Plagiarism charges mar Melania Trump’s moment

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July 21, 2016

Melan_Michelpix — Michelle Obama (left) and Melania Trump (right).

By Erica Werner and Jill Colvin
Associated Press

First Lady Michelle Obama (left) and Melania Trump (right).

CLEVELAND (AP) — This was to have been Melania Trump’s moment, her first real introduction to American voters who’d seen her by her husband’s side for months but had barely heard her speak.

But within moments of Mrs. Trump’s triumphant appearance on the Republican National Convention stage, accusations of plagiarism surfaced, eclipsing her achievement in the latest stumble by the Trump campaign.

Trump’s advisers defiantly denied the charge Tuesday, though the word-for-word overlap was obvious between Mrs. Trump’s remarks the night before and two passages in Michelle Obama’s 2008 speech to the Democratic convention in Denver. How that had come about remained unclear.

Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort called the criticism “just absurd” and said the issue had been “totally blown out of proportion.”

“There were a few words on it, but they’re not words that were unique words,” he told The Associated Press. “Ninety-nine percent of that speech talked about her being an immigrant and love of country and love of family and everything else.”

Manafort also tried to blame Hillary Clinton, saying on CNN, “This is, once again, an example of when a woman threatens Hillary Clinton, how she seeks out to demean her and take her down.”

The passages in question came near the beginning of Mrs. Trump’s nearly 15-minute speech.

In one example, Mrs. Trump said: “From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect.”

Eight years ago, Mrs. Obama said: “And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you’re going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect.”

There were similar overlaps in a passage dealing with conveying to children that there is no limit to what they can achieve. Mrs. Trump’s address was otherwise distinct from the speech that Mrs. Obama gave when her husband was being nominated for president.

The White House declined to wade into the controversy Tuesday.

Nobody from the campaign is expected to be fired over the incident, according to a person familiar with campaign deliberations who demanded anonymity to discuss internal matters.

Trump’s son, Donald Jr., faulted outside speechwriters: “Those are the people that did this, not Paul (Manafort),” he said in an interview with CBS News and other reporters.

Yet for Mrs. Trump, 46, a Slovenian-born former model who is Donald Trump’s third wife and 24 years his junior, the controversy marred a moment in the spotlight that had been months in the making. It required her to overcome her wariness about public speaking and the traditional role of the politician’s wife, as well as her heavily accented English, to present herself to the public as her husband’s partner, a poised mother and wife passionate about issues impacting women and children.

Trump’s oldest daughter, Ivanka, has taken up much of the role of the typical political spouse. She was the one who introduced her father at his official campaign announcement and appears often by his side. Melania has sat for a handful of interviews, in which she’s described herself as a private person, focused on raising the couple’s 10-year-old son, Barron.

But on Monday she delivered her speech with deliberation and poise, and it was rapturously received by convention delegates. Listeners compared her to Jackie Kennedy and said she’d won hearts from the GOP crowd.

Many delegates were eager to defend her, convinced that whatever had happened, Mrs. Trump herself was not to blame. And they were sympathetic that her moment in the sun had turned into the latest black eye for her husband’s rocky campaign.

Nebraska delegate J.L. Spray, a member of the Republican National Committee, said the part of the speech that matched Mrs. Obama’s “was such non-substantive stuff. The media and the Democrats needed something to focus on, so they came up with this. If you say ‘God bless America’ at the end of your speech, are you plagiarizing Ronald Reagan?”

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Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher in Cleveland and Grant Schulte in Lincoln, Nebraska, contributed to this report.

Renowned Gospel Music Workshop begins service in Birmingham this week

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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The 49th Annual Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. (GMWA) will convene in Birmingham on Sunday, July 24 at the Sheraton Hotel, with a week of events that offer music classes, seminars, workshops, exhibits and musical showcases.

As an international faith organization, the GMWA has over 75,000 members worldwide, with over 150 chapters in most every state in America and many cities around the world. There will be over 7,500 members from around the globe in Birmingham for the event.

Part of the convening will feature “GMWA SERVES” which is designed to help hundreds in need in Birmingham. Ten local charities and churches have been chosen to receive the support of 200 volunteer GMWA Ambassadors for what Birmingham Mayor William Bell and local officials will honor as “GMWA Serves Birmingham Community Service Day.”

