Sign up for the MLK Day 5K Drum Run  

Some free entry forms available! 

• The MLK Day 5K Drum Run is a fun and active event to celebrate the MLK Day holiday weekend. Since its 2012 inception in Atlanta, GA, the race has grown to over 2,000 runners/walkers and featured over 200 drummers from metro area schools and groups. The City of Birmingham and the Mayor’s Office is an INSPIRE partner for the 2023 MLK 5K Drum Run ‘TEAM COB’ and has comp forms for seven 5K entries and seven 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk entries. If you would like to participate, please email uche.bean@birminghamal.gov. All entry forms need to be returned via email no later than Friday, Jan. 6. 

Call Spoken Word artists! 

• The City of Birmingham presents its Servant Leader Spoken Word Contest. Submit your spoken word recording of a previously authored or original piece to employeerelations@birminghamal.gov. There is a 2-minute limit and city policies apply to all submissions. For additional information, call 581-3082 or email employeerelations@birminghamal.gov. Submissions are accepted now through Wednesday, Jan. 18. Employee voting will take place January 19-25. Outside judging will be Thursday, Jan. 26.  Winner announced Friday, Jan. 27. 

• The Birmingham Public Library presents Bards and Brews Open Mic 2023. The event will take place on Friday, Jan. 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Central Library, located at 2100 Park Place.  It’s free to enter and participate, but attendees must be at least 18 and 21 to drink. Featuring Poet Glenwood. See attached flyer.  

Get healthy in the New Year 

• Birmingham Park and Recreation presents 107 Days to Better Health Kick-off Mixer. Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy vendors, wellness screenings, cooking and fitness demos, and door prizes. The event will take place at the Negro Southern League Museum, located at 120 16th Street South.  

• Birmingham Park and Recreation presents Fitness at the Villa, a free weekly series beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17 at Avondale Villa, located at 4220 Woodvale Road. Here is the weekly schedule: 

• Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Kickbox Sculpt 

• Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Xtreme Hip-Hop 

• Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Line Dance 

• Check out this month’s Behavioral Health Systems Newsletter. It includes helpful tips on keeping a New Year’s resolution, staying engaged at work, and exercising regularly. See attached. 

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center offering discounted rates for city employees 

• Check out the following special offers just for City of Birmingham employees: 

• Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free for Jazz Sensations Fred Hersch and Esperanza Spalding. Wednesday, Jan. 18. Scan for offer and use code ESPCITYBOGO at checkout. Tickets are $35-$55. 

• Jazz/Low Country Ranky Tanky. Thursday, Feb. 23. Scan for offer and use code RANKYCITYBOGO at checkout. Tickets are $39. 

• Meshell Ndegeocello. Thursday, March 9. Scan for offer and use code MESHCITYBOGO at checkout. Tickets are $39. 

• For more information, see the attached flyer and go to AlysStephens.org. 

BFRS shares their emergency incident totals for 2022 

• Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to 73,007 emergency incidents in 2022. Last year was the busiest in the history of BFRS, which included the following: 

• 200 emergency incidents per day. 

• 1,404 emergency incidents per week. 

• 6,084 emergency incidents per month. 

Submit your news to marie.sutton@birminghamal.gov