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Nonprofit LegacyWorks Builds Futures Inside Birmingham-Area Construction Sites

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Birmingham Times
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LegacyWorks founder Terrence Ingram with, from left, student Jeremy Newell, instructor Cody Dukes and student Malik Thirkill at a work site in Hoover. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Don Rhodes II | For The Birmingham Times

The hum of saws, pipes, and conversation on a Saturday morning welcomed young men from across Birmingham, not just to acquire a trade, but to build their futures.

Eleven young men gathered at a construction site in Hoover, Alabama inside a developing subdivision in a section of the area where new homes are still being built and worked on.

At its core is LegacyWorks, a nonprofit founded in 2018 by educator Terrence Ingram, that does the same: build and work on the lives of the young men. Ingram has taken it upon himself to make sure his students have a chance at education, career, and self-empowerment.

Ingram, who began his career as a member of the Teach for America Corps in 2009, returned to Alabama with a mission to alter the lives of young people. “I felt an imperative as I was thinking about the [crime] rate in Birmingham and the impact on young Black men particularly,” Ingram said. “Our focus is decision-making skills and individual agency — alerting them to the fact that their choices can improve their circumstances.”

Terrance Ingram, a former educator, founded LegacyWorks in 2018. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Rather than attempting to chip away at large systemic barriers by itself, LegacyWorks targets tangible solutions: apprenticeships, literacy training, exposure to trades, and opportunity for college. It takes students on college campus tours, introduces them to apprenticeships, and teaches them that education and training can be a portal to meaningful careers.

Since its launch, the program has helped 44 young men from all corners of Birmingham learn trades, participate in community service, apply to colleges and express themselves through music.

The Program

After graduating from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in music in 2009, Ingram began teaching English to middle schoolers in Nashville as a Teach For America corps member.

Though his first year was “rough,” Ingram said he found a new way to get his students engaged with learning.

“Almost every day, I incorporated songs into my lesson, some that I would write by myself, some that I wrote with the students. We were still learning all of the standards that they were supposed to learn but in a way that was more culturally responsive,” Ingram said.

“It was a passion, and I saw the difference I was making, but I wanted to move back to Alabama…I decided that I would not stop the work, but I had to find another way to do it.”

So he got to work, meeting with members of his church and researching ways to translate his work to Birmingham.

Word Of Mouth

LegacyWorks started as a pilot program in 2018 at Martha Gaskins Elementary School in Roebuck with four students.

Over time, LegacyWorks grew beyond the school through word of mouth as mothers saw the difference in their sons and the boys told their friends about what Ingram had done for them.

Jeremiah Hayden hammers a nail into wood at a work site in Hoover. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Jeremiah Hayden, 15, has been a part of LegacyWorks for six years and said Ingram has become a father-like figure and role model in his life.

After his own father died, Hayden moved in with his grandmother, who fostered four other boys. After having a conversation with Hayden’s mother, Ingram decided to take the five boys under his wing.

“I met Mr. Ingram, and I just feel like he’s had a good effect on my life,” Hayden said. “I’ve stayed since I was 9 and I feel like he really watched me grow up and mature.”

Hayden said he looks forward to graduating high school and studying physical therapy at a big university.

For Henry Reynolds Jr. and other students like him, the program has been transformative. A sixth grader when he joined, Reynolds, 17, said LegacyWorks changed his concept of what he will do with his life.

“Now I know that I can be an electrician, be a plumber, or do carpentry and make an honest living for myself,” said Reynolds, who attends Birmingham’s Huffman High School. The most valuable lesson, he said, is that “there’s always good ways to make money without doing nothing illegal.”

Seconding that was another student, Malik Thirkill. Completing his high school diploma and eventually obtaining his CDL Certificate, Thirkill, 17, said the program opened his eyes to possibility. “It took me a minute to realize Mr. Ingram was actually trying to help me,” he said. “Now I can imagine myself “obtaining my CDL — it’s something I really want to do,” he said.

After the plumbing fundamentals, Thirkill said the program isn’t all about techniques but about concern. “They make sure you’re okay and headed in the right direction. They’ve been in my life since fifth grade.”

In the future, Ingram hopes LegacyWorks expands beyond Birmingham. With a volunteer pool and recent fundraising to hire staff, the organization will grow its trades program and eventually have its model replicated throughout Alabama. “On a Saturday like this, I want to see multiple sites across the city where young men are learning different trades or on the path to higher education,” Ingram said.

For LegacyWorks’ students, it is more than an academic program — it’s a lifeline. As Reynolds succinctly put it in one word: “Great.”

AL.com’s Alaina Bookman contributed to this post.

For more visit www.legacyworksbham.com

LegacyWorks founder Terrence Ingram, front row, third from right, with students and instructors at a work site in Hoover. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

 

 

Yolanda Lawson, Pleasant Grove, AL’s First Black Woman Mayor, On Serving in Her Community

By
Birmingham Times
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Pleasant Grove elected Yolanda Lawson for mayor, the first Black woman to hold the seat. (Alaina Bookman, Al.com)

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com

Yolanda Lawson made history as the first Black woman elected as mayor of Pleasant Grove, a small Alabama city that has seen massive changes.

