Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Information
Marcus A. O'Dell
Second Southern Area Rezoning Meeting
Marcus A. O'Dell
Street Repaving List for District 3 and ...
Neighborhood Information, Neighborhood Events
Marcus A. O'Dell
Clean up your community with us Saturday, Aug. 3
Marcus A. O'Dell
District 3 Town Hall on July 30th
Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Information
Marcus A. O'Dell
Images from the Department of Public Works ...

News You Can Use: 5-09-24

May 9, 2024

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

It’s Open Enrollment for the City of Birmingham. Have you signed up?

  • Open Enrollment is now through May 24 and is mandatory. Even if an employee does not wish to make any changes, they must meet with a Benefits Counselor. Failure to do so will result in loss of benefits. Locations and phone numbers are posted on the flyer attached. Appointment times for each department will be announced soon.

The city to host its District 8 town hall meeting TONIGHT

  • The community is invited to join Mayor Woodfin and Councilor Carol Clarke on Thursday, May 9 for a District 8 town hall. The event will take place at 6 p.m. at the Birmingham CrossPlex, located at 2340 CrossPlex Blvd. 

Kick off the weekend with a murder mystery dinner

A mandatory orientation for event staff is MONDAY

  • If you currently work or desire to work concerts and private events at the Boutwell Auditorium, you are REQUIRED to attend a meeting on Monday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. You do not have to be a city employee. See attached for details. 

BPL Archives Department hosts Alabama Audubon event on May 18

  • The BPL Dept of Archives is proud to partner with Alabama Audubon to present A History of Alabama Audubon, on Saturday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. This 3-hour event will start with a walk-through Linn Park to observe local birds, followed by a presentation on Alabama Audubon through the years that will include items from the BPL Archives collection. Although this event is free and welcome to all experience levels, registration is required. Please use this link to sign up.

Lifeguards needed

  • Birmingham Park and Recreation continues to look for lifeguards. They are hiring now through May 10. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please call 205-254-2189 or 205-254-2391.

Discounted lunch for City workers.

May is Historic Preservation Month

  • May is Historic Preservation Month, and in celebration of the City of Birmingham’s rich history and its mission to sustain its cultural landmarks, the Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits is hosting a series of free activities for the public. See attached for a schedule of free walking tours and lectures. For more information, contact Hannah Garmon, Historic Preservation Manager, at 205-254-2424 or Hannah.Garmon@birminghamal.gov. You can also reach Karla Calvert, Urban Design Administrator, at 205-254-2479 or Karla.Calvert@birminghamal.gov.

Mental Health Day come to City Hall 

  • On Friday, May 17, the City of Birmingham, Nurture of Alabama, Birmingham Park and Recreation and community partners will present Mental Health Awareness Day in Linn Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  There will be resources on mental health; local food trucks; a DJ;free depression screenings; free chair massages; line dancing and other exercises; door prizes; and more. 

    • Speakers on the stage will include: 

      • Alexandria Means, a domestic violence expert, 10:10 a.m.

      • Beverly Johnson from the Alabama Department of Mental Health, 10:25 a.m. 

      • Dr. Hernando Carter, a general practitioner, 12 p.m. 

    • Some of the interactive sessions will include: 

      • Activities for adults from the City’s Park and Recreation Department, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

      • Depression screenings with Cherie May Edwards, a licensed professional counselor,  10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

      • Mental health consultations with Lauren Packer, an associate licensed counselor, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

      • Chair massages from Adrian Ward, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

      • Line dancing with fitness instructor Tracy Williams, 11 a.m. 

      • Yoga therapist Jamella Strode leads session on how breathing techniques can help improve responses to trauma triggers, 12:30 p.m.  

      • A low impact sculpt class with fitness instructor April Mack, 1 p.m.

    • For more information, visit www.nurturebham.com

Review Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services plan

This summer

Jazz festival returns to Birmingham

  • The Steel City Jazz Fest will return to Linn Park on June 14, 15 and 16. For the line up or to buy tickets, people should visit www.steelcityjazzfest.org. Early Bird sales will end Monday, May 13 at 6 a.m. The city nor Boutwell are selling tickets for this event. 

