging.

That is why art and storytelling matter so deeply.

They help us remember what might otherwise be forgotten. They allow us to preserve history not only through dates and facts, but through the voices, feelings, experiences, and perspectives of the people who lived it. They give future generations something more than a record. They give them a connection.

And perhaps most importantly, storytelling gives people a voice.

The voices we heard were different, but each one mattered. Every person has experiences, ideas, memories, questions, and dreams worth expressing. Having a voice means having the opportunity to say, This is what I have seen. This is what I have experienced. This is what matters to me.

That self-expression is especially powerful when we create space for young people to use their voices.

The Flourish youth of Birmingham reminded us of that beautifully. Through their art and expression, they shared what is meaningful and reflective in their own lives. Their work shows us that young people are not simply waiting to become part of history, they are already creating the stories and culture that will become our history.

When we listen to young people, when we encourage them to create, and when we make room for their voices, we are investing in the future of our communities.

Art gives us a way to see one another.

Storytelling gives us a way to understand one another.

And having a voice gives us a way to know that we belong.

Thank you to every storyteller, artist, poet, educator, minister, community member, and young person who contributed. Your stories became part of a larger story. A story written and connected by the river and by our shared humanity.

May we continue to listen.
May we continue to tell our stories.
May we continue to create space for every voice.
And may the stories we share today help guide and inspire the generations who come after us.

09/28/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Town of Akron!

We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation of fresh food donated and prepared by Mayor Christopher Rollins and University Medical nurse, Dimetra Rollins, but even more so for the time, energy, and heart you brought to the event.

From helping with setup and breakdown, to offering emotional support, creating such a relaxed and welcoming vibe, and simply being present — your kindness made a meaningful difference. It truly takes a community to create experiences like this, and Akron showed up in such a beautiful way.

Thank you for bringing your family, spending time together, and helping make learning feel exciting, hands-on, and fun. Most importantly, thank you for engaging with our youth and encouraging them to get outside, explore, ask questions, discover, and experience education in an interactive way.

Your generosity and enthusiasm helped create an environment where kids could learn, connect, and simply enjoy being curious.

We appreciate you more than words can say.

09/28/2026

A heartfelt thank-you to Councilwoman Suzie Patrick of Moundville for her generous financial and physical support of our youth and this year’s festival.❤️

We want to sincerely acknowledge and recognize her for not only contributing financially, but for showing up in person, bringing her family, and taking the time to enjoy and explore all that the festival had to offer. Her presence and support truly meant a lot to us.

We also want to apologize for mistakenly overlooking the opportunity to acknowledge Councilwoman Patrick during the festival. Sometimes, in the excitement and busyness of an event, things can unintentionally be missed — but we certainly do not want her support to go unrecognized.

Most importantly, her example reminds us of something our young people need more of: people showing up for them. Our youth deserve our time, our encouragement, our resources, and our presence. It takes a community to create opportunities and memories that our children can carry with them.

Councilwoman Patrick, thank you for showing up, supporting our youth, bringing your family, and being part of the celebration. We truly appreciate you and all that you do.

And to everyone in our community: please keep showing up for our youth. Your presence matters more than you may ever know.

09/28/2026

09/27/2026

Before I get to all of yesterday's goodness, I would like to give a HUGE shout out to Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Smith for the donation of watermelons for the Black Belt Paddle Festival.

More importantly, the time spend and stories shared after learning about growing and harvesting watermelons- sitting on the porch, passing the old church that is still loved, and sharing life with this generation of local heroes was priceless. I am honored that your stories refreshed us on your farm and at the festival.

Thank you for caring, sharing, and welcoming us. It was beautiful and I love the scarecrow, too.