Pleasant Grove has faced down a tornado, a historic lawsuit challenging the election system and afterward, a transformation in leadership roles in the city. Lawson, who is an attorney and former councilor, said she has a plan to continue moving the city forward.

“This is not about color for me. This is not about gender for me. This is about being a leader who is willing to have a conversation, listen and understand,” Lawson said.

“Those are the things that I want to bring to the table.”

Her Story

Lawson was born and raised in Greenville, about 50 miles south of Montgomery.

After graduating from Greenville High School, she earned her bachelor’s in accounting from Alabama A&M in 1993.

She moved to Pleasant Grove in 2000 where she began to grow her family of six.

From 2004 to 2011, she worked as a tax compliance auditor for the city of Birmingham and in 2009 earned her law degree from Miles College.

While studying for the bar, Lawson earned her master’s in law with a specialty in taxation.

“All of that led me to start to serve in our community. I didn’t feel that I had anyone that was relating to me or hearing my issues or concerns, and so I felt that I could be a part of the solution,” she said.

So she began participating in local booster programs, boards and associations.

In 2016, Lawson threw her hat in the ring for a city council seat, but was unsuccessful. “I was bringing my knowledge and skills to the table, but I didn’t really have a clear concept of how to marry that to our community needs,” Lawson said.

Despite the election results, she continued serving her community by getting to know more about the needs of her neighbors.

“It was an opportunity for me to learn from some citizens that chose to engage with me,” Lawson said. “It expanded my ability to serve in our community.”

From that point, Lawson leaned into community efforts. In 2018, her family started a nonprofit giving scholarships to high school students and youth programming. She is now the chair of the Lawson Family Foundation.

From 2018 to 2022, she served on the Continental Societies board, helping Black girls receive educational resources. From 2019 to 2021, Lawson was president of the neighborhood association.

She currently serves on the Delta Sigma Theta political action committee, focused on getting people registered and, they hope, excited to vote. “It gave me that exposure and that working knowledge that I needed,” she said.

In 2020, Lawson, who is married to Jefferson County Attorney Theo Lawson, became one of the first Black members elected to the Pleasant Grove city council in which she directed ARPA funds to schools, hosted free events for residents and facilitated clean ups around the city.

As mayor, Lawson said she wants to continue being a listening ear and a person of action for all her constituents. “Those things are the things that are driving me through this process,” Lawson said.

Pleasant Grove

In 2011, Pleasant Grove was hit with a devastating tornado.

While leaders and community members worked to rebuild and revitalize, vacant lots and overgrowth remained a persistent problem, alongside pressing political issues.

In 2018, Eric Calhoun, a current councilor, sued the city for maintaining an election system that he said was diluting the strength of Black voters. That federal lawsuit targeted the city’s at-large election method, which Calhoun contended violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund attorney Deuel Ross, who filed the suit on behalf of Calhoun, said the city had managed to maintain a majority-white stronghold until the early 2000s, mostly due to a “very long and egregious history of racial discrimination.”

In 2019, Pleasant Grove settled with the plaintiffs. The city still uses the at-large voting method, but switched to cumulative voting, which allows residents to vote for multiple candidates. This led to a historic change, when in 2020, Pleasant Grove elected three Black city councilors after having never elected a person of color.

Lawson was one of those groundbreaking councilors. Since then she said, she has worked with leadership and community members to leave the city better than when she came. “We are a close-knit community. We are very quaint. We’re like a big family,” Lawson said.

“We have the ability to grow economically, to bring things to our city that are going to be great resources right here at home, without losing that small hometown feel,” Lawson said.

Her Plan

Today, Lawson is continuing her work to push the city forward as mayor. “We know the problems. Now what are the solutions … I want us to be forward-moving, forward-thinking,” Lawson said.

On the outskirts of the city, there is unused property that Lawson said she would like to turn into a commercial district. “I want to create an attractive city that continues to bring people back at a higher rate,” She said.

Her dream is for the city to be clean, walkable and well-lit, with lots of green space. A place that “feels like a hug.”

“We would definitely work with our neighbors to find out what’s beneficial to our area. What are we looking for? Let’s get some feedback. Let’s get some buy-in,” Lawson said.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, another problem struck Pleasant Grove: school enrollment and grade averages dropped. Lawson said she plans to fix that.

“We want to get kids back and expand our schools,” she said.

During her time on the council, Lawson championed support initiatives to help improve student outcomes. That support helped to increase grade averages across Pleasant Grove.

“A lot of our support that I championed to get resources to our school have helped support our school,” Lawson said. “Now we’re in a position to apply for additional funding.”

Lawson said she also wants to cultivate partnerships between neighboring cities to improve public safety and infrastructure.

