Mayor William Bell recently hosted a My Brother’s Keeper summit with community stakeholders. Public and private partners from around the region joined the Mayor and City Council for the afternoon long session. Mayor Bell co-chairs the national initiative.
President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper as an initiative designed to determine what works to help young people stay on track to reach their full potential. Over the past five years, the hard work and grit of the American people pulled our economy back from the brink of collapse and we are moving forward again. Still, there is more work to be done; boys of color are too often born into poverty and live with a single parent. In many areas of our country, dropout rates remain high. Many of these young men will have negative interactions with the juvenile/criminal justice system, and the dream of a college education is within grasp for too few.
The White House is identifying programs and policies that work, and recommending action that will help all our young people succeed. The City of Birmingham has combined several existing initiatives with new programs to develop RISE, which will, in turn, complement the goals of My Brother’s Keeper. The four areas of Birmingham’s RISE program collectively push for young people be successful from ‘cradle to career.’ In addition, these programs improve and sustain a healthy municipal infrastructure.
MBK key milestones in the path to adulthood that are especially predictive of later success, and where interventions can have the greatest impact:
•    Getting a healthy start and entering school ready to learn
•    Reading at grade level by third grade
•    Graduating from high school ready for college and career
•    Completing post-secondary education or training
•    Successfully entering the workforce
•    Keeping kids on track and giving them second chances
By focusing on these key moments, and helping our young people avoid roadblocks that hinder progress across life stages, we can help ensure that all children and young people have the tools they need to build successful lives. (Adapted from source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper.)
Attendants of the summit included local, regional and national partners along with federal agencies and government officials. Birmingham Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. has committed more than $600,000 in City funds to create a City-sponsored grassroots effort to specifically focus on achieving the goals of My Brother’s Keeper. Birmingham’s MBK effort will be housed in Mayor Bell’s office, under his Division of Youth Services and will be facilitated in various Birmingham City Schools and Recreation Centers throughout the City.

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In an effort to garner widespread community input into the superintendent search process, the Birmingham Board of Education will soon host a series of community engagement sessions, facilitated by the Alabama Association of School Boards. Day-long meetings (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.) will be hosted on Nov. 18 and 19 in an effort to encourage input from various stakeholder groups, such as teachers, students, parents and others from the community.
“Although we are hosting these meetings, we have asked the Alabama Association of School Boards to facilitate them so we can maximize participation,” says Randall Woodfin, president of the Birmingham Board of Education. “As much as we’d like to attend, my colleagues on the board and I will not be present at these meetings in hopes that our stakeholders will be open and honest about their thoughts regarding a new superintendent. At the end of the day, we all share one goal: to find the most qualified person to lead the Birmingham City School System.”
Community meetings will be held simultaneously at three high schools on Nov. 18 and again at the remaining three schools on Nov. 19. Please note, participants can attend any meeting of their choosing, but are encouraged to follow the suggested meeting site in order to balance attendance among locations.  Also, please note that an online survey has been developed as a part of this process, and can be taken by visiting the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BhamSearch2014. The results are anonymous.
The agenda for the meetings along with the dates for each school designated as a meeting location are listed below. Again, anyone is welcome to attend any session.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Parents and Community
1:30 p.m. –   2:30 p.m. Student Council from Designated School
3:30 p.m. –  4:30 p.m. Certified Staff
4:45 p.m. –  5:45 p.m. Support Staff
6 p.m.      –       7 p.m. Parents and Community

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014
Woodlawn High School (Bldg. B, Room 024)
Huffman High School (Library Media Center)
Jackson-Olin High School (TBD)

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014
Wenonah High School (Library Media Center)
Parker High School (Library Media Center)
Carver High School (Auditorium)

Driver kicked off his tenure at the Historically Black College with a gift awarded to Stillman anonymously for $2 million

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (BlackNews.com) — Stillman Chairman Dennis Driver served as Grand Marshal for Stillman’’s Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Nov 8,at 9 a.m. in downtown Tuscaloosa. Following the parade a Football Game was scheduled at 1p.m., Stillman’’s Tiger Stadium. The week long activities ended with The Thomas E. Lyle Battle of the Bands 4:30 p.m. at Stillman’s Stadium.
Chairman Driver said he is humbled by his recent selection and motivated by the generous gift. “Stillman College played a significant role not only in my life, but in those who entered its hallowed halls of learning with quill and paper to today’’s students whose daily use of technology has elevated their Stillman experience into a global journey.”
“This gift will allow us to make a significant impact on our financial responsibilities and provide increased opportunities for our students. Our ability to do this supports the Stillman mission of providing an enriching educational environment for our current and future students. We hope that this donation will serve as an incentive for our alumni and the community to support Stillman at an unprecedented level,” said school president Peter Edmund Millet.
As the new Chairman of the Board, Driver intends to reach out to alumni all over the world and implore them to give back to the college and provide support to students, many of which are first generation college students, in an effort to keep Stillman’’s legacy strong and uplifting.
There’s an old saying, ‘never forget where you came from.’ Many people dream of coming home after leaving the nest, gaining experience, and using their newfound skills to improve conditions of where they started. Dennis O. Driver, has not only done well for himself, highly educated and well-disciplined, but he has come home to Alabama to bring his wealth of knowledge, life experience and financial resources to Stillman College; and he is a proud alumni of the 138-year old Historically Black College.

