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PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

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Birmingham Times
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Our own Comedian Rickey Smiley at the StarDome Comedy Club, Tuesday with the Rickey Smiley Karaoke Class Reunion. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

ENJOY THE FAMILY AND FUN OF THE SEASON!         

THURSDAY, JULY 2

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**IRONDALE RED, WHITE & WOOF, 5-7 p.m. at Tails by the Rails at Ellard Park Dog Park.  Enjoy a Free hot dog and let your pup meet Uncle Sam.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.

**RnB POETICALLY LIT, 5-7 p.m. at Lit on 8th, 518 Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. with HUNCHO ZAVY, KD MCQWEEN, CAROL HOOD, DKMODE, BRIANNE SHARDAW and hosted by HEMP THE ARTIST. Every Thursday.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2nd Avenue North

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

 

FRIDAY, JULY 3

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Linn Park.

**THE MAYOR’S DESK PODCAST, 8 a.m. Live on Facebook & YouTube featuring Gunnery Sergeant Jason Miller, U.. Marine Corps (Ret.) Marine Corps J.R.O.T.C. Instructor at Shades Valley High School.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN MICHAEL COLYAR at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**SUNDROP FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS at The Nick.

**FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, 5 p.m. at Howard’s Unlimited Lounge & Cocktail Bar at 4010 Avenue I with food by 1918 Catering Food Truck. Happy Hour at 5 p.m. Call 205-213-9097 for more.

**GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 4

**RED, WHITE, BLUE & YOU FESETIVAL: Irondale’s Birthday Party for America, 6-9 p.m. at Irondale City Hall. Live music by the Official Clutch Band and Deputy 5, Patriotic Parade & Entertainment, Food Trucks – FREE to the First 500.

**FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, 9 p.m. at Irondale City Hall with professional Fireworks show like Irondale has never seen.

**EVERY SATURDAY through AUGUST 1 – FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET, Every Saturday, 8 – 11 a.m., at the Irondale City Hall, 101 20th Street South. Seeking Vendors NOW. Any Questions: Contact etolbert@cityofirondaleal.gov or madelynjayne02@gmail.com.

**COMEDIAN MICHAEL COLYAR at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**RADIO CULT, CRYPT 24 & DIRTY HOLLY at The Nick.

 

SUNDAY, JULY 5

**HOWARD’S UNLIMITED LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR, 4010 Avenue I, in Belview Heights with our own favorite son radio personality D.J. CHRIS COLEMAN. Check it out for Sunday Brunch with food by 1918 Catering, music and more!! For more, call 205-213-9097. 1918 Catering is the best food for lunch, dinner or your special event. (Take my word.)

**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7th, 2808 7th Avenue Suite105.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**2ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.

**4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with our favorite TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.

**COMEDIAN MICHAEL COLYAR at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**MOTION SUNDAYS at Platinum, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. with DJ CUZZO X DJ A1 Controlling the Vibes.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

 

MONDAY, JULY 6

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors, Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**MONDAYS – GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, 10-11:30 a.m. at CJFS Conference Room. Open to survivors who have experienced loss within the past 2 years. Call 205-278-7101 to sign up.

**MONDAYS – ENVISION RADIO, 1 p.m. ‘Where Praise Meets Talk’ with a Special Guest each Monday. For more: www.envision-radio.com.

**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or

Tuesday, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**RICKEY SMILEY KARAOKE CLASS REUNION at the StarDome Comedy Club. This is a night of music, laughter and good energy from our own Rickey Smiley. So come and sing your heart out with family and friends as Rickey keeps you laughing. Be ready to laugh dance, sing along and lose your voice in the party atmosphere at the StarDome Comedy Club.  Enjoy your life!

 

TUESDAY, JULY 7

**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY TUESDAY at Hemings on 2ND Avenue.

**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY 2ND TUESDAY at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT NICK TUESDAYS with RAMBIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**FREE – SUBSTRATE BINGO with JACKIE LO at Saturn.

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**FREE – OSCILLATIONS – ELECTRONIC MUIC OPEN IC PERFORMANCE at Saturn.

 

NEXT THURSDAY, JULY 9

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.

**COMEDIENNE AMBER WALLIN at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**J KILLEN with JANET SIMPSON & ASHLEY WINGO at Saturn.

 

NEXT FRIDAY, JULY 10

**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Linn Park.

**FRIDAY NIGHT SCREEN SCENE MOVIE SERIES showing  at Friday Nights at Beacon Park, 5309 Beacon Drive in Irondale. There will be popcorn, hotdogs, train rides, snow cones, lemonade and more.

**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIENNE TISHA CAMPBELL at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COUNTRY DANCE PARTY at Saturn.

**THE STOLEN FACES – CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD at Avondale Brewing Co.

 

FOR OUTDOOR AND ENTERTAINMENT LOVERS

**THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN – Alabama’s largest and most spectacular Fourth of July fireworks is marking the nation’s 250th Birthday with a display visible across Birmingham and Homewood. The PYRO SHOWS OF ALABAMA, 9 p.m. will start the 2,500 fireworks shells and effects for a 20-minute show with a production including synchronized and patriotic soundtrack. Residents and visitors can tune in to iHeart Media Birmingham Radio Stations including 102.5 The Bull, 103.1 The Beat, 103.7 The Q, Magic 96.5, News Radio 960 WERC and LaJefa 98.3.  The Fireworks will also air on WBRC 6 News. Vulcan Park and Museum as well as the surrounding streets will be closed.

**FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, 9 p.m. at Irondale City Hall with professional Fireworks show like Irondale has never seen.

**JULY 10 – UNBOUND: FREEDOM TO READ, 4- 8 p.m. at Innovation Depot, 1500 1st Avenue North by the Black Contractors Association Alabama Chapter- Educating and Uplifting with Freedom of Speech and Expression, Legacy and History. There will be authors, poets and writers. Come and experience a moment of expression in unity. Network and meet other business owners to experience the importance of Black Voices in the community. There will be spoken word, live music, light hors d’oeuvres, and drink ticket. It is hosted by LADY WOO, with beats by CHOCOLATE and performances by DEIDRE GADDIS and Saxophonist PEDRO MOORE. For vending, and more information, call Donnie at 205-873-4572.

 

FOR YOUTH …PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

**POOLS ARE OPEN – Started in Crestwood, ML King, Maclin, Memorial, EO Jackson, McAlpine and Roosevelt City from 12 noon – 6 p.m. $1 Entry CASH ONLY.