She recently applied for a $700,000 grant with U.S. Rep. Terry Sewell for infrastructure improvements. “I’m excited about those partnerships that we may be able to do” Lawson said. “Together we can do more.”

Above all, Lawson said she wants Pleasant Grove residents to feel heard and ensure communication between residents and the local leadership is clear.

She plans to create an online system that tracks the progress of the city’s response to an issue and to regularly update the city’s website to keep residents well-informed.

“I want to make sure that my administration is a team that openly communicates and definitely follows up on these issues and concerns.”

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Talladega SuperSpeedway. The track hosts its 21st consecutive playoff race this weekend. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

ENJOY THIS WEATHER!! Have Fun at Talladega Superspeedway races!! 

TODAY, OCTOBER 16…

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

**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.

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

**AUTECHRE with MARK BROOM at Saturn.

**THE THING with FEATHERS with CRUMBSNATCHERS at The Nick.

**THE BAND CAMINO – THE NEVER ALWAYS TOUR w/ALMOST MONDAY at Avondale Brewing Co.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 5 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd, 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, each week with Karaoke at 8 p.m., Spin to Win ‘til 9 p.m. and Happy Hour ‘til 9 p.m. with Sounds by DJ SLUGGA and hosted by JIRUS HORTON at Tee’s on 2nd.  FREE Entry all night.

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

**JOSE CARR EVERY THURSDAY, 5-7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, at 1631 4th Avenue North.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2nd 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, OCTOBER 17…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**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.

**DISCENTIVE, TOWERING ABOVE, MALIBU BARBABE and LEO LOVECHILD at The Nick.

**FREE – DANCING ON THE DEAD – AN ALL HALLOWS GOTH NIGHT at Saturn.

**YUNGEEN ACE – THE I AM WHAT THEY DON’T SEE TOUR at Iron City.

**ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES: BIRMINGHAM 15th ANNIVERSARY PARTY w/ Special Guest: BILLIE ALLEN + THE POLLIES at Avondale Brewing Co.

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18…

**BOUND TOGETHER: DAY OF COMMUNITY, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute with live performances, family activities, art workshops and panel discussion. There is an exhibition titled Bound Together: Threads of Remembrance. FREE.

**MEN OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, ALPHA PHI CHAPTER hosting a BLOCK PARTY AND TAILGATE, 6-11 p.m. outside at City Walk. There will be an Outdoor Bar operated by City Walk. There is an inside Uptown Jazzi’s Lounge (VIP) with Live R&B Performances, D. SMOOTH – THE VOICE FINALIST.  There is a full band with CHRISETTE MICHELLE’s Musical Director DEE HILL at City Walk and Uptown Jazz Club.

**FAMILY BOO BASH with LA LA LIBRARIAN at Saturn.

**HOT IN HERRE: 2000s DANCE PARTY at Saturn.

**THE ALABAMA HEATHENS with LOVE RAT at the Nick.

**LATE NIGHT with ROYAL & TOULOUSE at The Nick.

**REWIND: THE ULTIMATE 2000s NIGHT at Saturn.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19…

**HARVEST ON HOYT, 4-8 p.m. for Mountain Brook’s most anticipated evening on Hoyt Lane in Crestline Village. Hoyts Lane will turn into a long community table under the lights where guests can gather for an unforgettable supper featuring a four-course dinner by Dyron’s Lowcountry, Finch Fine Wines pairings and drinks and live music. The proceeds benefit the Leadership Mountain Brook Class. Happy Hour is 4-5 p.m.

**TINY DESK: THE BEST OF ALABAMA at Saturn.

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**AVONDALE VINTAGE MARKET, Noon – 6 p.m. at Avondale Brewing Co.

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

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

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

**SUNDAY FREE SHOW with KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick.

**ANDREW VINSON RUSS FORSTALL, CHEYLOE & HER SLEEPLESS KNIGHTS & UNDEFEATED at The Nick.

**BENNIE MAC N NEM with I BRANG U THE FUNNY 4 A LIL MONEY at the StarDome Comedy Club.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20…

 **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 with Special Appearance by BOBCAT at The Nick.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21…

**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.

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

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

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

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

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE LATE NIGHT TUESDAYS at The Nick.

**FREE – JOHN ANDREWS OF THE YAWNS with SAM & THE BIG BOYS, BITTER CALM, SLINE at Saturn.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22…

**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.

**PARENTING WITH PURPOSE – A SPACE- Informed Workshop for Parents, 5:30-7 p.m. at N.E. Miles Jewish Day School Register by October 17. Call 205-278-7101 for more.

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

**OPEN DECK with SUNDROP EVERY WEDNESDAY at The Nick.

**HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS – FREE at Saturn.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23…

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

**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.

**AAF October Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the AmFirst Community Room on 4th Avenue North. Speak is WAYNE REID, Executive Director of Alabama Public Television. Register at www.aafbham.org.

