Leanna Leithauser-Lesley, Queen of the Blues, 2022; Freehand needlepoint and fiber, 37" z 43".
By Margaret Splane | Birmingham Public Library
The Central Library downtown is hosting artist Leanna Leithauser-Lesley’s stunning new exhibition, Shaken by the Roots. The show is a retrospective of Leithauser-Lesley’s needlepoint portraits of jazz and blues musicians, spanning from the start of her career in the early 2000s to the present.
Leanna Leithauser-Lesley
Shaken by the Roots is on display in BPL’s First Floor Gallery through September 27. A reception for the artist will take place on Saturday, September 14, in the Central Library’s Fourth Floor Gallery from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.
Leithauser-Lesley describes herself as “an avid needlepointer motivated by the power of jazz music.” Among Leithauser-Lesley’s subjects are influential, internationally known jazz artists Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Thelonius Monk, Jelly Roll Morton, Django Reinhart, Mary Lou Williams, and Lester Young. Others are jazz and blues artists from right here in Birmingham, including Bo Berry, Henry “Gip” Gipson (depicted in No Blacks, No White, Just Blues below), Elaine Hudson, Elnora Spencer, and Dinah Washington (depicted in Queen of the Blues above).
Leithauser-Lesley’s needlepoint portraits are presented in unique antique and vintage frames, while vinyl records serve as frames for her smaller, circular portraits. Some of the needlepoint portraits are incorporated into what the artist refers to as mixed-media “story quilts.”
The needlepoint portrait of world-renowned Nina Simone is showcased in a “story quilt” called Ne Me Quitte Pas. Simone was a jazz and blues vocalist, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. She sang a version of the Jacques Brel song “Ne me quitte pas” on her 1965 album You Put a Spell on Me, and it has become one of her best-loved recordings.
In Leithauser-Lesley’s eponymous work, the title of the “story quilt” and Simone’s head and torso are rendered in needlepoint, while other figurative components consist of embroidered and pieced-together fabrics. A piano keyboard is depicted in what appears to be white leather and black fabric. Parts of Ne Me Quitte Pas are embellished with spools of thread, twine, and yarn, as well as with painted twigs. Many images in the work are associated with Simone’s social activism.
Leanna Leithauser-Lesley, Dizzy Gillespie, 2017; Freehand needlepoint, 22″ x 18″.
All the works in Shaken by the Roots are for sale (except for one that comes from a private collection). The artist receives 100% of all sales but may make a contribution to the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library to support the Art for Everyone exhibition series.
Headliner, James "PJ" Spraggins and band close the night out at the 2024 4th Ave Jazz Festival.
Photos by Marika N. Johnson
The Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival is a one-day jazz festival which has been presented annually since 2003 in Birmingham’s Historic 4th Avenue District downtown. The event held this year on Saturday August 24 offers jazz music, food, swing dance lessons and exhibits, and presents nationally known jazz artists and local jazz artists.
UAB 4th year student and Jazz Ensemble trumpeter, Joshua Thomas.
In 2003, the Festival began with a goal of unifying the district by preserving the legacy of the Historic 4th Avenue District and the historic art of jazz.
The Festival brings people together from all walks of life in the name of music. This annual festival is a staple in the city of Birmingham bringing people from surrounding cities, counties and states.
This year’s artist lineup included James “PJ” Spraggins; Official Clutch Band; Overfloe featuring Mz. JQ Sweetz; UAB Jazz Ensemble; The Greenlight Band; Swing Theory Quartet; and Legendary Bo Berry.
UAB Jazz Ensemble.The festival presents food, swing dance lesson and the sounds of great jazz music.
Eighteen students graduated from the Birmingham Police Academy Friday.
The class was so big Birmingham Police Department moved the event to Bill Harris Arena. The graduating class is also the department’s largest since April of 2020.
“I decided to take this path because I do love my community. I love the city of Birmingham. I just want to be a part of the solution,” said new Birmingham Police Officer Jessyka Patterson.
Over a dozen families came out to Bill Harris Arena Friday morning to support a loved one. Police Chief Scott Thurmond was thrilled with the size of the graduating class and believes several have bright futures in Birmingham.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond
“I hate to talk about myself but I am a shining example. I came up through the department, rose to the rank of Chief of Police. So the sky is the limit for these men and women who just graduated today. So I just look forward to seeing what they are going to do during their careers and them serving the citizens of Birmingham,” said Thurmond.