**SPLASH INTO SUMMER – SWIM LESSONS SESSION 3 is July 7-17 and SESSION 4 is July 21-31for all ages, kids, teens and adults with certified instructors and for all skill levels. Sign up at birminghamal.gov/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/pools. Make waves. Build confidence. Have fun. Call Rod (205) 933-4191, Jackie (205) 254-6396 or Tevin (205) 725-8703.

**MAGIC CITY YOUTH BUILD is a six to nine-month initiative that provided job training and educational opportunities to ages 16-24 who are looking to earn their GED and want to pursue careers in construction and healthcare. Application are accepted through July 15. Email youthbuild@habd.net or call (205) 983-7550.

**RESTORE GAMES is a community event promoting unity, mentorship and youth violence prevention, July 16, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium for ages 11 – 19. www.restoregamesbham.com. FREE. Enjoy fun, food, and prizes.

**RAISING ROYALTY BHM – Girls Mentoring Program, ages 8-19 at Southside Police Precinct, 1320 19th Street South, every 3rd Saturday month, 3-5 p.m. Contact Regina at (205) 396-7010.

(FOR MORE: City of Birmingham, Department of youth Services, call (205) 320-0879.)

 

FOR BOOK LOVERS

**BOOK SIGNING – YOGI DADA, author of DJEMBE CHRONICLES – HUMANS, ANIMALS AND ANGELS at the Birmingham Public Library at 2100 Park Place. There are 22 short stories of real life, inspiration, photography, artwork, a drum, a woman a journey and GOD.

 

AT THE CITY OF IRONDALE

SAVE THE DATES:

**IN JULY ALL MONTH – STORY BOOK WALK “GOD BLESS AMERICA” at 16th St. S. across from Irondale Community School.

**SUMMER READY AT THE IRONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY started and goes through July.

**JULY 17 – SUMMER SCREEN SCENE MOVIE SERIES with TOP GUN: MAVERICK, Friday Nights at Beacon Park, 7 p.m. with FREE popcorn, hotdogs and more.

**JULY 18 – AMERICAN CLASSIC CRUISE-IN AT THE FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET, 8 a.m. by the Tracks at Irondale City Hall. Enjoy classic cars, shop local and build community.

**JULY 18 – “AI” I LOVE IRONDALE DAY & DRONE SHOW, 4- 9 p.m. at Irondale City Hall – This is the 6th Annual Signature festival themed “AI” LOVE IRONDALE featuring all things tech plus a spectacular “DRONE SHOW,” with food trucks, games, music and more. PLUS 300 Drones Light up the Night Sky!

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your questions, contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com AND thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.

As the Nation Turns 250, a New Art Exhibition at BCRI Asks, ‘Is This America’?

By
Birmingham Times
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Artist Willie Williams had a lot of questions during the 2024 presidential election, which inspired “Is This America?,” a new art exhibition at BCRI. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Shauna Stuart | The Birmingham Times

A new art exhibition at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute examines the past and future of America as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary.

Artist Willie Williams had a lot of questions during the 2024 presidential election.

He noticed the tense moments and eyebrow-raising comments, including when then-candidate Donald Trump told Christians during a speaking event in Florida that they would “never have to vote again”  if they voted for him that November.

“So, I thought, ‘OK, voting rights is really on the chopping block right now, and the plan is in motion to really take us back 60 years,’” said Williams, who owns Studio 2500 Fine Art Gallery in North Birmingham.

Another red flag for Williams was Project 2025 — the Heritage Foundation’s 900-page “right-wing  blueprint” for America designed to take effect during a second Trump administration. When information about the agenda started circulating more frequently on social media in 2024, Williams learned more about the policies in the manifesto, including recommendations to remove Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

So, Williams started thinking about his next art exhibition — one that would illustrate his feelings about the state of the nation.

“As an artist, personally, I always want to try to reflect the times — in the words of Nina Simone,” said Williams. “I felt compelled to reflect those changes that were happening and my own feelings and opinions about those changes.”

He started listening to Fannie Lou Hamer’s 1964 speech at the Democratic National Convention. Seated in front of an all-white delegation in Atlantic City, Hamer passionately delivered her testimony about poll taxes and other obstacles white voting officials used to prevent Black people from voting. She vividly described being fired from her job as a sharecropper on a Mississippi plantation and being brutally beaten in jail for trying to help Black people register to vote.

“I question America. Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Hamer asked fervently. “Where we have to sleep with our telephones off of the hook because our lives have been threatened daily because we want to live as decent human beings in America?”

Hamer’s voice, said Williams, kept stirring in him.

“Her words really compelled me,” said Williams. “Her question really confirmed that I needed to go in the direction of using my art to challenge America.”

Williams decided the topic of his next art show would challenge viewers to take an honest look at America’s scars and triumphs. The result: “Is This America,” a rolling art show curated to highlight the 250th anniversary of the nation.

The first iteration of the show debuted at Studio 2500 in 2025, featuring work from six artists.

The second iteration of the show is housed at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

On view in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery until July 18, the exhibition features paintings, mixed media, sculpture, and video. Williams says the show honors Woolfolk (“A historical figure in the house that she built,”) and also commemorates the 10-year anniversary of Studio 2500.

The exhibit also comes at a fitting moment — a new era in the battle for voting rights as

Southern states attempt to redraw voting maps, primarily in districts representing minority voters.  The move, reports the Associated Press, is part of a push by President Donald Trump to try to hold on to Republicans’ slim House majority in the November elections.

Williams followed the rapid redistricting timeline that started in April with the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, striking down both a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana and a landmark civil rights law that increased minority representation in Congress — a move that politicians and voting rights activists say guts Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Artist Willie Williams’ “Is This America?,” is a new art exhibition at BCRI. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

He watched as Southern states, including Alabama, clamored to call special legislative sessions to redraw voting maps. He saw the clarion calls for protests and rallies to speak out against the sessions and read about voting rights activist Dee Reed being removed from the Alabama State House chambers. He watched closely as community leaders and concerned citizens rallied together for All Roads Lead to the South, the national day of action in the cradle of historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches to mobilize a new voting rights era.

In early June, the Supreme Court allowed Alabama to use a 2023 voting map favoring Republicans in this year’s elections, blocking an earlier lower court ruling that the redistricting plan intentionally discriminates against Black people.

Williams, 30, never thought he’d see this happen in his lifetime.

“My parents were born into it,” said Williams. “They were born into the fight when it was happening 60 years ago, and now I’m coming into adulthood and the fight has restarted. That’s the most interesting part about this whole time right now.”

He likens this time to Freedom Summer, the 1964 Mississippi campaign of meetings and protests designed to increase Black voter registration. 

