He spent 27 years helping low-income people at Alabama Arise

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — One step at a time.

Sometimes the journey took years. But the goal for Kimble Forrister was to make things better for Alabama’s poor. And in the process make things better for all of us.

He spent 27 years as executive director of Alabama Arise, a state-wide organization headquartered in Montgomery, that brings together faith-based groups along with community, civic and non-profit groups to help low-income folk.

The largest extent of the work is done in the Alabama Legislature, through education and working for people who can sometimes be overlooked. Forrister retired from Arise in 2018. He’s credited with building Arise into what it is today: an effective advocacy organization. He was the first full-time staff person, and his impact is felt to this day.

For the community advocacy work that gave a voice to everyday Alabamians in the halls of power, Forrister is the Montgomery Advertiser’s Community Hero for March. The Community Hero program, sponsored by South University, celebrates the good works of extraordinary people in and around Montgomery.

“It grew out of an organizing effort at Greater Birmingham Ministries and the Alabama Council on Human Relations in Auburn,” Forrister said. “They were working on utilities issues. They had been trying to influence the (Alabama) Public Service Commission. And they decided they would have better effect at the Legislature, because it’s easier for constituents to influence the Legislature.”

The PSC is the state organization the regulates utilities.

Thirty-two congregations and organizations pooled their resources to hire a part-time lobbyist. Three years later they hired Forrister. He worked a one-person office, in the Bell Building, at the time. His vision was to grow Arise to include a staff of policy...