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How Women Under Construction Provides the Tools to Build a Better Birmingham

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Birmingham Times
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Entrepreneur Shellie Layne, fifth from left, founded the WUCN in 2014, and it became an established 501(c)(3) organization in March 2015. The group, which is approaching its 10th anniversary, has grown along with the hundreds of women it has helped. (Amarr Croskey, For the Birmingham Times)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

As both a volunteer and participant with the Birmingham-based Women Under Construction Network (WUCN), Elaine Porter, a retiree who lives in Pleasant Grove, Alabama, spends a lot of her free time repairing homes and lives.

Elaine Porter (Provided)

“I’m not physically working now, and [volunteering] is something for me to do and gives me the feeling of giving back,” said Porter, 64, who adds that the group also provides a sense of community.

“The women there are just like me,” she said. “They have something they need and something they can give. … As I give, I receive also. It’s the support and spiritual uplifting that I get from them.”

Entrepreneur Shellie Layne founded the WUCN in 2014, and it became an established 501(c)(3) organization in March 2015. The group, which celebrates its 10th anniversary founding this year, has grown along with the hundreds of women it has helped.

The WUCN has launched more than 10 community projects, most of which are in conjunction with city government initiatives, organizations, and businesses, mental health professionals, financial advisors, general contractors, and volunteers who all believe in giving back and servicing human needs.

Changing Lives

Layne often recalls testimonies of those like Porter and others during the group’s programs and projects, but there’s one that stands out and can summarize what her group does.

The woman had been following along with WUCN through Facebook and decided to visit a Saturday morning class at the Memorial Park Recreation Center in Birmingham, Layne said.

“This particular woman had never come to one of our events before, and the motivational nugget for that day was about seeing things a different way in your life. … She ended up winning one of the prizes, and when we asked her to come up and [claim her prize] she broke down in tears. She said, ‘You all have no idea what it means for me to be here today. I have no family here. I don’t have any assistance here. … When I got here, I felt like I was broken, but [being here makes me] feel like I’m part of something and that there is hope for me because before this I felt like I was suicidal.’”

“That’s where the WUCN has come into the lives of many families, said Layne.

“Not only is it a hands-on experience, but you’re fixing some things in your life and thinking about things you’ve never thought about,” she said. “You get a lot of clarity with this program. …. And while you’re learning these physical things and life parallels, there’s a component with this program that teaches you the love of God, a love for yourself, and how to address some things in your life.”

Porter, for instance, volunteers mostly with the REPAIR Angels—REPAIR is an acronym for Rebuilding Elderly Pride to Achieve Independence and Restoration– [and Angels] are the Contractors, Trade Professionals and Apprentices who perform the home repairs.

And the WUCN has also had an impact on Porter her and her family. Her aunt was among the elderly recipients who were surprised with Christmas caroling and gifts during the REPAIR Angels’ holiday outreach in December 2023.

“We came through on the big, orange city buses, we had on our angel wings and our halos, … and we brought gifts for 60 elderly women. It was awesome,” she said. “The Angels really blessed [my aunt]. Not only did the gifts and things they gave her bless her, but it also blessed her heart and got her through the depressive slump she was in. … My aunt is a dialysis patient [with] limited mobility, and she has experienced a lot of loss over these past two years. … At every house we [visited], you saw that glimmer of hope [because] we come in love.”

Angela McGlothan, left, and Phyllis Drake work with Women Under Construction Network to repair homes and change lives. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Home—and Life—Repair

The WUCN supports women, their children, and the elderly living in underserved communities. They use actual tools combined with corresponding life parallels to teach basic home repair and life repair techniques. They also work with contractors to perform minor home repairs for low-income elderly.

The organization’s leadership team is made up of 21, five staff members and 16 volunteers. It offers a virtual program—attended by participants from 19 states and 62 cities—that provides classes and workshops via Zoom. There are more than 1,200 subscribers to its monthly “What’s Happening” newsletter. Its Building Hope: 21 Days of Kindness program draws 200-plus volunteers. And there are hundreds of participants across the WUCN’s vast programming.

One of the organization’s signature programs is the What I Learned at Home (WILAH) Project, which is now a collaborative effort with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD). It was one of the WUCN’s first initiatives.

“[The WILAH Project] was based on my life because I had become a divorced single mom,” said Layne. “Now that we’ve expanded to the HABD, where the majority of women [living in the housing communities] are low-income single mothers, the program caters to them.”

A key person in this collaboration is Jacqueline French, HABD director of workforce development, who was part of the 10-week WILAH Project pilot launch in 2017. She immediately saw how a partnership between the two organizations would benefit the community.

French helped to build the bridge that connects public housing residents with the WILAH Project, which is designed to foster self-esteem and self-efficacy using physical tools for home repair with metaphoric tools that help them perform life repairs.

She gave an example: “One week, we may have introduced how to use a hammer. Once we learned how to use a hammer, we learned a life parable that we could use as a hammer to fix our life and DIY projects.”

French added that she knows the benefits of the program first-hand.

“When I first started [with the WILAH Project], we learned how to splice wires,” she recalled. “One night [after that session], … I washed my hair, went to get my hair dryer, and [noticed that] my dog had chewed up the cord. … Right as I was about to throw [the hair dryer] away, it hit me that I had just learned how to splice wires, and I fixed it myself. I was so happy to be a part of a group that helped me save time and money. That was back in 2017, and it’s 2024—and I still have the hair dryer.”

Self-Sufficiency

The WUCN also helps public housing residents get on the path to home ownership, but only after equipping them with basic financial literacy tools.

“Sometimes you have to know the basics of things before you can get to your goals,” said Layne. “It’s almost like the principle that you can give a man a fish, but it’s so much more [beneficial] when you walk them through how to fish first.”

“We work as collaborative partners with banks to teach [residents] everything from credit repair to how to open a savings or checking account,” she added. “A good majority of women we work with have never had a checking account, and they don’t know how to write a check. The things we take for granted, many of the women we work with have never had a chance to do [those things] and are intimidated to do so. So, we bring the banks to them [to allow them to ask questions].