“60 years ago was Freedom Summer and the time has returned,” said Williams. “We’re marching again. Here we are in 2026 protesting and fighting in Alabama for districts and for voting power.”

Homage to Fannie Lou Hamer 

This iteration of “Is This America” is an exhibition of work by Williams, his father, Willie Williams Sr., and a collaboration between poet Candace Green and artists Jasilyn Snow and Nikos Dimarco.

The exhibit uses painting, sculpture, photography, video, and mixed media to explore themes of citizenship, democracy, and freedom in America

This version of “Is This America” also pays homage to Fannie Lou Hamer. A television screen in the exhibition showcases black and white footage from William’s 2025 visit to Hamer’s gravesite in Ruleville, Mississippi.

Nearby hangs Williams’ piece “Fannie’s Echo,” a mixed media work on felt. Silver and red tinges of paint cover a black felt background, and Williams placed a gray illustration of feet in the bottom left panel of the piece. The image is two-fold, he says. The feet can represent the trauma of lynching — how the terrorists who lynched Black bodies kept body parts as artifacts. Feet, says Williams, also represent movement.

“If you cut our feet away from us, you’re taking away our power.”

The centerpiece of the exhibition is “Lord Knows,” Williams’ multicolor acrylic paint portrait of Hamer’s face. He describes the image as solemn, but contentious.

“It was important to show her presence in the space, but also show her experience as a Black woman in America, because it’s written all over her face. When you see her face, you’ll see the trials and tribulations that she went through in the Jim Crow South,” said Williams.

Prayer Changes

Another standout piece is “Prayer Changes,” Williams’ colorful acrylic interpretation of the famous black and white photograph of civil rights leaders Rev. F.D. Reese, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Rev. Ralph David Abernathy kneeling before being arrested during a protest march to the Dallas County Courthouse in Selma, Alabama. Reese, a minister, educator, and civil rights leader, served as president of the Dallas County Voters’ League and was one of Selma’s “Courageous Eight” — a group of activists who continued to hold meetings to discuss protesting voting injustices, even after a court injunction banned marches and meetings. It was Reese who wrote a letter on behalf of the Dallas County Voters’ League to invite Dr. King to return to Selma to assist with the voting rights movement.

Williams says the painting is an ode to Reese and other lesser-known foot soldiers of the voting rights movement.

“We like to talk about King and Shuttlesworth and Abernathy, but (Reese) is an unsung hero,” said Williams. “A lot of priming had to be done with the people in Selma to get them ready for what was to come. And he was part of that league that did that. So I didn’t want to forget his voice and his significance to the movement.”

“Is This America?” is an exhibition of work by artist Willie Williams, his father, Willie Williams Sr. and a collaboration between poet Candace Green, and artists Jasilyn Snow, and Nikos Dimarco. The Williamses are pictured with Deanna “Dee” Reed. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

“I Felt Like Something Had Been Stolen from Me” 

Willie Williams Sr. is a product of the Black Belt. Born in 1959 in Marengo County, he was part of the region’s early school integration efforts. He also remembers when Martin Luther King Jr. traveled through Eutaw and Marengo County while headed to Selma and Marion.

An architect by trade, Williams’ work in “Is This America?”  is crafted from digital images on wood panels. Two of the panels, “Unwritten” and “Inside America,” are inspired by his childhood.

“I came up in a time when my grandfather couldn’t vote until 1965 and he couldn’t write. So when I was able to go with him to vote when I was seven, eight, or nine years old, I would always write an ‘X’  for his name,” said Williams.

Like his son, Willie Williams Sr. also observed the rapid redistricting timeline and the blow to Section Two of the Voting Rights Act.

“I felt like something had been stolen from me. All of the gains that we made,” said Williams Sr. “I knew all of my grandparents and great grandparents. So I felt like those things that were restricting them are now restricting me.”

“Is this the America that I had hoped for my children, for my grandchildren? No,” Williams Sr. continued. “Is this the reality of America? Yes.”

Historic examination and a devotion to Black history and social justice have always been a premise of  Williams Jr.’s work, from his acrylic painting “4 The Little Girls,”  which depicts colorful images of the four girls killed in 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in 1963 to his Arc of Justice sculpture, a nod to Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1965 address at the Alabama State Capitol.

To Williams, historic preservation is one of an artist’s greatest roles. And as America approaches its 250th birthday, artists who chose to depict history have a responsibility, particularly as President Trump signs executive orders to remove historic exhibitions and overhaul the messaging at cultural institutions around the nation.

“There needs to be truth right now in a society that holds up falsehood, especially in media that’s trying to erase Black history primarily, and that’s trying to erase the humanity of certain groups of people,” Williams said.  “Artists now… we need to be bold and courageous and tell the truth and forget about doing the pretty stuff … and making the pretty art. There needs to be some truth. It’s not always pretty. There is some rawness that comes with that. And we got to be willing to go there.”

Artist Willie Williams had a lot of questions during the 2024 presidential election, which inspired “Is This America?,” a new art exhibition at BCRI. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Matcha Mondays Debuts with Conversations on Community, Culture and an Intimate Performance by Case

By
Birmingham Times
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Kendra Woodfin, Naimah Elmore and Birmingham City Council District 6 representative Crystal N. Smitherman at Matcha Mondays at Alicia’s Coffee. (Provided, Birmingham City Council)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

A new monthly conversation series made its Birmingham debut Monday evening, bringing together community leaders, local entrepreneurs and music lovers for an event centered on conversation, culture and connection.

Hosted by award-winning journalist Nicole Sadé and curated by Kendra Woodfin, Matcha Mondays — presented by Alicia’s Coffee and Voltron Printing — welcomed guests to the historic A.G. Gaston Motel for an evening that paired a ceremonial matcha demonstration with discussions on leadership, Birmingham’s history and R&B music before closing with a live performance by multi-platinum recording artist Case.

The program opened with remarks from Woodfin, who thanked attendees, community partners and everyone involved in helping launch the inaugural event.

Guests then joined Alicia’s Coffee owner Naimah Elmore for a lesson on the origins and preparation of matcha tea. During the demonstration, Birmingham City Council District 6 representative Crystal N. Smitherman participated in the ceremonial preparation, sifting and whisking the tea while Elmore explained its cultural roots.

“It comes from another culture, so it’s really a ceremonial drink,” Elmore said. “That’s why we make the matcha with a ceremonial bowl, a whisk and a sifter.”