A press conference will be held in Birmingham on Friday, July 23, 3 p.m. at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center (BJCC) to announce the convention and the “GMWA Serves” project to the city.

Key attendees invited include Bell, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell and members of the Birmingham City Council. In addition, local Birmingham pastors, and gospel music industry leaders will attend.

Some of the confirmed Birmingham charities include the Daniel Cason Ministries; Lovelady Center; Jessie’s Place; First Light; At Risk Kids; Brother Bryan Mission; Aids Alabama, and Grace House. Also, Samford University will coordinate a health fair.

This years’ service will feature clothing, canned goods and toys for tots to give-a-way. There will also be many singing choirs to perform for the local residents during the community service.

GMWA Serves Birmingham 2016 is dedicated to the legacy of the late gospel great, Andrae Crouch. A musical tribute is planned for Monday, July 25 at the GMWA nightly service. It will include some of the biggest names in gospel, led by Dr. Steven Roberts, Elder Isadore Jackson, Dottie Peoples, Bishop Neal Roberson, Malcolm Williams, Dorothy Norwood, Min. Prince Yelder, Rev. Calvin Bernard Rhone, Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White, Eric Waddell and Birmingham’s Prince Yelder.

The convention was founded by the Late Rev. James Cleveland in 1967.

Visit the GMWA website www.gmwanational.net for more information about the convention and GMWA Serves.

10,000 delegates expected at Gospel Music Workshop in Birmingham

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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gmwapix5 — The Gospel Music Workshop of America will hold classes from 7 a.m. to noon, which will not only be for musicians, but for different church ministries including praise dance, nursery, ushers, and evangelistic ministries (Provided photos)

By Ariel Worthy

The Birmingham Times

The Gospel Music Workshop of America will hold classes from 7 a.m. to noon, which will not only be for musicians, but for different church ministries including praise dance, nursery, ushers, and evangelistic ministries (Provided photos)

The Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) will open its 49th annual convention in Birmingham beginning Saturday.

It is the first time the convention is being held in Birmingham.

“We are totally excited to have the opportunity to host the convention here,” said Christal Whitfield, assistant representative for the Birmingham Chapter of the GMWA. “We have about 10,000 delegates coming from across the U.S. and Japan.”

The conference will kick off with a welcome program on Saturday night at the downtown Birmingham Sheraton hotel.

Some of the genres top gospel singers like Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin and John P. Kee have been associated with the conference, say organizers.

“[The conference] is a training mechanism to help musicians and vocalists across the country,” Whitfield said.

The week-long conference will hold classes from 7 a.m. to noon, which will not only be for musicians, but for different church ministries including praise dance, nursery, ushers, and evangelistic ministries. A series of music classes, seminars, workshops, exhibits and musical showcases will be presented by the gospel industry, the national GMWA chapters and national gospel recording labels and artists.

“Anything that might be in your church, we cover,” Whitfield said.

Whitfield is also a musician at her church, Allen Temple A.M.E. in Bessemer. She currently works in the music ministry at her church, and has been active in the church’s music ministry since she was 18.

Internationally famed recording artist Kurt Carr has been an integral part of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Inc.

GMWA will also have its eighth annual GMWA Serves event during the week. During the event, GMWA partners with local churches and charities to receive the support of 200 volunteers from GMWA ambassadors. This year’s Serves is dedicated to gospel singer Andrae Crouch.

“We do health screenings as well,” Whitfield said. “You can get ear and eye screenings, blood pressure checks; and of course you’re going to get a little gospel music in between.”

During this year’s service volunteers will be giving out clothing, canned goods, and toys in a toys-for-tots give away.

Serves is one of the ways GMWA shows their appreciation to their host city, Whitefield said.

“We want to give something back to the community that supports us throughout the convention,” she said. “We do a serve in every city we go to.”

Events will be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.

The GMWA was founded in 1967 by the Rev. James Cleveland in Detroit. It currently has over 75,000 members worldwide, and over 150 chapters in almost every state in the U.S. and cities around the world.

Mayor’s plan to reduce violence unveiled

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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Mayor-William-A-Bell_Birmingham — Mayor William Bell

By Ebone’ Parks

The Birmingham Times

Birmingham Mayor William Bell last week hosted a luncheon in Sixth Avenue Baptist Church to introduce his six-point strategic plan for violence reduction in the city.

