Alabama Rivers Alliance

WE ARE HIRING! The Alabama Rivers Alliance is excited to announce we are hiring a Director of Community Partnerships.

The Director of Community Partnerships plays an essential role in supporting and collaborating with our vast network of community partners and individual community leaders across Alabama and beyond. The person in this role ensures the Alabama Rivers Alliance’s policy advocacy work is grounded in the needs of our community and watershed partners and that our partners are informed and engaged in our broader statewide initiatives.

The Director of Community Partnerships is responsible for uniting and providing leadership to Alabama’s network of local river and water-focused organizations, as well community groups with common interests, in order to maintain a strong statewide movement to protect rivers and to support the Alabama Rivers Alliance state policy work.

https://alabamarivers.org/dcp/

BIG NEWS from the Alabama Rivers Alliance!

Martha Hunter, our Director of Community Partnerships, has officially retired, as of today!

Martha has dedicated countless hours (and miles!) over the past ten years at ARA strengthening our river protection movement, while making connections all across the state. Her endless energy and her passion for getting to know people and getting them connected to other Alabamians who are working so hard to defend and protect our rivers throughout the state is unprecedented!

"I remember when we interviewed Martha for the job 10 years ago, our policy director at the time asked if I had given her all the answers ahead of time. She has always understood the importance of having a strong and networked alliance of partners across the state to achieve our mission of protecting healthy rivers and clean water for all!" - Cindy Lowry, ARA’s executive director

Make plans now to join us on August 18 at Rojo to celebrate Martha! Take a scroll through some photos of her time with our AWESOME alliance partners and members all over the state and send her out into her next chapter with some love in the comments below!

PS. She has definitely earned her time of rest but don’t worry - she won’t be disappearing. Between goat rearin’ and golf cart drivin’, she has agreed to continue to help out on some of her ongoing projects and to help onboard whoever may fill this important position for our organization. Stay tuned for a job announcement coming next week!

What an awesome series from Bham Now - Birmingham’s modern media in time for World Fish Migration Day!

Why is World Fish Migration Day, May 23rd, important for Alabama? | The Bama Buzz 🐟 🌎 Move over migrating birds, butterflies and salmon. Alabama's got some pretty cool migrating fish too! Read why they matter. Celebrate World Fish Migration Day with us!

Alabama is in great hands with all these incredible folks talking about river and water protection at in San Antonio! ARA’s Charles Miller will be presenting about data centers with ’s Ryan Anderson and ’s Portia Shepherd will be presenting about infrastructure throughout the South. Collaborating, sharing and hearing others is such an important part of what we do at ARA!

We want to send a HUGE thank you to our sponsors of Southern Exposure Films in Huntsville! tomorrow evening! As we have outgrown venues with the awesome crowds in Huntsville, sponsors help us keep this incredible evening of films and conversations FREE to everyone in Huntsville!

Please support those who support us! Energy Alabama, Land Trust of North Alabama, Phoenix Glass & NewTerra Compost, Planet Sapling, Huntsville Canoe Club, Susan Weber and Stephen Wynn!

We are THRILLED to announce the selection of the 2026 Southern Exposure Film fellows: Moses Aubrey, Ethan Kauffman, Anna Lueck, Callie Mejia, and Grace Sullivan!

This summer, these ultra talented filmmakers will create five short documentaries telling powerful stories about Alabama’s special people, places and wildlife. The films will feature Alabamians who are dedicated to protecting and restoring our rich biodiversity, while highlighting solutions for complex issues for audiences all over the state and region.

We can't wait to welcome them to Alabama! Stay tuned this summer to see pieces of their work as they explore all four corners of Alabama, and beyond.

HUNTSVILLE we can't wait to see you Wednesday for the FREE screening of the NEW Southern Exposure Films! ARA and Huntsville Environmental Coalition invite you to join us for a night of films and conversation with some of those featured in the films like Reverend Cody Gilliam from Belle Mina Methodist Church.

Wednesday, May 13
at Campus 805’s Campus Cafeteria
Mix and Mingling at 5:30 pm | Films start at 6:30 pm
Q&A + Discussion After
Food While It Lasts - Plus Cash Bar!

More info plus see trailers: Southern Exposure Films in Huntsville!

Earlier this week, we had the honor of recognizing Kelly Marshall, ARA’s Deputy Director and Southern Exposure’s Impact Producer, with the *UNSUNG HERO* award for her outstanding public service, and so much more at UAB Department of Political Science and Public Administration’s Alabama Public Service Training Initiative annual celebration dinner.

Michele Forman (UAB’s Director of Media Studies and Southern Exposure Film’s Series Producer), Cindy Lowry (ARA’s executive director) and David Butler (Cahaba River Coalition) all separately nominated her, which illustrates her reach across the environmental community and beyond. Take a look at some excerpts from her nomination letters in the photos below and join us in saying HIP HIP HOORAY to Kelly and her work throughout Alabama protecting and defending our rivers and streams!