The class also comes at a time of great need. Police departments all around the country are struggling with staffing. A local Fraternal Order of Police leader recently telling us they are begging people to come to work. Still newly minted officer Patterson says she and her classmates are honored to join the force in a time of need.
“It means a lot because it just shows that we have not given up hope on our community. We haven’t given up hope on America. We just want to be a part of a positive outcome with any circumstance that we face,” said Officer Patterson, who moved to Alabama from Chicago and said she fell in love with Birmingham.
“I just want to serve and protect,’’ she told AL.com. “I want to be an example of a good officer and get more involved with the community.”
On Tuesday Mayor Randall L. Woodfin presented a proposed $591 million Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget. (File)
(An Opinion)
Lee Styslinger III
Since our founding in Birmingham in 1929, Altec has seen the city go through a few turbulent times – times when our citizens were wracked by poverty during the Great Depression, times when our citizens were subjected to violence in response to their peaceful push for basic human rights. We persisted through those times, and Birmingham today is a much stronger community as a result. We learned from our past and are still building a better community where all people can be happy, healthy and fulfilled.
We are making progress on so many levels, but we are all troubled by the violence we continue to see in our community. There are too many young people killing and being killed, too many children caught in crossfire, and too many senior citizens afraid in their own homes.
This is a nationwide problem that requires a local communitywide solution.
Mayor Randall Woodfin’s team recently met with businesses to discuss these issues, and it is great that our city leadership is doing as much as possible to combat violence and crime.
These efforts are having an impact: Property crimes and violent crimes overall are down. Unfortunately, homicides have increased. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy for somebody’s family and for our community.
The mayor and his team have worked hard to prevent more tragedies through a smart, multi-faceted approach that includes targeted police activities, policy changes, partnerships, and prevention.
What’s Being Done
On the enforcement side:
The mayor led the charge to get changes to state law to give the city more tools to address problems related to exhibition driving, and the city’s Operation Knight Rider has led to 143 felony charges and the seizure of 86 firearms through July.
A city partnership with state and federal law enforcement has led to the arrest of 23 homicide suspects since May, not to mention 121 arrests for other felonies, including robbery and assault through July. Thanks to the inter-agency approach, multiple charges can be brought and they’re more likely to stick.
More recently, the city joined with federal officials to announce a program to target Glock switches, which are devices that can switch a handgun to a fully automatic weapon firing multiple rounds in a split second with awful consequences.
The city’s police officers are working hard to get all illegal guns off the street – seizing more than 1,000 so far this year – and the city continues to push for changes in state law to increase penalties and make it more difficult to obtain guns that will be used for unlawful purposes.
Mayor Woodfin’s administration has invested more than $30 million in programs specifically directed at the city’s young people, many of them offering the potential to reduce violence over the long term. One of my favorites is Birmingham Promise, which provides college and career opportunities to students in Birmingham City Schools. This program, launched by the mayor and still supported with city funds, has already helped 1,300 Birmingham graduates with college expenses and facilitated internships for 200 high school students. Programs like this help us break generational cycles of poverty that can fuel crime.
Other city initiatives include:
Funding for mental health support for students in Birmingham City Schools ensures that each school has counselors and crisis response teams. This is critical for young people who have experienced the trauma of violence involving their family members and peers.
A Safe Haven program in city recreation centers gives children a place outside of school where they can receive tutoring and life skills training and wholesome fun.
A school-based conflict resolution program called Common Ground offers guidance and supports for at-risk students. In addition to the potential long-term impact, this program showed almost immediate results. Male students in the program posted an 83 percent reduction in fights, a 60 percent drop in suspensions, and 56 percent fewer disciplinary actions and school absences.
A re-entry program called RESTORE helps teenagers with support and services after they are released from Department of Youth Services’ custody. This helps kids who have already gotten off on the wrong foot to get on a better path.
A partnership with area health care providers gives people who are hospitalized as a result of violence the opportunity to get mentoring and other services to help break the cycle of bloodshed.
Lend Your Support
I applaud Mayor Woodfin, whose family has personally experienced gun violence, for making this such a high priority for his administration and for having the courage to tackle a complex problem that defies simple fixes.
But even with all he is putting into this effort, it won’t be enough if we fail to do our part as citizens.