“The lives we save will be the leadership of the future,” said the mayor.

Area pastors; police officers; community leaders and activists were among those in attendance.

The mayor’s “Six-Point Strategic Plan for Violence Reduction” is as follows:

Convene a local leadership team and city-wide work groups
Engage African-American males from the most affected neighborhoods in community conversations to develop sustainable solutions
Support Birmingham Police Department efforts
Engage and support parents and families
Strengthen the skills needed to stop the cycle of violence
Construct and implement a data-driven, multi- year plan of action

“It takes cooperation in the community and the police department,” he said.

Joyce Vance, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said it’s important for everyone to understand and talk with one another “because black lives matter and blue lives matter.”

Raymond Howard, a community activist and author of “From Crime to Christ”, said dialogue and meetings like Friday’s are needed because if not, problems continue to fester. “It just continues to boil and then it spills over into the violence that we see,” he said.

In his book, Howard spoke of how he lived a life of crime, spending seven years of his life incarcerated and 13 years on parole. He is on the front line in the community because he is able to relate to the young men because he was once in their shoes, he said.

Bell discussed how everyone should be involved in helping young people by going back to “basic rules.” He’s been working with community leaders to find different ways to reduce violence.

“I want you to understand that I’m not just standing here because I just want to make a show,” Bell said. “I’m standing here because we’ve got bodies in morgues; we’ve got bodies in graves whose lives were cut way too short.”

In 2014, Birmingham’s homicide numbers were the lowest in almost 50 years. Even though the 46 homicides so far in 2016 are on pace to become among the lowest on record there is still a lot of work to do, said Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls.

“There is no number that is acceptable. The only number is zero,” he said.

“I believe that we should all be involved in efforts to stop crime and violence before it happens. We should all be involved in efforts to change lives before they go down the wrong path,” the DA said.

Panelists discuss the tension between police, communities

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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city0721 — Council member Steven Hoyt talks to one of the community members as he expresses his frustration with the leaders of the city. Panelists at the event included City Council President Johnathan Austin and Hoyt, Pastor Dr. Kurt Clark of Sardis Missionary Baptist Church, activists Myeisha Hutchinson and Chennoia Bryant, Bobby Sharp, Nation of Islam Minister Tremon Muhammad and Birmingham police officer Jay Wrenn. (Ariel Worthy photos, Birmingham Times)

By Ariel Worthy

The Birmingham Times

The gathering began peacefully with a discussion about respect between police officers and the community; residents and the community and support for nonprofits in the Ensley area.

Panelists at the event included City Council President Johnathan Austin and Councilman Steven Hoyt, Pastor Dr. Kurt Clark of Sardis Missionary Baptist Church, activists Myeisha Hutchinson and Chenoia Bryant, young professional Bobby Sharp, Nation of Islam Minister Tremon Muhammad, artist and activist Twaun Pledger and Birmingham police officer Jay Wrenn.

However, tensions began to rise when people voiced frustration with politicians and how some law enforcement officials interact with the black community.

One man, who did not want to give his name, said it was ridiculous for the panel to expect people to not be angry before being told by Hoyt not to use profanity.

“Don’t police my pain,” the man shouted back. “Let me be angry, Mr. Hoyt.”

He then criticized Hoyt for saying “all lives matter,” and not “black lives matter.”

Hoyt said he was frustrated by those who say he does not understand how they feel.

“During the April 27 storm, my daughter, wife and I were held at gunpoint in Five Points West,” Hoyt said. “I don’t need anybody to tell me about pain. I never got a call from law enforcement or the leaders of this city. I know pain.”

Fitzgerald Mosely (right) explains to the panel what Black Lives Matter means and what they stand for. (Ariel Worthy/Birmingham Times)

Wrenn who works in the West Birmingham police precinct said he wanted the meeting to go better.

“As an officer I can understand where their frustration and as a black man I can understand where their frustration came from,” he said. “But I also know that there is a way you handle everything . . . we wasted 30 minutes trying to get people to calm down as if we were kindergarteners. That’s ridiculous.”

The meeting did give him some things to consider, he said.

