Meet David and Cynthia Hobdy.: Birmingham Judge-and-Doctor Couple on Blessings and Lessons of a Loving Marriage

February 13, 2026

_DSC7569(1) — Circuit Court Judge David Hobdy and Cynthia Hobdy, M.D. have been married since August 1997 after meeting in a chemistry class at Northeast Lousiana in 1986. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | Special to the Birmingham Times

(Second of Three Parts)

This Valentine’s Day, The Birmingham Times steps into the chambers of justice and the corridors of care to celebrate three extraordinary marriages where love lives at the intersection of duty and devotion. We shine a light on the relationships of three area judges and doctors who are building healthy bonds while serving a community shaped by history, faith, and resilience.

Love rises above all in the lives of Circuit Court Judge Fred Bolling and Brandi Bolling, M.D.; Circuit Court Judge David Hobdy and Cynthia Hobdy, M.D.; and Circuit Court Judge Reginald Jeter and Autumm Jeter, Ph.D.

On the bench, in the clinic, and in courtrooms, boardrooms, and state offices, these men and women are entrusted with the lives, liberties, and well-being of others. Yet at home, they are husbands and wives learning, like every couple, how to extend grace and use wisdom acquired over years of matrimony.

Over the next three days, we will share their love stories. Yesterday, the Bollings; today, the Hobdys and on Saturday, the Jeters.

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE DAVID HOBDY, & CYNTHIA HOBDY, M.D.

Live: McCalla

Married: Aug. 30, 1997

Met: Spring semester, 1986, at Northeast Louisiana University [now, ULM University of Louisiana Monroe], in chemistry class.

“I sat behind her… she was in the front of the class, and it was love at first sight,” David recalled. “My professor knew she had a crush on me, and he told me I needed to come up to the front and help her with the experiments,” he laughed, “and we had our first date on March 12, 1986. I took her to the movies and to Shoney’s for dinner.”

Cynthia remembered things differently. “Some of that might be some dreaming on the part of Mr. David. It was not love at first sight; it took a couple of months for it to kick in because I had to help him do his experiments, and it took a while to teach him,” she laughed, “but [the professor] did ask David to come up and be my chemistry partner…”

Although the two were well acquainted from being chemistry partners, Cynthia said in hindsight, “I guess I was nervous to go on the date with him because I had to have a drink before I left the dorm,” she laughed. “We went to a horror movie, which was his way of holding my hand. And after we held hands and our palms got sweaty together, he tried to put his arm around me.”

David’s plan must have worked because that date marked the beginning of their 11-year courtship. After undergraduate, the two began a long-distance relationship, as Cynthia moved to New York to attend New York College of Podiatric Medicine, where she obtained her Doctorate and eventually Memphis Tenn., where she completed her surgical residency at Germantown Midsouth Hospital, while David moved to Birmingham to attend Miles Law School where he made lifelong friends and wanted to build a life and raise a family. In the summer of 1997, the two wed, and Cynthia relocated to the Magic City.

Circuit Court Judge David Hobdy and Cynthia Hobdy, M.D. met in a chemistry class at Northeast Lousiana. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Reality check: Asked when they realized their love would come with its own set of demands and compromise, Cynthia answered – “When I started driving from New York [while in medical school] to Birmingham to see him, that was love and compromise,” she said, “but we made it work. We would take turns visiting each other, sometimes we would drive, sometimes we would fly…”

For David, the reality was that their relationship would require “a lot of long nights on the telephone. A lot of the time, it would be 2 or 3 a.m. before she was through studying, and we would talk on the phone, and before you know it, it would be time to go back to class,” David said. “And I knew it was getting serious when her car quit, and I gave her my brand-new Jaguar.”

“That’s right, I drove his Jaguar, and he started driving a Nissan Sentra,” Cynthia said. “And this was before we were married,” David added.

Balancing the scales: Maintaining balance in your marriage is a juggling act couples work hard to master.

It all starts with understanding, David said. “We both started as pre-med majors in undergrad (I was pre-med but decided medicine wasn’t for me and went on to law school), I knew the demands of being a physician, and I have respect for it,” he said. “I have a good understanding of both professions and knew there would be times I’d have to do the cooking and cleaning…”

“Because the work never ends, I’m always doing charts and he’s always studying cases, so we have a lot of mini vacations [to destinations such as Aspen, New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Napa Valley, and Miami] where we don’t take the work with us and focus on each other and not carry any of that stress with us at all,” Cynthia said.

The Hobdy’s are well-traveled. They have taken vacations to Dubai, Paris, Nice, Cannes, Monaco, London, Rome, Amsterdam, New Zealand, India, Johannesburg, Ghana, Greece, Panama, St. Thomas, and other locales. They are scheduled to vacation in Egypt, summer 2026.

Comfort: Being a doctor and a judge does not come without emotion. Sometimes, a verdict or a life-changing medical case. Doctors sometimes refer to a patient’s diagnosis as a medical case, which can take a toll. Asked how they show up for each other during those times, David answered, “Sometimes you just have to listen. There is not a lot I can do to help her in her field or her job, and listening is all you can get from your partner…,” he said. “In both of our careers, there are things we can’t discuss with other people, and I’m blessed to have a wife I know I can talk about some things in confidence with, and that makes [the load] easier.”

Sometimes it is in finding ways to bring the other comfort, in Cynthia’s case, making comfort foods for her husband. “Being there doing things to make him feel comfortable to try and take some of the stress off of him,” Cynthia said. “There have been times when I’ve made a pound cake every weekend for months on end because I know he enjoys a piece of pound cake at the end of the night, and I know if I have one sitting on the counter, it makes him smile.”

David added, “I’ll take a look at her schedule and see how many patients she has that day and will [gauge what time she’ll be home] and I’ll have a bath drawn for her when she gets there,” he said.

David Hobdy, 59, is a Winnfield, Louisiana native, and attended Northeast Louisiana University. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Keeping the spark alive: Asked how they keep the spark and romance alive in the midst of demanding schedules, David said, “You never let it die. It has just never ended for us, and that is the best way to keep it alive. We have always enjoyed each other, and we always laugh. We can be home alone and turn the music on and dance, we can have a party, just the two of us.”

“When it has gotten hectic, sometimes, we would take off work early and spend some time together and not pick up the kids when they were school age. Both are now adults.” Cynthia added.