By all means, if you see something, say something. There are safe ways to report criminal activity; in fact, information from citizens is critical for our police officers. During the first six months of this year, anonymous tips to Crimestoppers helped bring about 157 felony arrests. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a police officer, get an application today. The City of Birmingham has struggled like departments across the nation to attract and keep officers. While we will never hire enough officers to be everywhere and prevent all violence, we can hire more to deter crime and give our residents a greater sense of safety.
Lend your support to the city’s efforts in other ways. Become a reading volunteer at a local school, host an intern at your business or invest in our young people in other ways. Know where your children are. Lock up your own guns. Care. When we as a community come together to solve a problem, there is nothing we can’t overcome.
Lee Styslinger, III serves on the boards of Altec, Birmingham Promise, Birmingham Business Alliance, Children’s Hospital, Regions Financial and Vulcan Materials.
Judy Woods, a financial well-being coach and HUD-certified housing counselor at Operation HOPE inside the Birmingham Public Library in downtown Birmingham, offers financial tips for students. (Birmingham Public Library)
Birmingham Public Library
Birmingham area K-12 schools re-opened from summer break over the past two weeks and college students across Alabama are now back on campus.
The ringing of the school bell signals the start of a structured day filled with learning and growth. Similarly, financial success often hinges on discipline and a well-organized approach.
Judy Woods, a certified HUD-counselor and financial coach at Operation Hope — located in the Birmingham Public Library downtown — has financial tips to help families succeed.
Here are a few ways to incorporate the school bell’s lessons into your financial behavior:
1. Set Clear Goals
Educational Equivalent: Just as students have academic goals, setting clear financial goals can guide your actions. Whether it’s saving for a down payment, paying off debt, or building an emergency fund, defining these goals gives you direction.
Actionable Tip: Write down your financial goals and break them into smaller, manageable tasks. Review and adjust regularly, much like a student would with their study schedule.
2. Create a Budget
Educational Equivalent: Students follow a timetable to allocate time to different subjects. Creating a budget works the same way, helping you allocate your income to various expenses.
Actionable Tip: Use budgeting tools or apps to track your spending. Consider following the 50/30/20 rule – 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayment.
3. Prioritize Learning
Educational Equivalent:Just as continuous learning is key in education, staying informed about personal finance is crucial. Financial literacy helps you make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Actionable Tip: Commit to reading financial articles, attending workshops, working with an Operation HOPE coach. The more you know, the better you can manage your money.
Embrace the Routine
Students thrive on routine, and so can your finances. Establishing a regular financial routine helps ensure consistent progress toward your goals. Here are some tips for students this school year.
1. Monthly Reviews
Educational Equivalent: Regular exams assess a student’s understanding and progress. Similarly, monthly financial reviews help you evaluate your spending, savings, and overall financial health.
Actionable Tip: Set a date each month to review your finances.( I have Money Mondays) Adjust your budget as needed and celebrate your progress.
2. Automate Savings
Educational Equivalent: Homework is a regular part of a student’s routine, reinforcing learning and discipline. Automating savings ensures you consistently put money aside without having to think about it
Actionable Tip: Set up automatic transfers to your savings account or retirement fund. Treat these transfers like mandatory homework – non-negotiable and essential for your financial growth.
Learn from Mistakes
Every student faces challenges and setbacks, but it’s how they learn and adapt that leads to success. Financial management is no different.
1. Analyze Failures
Educational Equivalent: When students get a poor grade, they analyze their mistakes to improve, or can take a make-up exam. When financial setbacks occur, review what went wrong and how to avoid similar issues in the future.
Actionable Tip: Keep a financial journal to track your spending habits and any mistakes. Reflect on what you could do differently and plan actionable steps to avoid repeating them.
2. Seek Guidance
Educational Equivalent: Students often seek help from teachers or tutors when they struggle. Don’t hesitate to seek financial advice from experts. HOPE is available!
Actionable Tip: Schedule a consultation with an Operation HOPE coach to get personalized advice. Many financial institutions offer free or low-cost services to help you manage your money better.
As the school bell rings in a new academic year, let it also be a reminder to refocus on your financial behavior and management. By setting clear goals, establishing a routine, and continuously learning and adapting, you can ensure your financial future is as bright as the new school year ahead.
Judy Woods is a Financial Well-being Coach available to help people begin the journey to financial stability and success. Make appointments with Judy Woods of Operation Hope by emailing judy.woods@operationhope.org or call (205) 478-0557.