“Their anger shows me what [officers] need to improve on,” he said. “But it also gives me hope that things will get better because we’re willing to talk about the issues.”

Where Do We Go From Here?

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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joycevance — U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance

By Joyce White Vance

These past few weeks have been difficult for our country. The deaths in Baton Rouge, Minnesota and Dallas are nothing short of tragic, and they raise fundamental questions about who we are as a society. We must have trust between communities and law enforcement if we are to be a safe society. How can this trust be rebuilt? How can every person in this country be guaranteed equal justice under the law?

As a part of the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama plays a key role in answering these questions. Our mission is contained within our very name: our responsibility is to work to ensure equal justice for all Americans. Because of this core value, we support law enforcement in its commitment to keep all of us safe. We also seek to ensure that all Americans’ civil rights are protected. Recently, some have questioned whether those who support black lives can also support blue lives. In our view, the answer is a resounding yes.

The killings of the five police officers in Dallas — Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patrick Zamarriga, and now three in Baton Rouge — Montrell Jackson, Brad Garafola and Matthew Gerald — were unconscionable. In order for us to move forward in a meaningful way, we must respect law enforcement and acknowledge that they risk their lives to protect public safety. The police officers in Baton Rouge were ambushed; those in Dallas died protecting a public protest that originated from the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The commitment of law enforcement is essential to a safe, just society.

Bad actors, as we are all too frequently reminded, live in many different communities. They do not, however, define those communities — whether police departments or minority groups. So how do we move forward and rebuild trust between the police and the communities they protect? For us, one way is to help the community understand the Justice Department’s role in enforcing this nation’s civil rights laws. Although we work with law enforcement every day and overwhelmingly see officers and agents who are committed to doing what is right, we will not sit idly by if police use excessive force. We have, and will continue, to prosecute officers who violate our citizens’ civil rights, as we did, successfully, just this past week.

At the same time, we are committed to the success of Birmingham’s work as a pilot city in the Justice Department’s Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. Efforts have been underway since the fall of 2015 to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect. As part of this program, the Justice Department, community stakeholders, academics, and civil rights advocates are developing a plan that will enhance procedural justice, reduce bias, and support reconciliation in local communities. I welcome your feedback in this program; it is essential.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Although we have work to do, the obstacles to justice are not insurmountable. This is not the time for hate or indifference. This is the time for us to set aside differences and old misunderstandings and come together to promote good law enforcement, a safe community, and an understanding that our civil rights are precious. It is our obligation to protect them, and it is going to take all of us to do this work.

Joyce White Vance serves as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.

Deno Posey: Regions Bank executive by day; comedian by night

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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Deno_pix0721 — Deno Posey (Ariel Worthy, The Birmingham Times)

By Ariel Worthy

The Birmingham Times

Deno Posey always knew he was funny, he just had to convince other people.

Posey, 52, is executive vice president, head of deposit operations at Regions by day; and a comedian by night.

“It’s fun because I get to be this conservative banker during the day and at night I get to have a whole new alter ego in terms of being a comedian,” Posey said.

Over the 12 years that he has been a comedian, Posey said he has had the opportunity to work with many of his idols, including two of the Kings of Comedy: Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and has had the opportunity to meet the third King of Comedy, D.L. Hughley.

“I hate I never got to meet Bernie [Mac],” said Posey, of the popular comedian who died in 2008 and was another member of the Kings of Comedy.

Posey has also worked with Chris Tucker, Rob Schneider, opened for (blues legend) Bobby Blue Bland and (local R&B artist) Ruben Studdard.

One of his fondest memories is on the road with comedian Sinbad.

“I’m driving one night and Sinbad is following me because we’re going somewhere to get chicken wings, and the whole time I’m thinking, ‘I got Sinbad following me to get chicken wings, how cool is this?’”

Posey’s describes his comedy as life-relative. A lot of his material comes from his family – his wife Sophia, three sons, Eddie, Tyler, Denorrise II and daughter Macy – and his grandchildren.

“It’s always clean,” he said. “Eighty percent of what’s funny is the truth. We all have things that we do, and we think we’re the only ones doing it. When I point out that I do it too it becomes funny.”

Posey realized he could hold an audience about 10 years ago when doing a local competition.