Elmore also discussed matcha’s nutritional benefits before explaining how Alicia’s Coffee has created its own signature variations while still honoring the traditional preparation. While Smitherman is a familiar face throughout District 6 and regularly engages with constituents through community meetings and neighborhood events, Matcha Mondays offered attendees a more intimate opportunity to hear from the councilwoman in a conversational setting.

As the demonstration continued, the conversation shifted to Smitherman’s personal style after Elmore noted the councilwoman’s signature sneakers.

“I am a sneakerhead,” Smitherman said.

She added that women in leadership should not feel confined by traditional expectations of professional attire.

“I think for women, we have to get away from this traditional thing that we have to wear skirts and heels,” she said. “You can be professional by looking professional.”

Before introducing the evening’s featured guest, Mayor Randall Woodfin offered brief remarks about the significance of the venue, noting he was attending in support of his wife rather than in his official role as mayor.

“I actually am not here in my capacity as mayor of the City of Birmingham,” he said. “I am here to support my wife.”

Mayor Woodfin encouraged guests to appreciate the history surrounding them inside the A.G. Gaston Motel, explaining that the room once served as part of the property’s dining and social gathering space.

“Part of what we wanted to do is take a piece of the heritage and respect the history here, but also in our own way in 2026 and beyond, just have an intimate moment and activate this space in civil rights history,” he said.

The evening continued with a conversation between Sadé and Case, who is celebrating 30 years in the music industry.

“I feel blessed,” Case said. “To still do what I love… still come and still sing for people. So it’s a blessing.”

The evening continued with a conversation between Sadé and Case, who is celebrating 30 years in the music industry. (Provided, Birmingham City Council)

Sadé also asked the singer about his visit earlier in the day to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the 16th Street Baptist Church and the A.G. Gaston Motel Museum.

“It’s different to see it on TV or hear about it or learn about it in school,” Case said. “But just to be there is a whole lot different.”

He said hearing one of the survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing speak during his visit left a lasting impression and reinforced the message behind his recent socially conscious music.

The conversation later turned to the evolution of R&B and the role love continues to play in his music.

“I think love is important no matter what’s going on,” Case said. “Love conquers everything.”

When asked about the current state of R&B, the singer said quality music still exists but has become more difficult for audiences to discover.

“There’s always been good music,” he said. “It’s just that nowadays it’s harder to find it. You gotta go look for it.”

Following the conversation, Case treated attendees to an intimate live performance featuring several of his signature hits, including “Missing You.” He also delivered an a cappella rendition of “Happily Ever After,” drawing enthusiastic singalongs from audience members gathered inside the historic venue.

The inaugural Matcha Mondays marked the beginning of what organizers envision as an ongoing series designed to bring together conversations around culture, community, business and the arts in an intimate setting while highlighting Birmingham’s historic spaces and creative voices.

Case said hearing one of the survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing speak during his visit left a lasting impression. (Provided, Birmingham City Council)

Members of the Birmingham Youth Choir Set to Record First Live Album

By
Birmingham Times
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Sommitt Carter leads a solo for the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir at 16th Street Baptist Church. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

The Birmingham Times

Members of the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir, who made their way to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent last year, are now set to record their first live album.

On Saturday, July 18, at 3 p.m., the choir will host a live album recording at Guiding Light Church, located at 1800 John Rogers Drive, Birmingham, AL 35210.

“This is a major milestone for our choir,” said Ahkeem R. Lee, founder and executive artistic director of the choir.

The recording will feature all original music performed by the choir, which comprises nearly 60 young voices from the Birmingham area.

“For us, this is more than just a concert,” Lee said. “It is a moment that represents years of work, faith, sacrifice and the gifts of so many young people who are using their voices positively.”

Last year, the troupe earned plenty of praise and fans throughout Season 20 of the NBC reality competition series America’s Got Talent. The choir advanced to the semifinals of the show with celebrity judge Simon Cowell as its champion.

The Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir performed “No One” by Alicia Keys in the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” during Season 20. (Trae Patton, NBC)

The group earned a coveted Golden Buzzer from Cowell during its initial audition, which aired in July of 2025. The choir’s performance of “Joyful, Joyful” impressed the notoriously tough judge and allowed the singers to advance directly from the auditions to the quarterfinals. The singers also impressed Cowell during the quarterfinals, performing vignettes of two songs: Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” and Kirk Franklin’s “When I Think About Jesus.”

America’s Got Talent gave the members of the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir the chance to share their sound and story on a national platform.

“While we are grateful for that opportunity, this live recording is especially meaningful because it brings this moment back home to Birmingham,” Lee said, “where the choir was founded and where so many of our young people live, learn, worship, and serve.”

The group’s latest singles, “While It’s Still Fresh (On My Mind)” and “Jesus Saves,” a collaboration with Chris Tomlin, are available now on all streaming platforms.

If you go

Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir Live Recording
Saturday, July 18 at 3 p.m.
Guiding Light Church
1800 John Rogers Drive
Birmingham, AL 35210

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at bhamyyafc.org/concert. For those unable to attend, donations can also be made via the same link.

VIP tickets are also available and include preferred seating, a special T-shirt, and a signed copy of the single, “While It’s Still Fresh (On My Mind).”

‘We’re Us. We’re the Same Us That We Were 50 Years Ago.’

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Birmingham Times
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A note from the editor: Alexis and Robert Lee were first featured in You Had Me at Hello in February 2021. Now that the Lees are celebrating 50 years of marriage, we checked in to learn more about their secret to long-lasting love.

By Mia Watkins | For the Birmingham Times

Alexis & Robert Lee

Married: June 26, 1976

Live: Pelham, Alabama

Happily ever after 50 years later: Alexis Lee said she could always picture herself and her husband, Robert, on their golden anniversary.

“If you asked me if I was going to make it to 50, I would tell you, ‘yeah,’” Alexis said. “When I got married, I got married as a commitment that this is going to last. I didn’t even think about it not lasting after five years, and I’m going to be out. I never looked at it that way. I looked at it as we were committed to each other. We didn’t count the years; when it comes, it comes.”

The two initially met in Detroit in 1973, where their families were acquainted. Robert picked Alexis up from a barbershop after she got a haircut while visiting her cousins.

“He brought me back to my cousin’s house and asked me if I was going out that night because I had gotten a haircut,” she told The Birmingham Times in 2021. “I said, ‘No,’ and he asked me if I wanted to go out with him, so we did. We went to Flaming Embers, which no longer exists, in Detroit. Anyone who can take you out for steak on a first date, that’s a good thing.”

That first date was the shape of things to come.

Eventually, the two got married at First Baptist Church in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, the same church where Alexis’ parents and grandparents celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss.