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

**FREE – GOLPE, SIKM, REFUSE TO THRIVE, BORN & ACUTE EFFECT with SKLKM, REFUSE TO THRIVE, BORN, ACUTE EFFECT at Saturn.

**NIGHT 1: DAIKAIJU with TV COP at The Nick.

**COMEDIENNE EUNICE ELLIOT at the StarDome Comedy Club.

 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24….

**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.

**NIGHT 2: DAIKAIJU with MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT at The Nick “A NIGHT OF HORROR – AN IMMERSIVE BURLESQUE AND VARIETY EXPERIENCE.”

**COMEDIAN ARNEZ J at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**SCARE YOUR FACE OFF FEST XV BY DIY BIRMINGHAM at Saturn.

**JOHNNYSWIM – THE WHEN THE WAR IS OVER TOUR at Iron City.

**ROCKY HORROR MASQUERADE BALL at Avondale Brewing Co.

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

**JEFFERSON COUNTY PRO SE DAY is October 20, 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the downtown Jefferson County Courthouse. This is a special event designed to assist individuals who are representing themselves in legal matters such as in probate, guardianship, or other court-related processes.  The day is dedicated to providing guidance and support. For more, call 205-325-5420 in Probate (Birmingham) and 205-481-4100 (Bessemer), Go to Facebook: JeffCoProbateBham or JeffCoProbateBessemer. The website is: jeffcoprobatecourt.com.

THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER...

…This includes some things that can be done while the weather is not too wet, too hot, or not too cold around the southeast, especially if you want to get away for a weekend or day trip and enjoy something new, different, music, some good food or just the ride and sightseeing.

FOR MOTORSPORTS LOVERS…

**TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES THIS WEEKEND…What’s Happening at Talladega Superspeedway?  Well, all three NASCAR National Series regroup for the final superspeedway race of 2025 season for Talladega Superspeedway’s first Round of Eight Playoff race weekend. FRIDAY – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series LOVE’S RV STOP 225 is 4 p.m. with the Qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ON SATURDAY – NASCAR Xfinity Series UNITED RENTALS 250 is 4 p.m. with Qualifying at 11:30 – 1 p.m. and Cup Series Qualifying at 1:30 – 3 p.m. AND SUNDAY – NASCAR CUP SERIES YELLAWOOD 500 is 2 p.m. THEN, look for the NASCAR RACING EXPERIENCE on October 25, November 1 and December 6.  Talladega is NASCAR’s second oldest superspeedway and one of three drafting tracks. Known for its chaos since 1969, the 2.66-mile oval has produced finishes with cars all torn up as well as unlikely winners and iconic winners. There will be a 40-car field on Sunday!!The track hosts its 21st consecutive playoff race. You do not want to miss this Sunday’s Race!

MORE NEWS … MR. GRANT LYNCH passed recently and will surely be missed at the races, this weekend.  THIS IS MORE THAN A RACE!! THIS IS TALLADEGA!!

 COMING IN NOVEMBER…FROM BIRMINGHAM TO MONTGOMERY…

**NOVEMBER 5 – BLACK HISTORY BUS TOUR OF MONTGOMERY with Lunch and private dining at Martha’s Restaurant. Depart at 8 a.m. – Return at 5 p.m. Get on this bus tour for a Day of History, Culture and Fellowship at City Hall Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Award Winning Dr. Richard Bailey and more. It is senior-friendly and handicap accessible on a comfortable 54-seat charter bus. Call (205) 595-8156 for 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

Breezy Bowl XX Did More Than Sell Out Birmingham’s Protective Stadium     

By
Birmingham Times
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I have been highlighting areas in which this community can step up in my series, Birmingham, We Can Do Better. And as I have pointed out some losses we have suffered recently, I can surely point out some wins, too.

I must say we did an amazing job supporting and peacefully enjoying one of the biggest concerts to hit the Magic City in a while – R & B sensation Chris Brown. Rave reviews were posted all over social media, and have a conversation with anyone about his show, and you’ll learn it was beyond their wildest expectations.

His playlist and live vocals were legendary. His choreography was impeccable. And the visual effects during the show were sensational. Birmingham witnessed a young artist in his prime carve out more notches on the belt of his musical legacy – in live action.

Breezy Bowl wrapped up to exceptional reviews and although I didn’t attend, I thoroughly enjoyed social media highlights and stories that recounted his larger-than-life presence. (And don’t tell anyone, but I even caught myself dancing at home to a few of his popular hits.) But perhaps more importantly, this city stepped up and I couldn’t be more proud of you, Birmingham.

The BJCC expanded its parking and transportation plan for Chris Brown: Breezy Bowl XX. (Provided)

Couples and singles came out to represent. The stadium was filled with good music, good vibes and good fellowship. And when it was over, the night went on went with no incidents. So as result, we are rightfully discussing the event and basking in the afterglow of an historic, sold out performance. That lets me know that when we want better, we will do better.

Chris Brown not only provided this city with an amazing entertainment option, but mostly, he provided a vision of a reimagined Birmingham that can receive, support and appreciate high-quality entertainers who bring their artistry to our community. What lessons there are to be taken away from this.

