Magic City Spotlight: $12 million resurfacing plan is under way

Road work begins under city's $12 million resurfacing plan

The plan to resurface roads around Birmingham is officially in motion.

Milling work started Tuesday along Redwol Drive. Look for more work soon around Valley Crest Lane, Old Farm Drive, Bellhurst Drive and Eastbrook Drive.

Click the button below to visit www.birminghamal.gov/neighborhoods to learn more about plans.

99 Voices: Rodney and Roderick Myers, Tuxedo

In the latest episode of 99 Voices, firefighters Rodney and Roderick Myers tell us about their journey from the "Brickyard" to 15 years of service at Birmingham Fire & Rescue.

Our communities are StrongHER than ever because of her

We hope you're keeping up! We are continuing to celebrate Women's History Month by lifting the names and stories of women across Birmingham. These women have inspiring stories that speak to their wonderful talents and genuine hearts for others.

Click the buttons below to see profiles and learn more.

Make summer count with ASFA summer camps! 🌞

Register for ASFA Summer Camps today!

Make your 2023 summer count with Alabama School of Fine Arts summer camps! Offering camps in app design, computer science, visual arts, creative writing, and three-week pre-algebra and algebra intensives for those looking to review or get ahead.
 

Come create, learn and discover with ASFA's award-winning faculty!
Register at www.asfaschool.org/summer-camps.

Check Out The Latest Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Newsletter

Check out the spring issue of The Garden Dirt

Hot off the presses! Enjoy the latest installment of The Garden Dirt—our award-winning quarterly publication for members of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. As we gear up for our popular Spring Plant Sale, get to know five of our expert volunteers, who shared their favorite plants sold from each of our growing groups.

Talk with dozens of other expert gardeners when you shop our 2023 Spring Plant Sale on April 13 (Member Shopping) and April 14–15 (Public Sale) at the Gardens. As you browse hundreds of varieties of plants these dedicated volunteers will be on hand to offer tips for selecting plants and advice on planting.

Mark your calendar, and enjoy the issue! Thank you for supporting the Gardens and all that it makes possible through your annual membership, donations, and plant sale purchases.

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2023 Spring Plant Sale

Get ready for spring planting by joining us for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens' Spring Plant Sale—the nonprofit’s largest plant sale fundraiser of the year—April 13–15 at the Gardens!

Choose from veggies, perennials, herbs, tropicals, houseplants, trees, shrubs, natives, ferns, and more. Bring a folding cart or wagon and your planting questions!

Members of the Friends will enjoy priority shopping on Thursday, April 13 (1 p.m.–5:30 p.m.). 

The Latest News From The White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office

President Biden and Vice President Harris are delivering on their commitment to lower costs for American families. Through the historic legislation signed into law by President Biden (ARP, IRA, BIL), Americans are experiencing lower health care, home heating, and high-speed internet costs – affecting tens of millions of seniors, students, and families month-over-month. This week alone, the Biden Administration is announcing key actions to help blunt the impacts of inflation on American households and give families more breathing room.

• Lowering health care and prescription drug costs: The Department of Health and Human Services released new data showing that over 3.4 million seniors and people with disabilities are likely to save an average of $70 per year because of the Inflation Reduction Act’s provision that went into effect in January that allows Medicare beneficiaries to get recommended vaccines for free. HHS also announced that producers of 27 drugs – or 9% of all Medicare Part B drugs – will need to pay rebates back to Medicare because they raised their prices faster than inflation. This provision of the Inflation Reduction Act is putting a critical check on drug companies that try to excessively raise their prices and squeeze American seniors. And, some Medicare beneficiaries that take these drugs will save between $2 to $390 per dose of medication starting in April.