CHICAGO (AP) — Kamala Harris summoned Americans on Thursday to reject political division and instead chart what she called a “new way forward,” as she accepted her party’s nomination while blending biography with warnings about electing Donald Trump again to the White House.
Taking the stage to a thunderous standing ovation as she closed out the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the vice president argued that her personal story and background as a prosecutor made her uniquely qualified to protect Americans’ interests against a former president she cast as only having his own interests in mind.
“Our nation with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said. “A chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris became the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to accept a major party’s presidential nomination and she would become the first female president if elected. Harris did not explicitly reference the historic firsts she would set in her 40-minute speech, and she only mentioned the words “Democrat” or “Republican” in the context of discussing a bipartisan border bill that Trump helped scuttle earlier this year, which she promised to sign into law if elected.
Her address — and the Democratic convention at large — was intended to appeal to a broad swath of Americans, not just partisans already energized by Harris’ ascension after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid. She made several implicit appeals to the large swath of voters who just weeks ago were disaffected with both of their options for the White House, particularly those disaffected with Trump, underscored by the appearances of several people who have broken with the 45th president, while embracing the policies and approach of Biden, the 46th.
Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris hugs her grand niece, Amara Ajagu, surrounded by family during the Democratic National Convention Thursday in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
She was joined for the traditional balloon drop by a large blended and mixed-race family. Earlier, two of her grandnieces had led the packed United Center in teaching people how to pronounce her name, which means lotus in Sanskrit.
“America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected,” Harris said. “But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.”
Harris reintroduces herself
Raised primarily by her mother in a small apartment in San Francisco’s East Bay after her parents’ divorce, Harris described being reared as well by friends and caregivers who were “family by love.” She also detailed a key part of her political origin story, when Wanda, her best friend from high school, confided in her that she was being abused by her stepfather and came to live with Harris’ family.
“That is one of the reasons I became a prosecutor. To protect people like Wanda,” Harris said.
Outlining her work as a prosecutor, state attorney general, senator and now vice president, Harris declared, “My entire career I’ve only had one client: the people.” Meanwhile, she said Trump has only ever acted in the interests of “the only client he has ever had: himself.”
As she took the stage, she saw a sea of female delegates and Democratic supporters wearing white — the color of women’s suffrage, the movement that culminated with American women securing the right to vote in 1920.
Harris’ address came on her 10th wedding anniversary to her husband, Doug Emhoff, whom she called “Dougie” on stage and who blew her a kiss from the stands at the start of her remarks.
Mississippi delegate Kelly Jacobs wear a hat supporting Kamala Harris Thursday at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson)
She and other speakers directly appealed to Republicans
Harris made a direct call to Republicans who don’t support Trump to put aside party labels and to support her over Trump, who denied his loss to Biden in the 2020 election, which inspired the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
“I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, and I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “I promise to be a president for all Americans to hold sacred America’s constitutional principles, fundamental principles, from the rule of law and fair elections to the peaceful transfer of power.”
The convention granted a prime speaking slot to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a Republican critic of Trump’s who said: “Whatever policies we disagree on pale in comparison with those fundamental matters of principle. Of decency. Of fidelity to this nation. To my fellow Republicans: If you still pledge allegiance to those principles, I suspect you belong here, too.”
Harris invoked her prosecutor’s background when she referred several times to Trump’s “explicit intent” to free those who assaulted law enforcement officers at the Capitol, jail political opponents and use the military against American citizens.
“Consider what he intends to do if we give him power again,” she added.
Trump, calling into Fox News after Harris’ speech, responded to the speech by asking, “Why didn’t she do the things that she’s complaining about?”
“It was a lot of complaining. She didn’t talk about China. She didn’t talk about fracking. She didn’t talk about crime,” Trump went on, adding, “Other than that it was a nice-looking room.”
Harris promises to defend alliances, abortion access
Delivering her most in-depth remarks on national security since becoming a presidential candidate, Harris promised to strengthen U.S. relationships with NATO allies and said the country must continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. Trump and running mate JD Vance have repeatedly questioned U.S. backing for Ukraine.
“I will never waver in defense of America’s security and ideals, because in the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand and I know where the United States belongs,” she said.
The vice president also vowed to work toward an end to Israel’s war against Hamas that can stabilize the rest of the region, while not hesitating to protect U.S. forces from aggression by Iran and other adversaries.