“Opening a checking account can be viewed as the least of their concerns, considering they are in survival mode. … We want to get them from survival to self-advocacy, and from survival to self-esteem. And then they go to homeownership if that’s their desire.”

“We then take those same tools and teach them what it means to use them in their lives. The tools help them build themselves emotionally. We build self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, but also it just helps them feel better about who they are,” Layne said.

Donzella Walton, left, and Constance Paulk work with Women Under Construction Network to repair homes and change lives. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

WUCN PROGRAMS

WUCN has several programs designed to motivate, educate, and empower women of all ages and from all backgrounds by equipping them with home- and life-repair skills. Here are some of the programs:

REPAIR Angels

Pleasant Grove resident Porter often volunteers with the REPAIR Angels, who provide safe-at-home items to assist elderly women in functioning safely within their homes, helping to minimize slips, falls, and accidents. The Angels are “contractors, trade professionals, and apprentices who perform home repairs.” The program also has Angel Companion volunteers, who call on and perform emotional wellness checkups twice a month as part of the WUCN Senior Care Calls initiative; they spend time reading, sitting, and writing letters with elderly residents, as well as doing light meal prep and performing small tasks to help them combat depression and loneliness.

Layne told the story of a 98-year-old woman helped by the REPAIR Angels: “She’s outlived four of her five children, and she lives in a high-crime area. … Through our program, we were able to put lights all around her house. We partnered with contractors and some of our women assisted. She said, ‘They lit me up like a Christmas tree, and now I feel safe in my house.’ Her quality of life was improved by the repair work the Angels were able to do for her.”

Senior Care Calls

WUCN volunteers make calls to the elderly on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. These calls reduce isolation, as well as encourage, motivate, and serve as a checkup for the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of elderly women ages 65 and older.

French said, “One of my favorite initiatives is the Senior Care Calls. We’ve been able to get more volunteers, so we can do more and have been able to get more funding—don’t get me wrong, we can always use more funding. … I believe this organization is uniting women with their families. It’s healing hurt, healing pain, bringing joy, encouragement, and hope. That’s the biggest thing. A lot of people lose hope [at some point or another]. … Sometimes women are the heads and backbones of their families, and just knowing you are not by yourself and you do have someone to talk to and help you solve some of the problems in your house is [priceless].”

YT4Life (Youth Tools for Life)

A Safe Haven Initiative with Birmingham Parks and Recreation, YT4Life is designed to teach life skills and build self-esteem and self-confidence in youth through fun activities that use tools and home repair parallels in a safe and welcoming environment. The supervised after-school program for young people, ages 5 and older, is facilitated by motivational speakers, professionals, teachers, counselors, and contractors. YT4Life sessions are at the Ensley and Central Park recreational centers on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Mom’s Toolshed

This new program is based on creating a community for moms who have children with special needs. Mom’s Toolshed provides support and creates advocacy for children from birth through grade school and up to adulthood.

Winifred Patterson oversees the WUCN’s after-school program and youth division and serves as coordinator for the YT4Life and Mom’s Toolshed initiatives. She said, “Mom’s Toolshed is definitely a passion project because I know how it feels to have guilt and not want to talk to anybody about what’s going on. … Our first event was in February, and it was very successful. Moms got to talk about some issues that they don’t get to talk about, and their kids had the opportunity to socialize. We had activities [for the children] to do outside of being there with their moms, and they got to play. It was a good beginning.”

One of the topics discussed was parents being hesitant to take their kids to birthday parties, Patterson added, “because they aren’t sure how people would respond to their children, what kinds of questions they would be asked, [or whether] people would [stare] at their children. … [Mom’s Toolshed gives mothers] the opportunity to see their kids in a gym playing, being their authentic selves, stimming—[displaying self-stimulatory behavior that may help with the management of emotions; these can include repetitive body movements or noises, such as rocking back and forth while sitting or standing or repeating words or phrases]—screaming, and all. That’s just part of who they are, and it is fine. [Having] a place for their children to be accepted and have a social life really made an impact.”

Mom’s Toolshed will meet every third Saturday of the month at the Inglenook Recreation Center, from 10 a.m. to noon. Patterson said the rec center does not operate on the weekends during the summer months, so the program will facilitate planned outings.

To learn more about the Women Under Construction Network, visit wucnetwork.org.

 

Two Sorority Sisters and a Shared Mission

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Birmingham Times
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Once upon a time, not too long ago two very confident, zealous and ambitious women set out on a path which shaped and impacted their professional and personal lives forever. Both chose two beautifully covered organizational pathways; one was covered in salmon pink and apple green while the other in emerald green. While traveling down two pathways, each chose a different journey, but their commitment to empowering others continues to unite them.

Dr. Tracey Morant-Adams, left. and Vanessa Falls. (File)

I am sure you have guessed the names of these two beautifully covered organizations. The salmon pink and apple green pathway is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated founded in 1908. The other emerald green pathway is The Links, Incorporated founded in 1946. These two sisters are Dr. Tracey Morant-Adams and Vanessa Falls.

As you are aware the articles in March have spotlighted African American women, both past and present, who have played vital roles impacting their communities. This is mutually applicable to both of these.

Morant-Adams, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, now serves as the 27th Southeastern Regional Director for the esteemed organization rich in history and legacy. The region consists of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Her theme, “The Power of Us” underscores her focus on community uplift.

Simultaneously, Falls currently serves as Southern Area Director with The Links, Incorporated, guiding 5,000 members across multiple southern states – Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, both Carolinas and the Bahamas. The Links, Incorporated is another prestigious organization in the African American community also rich in history and legacy. Both ladies were prior presidents of their local chapters.

Morant-Adams became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated during her freshman year at the University of Montevallo. She attributes her journey in the sorority to her mother, Mrs. Callie W. Morant, a Life Member of the sorority.

Morant-Adams takes immense pride in becoming a Charter Member of the Upsilon Eta Chapter in Fairfield, Alabama on April 29, 1995. Under her stewardship, the region continues to evolve its sisterhood of global service laser-focused on issues involving economics, education, human rights, political activism and equity for everyone.
Adams’ leadership transcends organizational boundaries. She serves as Senior Executive Vice President and the Chief Community Development and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Renasant Bank. She credits her strong work ethics to her father, John Morant.
Falls joined the Birmingham Chapter of The Links, Incorporated in 2003 and believes that through intentional friendship and service the Links will set trends and become the arbiters of paradigm shifts that will change our world for the better. Her leadership thrust is serving the underserved and being a voice for the voiceless, while simultaneously cultivating friendships within the organization.