Cash For Crooks Div. of Refuge In (RITT) Trouble Times Community Development, Inc, PO Box 28083, Birmingham, Alabama  35228.
On October 1, 2014, the precious life of Deltric Monquise Mills was ended.  He was found around 2:40 p.m. as deputies were dispatched to the Mile Marker 15 on Birmingport Road and found him laying there.  Mr. Mills’ last known address was 51st Street in Birmingham. No present info of how or why he died is known.  Let’s not continue to allow this and other homicides to infest our community. TELL ON THESE KILLERS. We the citizens are tired of homicides being committed while the killers continue to be free; only to kill again. Our fine city at one time was crowded with drugs; the program TURN IN A PUSHER came into place; drugs were brought down. Can we do the same with CASH FOR CROOKS?
No one need know your name. The rewards are paid according to the arrest/convictions of any person that has committed  the crime and are behind bars.  No one will know your name. In your calling NO NICK NAMES, only real names please.
The number for Crimes Stoppers is 205-254-7777 or on this case call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office at 205-325-1450.  RITT works daily with law enforcers to help make our streets safer.  Will you help?  If you have a case you’d like to highlight, email odussasplace@yahoo.com or visit our Web:http//rittbham2014.wix.com/rittcdc.  You may also call Minister Ward at 205-240-9910.
Let’s take this huge bite out of Crime.

 Well attended, our annual Thanks & Giving Reception

On Thursday, November 6,  the event was held at New Rising Star Baptist Church. It was said that ‘Thanks & Giving does not sound right; respectfully it is ‘right’ though. Everyone wants to be appreciated and rewarded for the good they do.  To hold an event just to show appreciation to all those who helped the East Lake NA all year long and to show that we are grateful and truly appreciate everything anyone has done for us is a pleasure, a joy for us!
Our great loyal, faithful State Representative Oliver Robinson, our wonderful dedicated, faithful City Council President Johnathan Austin (Kamillah Gray Lewis) and always there for us, faithful Reverend Larry Cockrell, Household of Faith Church were there. Each one was given their East Lake ‘good neighbor’ award.  Other guests were Senior Community Resource Representative Kathy Perdue, Street & Sanitation Deputy Chief, Reginald Servant, Cheryl Lee, New Rising Star Baptist Church; Neighborhood Officers, Harry Giddens, Eloise Ramsey, Lillie Cole, Joyce Thomas, Barbara Merchant and  Pearlie Lawthorne, our Fire Department #19 and East Precinct Police Department evening shift. We gave thanks to four dedicated Senior Residents, Ruth McComb, E. B. Gray, Marion Hall and Mrs. Williams.
East Lake NA’s motto is, ‘a neighborhood that cares’ always hold true. We love our neighborhood and love all those who support us.
East Lake NA had our first Pride & Respect Day this September at (our neighborhood park) Downey Park. Instead of an annual fun day, we thought we would use the day to persuade our neighbors, churches, businesses and residents to get up first to cleanup our neighborhood and later come to the park to have fun. Most of the businesses and Household of Faith Church participated. It was like a family affair. We want to encourage the residents to join us next year for our Pride & Respect Day. We must realize our neighborhood is home and must care enough to keep our homes and surroundings clean. Don’t throw out trash, pick up trash!
East Lake NA Appreciate you & Thank you all, for your support! Aaisha Muhammad, President, Richard Drake, Vice President and Stella Hill, Secretary.