Lessons learned: A lot can be gleaned about patience, partnership, and purpose in marriage, and for David, marriage has taught him patience “because life comes in phases and you just have to be patient and you wait it out and hopefully, you are there for each other. We have been together for so long, and all of my days are not healthy days. When people say you are there for sickness and health, that is so true,” he said. “We have to understand that one of our purposes of being in love and being a couple is to be there for each other when health challenges arise.”

Partnership: “You cannot do marriage without having a great partnership. Everything we do, we discuss it, and we do it together, that is understood,” said David. “That’s just the way you tackle issues that you’re going to face in life and in a relationship. And if it is not a partnership or a team effort, it is not going to work, you are not going to prevail.”

Cynthia said, grace is “being able to come home and know you got a partner to help, and being able to take your boss hat off and just be a normal person. Everybody cannot be the boss at the same time, so being able to listen and work together is important.”

Cynthia Hobdy, 59, is a Strong, Arkansas native, and attended Northeast Louisiana University. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Happily, ever after: The Hobdys attend New Jerusalem Baptist Church in McCalla, and have two adult children, David III, 27, and Alecia, 24, Hobdy.

Cynthia, 59, is a Strong, Arkansas native, and attended Northeast Louisiana University [now ULM University of Louisiana Monroe], where she earned a BS degree in chemistry, and New York College of Podiatric Medicine, where she obtained a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and did her surgical residency in Memphis, TN, at Germantown Midsouth Hospital. Cynthia moved to Birmingham in 1997 to be married to Judge Hobdy, and works in private practice in Bessemer at Bessemer Family Foot Clinic.

David, 59, is a Winnfield, Louisiana native, and attended Northeast Louisiana University [now ULM University of Louisiana Monroe], where he earned a general studies degree, and Miles Law School in Fairfield, where he obtained his Juris Doctorate degree. David practiced law for 15 years in private practice at Finley and Hobdy Law Firm, and later Hobdy and Stewart Law Firm, in Bessemer. He was a municipal prosecutor and judge in Lipscomb, Ala., and was elected in 2010 as a circuit judge for Jefferson County.

House Renames Press Gallery after Frederick Douglass in Bipartisan Recognition of Black History

Birmingham Times

February 13, 2026

dims.apnews — Artwork portraying Frederick Douglass rests on a table during a formal dedication of the House Press Gallery to be named after Frederick Douglass on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb., 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

By Matt Brown | Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The press gallery overlooking the U.S. House chamber has been renamed after the abolitionist, writer and presidential adviser Frederick Douglass in a bipartisan move brokered by Black lawmakers.

The renaming of the press gallery, spearheaded by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., was conceived over the last year after the congressman said he brainstormed with his staff on ways to commemorate the history of prominent Americans, including Black Americans, across the Capitol.

“When we talk about Frederick Douglass, we are talking about a man who possessed a profound and unshakable faith in Americans, in America’s family,” Donalds said in remarks celebrating the dedication.

Douglass wrote about congressional proceedings from the chamber during the Civil War. His public speeches and letters to President Abraham Lincoln and northern Republican congressmen helped galvanize support among lawmakers and the public for the abolition of slavery.

“It’s an important thing for us to give honor where honor is due. That’s a biblical admonition,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said during the unveiling of a plaque that now overlooks the entrance to the gallery. “Frederick Douglass is certainly deserving of that honor.”

A bipartisan celebration in a divided Washington

Prominent Black conservatives, including activists, faith leaders and senior Trump administration officials, mingled with lawmakers at a ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol. Staffers from the Library of Congress displayed artifacts from Douglass’ life.

The celebration, which came during Black History Month and the 100th anniversary of the earliest national observance of Black history, coincided with intense debate over how race, history and democracy are understood in the U.S.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year targeting the teaching of history in the Smithsonian Institution, which the order claimed had “come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” that “promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”

Another order signed by the president claimed that in U.S. K-12 schools, “innocent children are compelled to adopt identities as either victims or oppressors.” Trump ordered federal agencies to develop a comprehensive strategy to end “indoctrination” by teachers who may promote “anti-American, subversive, harmful, and false ideologies on our nation’s children.”

Critics argued that the orders, with the removal of some public displays by the National Park Service related to race and identity, and the White House’s ongoing efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, represented a whitewashing of history that could ultimately fuel discrimination against minority communities.

But the administration’s allies argue that the policies are a corrective to an overly critical narrative about America’s past. Black conservatives, in particular, have defended the moves and argued that more positive stories of individual triumph, like Douglass’ life story, need to be more widely told.

“This is what we did when I was growing up. We knew about our Black heroes,” said Rep. Burgess Owens, a Utah Republican who is Black and attended the dedication. “When we stop telling the good, then people start thinking that we’re not the country that is the promise that we gave. So we need to talk about our history, our success.”

Rep. Steve Horsford, a Nevada Democrat who worked with Donalds on the renaming, said it was important to find bipartisan agreement where possible.

“I wouldn’t be here if it were not for the desire to want to work across the aisle, to not just recognize our history and culture, but to solve our problems that people face today,” Horsford said.

The life and legacy of Frederick Douglass

Born in Maryland, Douglass escaped slavery by fleeing to New York as a young man. He become one of the most influential activists for abolition and later moved to Capitol Hill in Washington, where he advocated for civil rights.

An estate he bought after emancipation in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington is now a national park.

Douglass, who taught himself to read and write, fiercely condemned the dehumanization of people of African descent and delivered numerous influential speeches throughout his life. His 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” denounced the contradictions of the country’s founding ideals with its embrace of slavery.

In an 1867 essay, Douglass urged Congress to allow Black men to vote and called for more aggressive Reconstruction efforts in the South to guarantee multiracial democracy.

“What, then, is the work before Congress? It is to save the people of the South from themselves,” Douglass wrote. “It must enfranchise the negro, and by means of the loyal negroes and the loyal white men of the South build till a national party there, and in time bridge the chasm between North and South, so that our country may have a common liberty and a common civilization.”

Douglass, who did not know the day he was born because records were rarely kept about enslaved people’s lives, celebrated his birthday on Valentine’s Day because his mother called him her “little Valentine” before he was separated from her as a child.

Donalds praised Douglass for his ability to “love this country enough to tell the truth about it.”

“His life story, from the field, from the slavery fields to the world stage, is one of the greatest narratives of perseverance in U.S. history,” Donalds said.