Under Falls’ stewardship programs such as I Read, You Read, We Read Together focuses on closing the achievement gap in reading amongst children of color and Lights, Camera, Action: Our Stories, Our Lens, which is geared toward uplifting African American storytelling and rich cultural history through Black filmmakers have been implemented.

These are merely two of her five targeted programs for members of the Southern Area to use in the achievement of their mission of “Friends Transforming Communities through Service as we Lead with Intentional Friendship and Service.”

Falls is a retired educator. She currently helps operate her family’s business. She also attributes her dedication to service in part to her strong family bonds.

Both ladies hold numerous board positions and actively serve their communities on a personal level. We celebrate these two sisters, not just for their individual accomplishments but for their embodiment of collective power and legacy of service that inspires us all.

Meet the Architects Behind Birmingham’s Women Under Construction Network (WUCN)

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Birmingham Times
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Shellie Layne, founder and CEO, of Women Under Construction Network. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Je’Don Holloway Talley | For The Birmingham Times

Women Under Construction Network was founded in 2014 and became an established 501c3 in March 2015. The group supports women, their children, and the elderly living in underserved communities. It uses actual tools combined with corresponding life parallels to teach basic home repair and life repair and work with contractors to perform minor repairs for low-income elderly. Here’s a closer look at its leadership.

Shellie Layne, founder/ CEO, as a wife, and mother with a corporate career Layne was living the good life — until the 2008 recession. “When the market crashed, I crashed with it,” said Layne.

“In the midst of all of that, I ended up going through a divorce, becoming a single parent for the first time, foreclosure, and bankruptcy…I was going through several experiences that I never thought I’d go through,” she said.

One of those experiences was shopping for a new air conditioner in the sweltering Alabama summer.

“I went to Walmart because I needed an air conditioning unit… I didn’t have the money or the expertise to do the fix-it things that I needed but the heat was bearing down and I needed to take care of me and my son [Noah, now 27],” she said.

“I cried in Walmart because I just didn’t know what I was going to do from there but I pulled myself together and decided ‘ok, Shellie, you can either wallow in this, or you can do something about it’.

At the time, Layne was writing a column in The Birmingham Times titled ‘At Home With Shellie’ about real estate and home repair.

“…I wrote my story ‘I Cried in Walmart’, and I got people and women responding saying ‘Shellie, I understand’ ‘Shellie, I’ve been through it.’

The experience gave birth to Women Under Construction Network which she founded in 2014 and became an established 501c3 in March 2015.

“I tell people all the time sometimes it’s the tragedies you go through and the negative experiences that propel you into what your destiny really should be. Sometimes what we think is bad is God using it for our good,” said Layne.

The Roxbury, Massachusetts native went on to host her first women’s event called ‘From Stuck to Unstoppable’ in 2014. “I got a volunteer team, and we brought women together and showed the women how to fix and unclog their sinks and how to become unstoppable as women…,” Layne said.

Since then, the WUCN has launched more than 10 community projects, most of which are in conjunction with city government initiatives, organizations and businesses, mental health professionals, financial advisors, general contractors, and volunteers who all believe in giving back and servicing human needs.

Jacqueline French has been with WUCN since 2017 and connects many of its programs with public housing residents. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Jacqueline French, 48, an integral part of WUCN since 2017, fused her leadership role in the organization with her position as Director of Workforce Development at The Housing Authority Birmingham District [HABD], principally through the W.I.L.A.H. Project, which is designed to foster self-esteem and self-sufficiency using physical tools for home repair with metaphoric tools for life repairs.

Having watched WUCN grow over the last 7 years, French has witnessed a notable evolution. “I’ve seen great partnerships develop. More initiatives have sprung up throughout the years, we’re reaching more women and getting the name and mission of the foundation out nationwide,” she said. “We started locally, but now we have national recognition, we have more notoriety, we’re able to go into schools and not only help children but single women, low-income women, married women, widowed women, young women, old women, women from every walk of life.”

Carlisha Harris oversees logistics, marketing on social media, website updates, and curates WUCN’s monthly newsletter. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Carlisha Harris, 24, administrative assistant to Layne, oversees logistics, marketing on social media, website updates, and curating their monthly newsletter.

Harris been with the program since the fall of 2019, at the age of 19, and said one of the network’s goals is to increase the involvement of younger women in their programming.

“We yearn to give them the best footing and foundation for this thing we call life just as it was provided to me and has made a significant impact in my life,” Harris said. “I was 19 when I came on board and of course, I was bound to continue maturing in my life journey but the tools that [I’ve learned] have helped me navigate life much more confidently and with a different kind of grace and patience for myself.”

The Fairfield native attended Miles College and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer and information sciences with a concentration in graphic design and also serves as the IT Coordinator for the WUC network.

As a Gen Zer, Harris said a challenge WUCN faces is getting them out of the house on Saturday mornings. “Many of our programs [are held] early in the morning…  “[And so], we have been considering hosting programs at special times that will be more attractive to them. But once they finally come and experience the programming, I’ve noticed that they do make a greater effort to come because they see the value of it,” said Harris.

Harris has also learned that other Gen Zers like herself are more interested in volunteer opportunities presented by the WUC network.

“I’ve found that Gen Z has been more interested in the volunteering aspect of our programming I believe it gives them a sense of purpose and grounds them in the community in ways they otherwise may not have been,” said Harris.

Asked if she thinks today’s world or social media impacts Gen Z’s state of mind Harris said WUCN teaches them ways to cope.

“We help them work past life perceptions or mindsets influenced by social media or pop culture by keeping Christ at the center of everything we do. Ms. Layne has this saying, ‘I may not have all the answers, but I know a carpenter who does’. We encourage our ladies to keep their eyes on the one whom our help comes from no matter what is going on in the world. Personally, that gives me a lot of peace and helps me sleep a little better at night,” Harris said.