So, while I celebrate you Birmingham, let’s remember aim to apply this unity and peacefulness to not just on high stakes events each day that we enjoy our family, friends and loved ones.

We all have the same goal – to live life to the fullest and squeeze as much enjoyment out of it as we can along the way.

No doubt there were some hiccups on the night of the Chris Brown concert but not enough to dampen a wonderful concert. May that vision of global entertainment inspire us on all levels and help us to continue to be better.

A special shout out, too, to our city leaders and law enforcement for exceptional execution. Well, done Birmingham.  Well done. I still believe in your magic, Magic City.

“There were over 100 listening sessions held with community members about what they wanted to see. That’s the secret sauce. The community built it.”

By
Birmingham Times
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CAMILLE SPRATLING, RAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ON THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARK AND AN UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY; BHAMNOW, OCT. 13.

Birmingham City Council Approves $1 Million for Schools to Provide Mental Health Support

By
Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved $1 million in funding to provide mental health support on school campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Times staff report

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved $1 million in funding for the Birmingham Board of Education to provide mental health support on school campuses, via licensed counselors and consulting services, to help students dealing with issues.

The program also includes support for school personnel, for early identification of students in crisis, and training of school staff in mental health‑related techniques (e.g. communication, relational skills) to allow earlier intervention.

Councilor Crystal Smitherman

“Students are dealing with a lot more issues than what we’ve seen in the past, especially when it comes to social media and cyber bullying,” said Councilor Crystal Smitherman said. “It’s critical that we provide them with resources and with trained professionals to talk about what they’re going through. This is an issue that I believe we need to be investing in as much as possible so we can ensure that our students have the tools they need to be resilient, confident and prepared for the next chapters of their lives outside of school.”

In the 2024‑2025 U.S. school year, public schools reported that on average about 18 percent of students utilize school‑based mental health services according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Students who participated in school‑based mental health services showed lower suspension rates and higher math achievement scores.

“In Birmingham City Schools, we focus on equipping all scholars for success,” Superintendent Mark Sullivan, Ed.D. has said. “In our current post-COVID environment, this means we must meet the needs of the total child.

D’Angelo Dead at 51: Grammy-Winning Soul Music Icon Passes After Cancer Battle

By
Birmingham Times
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D'Angelo performs at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans in this July 6, 2012, photo. (Cheryl Gerber/Invision/ Associated Press)

BY JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. | Associated Press

D’Angelo, the singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died Tuesday after a long bout with cancer, his family said in a statement.

It called him “a shining star of our family and has dimmed his light for us in this life,” adding that they are “eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”

In his music, D’Angelo blended hip-hop grit, emphatic soul and gospel-rooted emotion into a sound that helped spearhead the neo-soul movement of the 1990s. Earlier this year, the Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album “Brown Sugar,” a platinum-selling offering that produced signature hits like “Lady” and the title track. The 1995 album earned him multiple Grammy nominations and cemented him as one of R&B’s most original new voices.

D’Angelo’s sultry vocal style — a mix of raspy texture and church-bred fluidity — set him apart from his peers. That voice became inseparable from the striking visuals of his 2000 single “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” The minimalist, shirtless music video became a cultural touchstone, igniting conversations around artistry, sexuality and vulnerability in Black male representation. The song earned him a Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance and propelled his sophomore album “Voodoo.” topping the Billboard 200 chart and winning the Grammy for best R&B album.

“I remember hearing your music for the first time… I said to myself damn whoever this is they are anointed,” Jaime Foxx said on social media. “Then when I finally got a chance to see you… Like everyone when they saw the most incredible music video of our time… I was blown away… I thought to myself I have to see this person in concert… I had my chance to see you at the house of blues… You came out and got right down to business… Your voice was silky and flawless… I was graciously envious of your style and your swag…”

Beyond his own catalog, D’Angelo’s artistry shined in collaborations. He memorably duetted with Lauryn Hill on the soulful ballad “Nothing Even Matters,” a highlight of her landmark 1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” He also contributed to The Roots’ 1996 album “Illadelph Halflife” and was part of the supergroup Black Men United, which yielded one song: “U Will Know,” which D’Angelo wrote and co-produced, for the film “Jason’s Lyric” in 1994.

Years before stepping back from public view, D’Angelo’s life and music were closely intertwined with Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone in the ’90s. The pair met while he was finishing “Brown Sugar” and bonded over their shared Southern roots and deep church upbringing. Stone contributed to the album and later collaborated with him on “Everyday,” a song from her 1999 debut album, “Black Diamond.”

Stone once described D’Angelo as her “musical soul mate,” to The Associated Press in 1999, adding that their working relationship was “’like milk and cereal …. Musically, it was magic. It’s something that I have not been able to do with any other producer or musician.” They had a son together, the artist Swayvo Twain, born Michael Archer Jr.