While she pledged to “always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself” after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and pushed for the release of the hostages and the implementation of a cease-fire deal, she highlighted the plight of Palestinian civilians as well. Pro-Palestinian protesters and members of the “uncommitted” movement in the arena sharply criticized convention organizers for not inviting a Palestinian American onstage.
“What has happened in Gaza in the last 10 months is devastating, so many innocent lives lost,” Harris said. “Desperate, hungry people fleeing to safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.”
Pledging to restore nationwide access to abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Harris lambasted Trump and Republicans who have enabled abortion bans across two dozen states and have sought to move further.
“They are out of their minds,” Harris proclaimed.
Harris has faced scrutiny in the month since she replaced Biden atop the Democratic ticket for avoiding policy specifics. She offered broad promises in a string of key policy areas, from expanding voting rights to lowering housing costs, passing middle-class tax cuts and bolstering border security.
Harris also emphasized her law enforcement background, including her time as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general. She was later elected to the U.S. Senate and sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Her campaign imploded that year before a single primary vote was cast, but Biden chose her as his running mate, catapulting her to the national stage.
Although Harris initially struggled to find her footing as vice president, her reputation grew when she became the administration’s leading advocate for abortion rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Democrats harnessed anger over the decision to stem their losses in the last midterm elections.
When Biden stumbled in his debate with Trump in June, Harris defended him until he decided to drop out of the race. With the help of his endorsement, she swiftly unified the Democratic Party behind her candidacy, resetting a presidential race that Trump had appeared on track to win.
Speaking to supporters after her remarks, Harris struck a confident note, but encouraged them to keep campaigning like they were behind.
“Tonight get your party on, for the next 75 days we have a lot of work to do,” she said. “We’re going to win this.”
Associated Press writers Chris Megerian in Washington and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed.
The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks Thursday during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The Birmingham Airport Authority Board has initiated a comprehensive Modernization Plan to transform the parking facilities at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.(Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport)
birminghamal.gov
Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has announced the appointment of Valerie Collins Thomas and Del Davis to the board of directors for the Birmingham Airport Authority. They will both serve in their roles through July 29, 2030.
“Valerie and Del are longtime servants of our community. Their impact spans both Birmingham and beyond,” said Mayor Woodfin. “The Birmingham Airport Authority has an international reach, and it is imperative that those who sit at the table as decision-makers and advocates are equipped to lead this entity toward success. I am confident in their service and look forward to their leadership.”
Valerie Collins Thomas
Valerie Collins Thomas serves as president & CEO of The VAL Group, Inc., a recruiting support service to UAB Hospital, Children’s of Alabama, and others who must showcase Birmingham to visitors or future residents. Her experience includes work with IBM for over thirteen years; nonprofit management and development as corporate relations director for United Way in NC; executive director of Pitt County’s Domestic Violence Center; director of development at the Allentown Art Museum in PA; manager of major gifts at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network; and director of development for the National Trauma Institute in TX. Collins Thomas is an active community supporter and serves as the chair of the board for Pepper Place Farmers Market, president of the UAB Arts Advisory Board, which includes the Alys Stephen Center, and treasurer of the UAB Women’s Club. She also serves on the board of directors for Create Birmingham, Railroad Park, and the Executive Council for the historic, First Methodist Church in downtown Birmingham.
Del Davis
Del Davis is the founder and CEO of Smart Growth Management, providing C-Level consulting services with a successful record of accomplishment as a strategist, marketing, and business development professional. Over the last 25 years, he has worked at the intersection of infrastructure, community, and economic development, capital improvement programs, and urban reinvestment, developing successful public-private partnerships with $2 billion dollars in deals that span construction programs in aviation, utility infrastructure, energy savings, public finance, and real estate development projects across the U.S. primarily in the southeast. He pursued his undergraduate studies in telecommunications at Alabama A&M University where he was a football letterman, is an alum of the environmental leadership program at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, and is a licensed Realtor in the State of Alabama.
Current board members David Germany and Darlene Wilson have been re-appointed to serve through July 29, 2030.
The Birmingham Airport Authority was established in 1986 to manage the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and continue its growth. It is governed by a seven-member board of directors, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Birmingham and confirmed by the Birmingham City Council. The day-to-day operation is managed by the president and CEO and the Birmingham Airport Authority staff of over 100 employees within five departments.