Dr. Kimberly McCall, WUCN board chairman, helps with the measurements of successs. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Dr. Kimberly McCall, WUCN board chairman for the past two years, said her duties include general operations, finance, program implementation, grant writing, growth, and program development.

“Our partner support has grown tremendously. I have watched the program start with the main programs like Building Hope: 21 Days of Kindness and health programs, [but] we have branched and grown into community-based programs that reach not only women and children but also elderly women.

McCall said community partnerships are paramount to accelerated growth, and collaborations with professionals and other organizations such as the Women’s Foundation of Alabama, the Housing Authority Birmingham Division, UAB, general contractors, and mental health professionals aid the WUCN in maximizing community impact.

McCall works for UAB as an assistant professor in the biotechnology and regulatory affairs department and bridged a partnership between UAB and the WUCN.

“I represent UAB along with some of my other colleagues, and our partnership allows me to combine my passion for community-based programs and community building with what I do professionally [research, data, and development],” McCall said. “…the UAB partnership helps WUCN to measure the effectiveness of its programming [and the] project is called WILAH/BeFit, which focuses on building empowerment through fitness and also includes a focus on self-efficacy and social cohesion.”

Winifred Patterson coordinates YT4Life Mission, which teaches life skills and builds self-esteem and self-confidence in young people. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Winifred Patterson, 52, is a Brooklyn, New York native, and has been an educator for 20 years. She serves as coordinator for the group’s YT4Life Mission which teaches life skills and builds self-esteem and self-confidence in youth through activities that use tools and home repair parallels. It’s a supervised afterschool program for youth ages 5 years and higher held at the Ensley and Central Park rec centers on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“The afterschool program was begun by [Layne WUC founder and McCall, WUC board chairman] … I brought education to the [concept] and a little more structure to it. I use SEL [social and emotional learning], those soft skills to teach the children how to communicate with adults if they need help, and how to be a friend… and we merged those [tools/principles] with what we do in the after-school program,” Patterson said.

“The tools vary from hammers and nails to paint brushes and electrical things like a caulk gun. [We teach them] little things that they can do at home and can learn something from, and then use those tools as metaphors for life. We try to use an analogy with each tool,” she said.

For example: “You use a hammer to hammer in a nail, and in life you would [use your mind] to hammer in and focus and get things done,” Patterson said.

“We just [started] an outreach with Miles Colleges’ female athletes under the I BUILD-U-niversity [WUNC program], in conjunction with Trustmark Bank.”

She said the program consists of “community service activities, team building, and trust exercises, financial literacy, credit building, buying a home, a car, [the financial aspects are] Trustmark’s part, and we [WUCN] talk to them about the tools of life,” Patterson said.

For more on WUCN visit www.wucnetwork.org

“This is devastating for the students, faculty members, families and everyone affiliated with this historic institution of higher learning.”

By
Birmingham Times
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BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL O’QUINN ON THE MAY 31 CLOSING OF BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE, WWW.BIRMINGHAMTIMES, MARCH 26.

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Comedienne Sherri Shepherd is coming to the StarDome Comedy Club for two nights, next weekend, on Friday and Saturday. (Provided)

BY GWEN DERU | For The Birmingham Times

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN MARCH!

CELEBRATING WOMEN HISTORY AND BLACK HISTORY…every day!

TODAY…

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

**PLANTING POLLINATORS AND KEEPING BEES, 11 a.m. – noon in the Adventure Classroom with OLIVIA FULLER at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**THE WOMEN GATHER, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the BCRI COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM & VANN GALLERY at the BCRI. Register.

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

**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.

**CLEAN UP BEFORE COMPANY SHOW UP with BENNIE MAC at StarDome Comedy Club.

**THE KICKBACK COMEDY SHOW, 7-9 p.m. with headliner DONNELL RAWLINGS, FUNNY MAINE, MEL MITCHELL, RADIO BIG MACK for the HBCU SPRINGCOMING at the Carver Theatre.

**THURSDAY NIGHT WITH JOE BRANTLEY at the Nick.

**THIRST TRAP THURSDAY, 5 p.m. at 2400 7th Avenue South.

**LIVE BAND KARAOKE hosted by ELLE JAI at Perfect Note.

**KIKSTART at WaterMark in Bessemer with Free Food Boxes, 9 a.m.

**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.

**EACH AND EVERY THURSDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.

**MOVIES EVERY THURSDAY at Sidewalk Fest.

**THIRSTY THURSDAYS at D’ZIRE Bar and Lounge.

**KARAOKE, 5-9 p.m. at Courtyard Alabaster Bar and Grill.

**THIRD THURSDAY BLUES JAM, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**TASTEMAKER THURSDAY – Every Thursday at Blaze Ultra Lounge, 228 Roebuck Plaza Drive, 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. with DJ Ace Twon (95.7 JAMZ) in the mix hosted by Audio Life and GMC Promo.

**THIRSTY THURSDAY at Hookah 114 17th Street No.

**TEQUILA THURSDAY at the Vibe Bar & Lounge.

**THROW BACK THURSDAY at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge, 3801 Richard Arrington, Jr., Blvd.

**FILMMAKER HAPPY HOUR- Every 3rd Thursday, at Sidewalk Film Fest. Meet with other filmmakers and discuss your newest projects.

**EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT KARAOKE, 6:30 at Ruth’s Place hosted by LADY WOO and with DJ SHAY.

FRIDAY…

**EVERY FRIDAY DURING LUNCH – FRIDAY COUPON CHEAT DAY with HOT 107 at 1918 Catering. (Use the coupon ANY DAY.)

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**CHEYLOE MARTIN at The Margaret Bar.

**COMEDIAN LAVAR WALKER at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN ANTONIOU at the Star Dome Comedy Club.

**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.

**GOOD LORD! THAD SAAJID & THE COMPANY, LOCAL BRAND at The Nick.

**R&B GREATS featuring SINGER ASHFORD SANDERS at Perfect Note.

**EVERY FRIDAY – R&B FRIDAY, at The Chandelier, 212 Cahaba Valley Road in Pelham with DJ MANISH mixing live. FREE Entry.

**EACH AND EVERY FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.

**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY at City Hall, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the short 20th Street North.