Stone died earlier this year in a car crash. She was 63.

D’Angelo also has a daughter, Imani Archer, who is also a music artist.

In the years that followed, D’Angelo’s life became as defined by absence as by acclaim. After “Voodoo,” he withdrew from the spotlight for more than a decade, fueling speculation about personal struggles and creative battles. His long-awaited return came in 2014 with “Black Messiah,” credited to D’Angelo and The Vanguard. The urgent and politically charged album that arrived amid nationwide protests and helped usher in a wave of activist music responding to police killings of Black Americans and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and won him a Grammy for best R&B album, reaffirming his stature as a generational voice. Its standout single, “Really Love,” earned him another Grammy for best R&B song and earned a nomination for record of the year.

In May, D’Angelo withdrew from being a headliner for the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia due to “an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery (he) had earlier this year,” the artists shared in a statement. D’Angelo said he was advised the performance “could further complicate matters.”

Beyond his biggest singles, D’Angelo’s catalog includes fan favorites like “Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine,” “Cruisin’” and “Devil’s Pie.” His influence stretched far beyond the charts: he inspired a wave of artists including Maxwell, Alicia Keys and Frank Ocean.

AP Music Writer Maria Sherman contributed to this story.

[He] Got Down on One Knee and Said, ‘Will You Be My Wife?’ … I Was in Awe. It was Total Happiness’

By
Birmingham Times
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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

BERNITA & RODNEY FRANKLIN

Live: Hueytown

Married: Dec. 27, 2014

Met: July 2008, at UAB Hospital, where Bernita was working as a unit secretary, and Rodney as a physical therapy assistant in the Gastrointestinal Surgery nursing unit.  However, it wasn’t until September 2008 that they crossed paths.

“Me and my coworker were called to the unit to see some patients and my coworker, who was like a mother to me, said ‘Rod, don’t look, but that secretary is checking you out’,” Rodney recalled. “I looked anyway and caught Bernita looking at me and I thought she was very attractive. So later that evening, I made my move.”

“He called the unit and asked for me and when I got on the phone, he said, ‘This is Rodney, the cute therapist’, Bernita laughed. From there, the two exchanged numbers.

First date: October 2008, at Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 280. Bernita was just getting off work when they decided to meet at her cousin Chiquita’s place on the Southside. Rodney recalled that it was nearly midnight when they met up.

“I wanted someone to meet who I was going out with before I got in the car with him and Chiquita’s apartment was close to where I worked, so we met there,” Bernita said. “I parked my car, he met my cousin, and I got in the car with him.”

“We ordered some wings and fries and sat around and talked; we were there until they closed at 2 a.m.” Rodney said, “we didn’t really want to leave.”

“It must’ve been love at first date because I had just worked an eight-hour shift and was there til 2 a.m., and still didn’t wanna leave,” Bernita laughed. “It was all uphill from there,” said Rodney.

The turn: Nov. 20, 2008, at Rodney’s father’s house in Hueytown. The two were sitting in Bernita’s car listening to music. “He was playing ‘Love Brings Changes‘ by Jamie Foxx, and he looked at me and said, ‘I love you’, and I was shocked, but I didn’t say it back,” Bernita laughed. “I wanted to, but I didn’t.”

“She was so nervous her legs was shaking,” Rodney laughed. “I could tell she wanted to say it back, but that didn’t matter … I know what we were feeling in the moment and I kissed her, and she kissed me back, and I asked her would she be mine.”

“That’s the night we fell in love. And we knew it was real when we both changed our phone numbers to cut off [exes and other entanglements],” Bernita said.

Bernita and Rodney Franklin met in July 2008 at UAB Hospital. The couple married in 2014, and have two children. (Provided)

The proposal: Dec. 28, 2012, at Mugshot’s in Vestavia Hills. In previous weeks, Rodney had gotten her mother and father’s blessing on having her hand in marriage.

“It was a cold rainy day, and we were outside on the patio at Mugshots, and everybody was there from friends to coworkers and family. And I made an announcement that I had a new job proposal and was going to be moving to Florida, and Bernita had the biggest attitude,” Rodney said. “She interrupted my speech and said ‘you ain’t tell me none of that’, [and I continued] and said, ‘I want you to be a part of my job journey as my wife’ and she started tearing up,” Rodney said. “My brother passed me the ring and I got down on one knee and said ‘Bernita, will you be my wife?’, and she said ‘yes’. And after she hugged me for 10 minutes straight, when she finally let me go, I told her ‘we ain’t going nowhere, I just wanted to get you worked up,’ and she slapped me on my head.”

“I was in awe. I was speechless and overjoyed. It was total happiness,” said Bernita.

The wedding: At First Baptist Church of Ensley, officiated by Reverend Bruce Henderson Sr., of Shiloh Baptist Church, in Brighton. Their colors were turquoise, black, ivory, and silver.