• Lowering high-speed internet costs: The Federal Communication Commission released additional funds to support the Affordable Connectivity Program, a program that is delivering affordable high-speed internet to over 16 million households, saving American families over $500 million per month. Last week, the FCC released a tranche of $66 million to help more people access the program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

• Lowering home energy costs: This week, HHS released over a half a billion dollars in LIHEAP funds to states to cover American families’ home heating costs. President Biden and Vice President Harris have significantly increased funding for the LIHEAP program, including $500 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $4.5 billion in ARPA to give Americans breathing room on their winter heating bills. Over the past year, LIHEAP has helped more than 5.3 million households on heating and cooling bills, and on weatherization services.

Fact Sheet on President Biden's Prescription Drug Law Saving Millions
State by State Vaccine Savings
State by State Insulin Savings

President Biden Announces New Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities Safer

This week, in Monterey Park, California, President Biden announced an Executive Order with the goal of increasing the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. The Executive Order will also keep more guns out of dangerous hands by increasing the effective use of “red flag” laws, strengthen efforts to hold the gun industry accountable, and accelerate law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend the shooters menacing our communities. President Biden also encouraged the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors.

President Biden traveled to Monterey Park to grieve with the families and community impacted by the mass shooting that claimed 11 lives and injured nine others in January. Monterey Park is part of a growing list of communities all across the country that are forever changed due to gun violence—not only mass shootings, but also daily acts of gun violence that may not make national headlines.

Fact Sheet on President Biden's Actions to Reduce Gun violence and Make Our Communities Safer

The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Lower High-Speed Internet Costs

This week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new funding to lower the cost of high-speed internet, releasing $73 million in Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grants to help more Americans sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program and save on monthly internet costs.

In the 21st century, affordable, reliable high-speed internet is key to opportunity – to access education, healthcare, work, precision agriculture and keep in touch with loved ones. Still, too many are left without high-speed internet because they lack the infrastructure, or are inhibited by high costs or lack of technological skills. In particular, these inequities impact communities of color, rural communities and older Americans where the lack of affordable, reliable high-speed internet contributes to significant economic, health and other disparities.

Already, 16.75 million households are saving over $500 million per month on high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Now, the Biden-Harris Administration is releasing an additional $73 million in Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grants to help more Americans sign up for the program and save on internet costs. These investments include:  

• $66 million in the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Program to drive awareness and enrollment in the country’s newest and largest broadband affordability program in the nation’s history.  Building on its current community partnerships, the FCC is providing financial support to partner organizations nationwide to serve as trusted community messengers for the Affordable Connectivity Program and equip them with funding to pursue innovative outreach strategies to reach historically underserved communities, including money set aside for outreach to households on Tribal lands. The FCC selected 197 applicants representing 50 states and territories to pursue a broad range of outreach projects to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program. Partner organizations will now be able to use grant funds to conduct digital campaigns, door-to-door canvassing, operate phone banks, distribute direct mail, and host ACP application enrollment and outreach events. Of the 197 applicants selected for funding, 177 represent governmental and non-governmental entities from the National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP), with $60 million in funding. The remaining 20 represent governmental and non-governmental funding recipients from the Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP), which is providing over $6 million in funding for ACP outreach and enrollment support targeting eligible households that live on qualifying Tribal lands.

Fact Sheet on the Biden-Harris Administration's New Actions to Lower High-Speed Internet Costs 

Birmingham City Council Highlights 3.21.23

Birmingham City Council Highlights 3.21.23

Here are a few of the legislative highlights from Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, in case you missed it.
 

ITEM 10

The Birmingham City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Lawson State Community College to provide workforce development training for Commercial Driver’s License Training for City Employees. This program will be at no cost to the city.

Currently the Department of Public Works has positions to fill for commercially licensed truck drivers, and this partnership will help in the recruitment of new employees, according to Director Josh Yates.

All of the training will be done with city-owned vehicles (older model dump trucks and trailers) and will allow for current employees to get certified at no cost to them. CDL regulations changed in 2022 and created a shortage of people nationwide who were qualified. This move is to ensure that Birmingham can remain competitive to recruit and retain employees.

Each training session will be able to accommodate roughly 10 people per session. There are roughly 20 to 25 vacant truck driver positions that the City is looking to fill.