“At UAB in Birmingham, all hail our players bold. They are the mighty Blazers, who wear the green and gold.” – UAB Fight Song
The Marching Blazers, dubbed “The Sound of The Magic City,” are the university’s athletic music ambassadors. Part of the UAB College of Arts and Sciences’Department of Music, the band is the university’s largest performing ensemble and thrills thousands of fans with amazing performances. Each year, students from across UAB’s schools and colleges come together to present a traditional marching band show, appear at sports and special events throughout the year, march in parades, and perform as the exhibition band at high school and college band competitions.
Being in a marching band is not for the faint of heart. It takes discipline, dedication, consistency and teamwork, with a huge commitment and sacrifice of time, often with long, tiring days, at the mercy of the weather. Band camp, Aug. 19-23, is more than a week of early morning and late evening practices on the Intramural Field, with afternoon rehearsals indoors in the Hulsey Center. On a typical UAB Football game day, the band may start with a rehearsal at 7 or 8 a.m., then travel and play for pregame festivities, the pregame show, the first half, halftime show and second half, and after the game. Then they may get on buses afterward and head to a marching band competition to perform. The Marching Blazers have even traveled internationally to perform. Read more about the band’s history.
But to the dedicated few who love band life, it is more than worth it. Some of the hardest and most grueling days out on the field or in the stands become the most treasured of memories, says Brian Wilson, a 1994 charter member and drum major for the Marching Blazers who graduated with a music degree in 1997. Wilson is the band director at Berry Middle School and associate band director at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama.
About 20 percent or so of the students in the band are music majors. Others come from just about every field of study on offer at UAB. The accomplishments of its many alumni, who have stellar careers in fields from dentistry, nursing, the military and more to music performance and music education, “show the discipline it takes,” said Assistant Director of Bands Gene Fambrough, DMA.
Students can study anything they want at UAB and still be part of the Marching Blazers and the legacy, Wilson says. Whether it is high school or college, band teaches students to be great musicians and great leaders, he says.
Drum major Brian Wilson, an original member of the Marching Blazers band in 1994. (Courtesy the Marching Blazers)
“It is very similar to athletics, teaching them to push through adversity,” he said. “When they think they have hit the wall, we have got to motivate them and prove that they can do more than they thought they could at that moment.”
The contributions UAB bands make are a service to the community, Wilson says. UAB’s leadership, Director of Bands Sean Murray, Ph.D., and assistant band directors Cara Morantz, Ed.D., and Fambrough, along with their students, give freely of their time to support junior and high school band programs.
“There are a lot of things UAB bands do, and it’s not just a campus thing, not just something that happens at a football game,” Wilson said. “It’s a great group of people using their talents to give back and build relationships in our community.”
The UAB Marching Blazers are the headliner for Sparks in the Park in September, a showcase and exhibition for area high school bands hosted by Spain Park High School. UAB band faculty give the students critiques, offering a little extra feedback to help prepare high school bands for competition and are a great resource for band directors, Wilson says.
Drum majors this season are Cameron Rodgers-Johnson and Ashley Rehage, who are both majoring in music education, and Mia Hernandez, a biology major.
The UAB band is presently at an ideal size, Fambrough says: big enough to be heard, not so big that you can’t move around on the field, and with plenty of people to draw from when you need a pep band. With Morantz transitioning from 10 years working with Athletic Bands into her new role as director of Music Education in the Department of Music, Caleb Owenby, DMA, joins the team as assistant professor of trombone and assistant director of Athletic Bands.
All band alumni are invited to play with the Marching Blazers at Alumni Band Day, UAB Homecoming on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Working together with others to accomplish great things has even led to love, and lifetime partnerships, for its members — the UAB Marching Blazers band family boasts more than 30 married couples in its ranks, some of whom are raising the next generation of Blazers.
Reunion at Marching Blazers Alumni Band Day, UAB Homecoming on Nov. 2
Murray says they are hoping alumni will return for UAB’s Homecoming on Nov. 2, when all past players are invited to perform with the marching band for Marching Blazers Alumni Band Day. The Marching Blazers will host a banquet and other festivities for students and alumni that weekend.
“We have thousands of band alumni from the past 30 years, and we want a really big turnout,” Murray said. “We have so many Marching Blazer babies, I thought that might be kind of fun to bring the kids too.”
For the 30th anniversary season, the band will have one show. Fambrough dug into the archives with Murray to craft a selection of songs from different decades.
Members of the UAB Marching Blazers band in the Homecoming parade, 2023. (Photography: Steve Wood)
“It’s all music that people would know, and it’s all fresh, even with some throwbacks,” Murray said.