Barnett Wright, Executive Editor of The Birmingham Times, Steps Down

Birmingham Times

February 13, 2026

Barnett Wright BTMG January 2016 — Barnett Wright will vacate his position as The Birmingham Times’ new Executive Editor later this month. (File)

By Samuel P Martin | President and Publisher

It is with both gratitude and a sense of bittersweet reflection to announce the resignation of Barnett Wright, Executive Editor of The Birmingham Times Media Group. After a decade of dedicated service, he has decided to step down from his role effective Feb. 27, 2026 marking the end of a remarkable chapter in the history of our newspaper.

Barnett joined The Birmingham Times 10 years ago, embarking on this journey alongside me at a pivotal moment. The newspaper had just changed hands, as the Foundation for Progress and Journalism (now known as the Bronze Valley Foundation) acquired The Birmingham Times from its founder, Dr. Jesse J. Lewis Sr.. This transition of The Times marked the beginning of an era defined by vision, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to journalistic excellence.

Barnett brought with him a wealth of experience, over 30 years in the field of journalism, including more than 15 years at Alabama Media Group, which publishes AL.com and had produced The Birmingham News, where he distinguished himself as a leading reporter covering local government. His reputation for thorough, insightful, and fair reporting followed him to our newsroom, instantly raising the standards and expectations for our publication.

He guided the newsroom as The Birmingham Times transitioned from its traditional format to a reimagined, modern publication that both honored its legacy and embraced the future. This evolution was not merely cosmetic; it reflected an understanding of the evolving media landscape and a commitment to telling the stories of Birmingham and its people with integrity and relevance.

During Barnett’s time as executive editor, The Birmingham Times earned nearly 80 awards at both the state and national levels, including commendations from the Alabama Press Association (APA), the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), where Barnett was a 2023 Salute to Excellence winner in The Newspaper Category.

It has never been our policy to write for awards, but these honors are a testament to his leadership and the gifted reporters, photographers. page designers, copy editors and freelancers in our newsroom and his ability to find compelling stories and nurture the writers who tell them.

Over the last 10 years, our coverage has broadened, bringing attention to a diverse range of topics that reflect the vibrancy and complexity of Birmingham and the surrounding region. He championed in-depth reporting on issues most important to our readers — stories of resilience, progress, and the everyday lives of the people who make our community unique.

Beyond the stories themselves, Barnett provided The Times with renewed visibility in the community. He leveraged his community ties to strengthen our relationships with local organizations, leaders, and residents, ensuring the newspaper remained part of the conversation as people sought to understand and navigate it.

He has been a mentor and developer of many young journalists—many fresh out of journalism school—who have worked at The Times over the last 10 years. Barnett invested time and expertise in nurturing this next generation of reporters, instilling values of accuracy, fairness, and community service.

As Barnett prepares to embark on a new chapter, we extend our heartfelt best wishes and deepest appreciation for his years of leadership. While we will miss his perspective and daily presence in our newsroom, we are confident that his influence will continue to resonate across The Times.

Barnett’s impact on The Times is lasting, leaving a legacy of excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Though his official tenure has ended, Barnett will remain an integral part of the publication through February 27 and his final issue on March 5.

On behalf of the staff, readers, and the entire community, we thank Barnett for his dedication and wish him every success as he takes the next steps in a new chapter of his career. He will remain a cherished member of The Birmingham Times family.

Rising Optimism Among Small and Middle Market Business Leaders Suggests Growth for Alabama

Birmingham Times

February 13, 2026

JPMChase 1 — Small businesses maintained steady optimism throughout 2025, but they aren’t shielded from domestic concerns. (Super Scout/E+ with Getty Images)

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Business optimism is returning for small and midsize business leaders at the start of 2026, fueling confidence and growth plans.

The 2026 Business Leaders Outlook survey, released in January by JPMorganChase reveals a turnaround from last June, when economic headwinds and uncertainty about shifting policies and tariffs caused some leaders to put their business plans on hold.

Midsize companies, who often find themselves more exposed to geopolitical shifts and policy changes, experienced a significant dip in business and economic confidence in June of 2025. As they have become more comfortable with the complexities of today’s environment, we are seeing optimism rebounding in the middle market nationwide – an encouraging sign for growth, hiring, and innovation. Small businesses, meanwhile, maintained steady optimism throughout 2025, but they aren’t shielded from domestic concerns. Many cited inflation and wage pressures as the top challenges for 2026 and are taking steps to ensure their businesses are prepared for what’s ahead.

“The companies we talk to are confident about their future” said Anthony Riccio, J. P. Morgan’s Alabama market executive for Commercial Banking. “They’re making strategic investments to grow their business and add to their workforce. They are embracing new technologies. They’re ready for opportunity.’’

Here are a few other key findings from the Business Leaders Outlook about trends expected to drive activity this year:

Inflation remains the top concern for small business owners. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many anticipated a favorable business environment. By June 2025, however, that feeling shifted amid concerns about political dynamics, tariffs, evolving regulations and global economic headwinds.

Going into 2026, 37% of respondents cited inflation as their top concern. Rising taxes came in second at 27% and the impact of tariffs was third at 22%. Other concerns included managing cash flow, hiring and labor costs.

For middle market leaders, uncertainty remains an issue. Almost half (49%) of all midsize business leaders surveyed cited “economic uncertainty” as their top concern even with an improved outlook from a few months ago. Revenue and sales growth was second at 33%, while tariffs and labor both were third at 31%.

And tariffs are impacting businesses costs. Sixty-one percent of midsize business leaders said tariffs have had a negative impact on the cost of doing business.
Despite challenges, leaders are bullish on their own enterprises. Though the overall outlook is mixed, 74% of small business owners and 71% of middle market companies are optimistic about their company’s prospects for 2026.

Adaption is the theme. For small business owners surveyed across the U.S., responding to continuing pressures is important in 2026. Building cash reserves (47%), renegotiating supplier terms (36%) and ramping up investments in marketing and technology are among the top priorities.

Big plans are on the horizon. A majority midsized company leaders expect revenue growth this year, and nearly three out of five of (58%) plan to introduce new products or services in the coming year, while 53% look to expand into new domestic and/or international markets. Forty-nine percent say they’re pursuing strategic partnerships or investments.

The Bottom Line

Rebounding optimism among U.S. business leaders at the start of the year is setting the stage for an active 2026. With business leaders looking to implement ambitious growth plans that position themselves for the future, momentum in Alabama could be beneficial future goals for leaders looking to launch, grow or scale their business this year.