“I was there for both of those,” she said. “Even though I thought it was an accomplishment and a milestone, I never thought that one day that’s going to be us.”

Fifty years later, the two renewed those vows at the same church. The Lees said time has flown for them.

“To me, after you make that first one, you’re happy and excited,” she said. “Then, you take those five years, that 10 years, and before you know it, you’re at 25. It’s like taking laps around, you’re not focused on how many you’re going to do. You’re focused on getting around. To me, marriage is making sure you complete those laps and not try to count how many years and how many days. Before you know it, everything that you are doing in your life with your family, having children and children going to school and you going to work every day, the time just goes by.”

Robert, a man of few words, agrees.

“When you get married and start having kids, you focus on your kids,” he said. “Then, you go to a job. The time just keeps rolling and rolling.”

Looking back, Alexis said that she wishes someone had told her that marriage is about choosing your partner every day.

“Choosing this person, this is the person that every day of your life, you’re going to be with that person,” she said. “With your friends, you see them here and there or you might talk to them. Even family, you don’t see every day. In terms of your spouse, that is the person that you choose. That is the person that you are going to be with every day of your life, even when life is not easy.”

Robert insists that a long-lasting marriage is built on respect.

“If you respect her and she respects you, things go really easily after that,” he said. “Nobody told me that, but I learned that on my own. You have to respect what she says and does and hope she respects what you say and do.”

Respect doesn’t always mean agreement, Alexis added.

“Sometimes you say, ‘I don’t know, we’re not doing that,’ or you may say, ‘Oh, that sounds like a great idea,” she said. “Everything is not etched in stone, and you have a book you can go through and read and say, ‘Ok, now it says this and right now that says that.’ You have to talk things out and know that, as Robert said, to have respect for each other and have respect that your person is helping you make the right decision.”

Alexis and Robert Lee married in June 1976, and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. (Provided)

Words of wisdom: Robert said that it helps to have some of the same interests as your spouse. That includes being aligned in faith.

“We’re both Christians, and we both are members of the same church,” he said. “Every Sunday morning, we go to church together.”

For Alexis staying power is found in a person’s mindset.

“You have to know that you’re going to stay with this person,” she said. “You don’t focus on something happening, and all of a sudden, you’re ready to leave. You’re willing to say that I’m not going to go through this. If you don’t work at it, you’re not going to make it to 50 years.”

She said growing together is a process.

“To me, growing together means you have to have some idea of who can do one thing and who can do the other thing, and you’re OK with that person doing it,” she said.

When their two daughters were young, Alexis made the decision on where their children went to school.

“We had the agreement about their education, but I was the one who took it a step further,” she said. “It’s like building on each other, it’s like building blocks. He might be the one who says, ‘Ok, where are we going on vacation?’ and I would say, ‘We have to look at the budget.’ And, he would be the person who’d say that he would get the money together. It’s like a compliment. It’s like ketchup and mustard on a hamburger.”

Now that they’re retired, Alexis keeps busy with meetings and social engagements, while Robert is content at home.

“He supports me in that,” she said. “He’s not that person who says, ‘Oh, you’re going again?’ I’ve had people say to me that they can’t go anywhere. You have to understand that there’s a time to go and there’s a time to stay at home as well. He supports me because he knows that I’m the get-up-and-go person. And, he says, ‘OK, what time are you coming back? What do you want for dinner?’”

Alexis said that newer couples sometimes don’t focus on the road ahead, and Robert agrees.

“It’s a big difference when you’re dating and when you really live together,” Robert said. “People don’t understand that things pop up. When you’re dating, everybody’s trying to be perfect, and it just doesn’t work when you start living together. Somebody’s got to do the dishes, somebody’s got to do the laundry and somebody’s got to cook.”

Overall, the Lees have the same love that they’ve had for the past 50 years. One thing that Robert still does for her is make weekend breakfast. In turn, Alexis does his laundry for him.

“To some people, they would go like, ‘What?”, she said. “But, I know, no matter what, when we get up on the weekend, breakfast will be cooked for me and on my plate in front of me on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I’m used to that. He doesn’t have to do that, but he does that for me.”

Their love has also served as a blueprint for their daughters, Jauan and Jamesa. Alexis calls Robert the original ‘girl dad.’ Robert was deeply involved in the girls’ upbringing. From combing hair to acting as a chauffeur for sports to sacrificing a new car so they could get brand new cars, he showed them how they should be treated, according to Alexis.

“I think, secretly, our oldest daughter watches her dad and has those expectations not only from her husband but her two sons,” she said. “She ended up having the boys. She’ll say, ‘Well, Daddy would do so and so’ or ‘I remember Daddy would do this for us, and Daddy would do that.’ I think she quietly instills that in her husband’s head about what his father-in-law does.”

All in all, Alexis and Robert have stayed the same people who they were when they exchanged vows.

“We’re us,” she said. “We’re the same us that we were 50 years ago.”

Golden celebration: For their vow renewal the Lees had a family friend, Rev. Larry Byron Woodruff, officiate the ceremony, which was followed by a dinner reception at Reflections at the Cedars for 125 guests.

“We’re not making it a wedding,” Alexis said the day before the celebration. “We’re not doing bridesmaids and all of that. We’re just going to reaffirm our vows that we made to each other 50 years ago. We’re not exchanging new rings, we’re using our same rings that we got married in. We’re just going to have those rings blessed by Rev. Larry.”

The following day, they had a mini family reunion.

“We have people coming from Miami, Detroit, Ohio, and Atlanta,” she said. “A lot of our family, we haven’t seen them in a couple of years. We’re really looking forward to everybody coming.”

Alexis said she’s looking forward to looking back on their marriage as they celebrate this milestone.

“It’s almost like a story that we can look back on,” she said. “We were looking back at our old photo album and looking at the people who we know are no longer with us, and I feel like they would be so proud. My mom would just be beaming to know that I had made it to 50 years. I’m just looking forward to thanking God for blessing us and bringing us as far as He has brought us. And, hopefully, we can say thank you for everything He’s done and everything we know He will continue to do for us.”

City Council Approves $615M FY2027 Budget Presented By Birmingham Mayor Woodfin

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Birmingham Times
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Birmingham City Council approved Mayor Randall L. Woodfin's $615 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2027. (Adobe Stock)

The Birmingham Times

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a $615 million Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget recommended by Mayor Randall L. Woodfin that focuses on investments in neighborhoods, youth, public safety, public transportation, homelessness services, and the municipal workforce.

