Additional CCA Classes Now Open!
Space One Eleven Arts Center
Additional CCA classes now open!
Due to high demand, we are excited to announce that we have opened additional City Center Art (CCA) afterschool art classes.
Newly added class times are as follows:
Spring 2023, CCA 1 (Grades 2-5), Tuesdays from 4-6pm, January 24 – May 9.
Spring 2023, CCA 2 (Grades 6-8), Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm, January 18 – May 3.
If you would like additional information, please visit the Space One Eleven website, or contact our Arts Education Coordinator, Claire LeSar at ClaireLeSar@SpaceOneEleven.org.
City Center Art (CCA) classes are for young artists in grades 2 through 12 and are designed to build visual communication skills and foster creative thinking. Through individually conceived projects and collaborations, young artists learn the elements of art and principles of design, strengthen foundation skills and further their understanding of art theory and art history.
Free or Reduced Tuition
Through the generosity of local foundations and private contributors, families may qualify for free or reduced tuition.
About Space One Eleven
A visual arts organization founded in Birmingham, Alabama in 1986, Space One Eleven’s mission is to provide professional opportunities for artists, create a forum for public understanding of contemporary art, and offer arts education to area youth.
News You Can Use: 1-6-2023
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
2023 Street Paving List For District 3
Forest Park / South Avondale (January Newsletter)
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
FOREST PARK / SOUTH AVONDALE
Tuesday, January 3,
6:30 p.m.
Avondale Library
Agenda:
1. Report from South Precinct
2. Report from Friends of Avondale Park
3. Report from Birmingham Board of Education, Mary Boehm
4. Report from District 3 City Councilor, Valerie Abbott
5. Report from District 5 City Councilor, Darrel O'Quinn
Forest Park / South Avondale Brush and Trash Pick Up Date:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash
Missed Pick-up - Dial 311
Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311
Miss Fancy Sculpture at Avondale Park was unveiled on December 10. Here's a link to a video of the unveiling.
https://www.wbrc.com/2022/12/11/miss-fancy-returns-home-avondale-park/?outputType=amp
Please remember to bag leaves for disposal by the City.
Birmingham does NOT pick up unbagged leaves left in the street !!!
Please remember to pick up after your pet and avoid disposing of their waste in your neighbor's trash can. Also be mindful of your pet peeing or pooping on your neighbor's lawn, shrubbery and ground cover. Pet urine is toxic to many of our plants.
Forest Park and Avondale Park Historic Districts
Design Review Information
When applying for a building/construction permit, the City's database will alert the clerk if your address is within one of the City's historic districts. If you reside in one of the City's historic districts, construction / renovation projects will likely be subject to Birmingham's design review process. Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood has two historically designated districts (Forest Park and Avondale Park). These districts are subject to design review when new construction, renovation, repair, and remodel projects affecting the exterior of any structure located within the historic district boundaries. Research has show that property values are greater for homes located in historic districts, especially districts that are subject to design review.
When City permitting personnel determines that your proposed renovation/construction project is within a historic district, you will be referred to City's design review personnel for a determination if the repairs, construction etc. are subject to review by the City and local design review committees.
If your case is subject to design review, you will be given a date to present your case to the City's design review committee. You will also be referred to your local "Neighborhood" committee for review. The local committee will review your case prior to the date set for review by the City's committee and make recommendations to the City Design Review Board.
Local design review committees are made up of historic district residents with the requirement that at least 2 members of the committee are architects. Local committees make findings and recommendations that are submitted to the City committee. The findings and recommendations of the local committee are binding and can only be overturned by a two thirds majority of the City's design review committee.
As a word of caution, if you think your residence is located within one of Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood's Historic Districts, DO NOT purchase materials or commence exterior renovations/construction prior to a determination whether your project is subject to the City's design review process. If your materials / design are not approved during the process, you may not be able to recoup the expense for materials and / or construction labor.