“I think this is outstanding,” Councilor Carol Clarke said. “I think this is really going to help the city be competitive against companies like Amazon. We want to be able to retain these employees and I believe this program gives the City a big advantage in that regard.”

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:

An Ordinance, in accordance with Act 1969-916 of the Acts of Alabama, authorizing the Mayor to execute an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Birmingham and Lawson State Community College, under which Lawson State Community College will provide workforce development training, more particularly described as “Commercial Driver’s License Training” for City employees and the City will provide vehicles for use by the City employees during the course of the training, for a term of three (3) years and authorizing the Mayor to execute any other documents necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Agreement. [First Reading] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Budget and Finance Committee)

ITEM 18

The City Council approved a resolution allowing for the submission of an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) for its Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program grant in the amount of $1,000,000.00 to develop a Parks Resiliency Master Plan.

This grant would help the City partner with local community-based organizations to perform environmental justice initiatives in the community. It would also allow for the City to complete a Park’s Master Plan to figure out best ways to utilize the City’s public parks in a way that creates equity and resiliency.

If the grant application is successful, the City will be working with members of the community who wish to provide ideas and share their opinions of how a Park’s Master Plan would be best utilized in their area.

“I want to state for the record how thrilled I am to see that we are pursuing this. I can’t emphasize enough how badly this is needed,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “We have a park system that was designed around Jim Crow and for a population that was roughly 170,000 more people than we currently have. There does need to be a comprehensive look at how we manage our 117 public parks and three other major greenspaces. We need to focus on programing and finding ways in which the public can better utilize these spaces.”

ITEM 20

Today the Council voted to refer a resolution of intent to provide an economic support to Birmingham Southern College back to the Committee of the Whole for additional discussion and questioning from members of the Council.

The resolution did not include specific funding amounts and included language that any support from the City is dependent on binding commitments from the State of Alabama as well as Jefferson County. Birmingham Southern College has recently signaled the need for financial support in order to remain open.

The Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19th at 3:30 p.m. More information about the meeting will be made available in the coming weeks.

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:

A Resolution of intent to provide an economic development incentive to Birmingham Southern College during the current fiscal year, subject to Birmingham Southern securing binding commitments for funding from the State of Alabama and Jefferson County in amounts sufficient, when combined with the City’s cash incentive, to continue operation of the college and further subject to the City’s identification and allocation of funding, and authorizing the Mayor and his designated staff to negotiate the terms and conditions by which the City of Birmingham will provide such cash incentive in support Birmingham Southern College. (Submitted and Recommended by Councilor Williams, Chairperson, Economic Development and Tourism Committee and Councilor Clarke) **

Member Movie Night at the Birmingham Zoo on April 8th!

Member Movie Night
At Your Birmingham Zoo!

JOIN us for the first member-exclusive event of 2023!
 

Birmingham Zoo members are invited to a night of food, fun, and a fabulous family film. Enjoy an outdoor showing of Disney's The Lion King (1994).

DETAILS AT A GLANCE:

DATE: Saturday, April 8th, 2023*

TIME: Gates open at 6:15 pm, Movie starts at 7:30 pm

TICKETS: $2 per person for ages 4 and up (infants and children ages 0-3 are FREE)

Snack Pack Tickets: pre-purchase your family's snacks and skip the line!
4-Person Pack: 2 popcorns, 2 waters, 2 Tum-e Yummies, 2 chocolate chip cookies
2-Person Pack: 1 popcorn, 1 water, 1 Tum-e Yummies, 1 chocolate chip cookie
If you pre-purchase either a 2 or 4-person snack pack, please pick those up at our Toucantina snack stand located on Henley Lawn when you arrive.

FOOD: Dinner, snacks, and beverages are available at Nourish 205 restaurant as well as our Toucantina snack bar located in Henley Park.

FUN: FREE carousel rides; Meet and greets with Ambassador Animals 

REMEMBER: Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs
*In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled. Tickets will be honored for the new event date.