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Meet Fred and Brandi Bolling: Birmingham Judge-and-Doctor Couple on Love and a Lasting Marriage

Birmingham Times

February 12, 2026

_DSC7953(1) — Circuit Court Judge Fred Bolling and Brandi Bolling, M.D. have been married since May, 2012 and say the small things count when it comes to helping one another alleviate stress from work. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | Special to the Birmingham Times

(First of Three Parts)

Over the next three days, we will share their love stories. Today, the Bollings; Friday, the Hobdys and on Saturday, the Jeters.

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE FRED BOLLING & BRANDI BOLLING, M.D.

Live: Western Birmingham [Heritage] area

Married: May 26, 2012

Met: While Brandi remembers meeting Fred as a middle schooler at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Birmingham, as he was her friend Angie’s big brother, and the son of the afterschool program director [John Bolling], Fred, who was five grades ahead, does not recall. However, during the early 2000’s, Fred was known to throw mega house parties, some of which Brandi attended. But it was not until 2009 when the pair officially connected at one of Fred’s friends’ birthday parties at the Carrington Lakes subdivision Clubhouse in Trussville. Brandi recalls being in Birmingham visiting for Easter Weekend.

“I recognized him from his house parties, so I walked up to him and said I remember you… He was the bartender, and we started talking, and at some point I said, ‘I don’t have my phone with me, but let me get your number because in three years I will need it when it’s time for me to review contracts [for employment],” Brandi said to Fred, who was then a practicing attorney. “I told him I’d call him when I got in the car so he could have my number, and I kept my word.”

Brandi went back to Indianapolis, where she was doing her residency, and gave him a call.

While Fred did not remember Brandi, the middle schooler, he was attracted to the grown woman who was pursuing a medical degree. “She mentioned something lucid about a contract, and jokingly said, ‘When I’m home [from Indianapolis], I like to go out to eat,” he laughed. “She was really cute and shapely, so when she called, we had our first real conversation, and we talked for eight hours. I told her that she worked me for a whole eight-hour shift [on the phone], and that I was not sure what kind of relationship we were going to have, but we were definitely going to be in some sort of a relationship,” said Fred.

Their first date was on Memorial Day weekend 2009, and over two years, the pair got to know each other long distance and would meet up bi-monthly, and whenever Brandi came home to Birmingham for visits. Brandi completed her residency in June 2011, and the couple got engaged Memorial Day weekend 2011, in Washington D.C., and married on Memorial Day weekend 2012, in Birmingham at 6th Avenue Baptist Church, where more than 600 guests attended.

Circuit Court Judge Fred Bolling and Brandi Bolling, M.D. met when Brandi was in middle school. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Quality over quantity: Fred and Brandi’s connection was fast and strong, and both immediately saw that to make it work, they would have to do a lot of traveling. Which, according to them, neither minded.

“Both of us were [single] professionals, so it was not very hard to find times to meet up. We would travel and find places that were an equal distance for us and plan these trips to make sure we had time to see each other,” Fred said.

“Honestly, the relationship was easy; it really didn’t get demanding until recently, because there are children, aging parents, and what comes with the demands of a maturing life. His mother told me he has a bark that is bigger than his bite… being with Fred is pretty easy, we pretty much agree on everything, philosophically, spiritually, family [etc.], he is just headstrong, but that is not anything I cannot manage,” said Brandi.

“We just stayed on the phone. We enjoyed talking to each other. But she broke up with me every Sunday because she was mad that she was stuck in Indianapolis, cold and away from her family, and I was here in Birmingham with my family, but we always got back together that evening,” Fred laughed.

Brandi added, “Doing those short trips taught us how to make the best of a small amount of time, and we learned quality over quantity, and that has taught us how to make the best of small moments in our lives,” Brandi said.

Circuit Court Judge Fred Bolling and Brandi Bolling, M.D. have been married since May, 2012. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Balancing the scales: Asked how they protect their connection despite both having demanding careers, Brandi said it is all about prioritizing. “For me, it is turning the work off. I control my schedule, and I have several professional obligations, so I have learned to delegate and simply say ‘no’ so that my family is always prioritized,” she said. “It is helpful being married to someone who is also a professional because he understands that sometimes, despite my best attempts, work will run over. But I am pretty good at ending the day and being done.”

For Fred, more freedom has come along as his career flourished.

“My new position [as a judge] is actually a lot more conducive to family time …, my schedule is pretty flexible, and we are very intentional about making sure family time is protected. There were a lot of additional networking things that I could have been doing that would always come secondary to me going out and spending time with my son at the football field and other people’s kids at the football field. I have always prioritized doing community work and community service,” said Fred, who also serves as Commissioner of Youth Sports for the City of Birmingham. “My wife says that you can work yourself to death if you want to, but what will happen [after death] is you’ll get a couple of flowers and cards from your job at best …”

Compartmentalizing: Brandi and Fred say it is the small things that count when it comes to helping one another alleviate stress from work. “We are both really good at compartmentalizing. I do not know that that is necessarily a good thing, but very seldom does work spill over because our obligation is to each other and our family,” Brandi said. “I am a really silly girl, and love to be touchy-feely, so I just like to get up under my man. Fred has a calm and stern voice, and when he says everything is fine and will be ok, it is reassuring. His voice alone is very reassuring. But a surprise lemon berry slush from Sonics always does the trick,” she added.

“As I was getting ready to come on to the bench, several of the judges who have mentored us all told us, ‘Hey, leave [the work] at the office.’ That was a confirmation that [I would need to do that] because it is what all of them were stating,” Fred said. “Beyond that, my philosophy has always been to leave it [work] at the office. When I wake up in the mornings, I go in and ask God to be with me. I make sure I am prepared, and I give the citizens my very best effort. I committed to my wife and family, and nothing is going to stand in the way of that.”

Fred recalls when Brandi was willing to help him carry financial weight, even before they were married, and that it opened his eyes to how deeply committed she was to him and their relationship.

“At the time that I was contemplating getting engaged, my previous law firm had a situation where we had not been paid for six or eight pay periods, and that was a significant amount of money. And so here I am, getting ready to propose to someone, and while I had a job, that job was not paying me… and in the midst of all that, my wife, unlike many, wrote a blank check and she told me how much money was in that particular account and she said, ‘I don’t know how you’re doing it without getting paid, but whatever you need out of this, just fill it in.’ And if I need to add more, let me know.’ Although I never had to use it, I realized at that point that her commitment to me meant that I was going to forever be committed to her.