Forest Park Design Review Committee Interim Chairman
Jeff McGee - jeffmcgeefpsa@aol.com (205) 999 3185
Avondale Park Design Review Committee Chairman
Jeff McGee - jeffmcgeefpsa@aol.com (205) 999 3185
Avondale Park Historic District Map
https://gisweb.birminghamal.gov/StandardMaps/Historic/AvondalePark.pdf
Forest Park Historic District Map
https://gisweb.birminghamal.gov/StandardMaps/Historic/ForestPark.pdf
BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review Jan 23rd-Jan 29th
Council President Wardine Alexander and Councilor Darrell O'Quinn appointed to prominent committee positions with the National League of Cities
Birmingham City Council President Wardine Alexander and Councilor Darrell O’Quinn have been appointed to national committee positions with the National League of Cities. While serving in these roles, Alexander and O’Quinn will help guide policy priorities and legislative efforts in their respective areas of focus.
UDPATE: Council Approves Several Districts' American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funded Projects
The Council unanimously approved several projects that will be funded through the various district’s federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding — each district was awarded $3 million in federal funds to distribute to various programs and initiatives in their district to aid in the ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Councilor Clinton Woods is utilizing $25,000 from his District 1 ARPA funds for the POWER career readiness program. This curriculum is designed to prepare youth and young adults, ages 16- 24, experiencing academic learning and job training loss due to COVID restrictions for high-demand jobs through workforce education, paid student internships, and eliminating barriers of employment by connecting program participants with employers.
Another ARPA funded program that the Council unanimously approved deals with crime reporting and data collection with the Aspen Institute. Districts 1, 6, 8 and 9 contributed District ARPA funds to help bring this justice and governance partnership to Birmingham — one of only six cities nationwide.
Transportation Committee Receives Update From BJCTA
On Monday, the Transportation Committee received a report from BJCTA Director Charlotte Shaw, who outlined progress that has been made over the last year and next steps for transit in Birmingham.
The 2023 strategic plan for the BJCTA focuses on several key areas of service: employee engagement, community value, financial growth and customer service.
What's Happening in Education and Outreach at Sidewalk
Sidewalk Salon: TV Writing Fellowship Basics
January 10 | Free | Zoom | 7PM
Our first Salon of 2023 will be an overview of the TV writing fellowship application process. You'll walk away with an understanding of the requirements and deadlines of each program as well as an understanding of what makes a strong application, how you can decide which programs are right for you, and where you can turn for additional resources.
Our speaker is Troy Kelly, 2018 winner of Sidewrite, Sidewalk's screenwriting competition. Troy Kelly is a gay forensic psychologist turned TV writer. He is a fellow of the 2022-2023 Warner Bros.' Writers' Workshop. He writes dark, emotionally-driven dramas about flawed protagonists with unresolved traumas and complicated relationships confronting impossible odds and doing whatever it takes to survive. His passions include training his rescue dog Lucky to be a therapy dog and curating his collection of over 10,000 comic books.
THIS SALON IS VIRTUAL AND WILL BE HELD ON ZOOM.
TV Writing Fellowship Workshop
February 9 | $10 | Zoom | 7PM
Troy will be leading a second course on Writing Fellowships on February 9th via Zoom. This workshop will be tailored to what *you* want to know about the writing fellowship application, work sample, and experience so be sure to come equipped with questions! Participating in January's Salon is not required to attend this workshop.
January Book + Film Club is on Room
Book: Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue
"Emma Donoghue's writing is superb alchemy, changing innocence into horror and horror into tenderness. Room is a book to read in one sitting. When it's over you look up: the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days."―Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife
Film: Room (2015, dir. Lenny Abrahamson)
"With visual and psychological precision, Abrahamson brilliantly evokes the experience of living outside of everyday reality. " - St. Louis Dispatch
January MAILING Registration Deadline: Friday January 6.
January PICK UP Registration Deadline: Monday January 16.
This month's discussion will be guest facilitated by local librarian, Candice Murdock!
Private screening and discussion will take place at Sidewalk Cinema January 25th at 7 PM.