**RIPCORD, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at 4501 Gary Avenue in Fairfield.

**QUE’S BAR & GRILL GROOVIN’ on 19th Street in Ensley.

**LIT FRIDAYS WITH RIPCORD, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at 4501 Gary Avenue in Fairfield.

**AFRO CARIBBEAN NIGHTS (Every Friday Night) at Ash’s on 2nd, 7 p.m. until with Reggae, Afro Beats, Dancehall and Top 40 Hits.

**FIREBALL FRIDAY at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.

**FRIDAY NIGHT RAP, Every 1st and 3rd Friday at Crescent Cultural Center, 1121 Tuscaloosa Avenue, W.

SATURDAY…

**EVERY SATURDAY at BIRDSONG FARMERS MARKET, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 2824 5th Avenue South, at Automatic Seafood.

**SAKURA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. FREE at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

**MARCH MADNESS – ROAD TO HOME OWNERSHIP – YOU NEED TO KNOW, 1:30 – 3 p.m. at 2401 CrossPlex Blvd. (5 Points West Starbucks)

**WINE DOWN HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Saferoom Lounge Bar.

**EACH AND EVERY SATURDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.

**EVERY SATURDAY SOLD OUT – THE SATURDAYS JUMP OFF, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 8th Avenue West.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**3rd ANNUAL SAVOIR FAIRE ADULT SNEAKER BALL SOIREE at Region Field.

**COMEDIAN PIRRURIS – LUIS DE ALBA at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**3rd ANNUAL MARCH MADNESS HIP HOP FEST with hosts QDOT & JAXXXON at The Nick.

**SAXOPHONIST PATRICK LAMB at Perfect Note.

**RUN IT BACK SATURDAYS at Platinum of Birmingham.

**FAYE WEBSTER at Iron City.

SUNDAY…

**WORSHIP AT THE SIXTH, 9:30 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

**EVERY SUNDAY – SOUL FOOD SUNDAYS, 1-5 p.m. (Every Sunday) at 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.

**SUNDAY FUN DAY at DZIRE BAR AND LOUNGE, 4120 3rd Avenue South. Call 205-266-2594 for more.

**SUNDAY FUNDAY for the grown Folks Kickback at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.

**EVERY 3rd SUNDAY JAZZ JAM SESSION, 4-8 p.m. at the Ferus on 41st.

**CITY WIDE PRAYER MEETING, Every 4th Sunday, 4 p.m. for one hour at Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College. The Lord’s Supper will be served and hosted by the Knights of Pythias & Court of Calanthe.

**OH DANG, DAVIS LITTLE & CAPTAIN KUDZU at The Nick.

**Soulful Easter Sunday featuring SINGER DEDEE FRAZIER at Perfect Note.

**THE STEPDADS at The Margaret Bar.

MONDAY…

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW LIVE Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday, at 4 p.m.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

**RNB MONDAYS, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 Eighth Avenue West.

TUESDAY…

**KIKSTART at Water Mark in Bessemer, 9 a.m. with Free Food Boxes…until all gone.

**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.

**DIAPER GIVEAWAY every Tuesday, 10 a.m. at the Titusville Library.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**EVERY TUESDAY – SPECIAL TUESDAYS with Food, Drinks Specials at 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.

**EVERY TUESDAY – TUESDAY NIGHT TRAILS 5:45 p.m. at Red Mountain Park.

**EVERY TUESDAY is SOUL CAFÉ Happy Hour introducing the Soul Café Happy Hour, 5:30-9:30 p.m. with Soul Goodies, Soul Spirits and Soul Music including $5 Titos and Redmont, at The Vault.

**JOSE CARR’S JAZZ JAM, 7:30 p.m. at True Story Brewing Company.

**TITO’S TUESDAY at Dirty Ash’s 8 p.m. with DAVID TALLEY IV.

**CARIBBEAN NIGHTS with Reggae, Caribbean and Island Vibes, 9 p.m. – until… with DJ Serious Mixing and hosted by KJ and MANNY at The Vault, downtown.

**EVERY TUESDAY – TRUE STORY BREWING JAZZ SESSIONS, 7- 10 p.m., 5510 Crestwood Blvd.

**TASTY TUESDAYS at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ MAVERICK, DJ CUZZO and DJ JUICE with drink specials and free dinner buffet. 30+ Before 9 p.m. and 21+ after 9 p.m.

**EVERY TUESDAY – BIRMINGHAM SONGWRITER’S ROUND with Host SUSANNAH SEALES at the Nick.

WEDNESDAY…

**INTERFAITH NOONDAY PRAYER SERVICES, every Wednesday, Noon, at Linn Park, in Downtown Birmingham.

**WORKOUT WEDNESDAY at Five Points West Library at 10:30 a.m. for chair yoga and other chair exercises.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**WEDNESDAY NIGHT POOL TOURNAMENT AND KARAOKE NIGHT, 5 p.m. at Carter’s Hookah Lounge and Grill, hosted by Jo Sweetz with the Pool Tournament, at 7 p.m. and Karaoke at 8 p.m.

**EVERY WEDNESDAY, YOU, ME & RNB, 6 p.m. at 2206 Bar & Lounge, 2206 31st Street, with DJ You, Me & Playlist.

**D’ZIRE WEDNESDAYS, EACH AND EVERY WEDNESDAY with Free Mimosas, 8- 10 p.m. with DJ GORGEOUS in the Mix at 4120 Third Avenue South.

**WEDNESDAYS WEEKLY JAZZ JAM, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing Company, 5510 Crestwood Blvd. Food until 9 p.m., Music until 10 p.m. and Drink until 11 p.m.

**EVERY 4th WEDNESDAY at FACE’S LOUNGE KARAOKE hosted by ARETTA, 6:30 p.m. at 7070 Aaron Aronov Dr. in Fairfield.

**THE MONTVALES & REBECCA EGELAND at the Nick.

**OWL CITY at Iron City.

NEXT THURSDAY…

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

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

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

**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.

**COMEDIAN TONY TONE at StarDome Comedy Club.

**ST. OWSLEY at the Nick.

NEXT FRIDAY…

**EVERY FRIDAY DURING LUNCH – FRIDAY COUPON CHEAT DAY with HOT 107 at 1918 Catering. (Use the coupon ANY DAY.)

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

(Photo: Comedienne Sherri Shepherd) (Photo Credit: Provided)
**COMEDIENNE SHERRI SHEPHERD at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.