For more information or questions, please contact your Birmingham Zoo Membership Team at membership@birminghamzoo.com.

HOLI: A FESTIVAL OF COLOR

Schedule of Programs

11AM – 2PM // Main Lobby // Artmaking

Discover your inner artist and create your own Holi-inspired works of art using a variety of materials in our lobby area.

11am -- 2pm //  Sculpture Garden // Art activities, Henna & Face Painting

Venture into our outdoor sculpture garden and get a beautiful henna design by Blue Lotus Mehndi or get your face painted by Painted Personalities! 

12 – 1PM //  Auditorium // Dance Performances

Talented local Indian dance troupes will dazzle visitors with traditional and fusion performances in the auditorium. Enjoy their unique styles and the energy and excitement they bring to the festival. Performing local dance troupes include: Aastha’s dance classes, Natyananda, Notinee Indian Dance, Prema and Purnima Bhat, SAI Choir, Creations Kathak Adults and Kids Groups & Folks of Dakshin.

1- 2PM // City Walk Amphitheater // Music, DJ, Dancing, Food Trucks

For the first time, we will partner with City Walk to provide an expanded footprint for our popular festival. Stop by the City Walk Amphitheater for an afternoon of lively Bollywood music by DJ Krish and Dance Performances by Aastha’s Dance Classes.

The group will also be providing a pop-up instructional workshop where you can learn some of the moves and steps of traditional Indian dance to do while you participate in the throwing of the colors.

2 – 4PM // City Walk Main Ground // Music, DJ, Food Trucks, Throwing of Colors!

Join us at the City Walk Main Ground for the most joyous and popular part of the event – the throwing of colors!  We’ll provide plenty of colorful gulal for everyone to use, or feel free to bring your own. DJ Krish will provide all the Bollywood tunes for you to dance to while you throw and celebrate this colorful and fun-filled activity with your friends and family.

Holi T-Shirts
Now Available

Preorder your limited edition BMA Holi T-Shirt now! Shirt has a subtle BMA logo that is revealed when colors are thrown.

Shirts will be available for purchase on the day of the event, but preorder now to ensure availability.    Shirts are for local pickup only (no shipping). Orders are now available for pickup in the Museum Shop during regular business hours and on the day of the event.

All sizes are adult unisex, but may run slightly small.  Order up one size if you are unsure.

View The Latest News You Can Use!

CrossPlex seeking paid and volunteer help this week

• The Birmingham CrossPlex is hosting the 2023 NCAA DIII ITF Championships this week. They are in need of city employee staff to serve in paid roles and volunteers to serve in non-paid roles. City employees who are interested in serving March 8-11, 2023, please reach out to Charlicia R. Heard at charlicia.heard@birminghamal.gov. Non-city employees who would like to volunteer should see the attached flyer for details.

Awesomeness Day is March 10

• You are the reason Birmingham is a great place to work. COB HR is celebrating International AWESOMENESS Day. Spread joy and positivity by telling others how wonderful they are! Send your AWESOMENESS day moments to employeerelations@birminghamal.gov with the #COBAwesomenessDay hashtag to be featured on social media, as well as COB & HR's page. Printable cards are attached so that you can celebrate your coworkers!

Sign up today for the 2023 Women's Summit

• The City of Birmingham is hosting its 2023 Women’s Summit, which is themed “Telling Our Stories and Becoming____”* The event will take place on Thursday, March 23 at the Boutwell Exhibition Hall from 1-5 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of motivation, sharing, and forward-thinking. There will be a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Attendance is free, but registration is strongly recommended. All employees are invited. (Note: Please discuss your attendance with your department leadership.) Go to birminghamal.gov/cobwomen for details and to sign up.

• * You fill in the blank of what you want to gain and who you want to become.
  

The Perfect Note Express has new hours

• The Perfect Note Express, the café located in the basement of City Hall, has new hours of operation. They are now open Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. https://perfectnoteexpress.com/

Attend a financial Lunch and Learn in March

• The Birmingham City Credit Union is hosting a series of lunch and learn events this month. See attached for details. 

