Magic City Spotlight: Drop warmth supply drive donations at Boutwell today

Meet us at Boutwell Auditorium today and donate to the warmth supply drive

The City of Birmingham's warmth supply drive continues today to 4 p.m. in front of Boutwell Auditorium.

There is a critical need for bottled water donations.

Donors can drive in front of Boutwell, and someone will unload their vehicle.

Boutwell’s address is 1930 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

Volunteers will be accepting:

• Bottled water

• Toilet paper

• Paper towels

• New or gently-used coats

• New gloves and winter caps

• Hand warmers

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review, November 6th - November 12th

Honoring Our Veterans at the Oldest Veterans Day Parade in the Country

Did you know that Birmingham is home to America's first and oldest Veteran's Day Parade?  This Saturday, District 4 Councilor J.T. Moore participated in the festivities for the 76th annual event, and he brought along a few friends!

Councilors Host 'Days of Giving' Ahead of the Holidays

Council President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander (D7) and Councilor J.T. Moore (D4) hosted some exciting giveaways over the weekend.  Both Councilors had Thanksgiving events where they distributed food to families in need this holiday season.

Councilor Moore Speaks at Building Black Wealth Summit

On Thursday, Councilor JT Moore spoke with an esteemed group of panelists at the National Associations of Real Estate Brokers for their Black Wealth Summit at Miles College. Building wealth in historically underserved communities requires action from all sorts of stakeholders, banks, schools, public and private partnerships, transportation services and so much more.

These conversations are crucial if we are going to continue to make progress and bring more affordable housing opportunities to our neighborhoods.

The City of Birmingham honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month

During the month of October, the City of Birmingham is honoring the strength, courage, and resilience of our Breast Cancer fighters, thrivers, and survivors. BWELL BHM kicked off its Breast Awareness campaign last Friday, Oct. 3 with the WISDOM study during Food Truck Friday. On this Friday, Oct. 13, BWELL BHM is asking all employees to wear pink. Let’s flood city hall with lots of different shades as we show our support. Send your pictures to marie.sutton@birminghamal.gov. You may be featured on our social media channels. 
 
On Tuesday, Oct. 17, City of Birmingham employees are invited to an informative Lunch & Learn, themed Sheroes Wear Pink. The event will feature Dr. Erica Reasor, director of UAB’s Breast Cancer Program, and Raquel Owen, founder of Pinktopps LLC, in the Hall of Distinguished Citizens. Complimentary lunch and sweet treats will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Afterward, be sure to check out a special tribute mural that will be unveiled on the second floor of City Hall near the Boutwell crosswalk. 

Magic City Spotlight: Relive the magic of the 2023 Morehouse Tuskegee Classic

Congrats to the Golden Tigers! The Morehouse Tuskegee Classic was a hit

Tuskegee defeated Morehouse 40-28 in a thrilling showcase of HBCU culture and pride.

Click the image above or the buttons below to watch a recap of the tailgates, concerts and more that lit up the Magic City this past weekend!

News You Can Use: 10-13-23

The City of Birmingham honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

• During the month of October, the City of Birmingham is honoring the strength, courage, and resilience of our Breast Cancer fighters, thrivers, and survivors. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, City of Birmingham employees are invited to an informative Lunch & Learn, themed Sheroes Wear Pink. The event will feature Dr. Erica Reasor, director of UAB’s Breast Cancer Program, and Raquel Owen, founder of Pinktopps LLC, in the Hall of Distinguished Citizens beginning at 11 a.m. Complimentary lunch and sweet treats will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Afterward, be sure to check out a special tribute mural that will be unveiled on the second floor of City Hall near the Boutwell crosswalk. See the attached for details. 

New food fest to celebrate Birmingham’s culinary scene now through Oct. 15   

• To further enhance Birmingham’s national reputation as a foodie destination, a major food event is coming to the Magic City in October. The Bham FOOD+Culture Fest, which is being held now through Oct. 15 at Pepper Place, Sloss Furnaces, and other venues, celebrates the city’s great chefs, delicious dishes, and diverse cultural traditions.  Each evening will have a theme and require a ticket. For tickets, visit www.bhamfoodplus.com. 
   

Operation Hope to host several workshops 

• Enroll today in the 2nd Annual Holiday Savings Challenge. Learn to be proactive, create a game plan, get through the season without breaking the bank, and start the new year with no new debt. 

• Upcoming workshops: 

• Homebuyer Education Workshop. Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. Social Venture, 5529 1st Ave. S 

• Holiday Saving Challenge Workshop. Thursday, Oct 19 at 11:30 a.m. Online (Zoom) 

• D6 Financial Wellness Workshop. Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. New Hope Baptist Church, 1740 Cleburn Ave. 

• Visit operationhope.org for details. 