“Liberty Fanfare” will be the opener, an important piece to include because it was the first hit out of pregame from 1994 until 2002, Fambrough says.
“Birdland” from the 2001 show, “Bohemian Rhapsody” from 2012 and “Thriller” from 2004 will round out the show, with a switch to “Back to the Future” after Halloween, he says. That song was included in the 2016 show, which was a tribute to movie music — but it is also a UAB bands OG: Murray has a handwritten arrangement of it on his desk, from the UAB music library and dated 1990.
High school students will get a chance to march with UAB at All-Star Marching Band Day, an annual event when outstanding band students are invited to join the Marching Blazers for a day of music and marching that culminates in a massed band performance for family and friends. This year it will be the second game of the year, Sept. 28, against Navy.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell in Chicago for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. (PROVIDED)
By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times
As Kamala Harris prepares to formally accept the Democratic nomination for U.S. President on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who is leading the Alabama Delegation in Chicago this week, has heard from a range of speakers. But for Sewell, members of the delegation, thousands inside the United Center and many more nationwide, one speech has resonated so far – the one delivered on Tuesday by her “big sister” from Princeton University.
“I thought that Michelle Obama, and I’m a little partial because she’s my big sister from Princeton, really brought down the house,” Sewell told The Birmingham Times from Chicago on Wednesday. “[Her speech] was so impactful it drew so many different emotions from laughter to tears to levity in some ways. She also gave us a call to action. She said, ‘the road ahead was going to be bumpy for Kamala … and we have to what? do something.’ She gave us a directive [to get out and vote].”
Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson said the United Center was filled with “hope.” “You heard that there is a bright future to look forward to,” Tyson told The Times. “It’s like there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and we’re almost there.”
Wednesday was a night when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepted the Vice-Presidential nomination and speeches by former President Bill Clinton, mogul Oprah Winfrey, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and others.
But on Tuesday former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama energized the convention by calling on the nation to embrace Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and ominous.
Former President Barack Obama and Former First Lady Michelle Obama both spoke Tuesday on the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
“Hope Is Making A Comeback”
“America, hope is making a comeback,” the former first lady declared. She then tore into Republican Donald Trump, a sharp shift from the 2016 convention speech in which she told her party, “When they go low, we go high.”
“His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black,” Michelle Obama said of Trump.
Michelle Obama, a classmate of Sewell’s at Princeton and Michelle Robinson at the time, also addressed race directly as she jabbed Trump, referencing a comment he made in a June debate.
“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?” she said. ”It’s his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better.”
Sewell said the message from both Obamas was well received.
“It was infectious,” said the congresswoman. “Not only was there great so much great positive energy but I think the word is joy no one was going to steal our joy.”
Barack Obama, the first Black president in U.S. history, insisted the nation is ready to elect Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage and would be the nation’s first female president. He also called Trump “a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.”
“It’s been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually gotten worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala,” he said.
Two of DNC’s Biggest Stars
The fiery messages from two of the Democratic Party’s biggest stars underscored the urgency of the moment as Harris works to stitch together a broad coalition in her bid to defeat Trump this fall in the November 5 General Election. The vice president is drawing on stars like the Obamas and other celebrities, officials from the far left to the middle, and even some Republicans to boost her campaign.
And while the theme of the night was “a bold vision for America’s future,” the disparate factions of Harris’ evolving coalition demonstrated, above all, that they are connected by a deep desire to prevent a second Trump presidency.
Sewell said every day at the convention has been better than the day before — “it’s been equally as electric as informative” — and she looks forward to hearing from the party nominees for President and Vice President.
“It’s like one of the best family reunions ever … there is jubilation. People are just so happy to be in the room. You can feel the energy and feel the love,” she said. “On Tuesday you saw how much we missed the Obamas. I looked forward to hearing from … our next Vice President Tim Walz, to the world and our country being introduced to Tim Walz … I think he is a perfect complement to Madame President Kamala Harris.
Crystal May, owner of Little Royalties Child Care Development in Hueytown which is set to open in mid-September. (Amaar Croskey Photos, For The Birmingham Times)
By Javacia Harris Bowser | For The Birmingham Times
Inside a small building of a nondescript strip mall nestled in the heart of Hueytown, a dream is coming true.