Most memorable for the bride was being unable to contain her emotions as she walked down the aisle. “…I was looking so pretty but had the ugliest cry on my face,” Bernita laughed. “I was so full inside and I was trying to hold back the cry, but it just came out so ugly. And when I looked back at the video I was like ‘why didn’t nobody tell me I was looking like this crying coming down the aisle?’”

Most memorable for the groom was trying to take the mental focus off his aching bones. “While I’m standing there, I was thinking, if they don’t hurry up and get my wife out here I’m gone [lose it], because my knees and my feet were killing me. But finally, she came down the aisle, and I was like ‘it’s showtime.’ Also, we were an hour late to our reception because our limo driver forgot to come pick us up.”

“His [the limo driver] only job was to be at the church at the end of the wedding waiting for us to come outside and take us to the reception and no one showed,” Bernita added. “We had to call the company and the owner had to get up out of his bed and come pick us up and take us. Our order wasn’t placed right, and their books had no knowledge of our wedding. By the time we got there, we had missed the whole hors d’oeuvres hour, I didn’t get to do my father daughter dance, and me and Rodney had to go right into our first dance.”

Words of wisdom: “Number one, communication. Two, prayer, and three, continue dating,” Bernita said. “When you continue dating, you continue to assure one another of your satisfaction with each other. When you’re on dates, you look nice, you’re lovey dovey, it’s like you take it back to the dating stage and you’re complimenting one another. That’s important.”

“You don’t have to do it every day but have frequent check-ins with each other to ask what things you need to work on to do better, and [ask] where you’re making improvements,” Rodney said. “Talk to each other, not at each other. And be honest so you can grow. And yes– give daily compliments because if you don’t, you better know that someone else will.”

Happily ever after: The Franklin’s attend Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Ensley, where Rodney serves as a Deacon, and Bernita as a Deaconess and the praise team. They have two children, Rodney Franklin III, 8, and Ryleigh, 3.

Bernita, 41, is a Pratt City native, and Ensley Magnet High School grad. She attended Alabama State University where she studied social work, and has worked for UAB Hospital as an office service specialist for the last 18 years.

Rodney, 40, is Birmingham [Brighton] native, and Pleasant Grove High School grad. He attended Jefferson State Community College where he earned an associate’s degree in applied science, and works for UAB Hospital as a licensed physical therapy assistant. Rodney also works as a CPR instructor, facilitating classes at local churches, rec centers, and other organizations.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

On 15th Anniversary, ‘Birmingham’s Front Lawn’ Comes to Life in New Documentary

By
Birmingham Times
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Known as “Birmingham’s Front Lawn,” Railroad Park has brought the community together and helped catalyze Birmingham’s revitalization. (File)

By Grace Howard | bhamnow.com

If you’ve ever watched a sunset over the Birmingham skyline from the green slopes of Railroad Park you know the feeling of a place where joggers, students, families and a diverse ecosystem of wildlife all share the same open air. This year, as the park celebrates its 15th anniversary, a team of Birmingham women is telling the story behind the space that changed everything for the Magic City.

Their new documentary, “Birmingham’s Front Lawn: 15 Years of Railroad Park,” premieres October 16 at the Lyric Theatre. Produced by filmmaker and educator Michele Forman, community leader Ginger Jefferson and cinematographer Marika Gray Taylor, the film captures how an underutilized industrial corridor became one of the city’s most transformative civic spaces.

Bham Now sat down with the team behind this film to learn more about the history and impact of Railroad Park and what makes “Birmingham’s Front Lawn” a must-see.

Swampy Land

It’s hard to imagine now, but before Railroad Park opened in 2010, the blocks between the railroad tracks and UAB were a stretch of swampy land beneath the skyline, scattered with abandoned railcars and warehouses.

Designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Tom Leader in partnership with local firm Macknally Land Design, Railroad Park was built to reflect Birmingham, honoring its industrial roots while embracing its natural beauty and future potential.

Leader’s design mirrors the city’s topography, with rolling lawns, ponds and gardens representing the hills and valleys of central Alabama. Subtle steel details echo Birmingham’s industrial heritage, while native plantings invite wildlife back into the city’s core. In fact, over 120 bird species have been documented in Railroad Park according to Alabama Audubon.

“Tom wanted it to feel like a series of rooms: open and inspiring but also welcoming. There are some very subtle things, like the old tracks that are reminiscent of the railroad, while not taking away from the fact that there’s a live railroad right there,” said Camille Spratling, Executive Director of Railroad Park Foundation. “The industrial look also hearkens to Sloss Furnaces and other pieces of our history that are a part of how Birmingham came to be. It serves as a microcosm of Birmingham in many ways.”

Renee Kemp-Rotan, Director Capital Projects Mayor’s Office at City of Birmingham, CEO, studiorotan, former Director of Capital Projects. (Ginger Jefferson, Provided)

“Everybody Played A Part”

The story of Railroad Park didn’t happen overnight. Its roots stretch back to the 1970s, when local residents and city leaders began to imagine how to transform a stretch of unused rail land into something that could bring people together.