“In Our Own Bubble”: “While the pandemic was a horrible time for the country, being forced to slow down really was a good thing for our marriage. We spent more time doing nothing, more time cuddling, and enjoying our then new home (in western Birmingham), and overall, it was a good reboot for our marriage after having just had our third baby and completing our family,” Brandi said. “It was a good time to re-spark things.”

Fred said, “We enjoy getting dressed up and stepping out and having fun. Brandi loves getting dressed up and putting on like a little Barbie doll, and if you see us out, it is never about the events that we attend; we are in our own bubble, joking with each other. And one of the most romantic things is sitting up each night laughing and joking about everybody else’s Facebook posts.”

Brandi added, “Romance is not always the long international getaway, or the walk-up beach resorts. It is trips to Disney World and Disneyland being planned in a week. It is watching our kids have their names on a [Disney] star, it is stolen moments, it is the knee tapping to say, ‘look at that.’ It is those small moments that we have mastered that our relationship and romance is based on.”

Brandi Bolling, 47, is a West End native and Ramsay High School graduate. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Lessons learned: Asked what marriage has taught them, Brandi answered, “A whole lot of patience. Anybody who knows my husband knows that I must have the patience of Job [in the Bible]. He really does have a loud bark, but inside that teddy bear is the squishiest heart of gold. It is about hanging in there and persevering,” she said.

“Patience has nothing to do with what most people think as it relates to major issues and concerns in marriage. Patience is resistance to the little, small things that are preferences as opposed to any major life issues. She likes to be silly, and I am not. I am silly in spurts, but I do not have to exercise a whole lot of patience with Brandi. She is pretty straightforward about the things she wants done,” said Fred. “But when it comes to purpose, our purpose is to be together, raise a family, and to love on each other.

“We understand our purpose very much. Our commitment is first to God, each other, our children, and the rest of our families. We just want to enjoy life and make each other smile,” added Brandi.

Frederic Bolling, 52, is a College Hills native and John Carroll Catholic High School graduate. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Happily, ever after: The Bollings attend Fred’s home church, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Titusville, and Brandi’s home church, Mount Olive Baptist Church in Wenonah, where Brandi serves as a trustee. They have three children, Frederic, 11, Franklin, 9, and Faith, 7.

Brandi, 47, is a West End native and Ramsay High School graduate. She attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience, and Meharry Medical College [Nashville, Tenn.], where she obtained her M.D Brandi completed her residency at Indiana University School of Medicine, where she trained and later became board certified in pediatrics, adult psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., The Links, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Brandi runs a private practice, Rudolph Bolling Psychiatry P.C., in Birmingham.

Frederic, 52, is a College Hills native and John Carroll Catholic High School graduate. He attended Auburn University, where he earned a BA in Political Science, and Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where he obtained his Juris Doctorate. Fred is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and practiced law for 27 years before taking the bench in January 2025 as Circuit Judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit and was also appointed as the Commissioner of Youth Sports for the City of Birmingham in January 2025.

Birmingham City Council Approves Agreement for ACIPCO Expansion, Creates 80 Jobs

Birmingham Times

February 12, 2026

AACIPCP-1024x768 — ACIPCO currently has approximately 1,687 employees at the site and generated over $303 million in payroll in 2024. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) to undertake a major expansion of its manufacturing facilities and corporate headquarters.

ACIPCO, one of Birmingham’s oldest companies, expects to hire 80 new full-time employees as part of its $790 million investment.

The company currently has approximately 1,687 employees at the site and generated over $303 million in payroll in 2024. In January, the Jefferson County Commission approved performance-based incentives (up to about $320,000) to help secure ACIPCO’s investment and local job commitments.

According to County Commission officials, the company, which has operated since 1905 and has become the largest manufacturing employer in the region, expects to spend $793.1 million to convert its furnaces to electric-fired furnaces, reducing emissions by more than 90 percent. The work will take between four and six years, leaders say.

The Council’s agreement includes “an incentive of $2,500 per each new full-time employee, not to exceed a total of $200,000.00; and a Tax Abatement Agreement with ACIPCO under which the City will grant to ACIPCO an abatement of all construction-related transaction taxes associated with the project and an abatement of non-educational ad valorem taxes imposed by the State of Alabama and Jefferson County for a period of ten years.”

“When you’re talking about this kind of investment from a company that has called Birmingham home for over a century, this doesn’t happen often, and I think it will have a positive ripple effect across the community,” Council President Pro Tem LaTonya Tate, who represents the district. “For people that are trying to raise families, going into a job making $55 an hour or $114,000 annually, you’re able to sustain and take care of your family.”

She added that the company is an ideal community partner.

“They have a farm that’s sponsored by ACIPCO. [They] have been a tremendous partner and has really given back to the community over the years — whether through volunteer work or investing in local projects.”

Birmingham Influencer LaDarrius ‘LHUT’ Hutcherson Adds to His Celebrated Brand

Birmingham Times

February 12, 2026

This month, LaDarrius “LHUT” Hutcherson will release “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” his debut book through Cool Bird Publishing, which shares Hutcherson’s journey to success in Birmingham. (Demetrius Battle with Royal Productions)

By Javacia Harris Bowser | For the Birmingham Times

To many in Birmingham and beyond, LaDarrius “LHUT” Hutcherson is known as one of the city’s top influencers who has made a name for himself creating viral video food reviews and content highlighting local events.

Thanks to his humor and heartfelt commentary, he’s garnered opportunities to work with major brands such as McDonald’s, One Music Fest, NASCAR and more. But Hutcherson wants the world to know he’s much more than an influencer — he’s a businessman, event organizer, TEDx speaker and now he’s adding a new title to his resume — published author.

This month, Hutcherson will release “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” his debut book through Cool Bird Publishing, which shares Hutcherson’s journey to success in Birmingham. The book is available for preorder at whatsupcousins.com.

“I feel like the story of just staying rooted is one that people don’t really think about,” Hutcherson told the Birmingham Times. “Everyone thinks that you have to leave to become this big person, but I feel like I did it right here, where I’m from.”

Since a viral video of a review of a local restaurant landed him in the limelight in 2022, Hutcherson has amassed over 70,000 followers on TikTok and over 20,000 followers on Instagram. About two years ago, he also launched an annual event called Eat & Greet, which serves attendees food, drinks and inspiration from a curated panel discussion and keynote speaker.

Eat & Greet III: Bloom Where You’re Planted is set for Sunday, Feb. 22 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Avondale West, 589 Bessemer Super Highway, Midfield, AL 35228. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

“Bloom Where You’re Planted” was inspired, in part, by Hutcherson’s TEDxAlabaster Talk by the same title, which he delivered at the inaugural TEDxAlabaster event held in August 2025 in Columbiana, Alabama.