Mayor Randall Woodfin

“I want to thank the Birmingham City Council for their vote in support of this $615 million budget,” Mayor Woodfin said in an interview with the Birmingham Times following the vote. “I think this budget is consistent with where our priorities have always been — neighborhood revitalization, which includes investing in our city’s infrastructure, public safety, and a large commitment towards supporting Cradle to Career and education opportunities for our children.”

The FY2027 budget builds on the city’s $31.8 million surplus investment plan approved in March, which accelerated funding for infrastructure, neighborhood improvements, and community priorities.

Neighborhood Revitalization

More than $19 million has been allocated for neighborhood revitalization initiatives. Woodfin, speaking specifically about the $12 million for street resurfacing, said that residents will see these dollars at work in their communities as soon as this year.

“We already have a list,” he said, “and out of 99 neighborhoods, literally almost a third, 30 of them will see paving in the calendar year 2026.”

Additionally, for the first time, the city has used the general fund to increase the budget for critical home repairs, a popular program that supports the city’s elderly residents.

“So, it’s not just about removing that blighted structure here or cutting this empty lot here for that existing homeowner,” Woodfin said, “but allowing her or him to get some additional support as relates to the exterior of their home, whether it’s their porch or paint. This is a big deal for our seniors.”

Neighborhood revitalization initiatives include the following:

  • $12 million for street resurfacing
  • $3 million for weed abatement
  • $1.5 million for demolition and blight removal
  • $1.53 million for critical home repairs
  • $500,000 for traffic calming
  • $300,000 for recycling
  • $200,000 for the Façade Improvement Program

Cradle to Career

Woodfin’s Cradle to Career strategy continues to be central to his administration, and the FY2027 budget reflects this focus. The approved budget continues the city’s Cradle to Career strategy through investments in expanded youth and education programs, including:

  • $2 million for the Birmingham Promise
  • $1 million for mental health support in Birmingham City Schools
  • $1 million for financial literacy curriculum in Birmingham City Schools
  • $1 million for Common Ground conflict resolution programming
  • $625,000 for the Safe Havens Initiative
  • $500,000 for the Birmingham Youth Sports League
  • $500,000 for the Black Male Initiative
  • $500,000 for Cradle to Career initiatives
  • $210,000 for Kids and Jobs programming

“Being sworn in in November, when this third term started, we centered the entire acceptance speech around how to support and show up for our children,” Woodfin said.

Public Safety and Violence Reduction

Woodfin views public safety as part of the city’s commitment to children.

The FY2027 budget prioritizes public safety with increased support for violence intervention and re-entry programming, including:

  • $3 million for Community Violence Intervention programs, a $1.5 million increase
  • $450,000 for the RESTORE Youth Re-entry Initiative
  • Continued support for conflict resolution programming in Birmingham City Schools

Homelessness Reduction

In addition to approximately $800,000 annually in Community Development Block Grant support, the budget also calls for $3 million for services for the unhoused – a $1.5 million increase from the previous budget.

“Last year’s budget was the first time out of the general fund we put money towards addressing homelessness separate from the Community Development Block Grant dollars,” Woodfin explained. “Our Community Development Block Grant dollars for our unhoused strategies usually hover around 900,000, close to a million dollars, but in this budget that’s now been approved, there’s $3 million to support and engage our homeless community, our unhoused strategy, and execute on how we find a way to be very intentional about reducing residents who don’t have housing. We believe part of this additional funding is going to allow us to leverage and partner with other organizations that are doing the work, and our job is to deploy more resources toward the organizations that can put a dent in and decrease homelessness.”

Public Transportation

With the new budget, more than $17 million has been allocated for transit services and accessibility initiatives, including:

  • $11.5 million for the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority
  • $3 million for the Birmingham Xpress Bus Rapid Transit system
  • $2.5 million for Birmingham On Demand microtransit
  • $300,000 for ClasTran

Investing in City Employees

The city will invest in its employees through salary adjustments, healthcare support, and premium pay.  Approximately $10 million has been allocated for salary adjustments, including merit and longevity pay increases; more than $5 million in additional healthcare investments; and a $500 premium payment for all active full-time employees.

Woodfin said the city council’s support of the budget, “represents our shared values and reflects our combined commitment to building a Birmingham where every neighborhood can thrive, every young person has the opportunity to succeed, and every resident feels safer and better served.”

Woodfin added, “We’re continuing to make smart, responsible investments that strengthen our city today while positioning Birmingham for an even brighter future.”

To review the budget, go to www.birminghamal.gov/budget2027.

Nurture, Inc., Negro Southern League Museum Look to Preserve History While Healing the Community

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Birmingham Times
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The Negro Southern League Museum (NSLM), in partnership with Nurture, Inc., is launching a series of community health and wellness events to support mental, emotional, and physical well‑being. (Adobe Stock)

birminghamal.gov

The Negro Southern League Museum (NSLM), in partnership with Nurture, Inc., is launching a series of community health and wellness events designed to support mental, emotional, and physical well‑being throughout Birmingham.

Josh Gibson, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Negro Leagues history, died at just 35 years old from a stroke. Many at the time believed Gibson was struggling mentally, not realizing he was exhibiting the symptoms of a brain tumor.

His passing in 1947 — just months before Jackie Robinson integrated modern Major League Baseball — fueled widespread speculation that he had died from the emotional burden of not being chosen to break baseball’s color barrier.

Josh Gibson, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Negro Leagues history, died at just 35 years old from a stroke. (Provided)

Gibson’s misunderstood symptoms and the stigma surrounding mental health in his era reflect challenges that many individuals and families continue to face today. NSLM’s new wellness series aims to address these concerns in the historic setting of the museum which features legends like Gibson.

The first event in the series, Healing the Legacy: Fatherhood, Identity, and Emotional Wellness, was held on June 6. Led by licensed counselor Perry Goins III, the session created a supportive environment where participants explored the unique mental health challenges faced by Black fathers, discussed barriers to care, and encouraged positive, generational change.

Upcoming Events in the Wellness Series

• Race‑Based Stress: What It Does, How You Feel, and What You Can Do – July 11
A session focused on understanding the effects of race‑based stress and exploring practical tools for resilience and emotional well‑being.

• Write Your Way Back: The Healing Power of Journaling – August 15
An interactive workshop on using reflective writing as a pathway to healing, clarity, and emotional processing.

• ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences): Understanding Lifelong Impacts – September 19
A deep dive into how early life adversity affects mental health, behavior, and long‑term health outcomes—along with strategies for community and personal healing.

• Be Cancer Aware! – October 10
A community conversation aimed at increasing awareness of cancer risks, screenings, and prevention to support early detection and healthier outcomes.