“There were hundreds of people involved over decades. It crossed mayoral administrations, involved city planners, private citizens, foundations, corporations and an incredible group called Friends of the Railroad Reservation District (FoRRd). Everyone played a part,” said Spratling.

That collaborative spirit—and the patience to see it through—became the soul of the park.

“There were over 100 listening sessions held with community members about what they wanted to see. That’s the secret sauce. The community built it,” said the Railroad Park Foundation executive director.

The park now welcomes roughly half a million visitors every year, serving as a backdrop for everything from yoga classes and concerts to first dates and even engagements.

Beyond the environmental benefits, the park’s economic impact has been equally impressive. A study from Georgia Tech found that Railroad Park has spurred more than half a billion dollars in private investment, serving as the spark for developments like Regions Field and the surrounding Parkside district.

As Camille put it, “Railroad Park was the first domino. Everything else followed.”

Like the park itself, the creation of “Birmingham’s Front Lawn: 15 Years of Railroad Park” was long in the making for director Michele Forman.

“My connection goes back to a student film about graffiti and the railroad corridor in 2004,” said Michele Forman, Director and Co-producer. “The designer of the park, Tom Leader, saw it and reached out. That creative connection between a student’s film and the park’s designer was kind of the spark that started it all.”

Community Persistence

Years later, as the 15th anniversary approached, Forman teamed up with Jefferson and cinematographer Marika Gray Taylor to tell the park’s story through film. Together, they created a visually rich, emotionally resonant documentary look at how a community’s persistence reshaped its city.

The film isn’t just a retrospective; it’s a celebration of collective action, creative vision and the idea that public spaces belong to everyone.

“There were people who told the design team during those early community meetings that they had never been across the railroad tracks,” said Ginger Jefferson, Co-producer. “That’s what this park has done. It’s connected communities.”

Forman’s collaborator and cinematographer, Marika Gray Taylor, describes it simply: “Our goal was to make it immersive—to help you feel what you feel in the park. The joy, the community, the togetherness.”

Following the film, there will be a panel discussion with key leaders involved with Railroad Park’s inception. Panel members include:

  • Spratling
  • Architect Tom Leader
  • Bill Gilchrist, former director of the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits for the City of Birmingham, currently with the City of Oakland, CA
  • Renee Kemp-Rotan, former Director Capital Projects Mayor’s Office at City of Birmingham, currently CEO studiorotan
  • Deontée Gordon, Founding Junior Board Member and former Board Member of Railroad Park Foundation, currently CEO, Tech Birmingham

What: Birmingham’s Front Lawn: 15 Years of Railroad Park Where: Lyric Theatre, Birmingham 1800 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 When: Wednesday, October 16 Doors open 5 p.m. Film begins 5:30 p.m. Panel discussion 6:25 p.m.  Buy your ticket here. 

Coca-Cola UNITED Donates Van to Community Kitchens of Birmingham

By
Birmingham Times
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Kimberly M. Speights, executive director of The Community Kitchens of Birmingham, recently accepted the donation of a van from Coca-Cola UNITED. The organization serves more than 44,000 meals annually to individuals and families in need. (Provided)

cocacolaunited.com

Coca-Cola UNITED recently donated a van to The Community Kitchens of Birmingham, a nonprofit dedicated to providing healthy, delicious meals to those who are hungry.

Founded in 1981, Community Kitchens operates in Birmingham’s Southside and provides meal delivery in Woodlawn, Kingston and East Birmingham. Each year, the organization serves more than 44,000 meals to individuals and families in need.

With the addition of the van, Community Kitchens will strengthen its impact across Birmingham neighborhoods.

“We are deeply grateful to Coca-Cola UNITED for their generous donation of a van to our organization. This gift is more than just a vehicle —it’s a lifeline that will allow us to reach more individuals and families in need, delivering meals and hope directly to those who need it most,” said Community Kitchens Executive Director Kimberly M. Speights. “Their support strengthens our mission and reminds us that when businesses and communities come together, we can make a real difference.”

“Community Kitchens of Birmingham has been a source of nourishment and hope in our city for decades,” said Coca-Cola UNITED Corporate Community Relations Manager Christy Danzy. “At Coca-Cola UNITED, we believe in uplifting organizations that are making a real difference in people’s lives.”

Applications Now Open for 2026 Coca-Cola UNITED Pay It Forward Student Internship Program

Online applications are now open for Coca-Cola UNITED’s 2026 Pay It Forward Student Internship Program. The eight-week program, set for June 1 through July 24, 2026, immerses students in the daily operations of one of the nation’s largest Coca-Cola bottlers. Applications are open through Nov. 1, 2025.

Interns will gain insight into Coca-Cola UNITED’s business by collaborating with various teams, providing them with a well-rounded understanding of the company’s operations and culture. In addition to networking with associates across the company, interns will benefit from mentorship and professional development opportunities that help build valuable career skills.

For more information, eligibility requirements and to apply online, click here.

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