About his book, Hutcherson hopes it will inspire others to embrace where they come from, stand proudly in their identity, and find impact right where they are. “But I’ve always wanted to write a book,” he said.

In fact, he started writing his life story in 2018, long before he became a well-known content creator. When he started pursuing a doctorate in 2021, he figured he’d one day turn his dissertation into his first published book. But once he found success in the digital space, he put those studies on hold. He also toyed with the idea of a children’s book but never got that project off the ground.

“Once TEDx happened, it came over me a couple weeks later that I wanted to get back to the idea of writing a book,” he recalled. “And I thought, what if I just turned my TEDx Talk into a book?”

On the TEDx stage, Hutcherson shared his story in seven minutes. With the book he had space to share much more. Though it only took him two months to expand his TEDx Talk into a book, because of this longstanding dream of being an author, Hutcherson said, “I feel like I’ve been writing this my whole life.”

A Love Letter to Birmingham

“Bloom Where You’re Planted” may share Hutcherson’s life story, but he believes it also shares the story of where he’s from. “I call it a love letter to myself, a love letter to God, and a love letter to Birmingham,” he said. “When I say Birmingham, it’s my family, my friends, everything that has made me who I am.”

What does Hutcherson love most about the Magic City? “Birmingham gave me grit,” he said. “We have this genuineness to us.”

Hutcherson loves to travel. Some of his favorite places to visit include New York City and Miami and he enjoys international travel to places such as the Turks and Caicos Islands. But for him, there’s no place like home.

“My village is here, my community is here,” he said. “I wish people didn’t just think of us as a place in the past. We are actually progressive. Is it a fast progression? No. Is it as fast as most of us would like? No. But have we come a long way? Absolutely. And we have potential. We have a lot more growth that’s going to happen.”

Successful

This month, LaDarrius “LHUT” Hutcherson will release “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” (Demetrius Battle with Royal Productions)

Hutcherson, who grew up in North Birmingham, said he knew he would be successful as early as his days at North Birmingham Elementary School.

“I didn’t know what that [success] would look like, per se, but I always made really good grades, and I was always active in school,” he said. He was a part of organizations like National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. At Hudson Middle School, he won Student of the Year in sixth grade and was class representative in eighth grade. During his years at Carver High School, he was in the Student Government Association (SGA) and was of the school newspaper.

When he went on to study business at Jacksonville State University, he served on the student senate. Hutcherson figured he’d work in politics or pursue entrepreneurship but always had a desire to be creative and to be in the spotlight.

“When I was a child, I used to interview myself and I used to pretend I was on camera,” he shared. “I had no clue as to why I was doing that,” Hutcherson said with a laugh.

One of his favorite shows was “Zoom,” a half-hour variety show for children on PBS. The show featured child cast members presenting a wide range of content, including games, recipes, science experiments and more.

“I used to want to be on this show so bad,” Hutcherson said. “I could envision myself doing it, but I honestly put in the back of my mind… I was so conditioned that a boy is supposed to play football, he’s supposed to be an athlete, not be artistic or expressive.”

After college, Hutcherson began a career in marketing which he believes helps him as a content creator. “I’m just clever and my brain is always working,” he said. “I’m always thinking about something.”

Authenticity

When Hutcherson first started creating content, his videos weren’t getting much traction. Then in 2022, Hutcherson and a friend went to Ruth’s Place, a Black-owned restaurant in Irondale, Alabama, and shot a video that went viral and led to Hutcherson becoming the “LHUT” sensation he’s known as today.

“I really feel like the Ruth’s video was the first time I was just authentically being myself,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to conform to what I thought a food review was supposed to be.”

Though some call Hutcherson “The Keith Lee of Birmingham” (Lee is a former mixed martial arts fighter who gained millions of followers through TikTok food reviews), Hutcherson believes the best thing anyone looking to bloom in Birmingham can do is focus on being themselves.

“You don’t want to get famous for being someone that you’re not because then you have to keep up with that, and then now you’re a character, and you’re not able to be authentic,” he said.

Hutcherson describes his brand as “authentic, witty, and homegrown” and the person he is online is the same person you’ll meet in real life.

“And that’s why I think my audience resonates with me so much,” he added.

His catchphrase “What’s up, cousins!” is also a reflection of his relatability. “When my first video went viral a girl made a comment saying, ‘You feel like a cousin, like you’re a family member,’” he explained. And the idea for the greeting “What’s up, cousins!” was born.

“Bloom Where You’re Planted” by LaDarrius Hutcherson is available for preorder at whatsupcousins.com. Eat & Greet III: Bloom Where You’re Planted is set for Sunday, February 22 from 2 to 6 p.m. at The Avondale West, 589 Bessemer Super Highway, Midfield, AL 35228. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Birmingham Times

February 12, 2026

PPT0212_WEB(1) — Margot Shaw, Founder and editor-in-chief of FLOWER magazine is speaker at the 2026 Spencer Lecture at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

“HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND! SHOW SOME REAL LOVE!!!”

“CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY!!!”

TODAY, FEB. 12…

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

**CITY OF IRONDALE STATE OF THE CITY “IMPACT 2026” LUNCHEON, 11:30 a.m. at the Pine Tree Country Club presented by Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr. on Education, Economic Development and Eco-tourism.

**City of Irondale STUDENT ART & ESSAY CHALLENGE submissions due. Winners announced on February 17 at the City Council Meeting in Irondale Public Library.

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

**CLAY STREET UNIT at Saturn.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3^rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill.

**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.

**DALLAS MOORE with JARRETT FORRESTER at The Nick.

**GALENTINES – CANDLE MAKING at Avondale Brewing Co. in the Sour Room.

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

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

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

**EVERY THURSDAY- 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.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

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

FRIDAY, FEB. 13…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**MOVIE “SHIRLEY” Screening at the Irondale Senior Activity Center.

Join MISS IRONDALE for a VALENTINE’s DAY CELEBRATION, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Irondale Public Library for all ages with singing, dancing and more. Showing love is for everyone..