**THE COLD STARES with SAM AND THE BIG BOYS at The Nick.

**SAXPHONIST DALEN MINNIFIELD presents GUITARIST STEVE OLIVER at Perfect Note.

GWEN’S SPOTLIGHT…

**If  ‘you’ love to laugh…COMEDIENNE SHERRI SHEPHERD is coming to the StarDome Comedy Club for two nights, next weekend, on Friday and Saturday. Host of her own talk show (THE SHERRI SHEPHERD SHOW), actress, former host of THE VIEW and so much more, Sherri Shepherd is in the ‘Ham. You don’t want to miss her.  Tell all of your friends …AND, don’t hurt yourself laughing!

NEWS TO USE…

**BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE IS CLOSING – Alabama House of Representatives failed to get sufficient support to amend the 2023 legislation that established the loan program in which the BSC’s future depended. The BSC does not have the resources to continue. (Look for more.)

IN APRIL…

**APRIL 5  -MASTERS OF THE SILVER SCREEN, 7 p.m. at UAB’s Aly Stephens Center

**April 5 – HEROES & VILLAINS: AFTER HOURS, 5 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

**APRIL 6 – MINDSET RESET CONFERENCE, 11 a.m. at 6501 Aaron Aronov Drive, Fairfield.

**April 6 – BIRMINGHAM VEGAN FEST DINNER, 6 p.m. at New China Town.

**April 6 – 8TH ANNUAL END ADDICTION BHAM WALK 2024 is 10 a.m. Saturday at City Walk Amphitheater. Registration is at 10 a.m.  Program, walk and celebration starts at 11 a.m.  FREE to attend. T-Shirt is $25.  Register at endaddictionbham.org.

**APRIL 7 – CHLOE ARNOLD’S SYNCOPATED LADIES LIVE at UAB Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.

AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…

**April 2 – NEW GARDENING CLASS – RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE, 11 a.m. – noon with BETHANY O’REAR.

**April 2 – THYME TO READ – The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbie Waxman. FREE.

**April 4 – Spencer Lecture: THE GARDENS OF BUNNY MELLON, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. with THOMAS LLOYD and BRYAN HUFFMAN.

**April 6 – BASICS OF TREE SELECTION, 1 – 2:15 p.m.

**April 11 – (Member Shopping) SPRING PLANT SALE. Bring your folding cart or wagon.

**April 12-13 – (Public Sale) SPRING PLANT SALE. Bring your folding cart or wagon.

FOR FOOD LOVERS…

**3RD ANNUAL GREAT BIRMINGHAM BAKE OFF is April 6, 2-4 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing. Sample baked goods made by competing teams of local bakers. All baked goods start with one of the WE made Southern Staples baking mixes. Your ticket lets you sample each of the competing baked goods plus you will receive a Cahaba Brewing beer. There will be live music, food trucks and the Junior Board will be selling WE Made mixes and other products. Support how you can. Sign up at bakeoff.swell.gives.

FOR SPORTS LOVERS…

**TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME! Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks! Let’s check out the food at the Barons Field. The BIRMINGHAM BARONS NEW MENU will have new concession food items including Barons Big Baker (a giant loaded potato with smoked brisket, cheese sauce, sour cream, green onions and bourbon sauce), Junkyard Dawg, Chili Cheese Footlong Hotdog, Polish Sausage Dog and Fried Cinnamon Rolls.  Tuesday will be TACO TUESDAY. Wednesdays will be WET NOSE WEDNESDAYS. Returning items will be Magic City Dog, Nashville Hot Mac n’ Cheese. The first game of the season is April 5, Friday, against the CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS.

HAPPENINGS AT SIXTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

…SEE YOU AT THE SIXTH…EVERY SUNDAY!
**EVERY MONDAY MORNING MEDITATION WITH PASTOR CANTELOW, 7:15 a.m. Contact the church at (205) 321-1136 or (205) 321-1137.

**CHILDREN’S CHURCH & COLLISION CHURCH, each First Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for K-5th (Children’s Church), 6-12th (Collision).

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

What Closing of Birmingham-Southern College Means to Residents in Surrounding Communities

By
Birmingham Times
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Joanice Thompson, President of Bush Hills Connections, a nonprofit organization to pool resources and forge partnerships to benefit their neighborhood. (File)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

If anyone knows the importance of Birmingham-Southern College (BSC), it would be Joanice Thompson, President of Bush Hills Connections, a nonprofit organization to pool resources and forge partnerships to benefit their neighborhood.

One of the neighborhood’s biggest achievements, the Bush Hills Community Garden and Urban Farm, came about with the help of BSC students, she said. Since 2018, property in Bush Hills has been designated an urban farm, and now produces 50,000 pounds of various fruits and vegetables.

“The students have been helping us with the complex, and community garden and urban farm that we have,” the community leader said. “They wrote the first plan for the marketplace” on the grounds.

Birmingham-Southern College will close on May 31, after a nearly 170-year history as one of the city’s most respected institutions. (File)

BSC, a private liberal arts school in the Bush Hills community on the west side of Birmingham, announced Tuesday it will close May 31 after a nearly 170-year history.

“This is a tragic day for the college, our students, our employees, and our alumni, and an outcome so many have worked tirelessly to prevent,” Rev. Keith Thompson, chairman of the BSC Board of Trustees said in an announcement to alumni. “We understand the devastating impact this has on each of you, and we will now direct our efforts toward ensuring the smoothest possible transition for everyone involved.”

There are approximately 700 students enrolled at BSC this semester and Joanice Thompson said she feels for every one of them.

“We [community leaders] did as much as we could possibly do to try to keep it open, not only just for Bush Hills residents but for those 700 students …,“ she said. “I have three sons I put through college. If their school had closed on them, that was part of their life journey, can you imagine the impact it would have had on my boys … they were making a future in the world that we as older people designed for them, and said, ‘you should go [to college]’ and now a college closes on them.”