This partnership between NSLM and Nurture, Inc. underscores the museum’s commitment not only to preserving the stories of Negro Leagues legends, but also to strengthening the community those stories come from. Together, they aim to reduce stigma, expand access to knowledge, and promote wellness across generations.

For more information about event times, registration, or other inquiries, please contact Nurture, Inc. founder and director, Crystal Mullen Johnson cmullenj@nurturebham.com or contact the Negro Southern League Museum at 205-581-3040.

You Had Me At Hello: Love Lessons from Barack and Michelle Obama

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Birmingham Times
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Barack and Michelle married on Oct. 3, 1992. Barack has shared that he relied heavily on Michelle’s judgment and honesty throughout his political career. (Obama.org)

The Birmingham Times

Former first lady Michelle Obama delivered a loving and heartfelt tribute to her husband on Thursday at the Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening ceremony in Chicago. Her words brought President Barack Obama to tears.

“You told me all those years ago that you couldn’t promise me the world, but you could promise me an interesting life,” she said, “and of course you outdid yourself and managed to give me both.”

Though the lives of Barack and Michelle Obama have been anything but ordinary, their love story teaches everyday lessons valuable to any couple.

How Barack Met Michelle

Long before he became president, Barack Obama was simply a young lawyer trying to convince a smart, ambitious woman named Michelle Robinson to go on a date. The two met in 1989 at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin. Michelle was assigned to mentor Barack, who was a summer associate while attending Harvard Law School. Because she was his adviser at the firm, Michelle initially resisted Barack’s attempts to date her. But eventually he won her over. For their first date, the couple had lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago and ice cream at a nearby Baskin-Robbins. They walked through the city and later went to see Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

Two years after their first date, they got engaged at Gordon’s restaurant in Chicago just after Barack passed the bar exam.

Barack and Michelle married on Oct. 3, 1992. Their reception was held at the South Shore Cultural Center. For their honeymoon, they took a trip along the California coast.

They welcomed their first child, Malia, on July 4, 1998. Their second daughter, Sasha, was born on July 10, 2001.

A Strong Support System

Barack has shared that he relied heavily on Michelle’s judgment and honesty throughout his political career, calling her his closest adviser and toughest critic. Michelle was a strong support system for Barack, even in his earliest political campaigns. During his Illinois State Senate campaigns, she was a sounding board and trusted adviser, all while maintaining her own demanding career and family responsibilities.

During Barack’s 2008 Presidential Campaign, Michelle traveled extensively, speaking at rallies and campaign events nationwide. Her stories about their family life helped to endear Barack to voters.

During his presidency, Michelle became one of the administration’s most popular public figures. Through initiatives such as Let’s Move!, support for military families, and higher education programs, she helped advance the administration’s goals and priorities.

In 2011, in an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Barack credited Michelle for his success.

“Obviously, I couldn’t have done anything that I’ve done without Michelle,” he told Oprah Winfrey. “Not only has she been a great first lady, she is just my rock. I count on her in so many ways every single day.”

During Barrack Obama’s presidency, Michelle Obama became one of the administration’s most popular public figures. (Obama.org)

Friends First

In that same interview, Michelle stressed the importance of a partnership built on mutual respect.

“It has to be a true partnership, and you have to really, really like and respect the person you’re married to, because it is a hard road.”

Both Barack and Michelle have spoken about the importance of friendship in marriage. “For the past 25 years, you’ve not only been my wife and the mother of my children, you’ve been my best friend,” President Obama said during his farewell speech on Jan. 10, 2017 at McCormick Place convention center in Chicago.

Being friends also means having fun and laughing together.

“In our house, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage,” Michelle said in an interview on “Live! With Regis and Kelly” in 2011.

Navigating Tough Times

While many see the Obamas as #couplegoals, they’ve been open about the hardships they’ve faced over the years and honest about relying on counseling and communication to get through tough times.

In 2022, on the Revolt x Michelle Obama special hosted by Angie Martinez, Michelle spoke candidly about the frustrations of early marriage, especially just after their children were born.

“There were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband,” she said. “And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.”

She said things improved when she realized “marriage isn’t 50-50, ever.”

In 2024, while speaking with host Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast, Michelle said she wanted to normalize discussing the “natural, understandable rough patches” in marriages that make people “want to quit.”

Learning to forge ahead in the face of challenges is what leads to long-lasting love, she said.

“You don’t quit on it, you learn from it,” Michelle said. “That’s what sustaining a relationship is — it’s the choice to figure it out, not quit, when it gets hard.”

Sources: Elle.com and Obama.org

 

Built to Last: Share Your Love Story

What does lasting love look like? Maybe it’s handwritten notes tucked into lunch bags, dancing in the kitchen after a long day, praying together through hard seasons, or simply choosing each other again and again over the years. Whatever your story looks like, we want to hear it.

For years, the Birmingham Times has celebrated local couples and the love that binds them through our popular “You Had Me at Hello” column. Now, we’re looking for more inspiring stories of commitment, partnership, laughter, resilience, and romance.

Have you been married seven years or longer? Tell us the secret to your enduring love. No relationship is ordinary, and every couple has a story worth sharing. Your journey could encourage newlyweds, inspire singles, or remind readers that lasting love still exists.

Whether your love story began with a blind date, a high school romance, a chance encounter, or a friendship that grew into forever, we’d love to feature it.

To be considered for a future “You Had Me at Hello” column or to nominate a couple you admire, email editor@birminghamtimes.com with the couple’s names, contact information, and the number of years they’ve been married. 

The City of Birmingham to Activate Multiple Cooling Stations During Extreme Heat

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Birmingham Times
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The City of Birmingham is partnering with community organizations, libraries, recreation centers, and service providers to offer cooling stations throughout the city. (Adobe Stock)

birminghamal.gov

As temperatures continually rise, the City of Birmingham is partnering with community organizations, libraries, recreation centers, and service providers to offer cooling stations throughout the city for residents seeking relief from extreme heat.

Cooling stations will be activated whenever temperatures reach 95 degrees or higher, including the heat index or “feels like” temperature. These locations provide air-conditioned spaces where residents can cool down, hydrate, and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

The initiative is designed to support Birmingham’s most vulnerable residents, including older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, families without reliable air conditioning, and anyone in need of a safe place to escape dangerous temperatures.

“Extreme heat can be more than uncomfortable; it can be life-threatening,” said Alanah Melton, director of unhoused strategies for the City of Birmingham. “We want every resident to know there are safe, welcoming places throughout Birmingham where they can find relief, stay hydrated, and protect their health during periods of excessive heat.”