“There’s a comedy network [in Birmingham] and these people already knew each other, and I was considered the new guy and I had the banker image,” Posey said. “They thought I was going to do terrible. I ended up doing well and they were like, ‘now we’ve got competition.’ At that point I knew I was okay.”

Steve Harvey

Since then Posey has performed for countless audiences including nonprofits like the United Negro College Fund Gala and United Way. His biggest performance was opening for Steve Harvey, where he was faced with a great opportunity.

“After I did my time on stage I come off, and [Harvey’s] right there. He said ‘Man, that was great, what do you do for a living?’ I said, ‘Well, I’m a senior vice president at Regions,’ and he said ‘I’d take you on the road, but you already have a good job.’”

At his age he would not want to be on the road for so long, anyway, Posey said.

“I would like to, but I don’t want to go from hotel to hotel night after night,” he said. “I really enjoy doing the civic center events, charity events and the StarDome right here. I get to travel every now and then, and it’s kind of like a paid vacation.”

Another thing he enjoys about doing comedy is being able to use his talent for events at work. Regions held IdeaBank, which is the bank’s version of a Ted Talks, which is devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks, usually 18 minutes or less.

Posey, who has been with Regions for 34 years, started at an entry-level position processing cancelled checks.

After attending Talladega College, Posey returned home to attend Jeff State.

“I would catch the bus to Mountain Brook to wash dishes and I would always see this guy that lived in my neighborhood [Bush Hills] who was about my age, he would come take his break out of the main office building of Regions downtown while I waited on the bus, and I was like, ‘he’s my age, if he can get a job at that bank, I can get a job at that bank.’ So the next day I was off, I went and applied for the bank and got the job.’”

When he is not working or doing comedy, Posey enjoys running. He has done marathons around the city such as the Mercedes Marathon, Red Nose Run and Vulcan Run.

“I like them because they usually support some type of local charity,” Posey said.

Now on the weekends he can be seen at the Perfect Note Jazz Lounge in Hoover, as the Flow Master. “As a flow master I’m the host of the show. [The Perfect Note] brings in national jazz artists; my job is to open the show and introduce everyone.”

On Aug. 4, Posey will be at the StarDome in Hoover, as part of the Best of Birmingham Comedy Show.

Area agencies gather for 10th Project Homeless Connect this weekend

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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United Way of Central Alabama and Hands On Birmingham will partner with One Roof and other community organizations for the 10th Project Homeless Connect on July 23rd at Boutwell Auditorium.

Project Homeless Connect is a day of services designed to break down barriers to housing for members of the homeless community in greater Birmingham, particularly those experiencing chronic homelessness.

One Roof, the coordinating agency for homeless services in greater Birmingham, will be assisted by the City of Birmingham, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Faith Chapel Christian Center and other organizations.

Hands on Birmingham has registered over 750 volunteers to escort the homeless to the service areas according to their needs. United Way will provide meals and other services.

Project Homeless Connect allows those experiencing homelessness to access a variety of services in one place. They can can obtain housing, state ID, legal services, medical, dental and dental care, grooming services and much more.

At the ninth Homeless Connect held earlier this year, area agencies provided 1,222 individual medical services, 71 state IDs, and 150 legal consults to more than 600 clients. Over 60 community agencies participated.

One Roof is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission of equipping and empowering our community to prevent and end homelessness through advocacy, education, and coordination of services.

To learn more about United Way visit www.uwca.org.

RULING THE POOL: It’s never too late for safe swimming

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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SWIMMING2 — Eccoe Jones pulls Level 1 swimmers around the pool during lessons. Four Birmingham Parks and Recreation pools will be open during the Memorial Day weekend. (File)

By Kathryn Sesser-Dorné

Special to The Times

It’s never too early to learn how to swim.

At least that’s the message James Molette, 26, head lifeguard at Birmingham’s Underwood Pool wants to share.

“We’ve had infants come and take swim lessons. The rule here is we’ll take any age,” Molette said this week during a break between American Red Cross swim lessons and free swim at the pool he helps manage. “If the child can stand up, they can get in the pool by themselves. If there’s a toddler or infant, the parent will just have to get in with them.”

It’s never too late to acquire this life-saving skill either.