Know someone who needs a second chance  

• Make plans to come out to the Second Chance Hiring Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium. Attendees and employers are invited. Go to secondchancehiringfair.com for details and see attached.   
   

BMA hosts Art + Conversation 2023-2024 season 

• The Birmingham Museum of Art is presenting its reinvigorated Art + Conversation series for the 2023-2024 season. This is your invitation to step beyond the canvas and delve into the stories, the history, and the passion behind the BMA's collection. Their inaugural session for this season is set for next Wednesday, Oct. 18. Dive deep into the fascinating life of Zelda Fitzgerald in The Legend of Zelda: Alabama Artist & Jazz Age Muse, presented by Graham C. Boettcher, Ph.D., Hugh Daniel Director of American Art. Unravel the captivating journey of this Jazz Age icon and discover the eras and influences that shaped her artistic prowess. 

• When: October 18 at 11 a.m. (Arrive at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and light bites!) 

• Where: Main Lobby, Birmingham Museum of Art (Lecture takes place at 11 a.m. in the Steiner Auditorium) 

• Tickets: Series of 6: $60 for members, $75 for non-members 

• Individual Event: $12 for members, $17 for non-members 

• Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to register soon to secure your spot. Register here. 

Register for a Professional Development Day Conference  

• Learn business acumen, power skills, and more. Friday, Oct. 20. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at City Club Birmingham. Featuring Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and others. See attached for details. 

Mark your calendars for the Household Hazardous Waste event  

• Saturday, Oct. 21 from 8-11:30 a.m. For more information, call 205-325-8741. See flyer for details. 

The Get Down will take place at Avondale Park   

• Presented by Seasick Records and Yellowhammer Print Shop. Featuring arts, music, records, and vintage. With Cha Wa, Shaheed & DJ Supreme, and more. Sunday, Oct. 22. See attached for details

Don’t miss Classic Cocktails with Birmingham Public Library  

• The Birmingham Public Library will host Classic Cocktails, a kickoff party leading up to this year’s Magic City Classic football game. Classic Cocktails will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at downtown’s Central Library. The Second Annual Classic Cocktails will feature a tasting of locally distilled spirits, music from DJ Chris Coleman of Birmingham’s  V94.9 FM,  tailgate food, a cigar lounge provided by Cigars & More, a 360-photo booth, specialty cocktails, along with some surprises!  Event proceeds will fund programs at all BPL locations, which help the Birmingham Public Library continue to provide the community with the highest-quality experience of lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. Tickets are available online through Eventbrite: Classic Cocktails: A Magic City Classic Kickoff Party Tickets, Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite  
   

Come out to the Old School Magic City Classic Concert 

• Commissioner Sheila Tyson is presenting a free live concert featuring Bobby Rush, V.I.C. The Wobble Guy and Willie Clayton. Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. BJCC East Ballroom A&B. See attached for details.  

Make plans to attend the Magic City Classic Meet & Greet Day Party 

• Join the West End Community and Commissioner Sheila Tyson for free food and drinks (while they last). Arlington House. Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 12-4 p.m. Featuring DJ Bad Boy Butch. Voter registration on site. See attached for details.  

Come out to a free community family  

• Join the VFW Post 668 for a community fun day. All are welcome to come to their post located at 1801 11th Ave. North. Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be kid activities, a bouncy house, a slide, and a dunking tank. Free food. All are welcome. See attached. 

Nancy’s Soul Food Sunday All Black Affair  

• Featuring High Energy Band. Sunday, Oct. 29. 3-7 p.m. Woodrow Hall, 5540 1st Ave. North/ $40. See attached for details.   

FORGING JUSTICE POSTER SERIES   

The city's 60th commemoration poster series continues 

• October is the month we reflect upon the acts of Social Justice. October's poster is themed “Growing in Solidarity" and features a proud fist sprouting from a bouquet of thorned roses. Free copies of this month’s poster are available in city hall. You can also check out the calendar of events for the 60th commemoration events happening all year at birminghamal.gov/forgingjustice. 

Greater Birmingham Ministries News

Internet for All

Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is an annual week of action to elevate digital equity throughout the country . GBM is working to ensure low-income people and eligible senior citizens have access to the internet.  

You may be eligible to receive a $30 discount off your current internet service or you may connect to a plan that is FREE.  We are taking appointments on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 am - 2 pm for "Internet for All", an Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). 

Call 205-304-0024 to schedule your appointment or to see if you are eligible.

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Clearing the Thicket: Alabama's Deep Underbrush of Injustice 

GBM's Faith in Community Workgroup presents an interactive conference aimed at digging deep into the entangling weeds of Alabama's social and economic injustices and offering tangible solutions to clear them away.  Rev. Liz Theoharis, Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary and Co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival will be the keynote speaker.

This conference is open to faith and community leaders, social justice allies and advocates, students, and people directly impacted by Alabama's systemic injustices.  