**JAZZ IN A GLASS – LOVE NOTES EDITION of A Valentine’s Day Treat, 7-9 p.m. at the AJHOF..

**TURPIE, YEAR OF OCTOBER & MINDSHAFT at The Nick.

**BAYKER BLANKENSHIP at Saturn.

**ALL THEM WITCHES – HOUSE OF MIRRORS TOUR at Iron City.

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

SATURDAY, FEB. 14…

**EMO NIGHT: BROOKLYN at Saturn.

**VALENTINE’S NIGHT with PROVING GROUND (WIDE SPREAD PANIC TRIBUTE) at The Nick.

**COTTAGE CHEMISTRY: A HEATED RIVALRY DANCE PARTY at Iron City.

SUNDAY, FEB. 15…

**HOWARD’S UNLIMITED LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR, 4010 Avenue I, in Belview Heights opened recently by radio personality and 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.)

**MAESTRO LOVES HOLLYWOOD, 2:30 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre. Join MAESTRO RON BOURDAGES for LOVE AT THE LYRIC with a thrilling celebration of music from movies and TV, past and present. For more, call 205-253-1313.

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

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

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

**AN EVENING with KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick.

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

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

**FREE – SAM BETTENS with JANET SIMPSON, LOVE RATE DUO, STINE at Saturn.

**RAILROAD EARTH at Iron City.

MONDAY, FEB. 16…

**WEEK DAYS – 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 – 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.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17…

**Join West End Library for a 10:30 a.m. showing of “WOODLAWN”, followed by Bingo and prizes.

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

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

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

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

**AN AUTHOR EVENT with RODDY BOTTUM at Saturn.

**FREE SUBSTRATE BINGO with JACKIE LO at Saturn.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18…

**GROWING AN AFFORDABLE GARDEN, 11 a.m. to Noon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens with Alabama Cooperative Extension Agent BETHANY O’REAR who will introduce simple money-saving methods along with her tried-and-true tips for growing vegetables at home. You must register.

**THE MAYOR’S DESK PODCAST with EMMA TOLBERT of Irondale Public Relations, 12:30 p.m. Live on Facebook and YouTube at City of Irondale.

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

**FREE – JAHNAH CAMILLE at Saturn.

**THE MISMITHS at the Nick.

THURSDAY, FEB. 19 …

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

**Irondale Senior Activity Center Field Trip to the Negro Southern League Museum & Yo Mama’s Restaurant.

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

**DAIKAIJU with SKEPTIC at Saturn.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3^rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill.

**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.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20….

**BIRMINGHAM HOME SHOW starting TODAY through Sunday at the BJCC.

**QDOT + JAXXXON & FRIENDS at The Nick.

**GIMME GIMME DISCO at Saturn.

* 68^th ANNUAL BIRMINGHAM AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS, 5:45-10 p.m. at The Club in Homewood. Cocktail Hour is 6-7 p.m. Awards Show is 7-10 p.m. AAF Birmingham is hosting its annual evening honoring the creativity, strategy and bold ideas that shape Birmingham’s marketing, advertising and communications community. Connect, celebrate and be inspired as it brings together agency leaders, in-house marketers, designers, strategists, students and rising professionals for a night that celebrates excellence and community. So, whether you submitted a work for judging or love the craft, this is the night to connect. For more: addys@aafbirmingham.com. Get your Early Bird tickets now at www.aafbham.org.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

**OUR VERY OWN CHILDREN’S OF AL – MENDING KIDS’ HEARTS: CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA RECOGNIZES AMERICAN HEART MONTH – Children’s of AL has a national ranked heart center the PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART CENTER OF ALABAMA that provides world-class care to thousands of families each year. This “heart hospital within a hospital” represents decades of superior cardiovascular clinical research dedicated to children. The center has 20 private cardiovascular intensive care unit rooms, four dedicated EVMO suites, 16 private intermediate care unit (ICU) rooms, two cardiovascular operating rooms and two cardiac catheterization labs.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND…

**FRIDAY – KISSING YOU – VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL, 7 p.m. featuring ABRAHAM THE VOICE at Jazzi’s on 3^rd Music Gallery with an unforgettable experience filled with love and music. CHEF KRISTOPHER HICKS of Infinit Eats will have exquisite cuisine.

**FRIDAY – VALENTINE’S DAY WITH LEGEND DARLENE LOVE, 7:30 p.m. at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. Grammy Award Winner DARLENE LOVE was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 by Bette Midler. She was proclaimed by Rolling Stone as “one of the greatest singers of all time.” She captivates audiences worldwide with her warm, gracious stage presence and superb performances with soul and so much more.

**FRIDAY – VALENTINE WITH VULCAN, 6-8 p.m. in the Electra Room at Vulcan Park and Museum. Treat your sweetheart to a romantic indoor celebration featuring dinner, drinks, dancing and live music.

**FRIDAY – THAT’S AMORE – Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a dinner, live music and dancing at The Blub, 6 – 10 p.m. with the Italian American Heritage Society.

**FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY – LOVE THY NEIGHBOR WEEKEND – Rev. Dr. Kurt and First Lady Ruby Clark are hosting their FIRST ANNUAL THREE-DAY “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR Event, FRIDAY – Love thy Neighbor Soiree at the Avondale West at 7 p.m., SATURDAY – Love Thy Neighbor 5K at Railroad Park at 7 a.m. and SUNDAY – Love Thy Neighbor Worship Service at Sardis Church at 10 a.m. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF – Matthew 22:39 – Register at eventbrite.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY AND MORE… maybe a little unknown history for you…

FOR HISTORY BOOK LOVERS…

**BOOK – HAITI BETWEEN PESTILENCE AND HOPE – The Progressive Ideals from the Revolution of 1804 Set the Pace by AUTHOR FRITZNEL D. OCTAVE. As a veteran journalist, Octave talks to you and tells stories; stories about what happened and also what people think really happened. It holds facts and perceptions. The book elaborates themes, such as betrayal, blame, lack of leadership, missed opportunities in the development of the country and it indicates signs of hope, renewal and thoughts on the way forward. It is a book with some outspoken opinions that invite debate and further reflection. This book is about a country with multiple crises and about a country where the vast majority of the people are not heard or without a say in their destiny. For decades Haitians have been living between fear, despair from uncertainly and hope to see better days. Most of Haiti’s stories can be about its natural beauty and its extraordinary people who pioneered a revolution that led to the permanent abolition of slavery in the Americas.

FOR GARDEN BOOK LOVERS …

**BOOK – FLOWERING OUTDOORS: GARDENS & PARTIES is by Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2026 SPENCER LECTURE, MARGOT SHAW who is Special Guest speaker and is the founder and editor-in-chief of FLOWER magazine. She is the author of the new book FLOWERING OUTDOORS: GARDENS & PARTIES to be released soon. The event is free and open to the public on March 12 with reception at 5:30 p.m. and the talk at 6 p.m. You must register.