Students to Stewards program expanding outdoor education

The Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College broke ground on an outdoor learning space at the Old Springville Road Library at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7.
The project is the first of 25 stewardship education initiatives supported by the Alabama Power Foundation’s Students to Stewards grant program during the 2014-2015 school year. Through a competitive application process, Students to Stewards provides support for dynamic stewardship, conservation education and outdoor classrooms to teach students about the importance of the state’s ecosystems.
Support from Students to Stewards will allow the center to install a garden of native herbs, medicinal plants, fruit trees and edible plants in front of the Old Springville Road Library. The center will also build raised gardens and walking trails behind the library. The trails will ultimately connect to Jefferson County’s expanding Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail system.
“Each day, anywhere from 75 to100 children from Huffman Academy Elementary, Huffman Middle and Huffman High School are using this library after school,” said Roald Hazelhoff, the center’s executive director. “This project helps us, through local community groups, to teach these children about gardening and stewardship.”
The project is modeled on the center’s EcoScapes – sustainable, learning-centered gardens built in collaboration with local communities. The center has constructed 14 EcoScapes throughout the Birmingham area.
The Alabama Power Foundation recently awarded more than $40,000 in conservation education grants to schools, communities and nonprofits across the state to support a range of projects, from outdoor classrooms to field studies to the purchase of conservation-related classroom materials. The program aims to engage students and grow an appreciation for the state’s natural resources.
Conservation education is one of three focus areas for the foundation’s Brighter Minds education initiative. Brighter Minds also focuses on strengthening early childhood learning and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and on workforce development.

The Alabama Power Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014. Since its creation in 1989 with shareholder funds, the foundation has provided Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits more than $150 million in support with non-ratepayer money through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. Learn more about the foundation at www.powerofgood.com.
 

Bright House Networks and Vulcan Park and Museum  hosted a special field trip for students from Bush Middle and Green Acres Middle Schools at Vulcan Park and Museum.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bright House Networks and Vulcan® Park Museum  again hosted students from two Birmingham City Schools for a museum tour and luncheon to honor our Armed Forces Veterans. In an effort to continue to recognize the men and women of the Armed Forces, Bright House Networks partnered with Vulcan Park and Museum to present “Thank-A-Vet” at Vulcan.  The focus of the event is taken from the History Channel’s “Take-A-Vet to School” program. Veterans of all backgrounds share their stories and receive thanks for their service. Students  Bush Hills Academy and Green Acres Middle Schools took an educational tour of Vulcan Center Museum to learn about Birmingham’s history followed by a luncheon and special presentations to honor veterans. Keynote speaker was Jefferson County Commissioner General George Bowman. Various branches of the United States Armed Forces were honored.  Students arrived at 10 a.m. for the tour and General Bowman and guest veterans arrived at 11 a.m. for recognition program and luncheon.

MARION, Ala. – This upcoming holiday season, Judson College’s Theatre Program will perform “A Christmas Carol” on November 13, 14, and 15; all three performances will be held on campus in Alumnae Auditorium at 7 p.m.
This production of “A Christmas Carol” is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s timeless classic about finding compassion and forgiveness and preparing to meet one’s Maker. The  director of the play is Dr. Billie Jean Young; Musical Director is Dr. Betty Campbell; and Stage Designer is Mr. Jamie Adams. Admission to the play is free.
In addition to the play, Judson’s English Club will be hosting a traditional Dickensian Christmas Dinner at 8:30 p.m. in Archibald Hall after the Saturday, November 15 performance. The dinner menu will include roast goose, turkey, and other specialties from the Victorian Christmas table.
Begin your holiday festivities with a big helping of Christmas fun and food. If you are interested in the Victorian Christmas dinner, an advance ticket purchase is required by November 10 – $8 for the general public; $5 for Judson College students and children 12 and under.  For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact: Dr. Chris Hokanson (chokanson@judson.edu; 334-683-5124).

TROY – Troy University officials on Saturday dedicated the Center for Student Success in honor of Dr. John W. Schmidt, a retired University administrator.
Schmidt, who served the University in leadership positions including Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and most recently Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement and External Relations, retired at the end of July after 20 years of service. Troy University Trustees approved a resolution at their July meeting renaming the center, which is located inside Eldridge Hall on the Troy Campus and provides programs and services that enhance students’ academic achievement, personal and social growth, campus and civic engagement, career development and persistence to graduation.
“When Dr. Schmidt began to work on his doctorate, you just knew his research was going to be useful and meaningful for Troy University and our students,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “This Center in which we stand today that is beneficial to so many of our students grew out of Dr. Schmidt’s dedication, research and efforts.”
A retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, Dr. Schmidt was engaged in student success efforts throughout his TROY career. He worked to create a program to help first-year students excel and developed centers to help foster their academic, social and personal success.
“I’m incredibly humbled by this recognition, but this was a team effort,” Dr. Schmidt said. “I appreciate Dr. Hawkins giving me the opportunity to add value to our students’ academic and life experience.”
Dr. Schmidt also provided leadership for the University’s first two capital campaigns and led the implementation of a first-year common reader program that has led to a University-wide emphasis on creating a culture of engaged reading. Dr. Schmidt also led the development of the Newman Center, a value-focused learning community residence hall and facilitated the construction of Trojan Village, a 500-person residence hall complex on the Troy Campus.
In addition to the dedication, Dr. Schmidt was also presented with the University’s Outstanding First Year Advocacy Award, presented annually in recognition of service and support to the First Year Studies program and dedication to ensuring students’ successful transition from high school to college.