Community leaders in the Bush Hills neighborhood say they did everything they could to keep Birmingham Southern open. (Barnett Wright Photo, The Birmingham Times)

Kamau Afrika, a community activist and 1985 graduate of BSC, also knows the importance of his school. It’s been a place where nearby residents could obtain a Community Pass to gain access to the gym, library, cafeteria and other facilities on campus, he said.

“If you wanted a safe and secure [gym to workout] you go to Birmingham Southern you can stay in there until 9-10 at night,” Afrika said. “The library is open until 11 o’clock at night. My grandson [an 11-year-old standout basketball player] would not be where he is now if I didn’t have the use of that facility as well as the weight room and the track [for myself].”

Lawmakers would have found a way to keep the school open “if it were in their community,” Akrika said. Added Joanice Thompson, “I don’t know what those state legislators were thinking about. They should have thought about those warm bodies at the school.”

Alabama lawmakers last year approved a new loan program that could lend BSC as much as $30 million. School supporters had hoped to use the loan while seeking commitments from private donors. But Young Boozer III, the state treasurer, twice denied the loan last year.

A new bill this session sponsored by State Sens. Jabo Waggoner and Rodger Smitherman cleared the Senate earlier this month, but school officials said they were told they didn’t have the votes in the House.

“Word of the decision to close Birmingham Southern College is disappointing and heartbreaking to all of us who recognize it as a stalwart of our community,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement. “I’ve stood alongside members of our City Council to protect this institution and its proud legacy of shaping leaders. It’s frustrating that those values were not shared by lawmakers in Montgomery.”

Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn said news of the closing was “devastating” for the students, faculty members, families and everyone affiliated with the historic institution.

“It’s also profoundly distressing for the surrounding community, who will now be living in close proximity to an empty college campus,” he said. “As we’ve seen with other institutions that have shuttered their doors, we will be entering a difficult chapter following this unfortunate development …   We’re approaching this with resilience and a sense of hope that something positive can eventually come from this troubling chapter.”

‘I Told Her How Much I Loved Her and How [The Ring] Was Long Overdue’

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

ANTOINETTE AND ADOLPHUS PLUMP III

Live: Smithfield

Married: Dec. 1, 1990

Met: They met as children at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham, which was bombed by the Klu Klux Klan in September of 1963, claiming the lives of four girls. Both of their families had been lifelong members. In the summer of 1976, when they were 16 and 17 years old, Antoinette sparked a connection when she instigated a game of chase during youth choir rehearsal.

“For some reason, I had my cap off during rehearsal and she just kept making eyes at me… I was really intrigued by that because I wore glasses and people considered me a nerd, and I was very shy,” Adolphus recalled. “Back then, guys used to have to know how to ‘rap’ to a girl, and that’s when you can talk to them real smooth, and I was shy, so I didn’t rap,” he laughed. “After rehearsal, I had to chase her around the church to get my cap back and that let me know [there was interest] and I guess that’s when we started our puppy love.”

“We had always been kind of friendly, and the way that Adolphus was [shy and introverted] was interesting and I wanted to feel him out to see if he was interested in me and to see how far it would go,” Antoinette recalled. “[And by] him chasing me I knew he was interested and there was potential for us to start talking and maybe go out.”

“I think we exchanged numbers, and back in those days we kinda already knew where each other lived and I got her number and started talking and we went out on a date,” he said.

First date: Summer 1976, at the Melba Theater [no longer standing] in downtown Birmingham. They saw “The Exorcist” and went to eat at Arby’s after.

“During the movie, he put his arm around me and he held my hand, but at

Arby’s he was very shy and nervous and it was hard to get him to talk to me,” Antoinette said. “But after that, he took me home and we sat out on my front porch and talked and he was more relaxed then.”

“Antoinette was pretty, and I was thinking why me? I just remember I was nervous because she comes from a big family and she has a lot of brothers, and I think that was why I was so shy because I was scared of her brothers,” Adolphus said. “She was a very down-to-earth girl and so was her family and we found out we had a lot of common interests. Back then she was more outgoing than I was, and she was more [forward] in letting me know she was enjoying my company.”

Antoinette and Adolphus Plum III met as children at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and later began dating in 1976. (Provided Photos)

The turn: Summer 1976. For Adolphus, “It happened that night when we started holding hands at the movies. At that age, we were in uncharted territory so neither of us came out and said it, but I wasn’t thinking about being with anybody else, I was excited to have a girlfriend because we were enjoying each other so much,” he said.

“I agree with him on that,” said Antoinette, “It became real early on. We enjoyed each other, we went to parties together, we went to the movies, did things with the [church] youth department, everything we did, we did together and that just made us more in tune with each other.”

The proposal: Aug. 17, 1990, at Grady’s at the Galleria Mall in Hoover. “Back then I didn’t have a vehicle, and Antoinette was picking me up for us to go on a date that night, and when she picked me up, I had two dozen red roses for her. And whenever we were together, she’d turn the wheel over to me (and still does), so she didn’t know where we were going to dinner, but she sat over in the passenger seat smiling and smelling her roses,” Adolphus said. “I think she knew it was going to happen that night since we had talked about it and we had shopped for the ring so it wasn’t a total surprise, but I still wanted to make it special for her.  After we were seated, I wanted to go ahead and give it to her, and I told her how much I loved her and how this was long overdue. We had been going together for 14 years and it was obvious we were meant for each other, and I asked her would she marry me? It was fun [to propose before dinner] because she wore a smile on her face that I had never seen before and it made me feel good because it wasn’t just something that I wanted, this was something that we wanted.”

“I didn’t necessarily know he was going to propose that night, I just knew we were going someplace special to have some fun that night,” Antoinette said. “I told him ‘yes’, and it was funny because people around us were watching us, but he made it special and it was my honor to say ‘let’s do this’. And he talks about my smile, but his smile was just as big. We were both so excited about what we were about to do.”

The wedding: At 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, officiated by Reverend Christopher Hamlin. Their colors were teal and dusty rose.

Most memorable for the bride was being serenaded by Adolphus’s best friend.

“We were standing there holding hands, and we were in awe of what was going on because [Adolphus’s best friend] had written the song and it just made the ceremony even more beautiful,” Antoinette said.