Cooling stations are available in every quadrant of the city and include the Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, Five Points West Library, North Birmingham Library, Southside Library, Woodlawn Library, Harrison Recreation Center, the City of Birmingham’s Fitness Center, Faith Chapel Care Center, Firehouse Ministries, One Roof, and Pathways.

Residents are encouraged to check on elderly family members, neighbors, and friends during periods of extreme heat and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

For a complete list of cooling station locations and operating hours, visit www.birminghamal.gov/homelessness or follow the city’s social media channels for updates during heat events.

Here is a list of cooling stations:

 

CENTRAL

Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place
  • Mondays, Wednesdays through Saturdays: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Tuesdays 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Faith Chapel Care Center, 921 2nd Ave. North,
  • Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Pathways, 409 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North
  • Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Firehouse Ministries, 626 2nd Ave. North
  • 2–5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
NORTH
North Birmingham Library, 2501 31st Ave. N
  • Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fitness Center, 421 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd
  • Monday 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
  • Friday 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Sunday Closed
WEST
Five Points West Library, 4812 Ave. W.
  • Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
One Roof, 730 8th Ave. West
  • 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
SOUTH
Harrison Recreation Center, 901 17th St SW
  • Monday 12–5:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday 12–5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12–5:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
  • Friday 12–5:30 p.m.
  • Saturday 12–5:30 p.m.
  • Sunday 12–5:30 p.m.
Southside Library, 1814 11th Ave. South
  • Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
EAST
Woodlawn Library, 5709 1st Ave. N
  • Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Opinion: With Silent Book Club, Reading Never Feels Like Homework

By
Birmingham Times
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The Greater Birmingham area has two SBC chapters — one that meets at Hoover Public Library and a North Birmingham group that meets at coffee shops in and around downtown Birmingham. (Provided)

By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times

I’ve gotten used to the funny looks people give me when I mention that I’m going to a Silent Book Club meeting. After all, isn’t discussing what you’re reading the whole point of a book club? So what is Silent Book Club, and what’s the point?

With Silent Book Club (SBC), there’s no assigned reading. You just show up with a book of your choice and read. Two San Francisco-based friends — Guinevere de la Mare and Laura Gluhanich — got the idea for Silent Book Club in 2012.  For them, traditional book clubs, with the scramble to finish the assigned book, made reading feel like homework. So, they decided to meet at a neighborhood wine bar and just read together.

In 2015, they officially launched Silent Book Club as an organization with a mission to unite a global community of book lovers. Today, SBC has 2,000 chapters in more than 60 countries. More than a million members gather in person or online simply to read together and swap stories.

I attended my first Silent Book Club meeting back in 2019 and was instantly hooked. Despite the name, there is time for talking at SBC meetings. Usually at the start and end of each meetup, attendees chat about what they’re reading and about the books on their TBR (to be read) lists. Sometimes we exchange books too. It was a great way to connect with other people who loved words and storytelling as much as I do but without the pressure to read a specific book by a specific date.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted most in-person gatherings, including SBC meetups. But today the Greater Birmingham area has two SBC chapters — one that meets at Hoover Public Library and a North Birmingham that meets at various coffee shops in and around downtown Birmingham.

Birmingham Times Editor Javacia Bowser Harris, left, is part of a Silent Book Club. (Provided)

Self-Care and Finding Community

Some may ask, why would you meet up with others to read silently when you can just do that at home? But for Laronica Conway, who launched the North Birmingham chapter in June of 2024, Silent Book Club is a form of self-care.

“When you are at home, you are always doing something other than, or in addition to, reading.  The dishwasher is running, the washing machine is going and there’s a pile of laundry sitting on your bed waiting to be folded,” she said. “Silent Book Club allows you to get away and dedicate one to two hours to focus on your book and only your book.”

Conway hopes other book lovers will see SBC as a getaway, too.

“There are way too many distractions at home to truly find time to read,” she said. “And if you do carve out some time, you might feel guilty about sitting around with a book in your hand when the kids need to eat!”

But at Silent Book Club, avid readers can gather and get lost in a story — guilt-free.

Most of all, Silent Book Club is about building community.

“Not only do I get to meet others who enjoy reading, but I learn about other books, and we end up creating our own little community,” Conway said of SBC. “A couple of us meet up for local book events, and we share bookish stuff all the time. I think a book club is the easiest, least stressful way to meet people.”

And Conway is confident other Birmingham-area readers share her enthusiasm for the club.

“A while back, one of the SBC attendees told me that she had been looking forward to the meetup all week,” Conway shared.  “How amazing is that! Sometimes we just need a little distraction from all that is going on and getting lost in a book with like-minded people is the best prescription.”

Reading Outside the Box

Conway says she’s been an avid reader since she got her first library card as a child. “And I’ve had a library card since I was a kid. Getting a library card is one of the first things I do when I move to the city,” she said.

She recalled the joy she felt as she left the library with a pile of books to take home and read. Conway’s father passed away recently, and some of her fondest memories of him center on books.

“Going to the library with my dad on Saturdays was our thing,” she said.

That giddiness she said she felt when she went to the library never went away.

“That feeling just continued to grow as I got older,” she said. “Reading allows me to think outside of the box, to visit new spaces and places, to learn about different cultures without spending money.”

And Silent Book Club encourages Conway to read outside the box, too.

Before SBC, Conway didn’t read science fiction.

“But it was a recommendation from someone at that first book club that made me branch out and try something different,” she shared.  The book the attendee recommended was “Recursion” by Blake Crouch.

“I could not put that book down!” Conway exclaimed. “I think one of the best things about SBC is learning about new writers and genres I’ve never read.”

Conway has also added fantasy and young adult (YA) to her reading repertoire thanks to SBC, including books by YA writers like Tiffany D. Jackson and Angie Thomas and the “Children of Blood and Bone” series by Tomi Adeyemi.

More than once, I’ve shown up for a Silent Book Club meeting to find that another attendee and I are clutching the same book. For example, it happened when I was reading “Kin” by Tayari Jones, and it proved to be an instant icebreaker. And Conway and I are both big fans of all things by romance writer Kennedy Ryan.

Just as busy schedules can make it tough for people to steal away a couple of hours to read, Conway admits planning meetups can be challenging — especially during football season in Alabama. But she’s willing to do it because “meeting up with my reading buddies makes me happy and it gives me something to look forward to.”

Follow the North Birmingham chapter of Silent Book Club on Instagram @sbc_northbirmingham. Silent Book Club Birmingham, which meets at Hoover Library, can be found @sbcbhm.

A SBC meetup at Filter Coffee in downtown Birmingham. (Provided)
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