APPLY TODAY FOR THE BIRMINGHAM CORPS CAPACITY BUILDERS PROGRAM
Birmingham Corps is actively recruiting for its Capacity Builders Program Cohort 2 thanks to a partnership with AmeriCorps. This paid service-learning opportunity will recruit, train, and develop 10 full-time AmeriCorps members to support local nonprofits working to expand economic and social impact efforts in underserved communities in Birmingham.
The deadline to submit applications is this Friday, December 30, 2022
Important Update About Garbage Pickup This Week And Next
Important update about garbage pickup this week and next:
In observance of the holiday season, the City of Birmingham offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26 with the exception of police, fire and 911. As a result of these closures, collection for Friday, Dec. 23’s uniform cart routes will occur on this Wednesday, Dec. 21. Collection for the Monday Dec. 26 uniform cart routes will occur on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
All other regular garbage collection routes will be serviced as normal on their next or following pickup date (i.e., Friday, Dec. 23 collection will be picked up on the next scheduled date of Tuesday, Dec. 27). Recycle collection will remain as scheduled on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Magic City Spotlight: Birmingham to celebrate 60th commemoration of civil rights movement throughout 2023
The City of Birmingham to commemorate 60 years since the 1963 Birmingham campaign for civil and human rights
For the entire year of 2023, the City of Birmingham – in partnership with area churches, arts organizations, activists, businesses and nonprofits – will honor the challenges, lessons and triumphs of the 1963 Birmingham civil and human rights movement. The 60th commemoration will include programs, events, workshops, and entertainment that will be open to the entire community.
“The eyes of the world were on Birmingham in 1963 while a battle was waged for the equal rights of all of its residents,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “We plan to spend 2023 remembering and reflecting on the people and events that helped to break down segregation not only in Birmingham, but in our country.”
Click the image above or the button below to hear Mayor Woodfin make the announcement. Stay tuned to www.birminghamal.gov/forgingjustice as details develop
Birmingham's year-end progress report reviews 66 significant accomplishments of 2022
Mayor Woodfin writes, "Since taking office for a second time on November 23, 2021 we have taken great strides to address the goals of Vision 2025, our strategy to build on the progress of our first term. Take a moment to review some of the significant accomplishments in our commitment to invest in our people, reimagine public safety, renew our commitment to our neighborhoods and realize our economic potential."
See the full list at birminghamal.gov/progress and celebrate the progress of our city!
Be advised: City of Birmingham closed December 23 and 26,
garbage collection dates adjusted for holiday
In observance of the holiday season, the City of Birmingham offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26 with the exception of police, fire and 911.
As a result of these closures, residents were informed that collection for Friday, Dec. 23's uniform cart routes took place on Wednesday. December 21. Collection for the Monday, Dec. 26 uniform cart routes will occur on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
All other regular garbage collection routes will be serviced as normal on their next or following pickup date (i.e. Friday, Dec. 23 collection will be picked up on the next scheduled date of Tuesday, Dec. 27). Recycle collection will remain as scheduled on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Warming station open December 22 through 25
The National Weather Service has issued a Hard Freeze Warning in effect for Birmingham and all of Central Alabama tonight through Christmas morning. A prolonged period of very cold temperatures will be a threat to people and pets without adequate warmth. Exposed pipes that are not insulated or drained could burst. Please monitor weather updates during this extreme cold.
In response to temperatures falling below freezing, the City of Birmingham will partner with Jimmie Hale Mission and Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex to open a 24-hour warming station to the public beginning 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22 through Sunday, Dec. 25. Those needing warm shelter can come to the BJCC South Exhibition Hall, located at 1962 9th Ave North.
Food will be provided.
We will continue to monitor temperatures to determine hours of operation for the days following Christmas.
The City of Birmingham plans to invest critical funding into supporting research and resources around food access. The City was recently awarded $298,736 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program. This was a part of a $14.2 million investment across 27 states to support urban agriculture and innovative production. In addition, $1 million of the city’s American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds was recently approved to be designated for healthy food initiatives.
“Eliminating barriers to healthy food access is a priority,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “With this funding we hope to invest in local, minority food producers to put healthy food on the tables of our residents.”
Click the button below to learn more about the challenge we face, how these funds can help and next steps in the process.