At the helm of this legacy stand Abina Billups and Catrena Norris Carter, two dynamic, visionary leaders who are redefining what it means to honor history while shaping the future. As co-founders of Salute Selma, Inc., they have transformed remembrance into action—preserving the soul of Selma’s past while mobilizing a movement that demands progress today.

 

Selma is not just a place; it is a heartbeat, a call to action, a symbol of our nation’s ongoing struggle for justice. For nearly a decade, Salute Selma, Inc. has served as a bridge between the past and the present, ensuring that the stories of those who bled, marched, and fought for voting rights do not fade into history but fuel the fight for tomorrow.

 

Abina and Catrena have stood at the intersection of history and activism, bringing the world to Selma and Selma to the world. Their impact was cemented during the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery March, and the Voting Rights Act, when they executive-produced critically acclaimed documentaries in partnership with Viacom Networks Centric/BET, including Sheroes of Selma, We Remember, and Long Ride to Selma. These groundbreaking projects preserved the voices of civil rights icons and amplified the stories of those who fought on the front lines of change.

 

Five years later, their work took on an even greater significance during the 55th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March, when they orchestrated the first-ever Black Women-led March in Selma in partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine 9). Over 30,000 Black women and activists from around the world gathered on sacred ground to reaffirm their power at the ballot box and to inspire record-breaking voter engagement in one of the most consequential elections in American history. They have commanded stages with Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, alongside towering figures of the Civil Rights Movement—from Congressman John Lewis to Ambassador Andrew Young, Rosa Parks, and Diane Nash.

 

Beyond storytelling, they are architects of policy, power, and progress. Abina, a policy and political strategist, has spent her career leveraging her expertise to connect grassroots organizations, minority-owned businesses, corporate America, and government leadership, securing critical funding to foster economic growth and sustainability. Her work extends deeply into HBCUs and higher education, where she has played a pivotal role in developing policies, securing institutional funding, and forging strategic alliances that elevate and sustain Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She has worked at the highest levels of advocacy, ensuring that underrepresented communities and historic institutions rooted in the Civil Rights Movement continue to thrive. However, Abina’s abiding passion is fueled by a relentless commitment to ensuring that Selma remains not just a memory, but a movement—one that is driven by action, sustained by policy, and strengthened by collective power.

 

Catrena, a public relations maven, movement builder, and cultural architect, has dedicated her life to shaping narratives, mobilizing communities, and driving transformative change. She has trained hundreds of women to run for office, led voter engagement efforts that shaped national elections, and built coalitions amplifying Black women and marginalized voices. From politics to activism to entertainment, her strategic storytelling and advocacy have propelled movements forward. A powerhouse organizer, she understands that movements are built, momentum is intentional, and history is made when voices are heard.

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Now, as they lead the charge for the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery March, they invite the world to stand in solidarity—not just in reflection, but in action. This is more than a commemoration. It is a movement. It is a mission. It is a call to arms in the ongoing fight for justice, democracy, and equality.