“The oldest person wasn’t here at this pool, it was at Memorial where I used to work, and I believe she was 73,” he said. “She actually learned how to swim.”

The American Red Cross created the first national water safety program in the U.S. – and today it’s still the gold standard for aquatics training. For the past 100 years, the Red Cross has been helping millions of kids, teens and adults learn how to swim and become lifeguards and instructors. The organization has helped to reduce accidental drownings by nearly 90% nationwide.

“Judging from session one, we have had over 150 participating in swim lessons,” Molette said, reflecting on the summer. “Each session, we have over 30 people, and if you include camps, that would be more than 200 so far.”

The last two-week session for the 2016 season began Tuesday at Underwood Pool, but the facility is open through July 29 this summer. Tuesday through Friday you can find a mixture of camps, swim lessons and open swim each day. The pool then opens for free swim from noon to 6 p.m. The cost is just $1 a day, and there’s always a lifeguard on duty. Anyone in Birmingham is free to come to the pool.

“On an average day, we have anywhere from 75 to 125 [people swim],” Molette said. “We actually have family swim that’s offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and that’s free if you bring a family member with you. From 6 to 7 [p.m.] You’re free to just swim laps or relax or exercise in the water.”

The pleasure of being able to spend time in the water is important. A swim in the pool on a hot summer day can help you feel relaxed and keep you physically fit, providing you an opportunity to exercise. These activities are difficult to enjoy without the knowledge of swimming.

While the sessions may be over at Underwood, the East Pinson Valley Pool, the newest and only indoor pool in the Birmingham system, is open year-round. The facility will continue to offer swim lessons after the summer’s end. You can call the pool’s office at 297-8178 to get updated information.

From left, Eccoe Jones, 21, James Molette, 26, Kaylan Simmons, 18, Azaria Jones, 17, and Hunter Smith, 19, all work together conducting American Red Cross swim lessons at Underwood Pool in Birmingham. (KATHRYN SESSER-DORNÉ PHOTOS, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES)

LIFEGUARD TRAINING

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,400 people drown in the United States every year. If the thought of becoming a lifeguard interests you, the American Red Cross has you covered there as well.

“This is actually my 10^th year,” as a Birmingham city lifeguard, Molette said. “I was on my neighborhood swim team in East Lake, and I was always interested in what the lifeguards were doing. I always wondered ‘How would you save someone if you had to jump in?’ So, curiosity took over and I started asking how I could sign up for it. I signed up, and I’ve been working every summer since.”

Molette worked at Memorial Pool for eight years, and it’s his second year as head lifeguard at Underwood Pool. “Right now I have five lifeguards and two attendants,” he said. The part-time positions are available from May to August.

“We have classes mainly offered during spring break, and they usually operate off the Birmingham city schedule. So whenever Birmingham has spring break, that’s when they have the class,” Molette said. “Basically, they teach you rescue skills, CPR, they make sure you are a strong swimmer and teach you additional strokes. Most people who take the class mainly only know how to do the freestyle, but once you take the class with them, they teach you breaststroke and sidestroke. The class generally lasts a week.”

The average lifeguard is usually in high school or college, but it’s open to any age. There is a minimum age requirement of 15, and prospective lifeguards must complete a rigorous test before they are accredited. (For more on becoming a lifeguard, please see the information box on this page.)

“All of our pool rules, equipment, everything comes from the Red Cross,” Molette said. “They train our supervisors and then our supervisors train us. We have paperwork we turn into the Red Cross so they know who has completed classes.”

Originally from Birmingham, Molette is a 2008 graduate of Carver High School, and a graduate of Jacksonville State University. He has spent the last couple of years working with Anniston City Schools as a sixth-grade language arts teacher as he works towards his masters’ degree at JSU. He plans to eventually return to Birmingham full-time.

And you’ll continue to catch him in the lifeguard chair at one of the city pools.

Kaylan Simmons, 18, watches students practice their glides from the wall during lessons.

A LOOK AT BIRMINGHAM CITY POOLS

Underwood Pool
1021 26th Street South
P: 930-0821 or 933-8645

East Pinson Valley
3099 Jefferson State Pkwy.
P: 297-8178 or 297-8179

(The East Pinson Valley Pool is open year-round and will continue to offer swim lessons after the summer’s end. Lessons are $10 for eight sessions, and you can call the pool’s office to get updated information.)