This event is free of charge.  Lunch will be provided for a nominal fee and lunch scholarships will be made available for those who need it.

Email carolyn@gbm.org for more information.

Upcoming Southside Community Framework Plan Meetings

Community Arts Grant 2023: upcoming event w/ Barehands Inc.

One of the 2023 City of Birmingham Community Arts Grant recipients, Barehands Inc, is using the grant award to host free memorial alter box classes. Folks just have to register, so they can plan for supplies, before they attend. 

More Info and Registration for Next Classes HERE:

Carver High School, Saturday, September 16

MAKEbhm - Saturday, September 23 

Ensley Recreation Center, Saturday, September 30

Times for all classes are 1p.m. to 3p.m.

Making a memorial altar (ofrenda) for a lost loved one for the Day of the Dead is a creative and rewarding way to remember them.  We recommend using a small box, like a cigar box or shoebox.  Often a small altar box becomes the building block of A larger altar that you may want to create in the future. 

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.29.2

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.29.23

ITEMS 18-19

The Birmingham City Council has voted to delay considering proposed amendments to the City’s parking and towing ordinances following a public hearing at today’s Council meeting.

Several representatives from local towing companies addressed the Council during the hearing and raised concerns over the proposed language surrounding insurance coverage in the updated ordinance. In order to get the corrected language included into the ordinance, there will be a two-week delay.

Written submissions for public comments will still be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5th; the public hearing to consider the amended parking and towing ordinances will be held September 12th during the regularly scheduled Council meeting.

Written comments can be sent to Darrell.OQuinn@Birminghamal.gov

The Council will be in a position to consider approving the amendments at the conclusion on the public hearing on September 12th.

The Office of the City Attorney presented the proposed changes during a Town Hall held in June. Some of the key points of the updated ordinance include, but are not limited to, increasing insurance requirements for operators; clarifying proof of payment to help drivers with dispute options; prohibiting operators from towing/booting a vehicle while a driver is paying; additional payment options — the use of mobile and web payment systems; improved requirements for signage.

In addition to modernizing the way parking in paid for by phone, the updated ordinance also gives the Birmingham Department of Transportation purview to oversee parking signage placement and regulations.

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, chair of the Transportation Committee, said he has been encouraged by the productive conversation and feedback from members of the public throughout this process.

“There were definitely issues that were brought up that we had not heard before when we heard from residents in June. It’s really great to get these comments into the public record,” O’Quinn said. “There were multiple people that have referred to the ambiguity of the signage that refers to overnight parking. I think that’s really valuable to for us to hear. I’m looking forward to this additional opportunity for people to provide feedback. I’d like to thank the Mayor’s team and our City Attorneys for their continued work and diligence on these important updates to our city code.”

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ITEM 30

The Council approved a resolution for a grant application seeking $15 million for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program with the U.S. Department of Transportation to convert 4th Avenue North from a one-way to a two-way street.

This would take place from 24th Street North to 9th Street North through the downtown corridor. This program is part of the bi-partisan infrastructure bill that was passed by Congress in 2021. These conversion plans are supported by the City Center Master Plan and Northside/Southside Framework Plans, which have shown a need to convert several one-way streets as a way to boost economic activity and help prevent incidents of reckless driving.

This corridor is the home of the Fourth Avenue Business District. According to representatives with the City’s Department of Transportation, national studies have shown that converting roads from one-ways is a big boon for local businesses. Two-way traffic allows for people to access these stores from both directions and allows for a slower pace of traffic.

“I know we have had many instances of collisions at the intersection by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and there is some confusion with drivers when they are passing through this area,” Council President Wardine Aleander said. “I think it’s so important for the City to support this historic Black business center. I am hopeful this grant application will be successful and we will be able to make our roadways a little safe and more supportive for local businesses.”

Most of the cost would be incurred from outfitting the intersections with new signals and ADA compliant features.

This corridor is located in an “area of persistent poverty” and therefore does not require the typical 80/20 percent grant match under federal guidelines. However, in order to strengthen the grant application, the City will be contributing $2 million towards the project in the event the application is successful.

Here is the item as it appeared on the agenda:

ITEM 30.

A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents

required for the City to apply for a Reconnecting Communities and

Neighborhood (RCN) Program grant from United States Department of

Transportation in the amount of up to $15,000,000.00 to convert 4th Ave

North from a one-way to a two-way from 24th Street to 9th Street. This

grant requires matching funds in the amount of twenty percent (20%) of

the total grant received by the City and authorizing the Mayor to take any

and all actions and execute such documents as are appropriate and

necessary to accept and expend the grant funds on behalf of the City in

accordance with the grant documents. (Submitted by the City Attorney)

(Recommended by the Mayor and the Chief Community Planner)