FOR OUR YOUTH …

**UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA KIDS FEELINGS SURVEY – KIDS NEEDED ages 6-11 to test out a computerized activity designed to help kids learn about other peoples’ feelings. Families receive up to $600 for participating. IT will be 11 sessions at the Clinic at UAB. Engaging activities for kids, Parent Surveys, Cash payment for parents and kids and Kids earn prizes. Does your child show little concern for others feelings, School performance or Rules an consequences, then, For more on this research study, call 205-737-4610 or fastclinicaltrials@ua.edu. Study is by the Center for Youth Development and Intervention.

**BRAIN READ YOUTH STUDY – UAB is looking for children diagnosed with autism ages 7 – 13 to participate in an MRI study at UAB that includes a complimentary 10-week intervention for improving reading comprehension. The child gets to participant in an intensive intervention program at no cost, which may improve their comprehension. You will also help to learn more about how children understand what they read. Children will be paid up to $250 for their participation.

For more contact The Cognition, Brain and Autism Lab at 205-202-0616.

**SMALL MAGIC – BIRMINGHAM TALKS – This program is committed to making Birmingham the best place to raise a child under age 5. It is designed to support early literacy, helping children become three times more likely to be ready for kindergarten. The program provides families with a wearable word counter – technology typically only available to high-income households – along with books, educational toys and the support of a personal coach to help track progress and set developmental goals.

**RENEW BIRMINGHAM – Services that are provided include: housing, adult education/work force development, transportation. jobs, youth services/education, community health and wellness. Call 205-201-4275 or visit www renewbhm.org. Email admin@renewbham.org. Address is 1801 Avenue H, Birmingham 1801 Avenue H.

**MAGIC CITY YOUTHBUILD is accepting applications from 16-24 year s old. It is a 6 to 9 month program. Youth can earn their GED. They get paid a biweekly stipend and get training in construction and healthcare careers. Contact youthbuild@habd.net or call 205-983-7550 to learn more.

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.

“Reconciliation is what Lisa and I are about. More than anything, we want reconciliation in this world — and to learn how to love each other.”

Birmingham Times

February 11, 2026

TAMMIE FIELDS DURING A VISIT AT SOUTH HAMPTON K-8 ALONG WITH LISA MCNAIR. FIELDS IS THE DAUGHTER OF CHARLES CAGLE, THEN A MEMBER OF THE KU KLUX KLAN AT THE TIME OF THE 1963 CHURCH BOMBING. HE WAS NEVER CHARGED. MCNAIR’S SISTER, DENISE DIED IN THE BLAST; BIRMINGHAMTIMES, FEB. 10.

Birmingham Launches Initiative for Young Black Males; Help Reduce Violent Crime

Birmingham Times

February 11, 2026

BlkMale 1 — Birmingham City Schools Chief Mark Sullivan, Ed.D., speaks during the unveiling of the Black Male Initiative which is designed to intervene before young people become involved in the criminal justice system. (Sym Posey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Even with homicides in Birmingham down by 69 percent this year and violence reduction moving in the right direction, City leaders have said now is not the time to be complacent.

After announcing last week that homicides and crime were down Police Chief Michael Pickett said the game was not won and “we’re not spiking the ball.

On Tuesday, the city launched the Black Male Initiative, a plan aimed at early intervention, particularly for boys ages 8-14, to help keep them on the right path.

Recent data shows a troubling trend: teenagers are increasingly involved as suspects in serious violent crimes, Mayor Randall Woodfin said during a Tuesday press conference.

The mayor said he is alarmed that in Birmingham’s four homicides this year, eight teens have been charged in those homicides. One is 15, four are 16, one is 18 and two are 19.

“It’s not just the victims we lost who were taken from their families and loved ones,” he said. “We have eight teenagers are looking at being lost in the penal system.”

“As a son, as a brother, as an uncle, as a nephew, this bothers me,” Woodfin said. “I owe it to the next generation of Black boys who become men to say and do something.”

It Takes A Village

Woodfin emphasized that the Black Male Initiative is not a city-only effort but a community-driven one, with support already pledged from Birmingham City Schools, local churches, barbershops and other neighborhood organizations.

The Black Male Initiative is designed to intervene before young people become involved in the criminal justice system. The program emphasizes keeping youth in school, improving literacy, expanding access to job skills and providing mentorship, while addressing the root causes of violence through community partnerships.

The initiative will be led by Carnelle Howell, senior managing director at Howell Consulting and a longtime civic leader who served on the Birmingham Crime Commission.

“This wasn’t a program that was pulled out of the sky,” Howell said. “Every program under the umbrella of this initiative was an idea of young Black boys. They told us what they wanted and what they needed. When you support this program, you support our boys.”

Many young people who become involved in the justice system never intended to take that path,” Howell said. “Sometimes in life, it chooses you,” he said. “That’s why it’s important we keep the main thing the main thing—and our children are the main thing.”

Woodfin cited post-COVID research showing that disengagement from school and unemployment among Black men are closely tied to higher crime rates. “The mandate is clear,” he said. “Keep our Black boys in school. Make sure our Black boys are literate. Make sure our Black men have skills and can be gainfully employed.”

Barbershops

A key starting point for the Black Male Initiative will be barbershops, which city leaders say serve as trusted, consistent spaces within Black communities. Woodfin emphasized that barbers are already doing the work of mentorship and engagement, making them essential partners in reaching young boys early.

“Barbershops are critical access points for information, resources and trust,” Woodfin said. “Every Black boy, at some point, walks into a barbershop. That makes them a natural bridge to connect our boys to support, opportunity and guidance.”

The initiative builds on recommendations from the Birmingham Crime Commission, which called for increased parental engagement, life coaching, faith-based involvement, nonviolence training and data-driven intervention strategies.

Programs under the initiative will include parenting workshops, mentorships, GED assistance, apprenticeships and skilled trades, fatherhood engagement, mental health support, barbershop-based outreach and workforce development pathways.

Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Mark Sullivan Ed.D., recently named Alabama Education Association Superintendent of the Year, said the school system fully supports the initiative, noting persistent disparities in discipline, graduation rates and academic outcomes for young Black males.

“Our data shows that there is a group of students who are not being as successful as they can be,” Sullivan said. “We can’t be part of a system where a subsection of our children is systematically not succeeding. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to be successful in life, and when the data shows otherwise, we have to do something to change that.”

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