Most memorable for the groom was getting his bride and a win from his favorite football team on the same day. “We were being videoed as we were leaving the pulpit to exit the church and they got me on video saying, ‘Kiss the Bride and Roll Tide’ because Alabama and Auburn played against each other that day and Alabama won,” Adolphus said.

They honeymooned in their new apartment in Smithfield Estates.

Words of wisdom: “Communication is the most important because you have to have it in order to keep things going. Also support, because I went through pancreatic cancer treatment, chemo, and therapy, and he knows more about my cancer treatment than me. He was always there talking to the doctors… I was fortunate I was able to get Whipple surgery procedure [a major surgical operation most often performed to remove cancerous tumors from the head of the pancreas] and God got us through that. Put God first in everything that you do, that’s at the top of the list,” Antoinette said.

Adolphus said, “What has helped us sustain through the years is thinking of each other. Make sure you’re thinking about what your spouse would enjoy. What she would like to eat, where she would like to go. I am always thinking of different ways to think of her, and I have found that the most satisfaction in marriage comes when you are thinking of each other. It’s great to surprise your spouse because being thought of means a lot.”

Happily ever after: The Plumps attend the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham, where Adolphus serves as a Deacon, and Antoinette as a Deaconess. They have one daughter, Daidre’ 33, and one grandson, Jace.

Antoinette, 64, is a Pratt City native, and P.D. Jackson Olin High School grad. She attended Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University, where she studied criminal justice and social work, and works as a judicial assistant at the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in downtown Birmingham.

Adolphus, 63, is a Smithfield native, and John Carroll High School grad. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB] where he studied business administration and theater, and works for Richelieu America, where he’s served as an inside sales rep for 38 years.

“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

Mayor, City Council President React to May 31 Closing of Birmingham-Southern College

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Birmingham Times
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By Barnett Wright

The Birmingham Times

Continue

UAB Study: Peer Coaching Among Young Black Adults Can Lower Blood Pressure

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Birmingham Times
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Community members will have access to screenings for common health concerns such as glucose levels and blood pressure, as well as cancer screenings for age-eligible individuals on Regional Wellness Day. (Adobe Stock)

A study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine involving researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that peer coaching is more effective than traditional clinical care in controlling high blood pressure among young Black individuals living in the Southeastern region of the United States. The results show that, for Black individuals under age 60 who have persistently uncontrolled hypertension, the benefits of working with a peer health coach were equivalent to what would be expected from taking a low dose of blood pressure medication.

In rural areas across the Southeast with longstanding primary care shortages, more than half of Black adults have hypertension, which can result in higher rates of cardiovascular disease and kidney failure and shortened life expectancy. Travel distance and costs associated with traveling to primary care clinics make regular physician visits difficult. Knowing this, researchers at UAB collaborated with Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and East Carolina University to determine effective strategies to overcome these barriers and improve outcomes for Black individuals living with hypertension in these areas.

“Almost half of all adults in Alabama have hypertension, and those rates are higher for Black adults and higher in rural counties,” said Andrea Cherrington, M.D., interim director of the UAB Division of Preventive Medicine and the principal investigator for the study. “These numbers contribute to Alabama’s having the second-highest preventable cardiovascular death rate in the country. It is imperative that we find practical solutions to improve blood pressure control.”

Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial involving 1,592 Black patients with persistently uncontrolled high blood pressure at 69 rural primary care practices located in a region referred to as the “Black Belt” of Alabama and North Carolina.

“We utilized a systematic, structured and comprehensive approach to recruiting rural primary care practices for this study, utilizing multiple practice recruitment strategies,” said James Shikany, DrPH, a professor in the UAB Division of Preventive Medicine and a co-investigator for the study. “This enabled us to successfully recruit the practices and retain them for the duration of the study.”

Primary care practices were randomized, and patients enrolled in the study received either enhanced usual care alone or in combination with peer coaching, practice facilitation, or a combination of both for one year. With the enhanced usual care, each practice distributed educational information and blood pressure monitors to each patient. Peer coaching consisted of a structured educational/behavioral intervention provided over the phone. Practice facilitation consisted of a coach who helped staff at the clinic implement at least four hypertensive-focused quality improvement activities. The peer coaches were people within these communities who were trained to help educate patients on how to monitor and reduce blood pressure.

While all groups showed some improvement, there was no significant difference across the four groups (ages 18-85). However, in pre-planned subgroup analyses, participants between the ages of 18 and 60 who received peer coaching and peer coaching plus practice facilitation showed significant reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to other groups. These results could indicate that peer coaching is valuable when teaching patients how to manage chronic conditions.

“Peer coaching was delivered by community health workers: individuals who are knowledgeable about the strengths and assets, as well as barriers, within their own communities and can help translate advice that patients get in the clinic,” Cherrington said. “We couldn’t have done this study without our community partner, Connection Health, an Alabama nonprofit that trains and deploys CHWs.”

Barbershops Partner with Birmingham Police to Provide Free Haircuts in Public Housing

By
Birmingham Times
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King Stephens receives a free cut from Quincy Moore of Concierge Mobile Barbershop. (Marika N. Johnson Photo, For The Birmingham Times)

Photos by Marika N. Johnson

For The Birmingham Times 

Local barbers, the Birmingham Police Department (BPD) and Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) on Sunday provided free haircuts, mentorship, and community fun for residents ages 5-17 in public housing communities.

‘Haircuts, Conversations, and Friendships’ drew nearly a dozen local barbershops and BPD officers to build stronger relationships between young Birmingham residents and members of law enforcement.

The event at Harris Homes Community Center also offered free food, games, and exciting prize giveaways. The day was an opportunity to build on the existing partnership between the two organizations and encourage greater communication and collaboration between communities and law enforcement.

Participating barbershops include Top Flight Barbershop, Division 1 Barbershop, Ethridge Brothers, Randall’s Grooming Lounge, Heavy Cutz, 1st Cuts and Styles, Chop Shop, Concierge Mobile Barbershop, Wayne Cutter Cave, Superstarz Barbershop, Threads Barbershop, R. Lamar’s Barbershop.

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