Memorial Pool

524 6^th Street S.

P: 252-0135 or 251-1237

Pool office: 254-6371
Most city pools close for season on August 7
Pool admission is $1
Pool hours are noon – 6 p.m.
Swim lessons at most facilities are $5 per two-week session. Please call the pool nearest you for additional information.
All lifeguards are certified by the American Red Cross.

www.birminghamal.gov/parks-and-recreation/pools/

RED CROSS WATER SAFETY

SWIMMING

The Red Cross’ six-level Learn-to-Swim program is unlike anything offered by other programs. The program is designed for children over 6 months, all the way up to adults. The students progress at their own pace, mastering skills in one level before advancing to the next. Each level of the Learn-to-Swim class includes training in basic water safety, in addition to stroke development. Courses typically meet for 8-10 sessions of 30-45 minutes each.

LIFEGUARDING

Provides entry-level participants the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over.

Minimum age: 15 years

Must be able to swim 300 yards continuously

Must be able to tread water for two minutes using only the legs

You must complete a timed even within 1 minute, 40 seconds:

Starting in the water, swim 20 yards
Surface dive to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object
Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point
Exit the water without using a ladder or steps

Commitment to Joint Admissions Program reaffirmed

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Birmingham Times

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July 21, 2016

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admittpix0721 — The University of Alabama has expanded its Joint Admissions Program partnership with Jefferson State Community College with two new full-tuition scholarships and a reverse transfer agreement to enable credits earned by students at UAB to count toward an associate degree at Jefferson State (UAB photo, special to The Times)

By Tyler Greer

UAB News

The University of Alabama has expanded its Joint Admissions Program partnership with Jefferson State Community College with two new full-tuition scholarships and a reverse transfer agreement to enable credits earned by students at UAB to count toward an associate degree at Jefferson State (UAB photo, special to The Times)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has expanded its Joint Admissions Program partnership with Jefferson State Community College with two new full-tuition scholarships and a reverse transfer agreement to enable credits earned by students at UAB to count toward an associate degree at Jefferson State.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by UAB President Ray L. Watts and Jefferson State Community College Interim President Keith Brown at the UAB Hill Student Center.

Jefferson State was one of four community colleges to partner with UAB in 2013. The Joint Admission Program provides automatic acceptance to UAB and a $2,000/year scholarship for students who earn an associate degree at participating institutions. It also allows students in the program to access UAB amenities and resources while enrolled in community college.

“We are very pleased with the success of our Joint Admissions Program since its inception three years ago, including support for more than 100 Jeff State students,” Watts said. “UAB’s further commitment in the form of new scholarships and a reverse transfer agreement is a positive next step in this program that is serving Alabama residents.”

Watts says the institutions are working together to help students realize their fullest potential and go on to rewarding 21st-century careers. “As a result,” he said, “we are helping our region and state to thrive in the global knowledge economy.”

“We are excited to continue the Jefferson State/UAB Joint Admissions Agreement and the expansion of additional scholarship opportunities,” Brown said. “It will provide a guaranteed seamless delivery of educational opportunities and resources that will significantly impact not only our students, but the entire workforce region.”

“This special alliance with UAB will permit our students to transfer to a wide range of academic programs and advance toward their four-year degrees with ease,” Brown said. “This partnership will also allow a greater number of students to feel confident and more prepared in making the transition from Jeff State to UAB.”

The 100-plus students admitted to UAB from Jefferson State through Joint Admissions are among more than 1,000 Jefferson State students admitted to UAB in the past three years.

Students who are not immediately eligible for traditional UAB admission can participate in a joint enrollment with Gadsden State, Jefferson State, Lawson State and Wallace State-Hanceville. While enrolled in a partner community college, the student will pursue an associate degree and have access to UAB facilities, libraries and campus events. With the reverse transfer agreement now in place, students can earn credits at UAB that can be easily transferred back to Jefferson State toward an associate degree.

Upon graduation from Jefferson State, the student can then transition to UAB, where he or she will be partnered with a team of advisers and mentors, and receive financial assistance.

Information about UAB’s Joint Admission Program, including how to apply as a transfer, is available at https://www.uab.edu/students/admissions/transfer/joint-admission.