After observing firsthand Alabama’s need for more high quality, affordable childcare options during her 17 years working with the Department of Human Resources, Crystal May dreamed of opening a childcare center. “I wanted to do something to prevent children from being in the system,” May said. “I don’t want to just be a babysitter because anybody can babysit. I want to develop kids.”
The brainchild of Zhaundra C. Jones, Vice President of Philanthropy and Learning at WFA, the accelerator is an 8-week program that focuses on the business side of owning a daycare facility with the goal of helping the owners’ open centers that can offer accessible quality services for parents and competitive wages for center workers.
“Comprehensively, what we’re really trying to do is focus on access, affordability, and workforce,” Jones said. “I felt like an accelerator would allow us to design something that would pour into these business owners and if we could also give them access to much needed infrastructure capital, we could do our part of this puzzle of addressing the childcare gap in the state.”
After observing firsthand Alabama’s need for more high quality, affordable childcare options during her 17 years working with the Department of Human Resources, Crystal May dreamed of opening a childcare center. (Amaar Croskey Photos, For The Birmingham Times)
Alabama’s Childcare Gap
Even though 74 percent of Alabama families rely on a female breadwinner, Alabama has the 49th lowest female labor force participation rate in the nation. Research has shown that one of the key factors holding women back is lack of childcare. There is only enough of it available in Alabama to serve 44 percent of the state’s young children.
Too often, Jones said, childcare centers aren’t viewed as real businesses and so the owners of these facilities don’t get the resources they need. The Childcare Accelerator program seeks to change this.
“So many of [the program participants] said, ‘Thank you for taking the time to do this for us; this is the first time anyone has invested in me or my business,’” Jones said. “I think we all know that it makes a difference when people invest in you, when people signal to you that they believe in you. Seeing them as entrepreneurs, as business owners, as the community leaders that they are, I think, was also impactful. It impacts how they approach their work, how they deal with their parents and families. And then that gives moms and dads comfort to be able to go to work and give their best. It permeates and impacts the entire community.”
Lesson Plans
Crystal May, owner of Little Royalties Child Care Development in Hueytown which is set to open in mid-September. (Amaar Croskey Photos, For The Birmingham Times)
In addition to covering topics like childcare best practices and curriculum development, the program also taught participants about writing business plans, managing a facility (including playground construction and renovation innovations), human resources and much more.
May enjoyed learning about profit and loss statements, marketing strategies, and the importance of community engagement. “I know it was geared towards childcare, but what I learned in that class can take you on to any type of business,” she said.
When May gives a tour of her Hueytown facility, she exudes the excitement of a new homeowner and hopes the center will feel like a home away from home for the kids she will welcome. With walls painted in primary and pastel colors, the bright rooms at Little Royalties are filled with puppets, playsets and more to inspire the imaginations of little ones.
Whether pointing to a safari-themed room she’s quite proud of or the playground in progress behind the building, May made it clear that this is only the beginning. She’s already dreaming about the “state of the art” facility she wants to open after her first center is up and running, she said.
Little Royalties will have space for 75 students, ages 0 to 13, once it opens. For the older children she’ll offer after-school care and has already hired someone who’ll help with tutoring. May has a total of 11 employees and she’s certified to serve as a childcare provider too.
With walls painted in primary and pastel colors, the bright rooms at Little Royalties are filled with puppets, playsets and more to inspire the imaginations of little ones. (Amaar Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
A Family Affair
May began leasing the building in October of 2023 and since January of 2024 she’s been at her facility nearly every day working toward her grand opening. The project has been a family affair. Her mother Lela, who once operated a home-based daycare center and worked with the Board of Education for years, is often on site to pitch in. May’s partner, Horatio, has been lending a helping hand too. And her children — Ashton, 13, Aiden, 10, and Harlie, 4 – are often buzzing around the building.
When she was growing up, her father couldn’t read, May shared. This is more motivation for her business venture. She wants to encourage literacy in the children her center will care for as well as their parents. And she plans to name her center’s reading area “Henry’s Reading Room” after her father.
During the accelerator program, May also appreciated learning about the importance of businesses having unique selling propositions. What makes her center stand out from others? She’s just as committed to helping parents as she is to serving children.
In addition to the literacy resources May wants to provide for parents, she eventually hopes to have classes that will help parents earn their GED and learn about professionalism. She wants to help with finding and applying for job opportunities and even stock a closet of professional wear for job interviews.
“I’m developing future kings and queens,” she said.
Learn more about the Women’s Foundation of Alabama at wfalabama.org.
