Fr o m t h e E d i t o r Asset-Based Development: Heritage Tourism in Alabama
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Alabama, yet we do not have a Six Flags or Disney World. What we do have is an incredible richness in cultural, historical and natural resources. Rather than trying to develop mega tourism attractions, particularly in rural Alabama, these communities should focus on assetbased development, such as heritage tourism. The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), a partnership of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) and Auburn University, publishes "Action" once each quarter. ECDI’s vision is to become the state’s preeminent change agent for positive economic and community development policy and practice. ECDI attempts to serve Alabama communities, especially small- and mediumsized rural and economically distressed areas, and to maintain effective connections and communication among the many diverse economic development actors in Alabama. "Action" is one of the methods we use to accomplish these goals. Asset-Based Development: Heritage Tourism in Alabama is the focus of this winter 2011 issue of "ECDI in Action." Tom Chesnutt, tourism and Extension relations specialist with ECDI, is the coordinator for this segment of the newsletter. The next issue of "Action," spring 2011, will highlight the Rural Alabama Initiative grant programs. For more information on these topics or suggestions for additional topics, contact the editor at (334) 844-3517, fax (334) 844-4709, or e-mail chesnjt@ auburn.edu. J. Thomas Chesnutt, Editor Extension and Tourism Specialist, ECDI
While sorting through some old files, I recently ran across an old ECDI activity report from May 2000. That report referenced a meeting with Nisa Miranda (University of Alabama), Bob Howard (Alabama Power Company), and Warren McCord (Alabama Cooperative Extension System) to discuss ideas about how our respective organizations might work together to strengthen Alabama’s smaller communities. We would frequently cross paths in these communities as we carried out programs related to planning, leadership and other aspects of community development. We wondered if there might be some way to combine forces, thinking that much more could be accomplished by working together. Eventually, we decided that other key players should be at the table for these discussions, such as the Alabama Association of Regional Councils, Alabama Development Office and Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs. After about 2 years of discussion and planning, the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE), a nonprofit corporation, was created with a goal of combining the collective expertise of its partner organizations to build the capacity of the state’s smaller communities to become “Alabama Communities of Excellence.” The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Auburn University Economic Development Institute were founding members of ACE. That commitment has never wavered. When ECDI was created in 2006, participation in the ACE program remained a top priority. I have served on the board of directors since ACE A national focus on local food holds enormous promise for Alabama, located at the heart of the Deep South region known for its unique cuisine. And yet, reminiscent of the dearth of civil rights guides devoted solely to Alabama, few food books explore solely the foods of our state. There are, however, many books on Southern food. To promote Alabama food in a new and meaningful way, I needed an innovative approach. I decided to use food as a gateway to explore time periods, cultural groups, regions, customs, movements, and events significant to Alabama’s identity. I chose foods with strong connections to our state that could tell meaningful stories about our history. I set out not to catalog Southern food, but to unearth histories and cultures represented in Alabama food traditions. As in my civil rights research, I was especially interested in telling less known and undocumented stories. With generous support from the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development, I traversed our state from the port of Mobile to Sand Mountain. Alabama’s diversity and regionalism astounded me. Our state has at least six distinct regional variations of barbecue sauce. The Wiregrass region claims fried cornbread and layer cakes. Barbecue clubs are found only in Sumter County. Seafood gumbo is prized along the coast, where most Mobilians have never even heard of North Alabama chicken stew. My research resulted in the book "‘Til It’s the Color of Me: The Story of Alabama through Food Traditions," which uses food to spotlight Alabama cultures, histories, and events and connect them to a broader national story. The book will be released
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