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Magic City Spotlight: Birmingham Re-entry Alliance supports formerly incarcerated residents

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Birmingham Re-entry Alliance aids residents re-entering the community after incarceration

The City of Birmingham is launching a one-year pilot program with local organizations to support the needs of those re-entering the community after incarceration.

The Birmingham Re-entry Alliance will be a coordinated, holistic approach to transform how the city serves people released from state prisons with a focus on ensuring that justice-impacted families in Birmingham thrive.

“We believe that those who have paid their debt to society deserve the same basic living essentials of housing and gainful employment as any of us,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “Together, with our partners, we plan to support them in returning into a welcoming community. We are committed to decreasing their recidivism and increasing their restoration.”

Click the buttons below to learn more, watch the press conference and see more pictures.

News You Can Use: 5-02-24

Down payment assistance program kicks off today

  • The Department of Community Development — along with Neighborhood Housing Services and Operation Hope — is accepting online applications for its Ready to Own Birmingham Down Payment Assistance Program. Ready to Own Birmingham provides flexible financing to help residents become homeowners within the City of Birmingham. The assistance is provided as a grant in the form of a loan forgivable after five years of the homebuyer occupying the house as their primary residence. See attached for details.

Birmingham Promise Deadline 

  • Wednesday, May 1 is a big deadline for students wanting to access the resources of Birmingham Promise. Seniors in Birmingham City Schools must complete their Birmingham Promise scholarship applications by May 1 to ensure they have an opportunity to attend college tuition-free. May 1 is also the deadline for juniors in Birmingham schools to complete their applications to participate next year in the internship program, which allows high school seniors to earn $15 an hour while gaining job experience and workplace skills. For more information, go to birminghampromise.org. 

Historic Preservation Month kicks off today

  • May is Historic Preservation Month, and in celebration of the City of Birmingham’s rich history and its mission to sustain its cultural landmarks, the Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits is hosting a series of free activities for the public. See attached for a schedule of free walking tours and lectures. Wednesday, May 1 is the  Historic Preservation Month Kick-off Event Celebrating Over 30 Years of Service for the Birmingham Historical Commission; Birmingham City Hall, Gallery of Distinguished Citizens, 2nd Floor. 

    • Click here for a printable schedule of events for Historic Preservation Month 2024. For more information, contact Hannah Garmon, Historic Preservation Manager, at 205-254-2424 or Hannah.Garmon@birminghamal.gov. You can also reach Karla Calvert, Urban Design Administrator, at 205-254-2479 or Karla.Calvert@birminghamal.gov.

Discounted lunch for City workers

District Nine Derby Day at City Walk

  • Join Councilor LaTonya Tate for live music and fun. Featuring Sharon Collins, Yung Vokalz and the Movement, and Fly Dave and the Party Rockers “Go-Go” Band. Saturday, May 4. 3-7 p.m. See attached for details.

New exhibit celebrates National Autism Month

  • A World in a Grain of Sand, a new art exhibition on the first floor of the Central Library downtown, celebrates National Autism Month. It features works in various media by artists from Studio By The Tracks, a local nonprofit community arts studio that has been serving artists with autism for 35 years. A World in a Grain of Sand is the latest installment in BPL’s visual arts series, Art For Everyone, and will be on exhibition at the Central Library through May 31. Read more here. 

It is Small Business Week!

  • April 28 through May 4 is filled with events to celebrate Birmingham’s small businesses. Check out thee event calendar attached or going to www.bhmup.com.

Celebrate 2024 National Small Business Week at the Birmingham Public Library through May 4. 

  • On Wednesday, May 1, BPL will host a virtual training session on Zoom, Get Your Small Business Going with Gale Business Resources. During the session, we will dive into two of the library's most powerful research databases, Gale Business: Entrepreneurship and Gale Business: Plan Builder. For information click here.

Birmingham Night at the Universoul Circus is this Friday

The Birmingham Folk Festival is back and bigger

  • The Birmingham Folk Festival returns to Avondale Park on Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., for a FREE, family-friendly day of music, art, and community, with live performances featuring bluegrass, gospel, blues, Americana, West African drumming and dance, mariachi, hip-hop, Sacred Harp, brass band, and more. Food, arts and crafts, vendors, dance, and other activities for the whole family will be ongoing throughout the day. We invite the community to join us as Avondale Park comes alive with art and sound from around the City. Find out more at birminghamfolkfest.org.