• Money 101 – March 15 at 11:30 a.m. 

• Credit 101 – March 22 at 11:30 a.m. 

• How to Navigate Kids and Money – March 29 at 11:30 a.m.  

Volunteers sought for the Birmingham Community Emergency Response Team

• Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service is preparing for its upcoming Community Emergency Response Team class this fall and is currently seeking volunteers to participate. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a CERT member, email your name, phone number, and email address to pubed@birminghamal.gov.

• The classes are from April 11 to May 23, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Fire Station No. 2, located at 600-11th Street South.

BPD hosts a hygiene drive

• As a part of Women’s History Month, the Birmingham Police Department will be hosting a women’s hygiene drive until March 24. All items collected will be donated to a local women’s shelter. The following sites are drop-off locations:

• Birmingham Police Headquarters: 1701 1st Ave N

• South Precinct: 1320 19th Street S

• East Precinct: 600 Red Lane Road

• West Precinct: 2236 47th Street

• North Precinct: 2600 31st Avenue North

• Please see attached flyer for additional information

Get your tickets for the A Novel Tasting event

• The Birmingham Public Library cordially invites you to the second annual A Novel Tasting! This festive event will take place on Thursday, April 6, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the downtown Central Library. The evening will feature a tasting of fine wines, locally crafted beers, and distilled spirits. Live music by Eric Essix, catered food, and complimentary drinks will entertain guests throughout the evening. A cigar bar will be set up outside for aficionados of fine tobacco, and a VIP reception will be held between 5 and 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase now on Eventbrite.  

Enjoy lunch at the Arlington House

• Enjoy a three-course lunch at the historic Arlington Antebellum House on Thursday, March 23. Seatings are 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. $20 per person. Reservations required. Click here for more info.

Get tickets for Mother’s Day Celebration!

• Celebrate mom with an evening of music featuring Pastor Mike Jr. LeAndria Johnson, Shirley Caesar, and Marvin Sapp with comedian Jonathan Slocumb. Friday, May 12. 7:30 p.m. Boutwell Auditorium. Get tickets at Etix.com or call 254-2820. 

Submit your news to marie.sutton@birminghamal.gov.

Watch a Replay of the March 7, 2023 Birmingham City Council Meeting

Click one of the following links to access the March 7, 2023 Birmingham City Council Meeting:

To watch it from the City Council’s website:

https://www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org/council-meeting-video-archives/

AIDS Alabama Newsletter - March 2023

Gay/Bisexual Men in Southeast US 50+ with Serious Illness:

UAB wants to hear your voices!

In full partnership with the LGBT community in the Southeast, UAB is working to hear the voices of older (50+) LGBT people in the Southeast to hear of their experiences and their wishes. It’s UAB’s long-term goal to then work in partnership with the LGBT community to create a healthcare training program to train clinicians who provide care to our community members. UAB has met with and heard the perspectives of older lesbians and their caregivers; they are meeting with transgender men and women and now are ready to hear from older (50+) gay/bisexual African American and white men. They really need to hear the voices of older African-American and white gay/bisexual men with serious illnesses to hear of their experiences in the healthcare system and their recommendations for how healthcare is provided to gay/bisexual men based on the community’s values and lived experiences.

Benefiting AIDS Alabama

Bring your friends, bring your pups, and join supporters of AIDS Alabama at Hi-Wire brewing! A percentage of all flagship beer sales will benefit the life-saving, life-affirming services provided by AIDS Alabama.

Free Community Vision Screenings

El Centro / The Hub at AIDS Alabama is excited to partner with Central Alabama Pride and the UAB School of Optometry’s Spectrum Club to provide free vision screenings to members of the community!

Learn More

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Brunch

March 11th - National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Brunch: This event will raise awareness for HIV prevention, treatment, and education for women and girls. It is open to all women and girls ages 10 and up. There will be free food, raffle gifts, and a wonderful speaker. Please RSVP or call with any questions or concerns (205-918-8183).