Fashion Show at the Library

  • The Titusville Branch Library will host Hats & Hells Fashion Show on May 9 at 11 a.m. See attached for details. 

Town Hall meeting coming to several districts

  • Mayor Woodfin will join with Birmingham City Council for town halls on Thursday, May 2 at the Fountain Heights Rec Center with Councilor LaTonya Tate, and on Thursday, May 9 at the Birmingham CrossPlex with Councilor Carol Clarke. They will start at 6 p.m. 

Mental Health Day come to City Hall 

  • Food trucks, a DJ, mental health experts, speakers and more will be on hand in Linn Park on Friday, May 17 for the Third Annual Mental Health Awareness Day. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Magic City Sips returns for another year of celebrating Birmingham's thriving hospitality community   

  • The City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity will once again host its city-wide happy hour event series, Magic City Sips. The aim of this initiative is to highlight Birmingham’s thriving hospitality industry by encouraging residents and visitors to support area restaurants and bars throughout the summer months. Sips officially kicks off May 29 and will run every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. through August 28. Go to www.magiccitysips.com for details.


This summer:

Jazz festival returns to Birmingham

  • The Steel City Jazz Fest will return to Linn Park on June 14, 15 and 16. For the line up or to buy tickets, people should visit www.steelcityjazzfest.org. Early Bird sales will end Monday, May 13 at 6 a.m. The city nor Boutwell are selling tickets for this event. 

Waves of Woodlawn, Leadership, and Summer Fun!

Get set for an unforgettable day in Woodlawn today! Join us for the remix of the beloved Woodlawn Marketplace: Waves of Woodlawn! With live music at three venues, streets lined with local makers and vendors, and mouthwatering food from your favorite food trucks, it's sure to be a day filled with spirit and flair. See you there!

Congratulations to our 2024 (WE) Lead Fellowship Program graduates! For 10 weeks they had access to invaluable leadership development opportunities, and they were equipped with tools to make an even greater impact in their communities. These individuals dedication has truly shone throughout the program, and we look forward to witnessing the positive change they will continue to bring!

Are you a young person that wants to make a positive impact in your community? Do you want to meet like minded people, explore Birmingham, and learn how to serve in fun ways? If so, Summer Service Days with YouthServe is a free opportunity you don’t want to miss. Registration just opened, but spots fill up quickly. Sign up today using the link below!

Greater Birmingham Ministries News

Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. 

Our health is directly tied to the health of our environment. Pollution, lack of access to water and sanitization, and climate change threatens the lives of all Americans.  

Poor and low-income Alabama households spend six times as much of their income on energy costs as the average household and poor and low-income people are bearing the brunt of deaths and injuries due to climate change. Alabama has had significant changes in precipitation patterns, with increased risks of flooding, drought, and water scarcity.

Read more on the Alabama Fact Sheet on Health and a Healthy Environment and on the 2024 Alabama Fact Sheet by the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. 

Small Magic is hiring

Small Magic is hiring for four roles. We are looking for people who are empathetic, tenacious, curious, and focused on equity and impact to join us in making an impact on kids and families in Birmingham.

We want to pay you to help us find them. If you refer someone we hire, we'll send you a $300 gift card or donate to the nonprofit of your choice. Job descriptions and applications are posted here. Full time roles come with a strong benefits package (30+ days off, 5% retirement match, bonus structure, etc). 

Director of Growth & Development: Location is flexible, with a preference for Birmingham-based. We're open to scoping anywhere from full time to ~25hr/wk. The role is a mix of external and internal work. The #1 most important quality in this hire is self-starter attitude, with strong communication skills and strategic thinker/planner as runners up. Comp range: $70,070 - $85,084

Manager of Development & Communications: We're looking for someone with strong written communications skills and an ability to craft compelling messages to different audiences (e.g. social media vs. government grants). Location is flexible, with a strong preference for Birmingham-based. Comp range: $49,140 - $59,160

Early Literacy Specialist: This person will facilitate our Phonics Power program and should have a strong understanding of the science of reading. This is a part-time role scoped at 5-7 hours per week. Could be a great role for a former or current educator. All responsibilities could be completed outside of standard school hours. Comp range: $35-50/hr


Executive Coordinator: The most important competencies in the hire are excellent organization, strong communication, and great judgement. Could be a great role for a graduate student, someone with caregiving responsibilities, etc. This is a part-time, contract role scoped at 5-10 hours per week. Super flexible, primarily remote, slight preference for candidates based in or around Birmingham. Comp range: $25-30/hr


The people in these roles will impact thousands of kids and families in Birmingham. Help us find them by directly forwarding this email, sharing our postings on social media, and/or reaching out with referrals. Let's make magic. :)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 🌱

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Join us in sowing seeds! Alongside our Greenhouse Manager, you will learn how to start seeds while also sowing future plants to be distributed via JVTF's Seedling Share program to community gardens across the state. Learn more about the program here!

  • 12pm – 2pm on Tuesday 4/16 & Wednesday 4/17

  • Located on JVTF's Teaching Farm at Woodlawn High School (253 54th Street North, Birmingham, AL, 35212)

  • No experience necessary; be sure to arrive early so that we can get started together.

  • Volunteers ages 12-15 are welcome with the accompaniment of an adult and ages 16-17 are welcome with an adult's signature

Magic City Spotlight: Singer Raheem DeVaughn empowers women during Birmingham visit

Grammy-nominated singer Raheem DeVaughn spends time empowering the women of Birmingham

On the day after performing to a rousing crowd at downtown’s Alabama Theater, R&B Singer Raheem DeVaughn was still lingering in Birmingham. Instead of icing his feet or sleeping late, the Grammy-nominated artist was at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) speaking about women’s issues, health disparities, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“Black women are at the center of the household and the backbone of the family,” he said, dressed in a gunmetal gray suit and donning dark shades. “Women carry a lot and I feel a level of responsibility to protect them.”

While on his short break in Birmingham in between performances across the country, DeVaughn and his Lovelife Foundation partnered with the City of Birmingham to host an intimate women’s empowerment luncheon. Area presidents, educators, journalists, politicians, mothers, daughters, mental health professionals and veterans were invited to gather and discuss local challenges and also identify resources and develop solutions.

Read more about his empowering stop at BCRI and how the time is forging long-lasting connections.

Introducing the Birmingham Vanguard, apply today

Ever wonder what it takes to be at the forefront of innovation and change? Here's your chance to join a dynamic group of young pioneers aged 18-35 who are dedicated to steering our community towards progress.

The Birmingham Vanguard is on a mission to tap into the wealth of fresh ideas and unique perspectives from young minds. This influential advisory council plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between the city's youth and Birmingham’s decision-makers, aligning closely with the Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity.

 Ready to make a difference? Fill out the application linked below. Let's shape Birmingham's future together!

April Community Arts Grant Programs

Foundations for Arts and Cultural Connections, Inc. will hold their Imagination Festival, April 26 – 28 at Sloss Furnaces. Imagination Festival is part of Magic City Art Connection and is an arts-centered community event that leverages the power of the arts to provide an opportunity for creative expression, exposure, engagement, education, and empowerment. This program is a collaboration between the Foundation for Arts and Cultural Connections, Inc. and Birmingham Corps. Tickets and more information can be found HERE. 

 

Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library in partnership with artist Zena Barker has launched Magic City Art Mart, a dedicated space within the Birmingham Public Library’s Central Branch that collects and distributes free art supplies to community members.  Magic City Art Mart strives to create a supportive and inclusive artistic community, through organizing workshops and events, skill development, and the sharing of diverse perspectives.  Magic City Art Mart is located at Create205 Lab and is open Tuesday 5 - 7 PM and Saturday 12 – 3 PM.  You can also follow them on Instagram @magiccityartmart.

Lifestyle Reset Health Fair THIS Saturday at Legion Field

LIFESTYLE RESET HEALTH FAIR
Join us for a Health Fair that aims to empower you with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about your health. Whether you’re interested in preventive measures, adopting a healthier lifestyle, or accessing healthcare resources, this event is designed with your well-being in mind.

April 13th 10am-2pm

at Legion Field, 400 Graymont Ave. W., Birmingham, AL 35204

Hosted by Dr. Celeste Reese-Willis

For Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lifestyle-reset-tickets-865654966307

For More Information: https://d6bham.com/2024/04/lifestyle-reset-health-fair/

Follow Birmingham City Council District 3 on Social Media!