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StrongHer Honoree Candace Chandler: ‘God Has Given Me Beauty for My Ashes’

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Birmingham Times
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Honoree Candace Chandler during the unveiling of the StrongHer art exhibit last Friday on the second-floor lobby of Birmingham City Hall. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Chanda Temple | birminghamal.gov

Losing her husband to a massive heart attack was gut-wrenching for Candace Chandler. Then, one month later, she miscarried the couple’s first baby.

Another gut-wrenching moment.

Experiencing the back-to-back losses in 2017 left Chandler lost, confused and severely depressed.

“I said, ‘Lord, I can’t do this anymore.’ I wanted to give up,’’ she said. “I went from being at the mountaintop to the valley.”

But she told God that if He could help her through her pain, she would serve Him until her dying day. She sought grief counseling, took a 60-day leave from her Birmingham teaching job and focused on self-healing.

“I had to surrender to God, and that is why I can walk boldly in my purpose,’’ Chandler, 34, said. “I’m here to let the next person know you can make it past grief, and you don’t have to look like what you are going through.’’

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Chandler’s story is part of the first-ever StrongHer exhibit on the second floor of Birmingham City Hall. The exhibit opened on March 8, which is International Women’s Day and will remain up through mid-April.

Chandler broke again in 2021 when her best friend, Areyelle Yarbrough, was tragically killed in Birmingham. Chandler turned to God again for direction and found comfort and healing. This time, she shared her faith walk on her social media platforms, encouraging people to take a fresh approach on how to use essential tools to navigate and cope with grief in a healthy manner. She wanted people to see that it is possible to bounce back when things seem impossible.

The Birmingham native said that one woman, a total stranger, saw her story and told Chandler that just by seeing her story, she changed her mind about committing suicide.

“Life is going to life, but God is going to God,” said Chandler, who is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. “You are not a bad person when you go through your trials and tribulations. It just means you have been chosen. But you have to ask yourself will you let the pain break you or make you.’’

During her healing journey, Chandler went to graduate school and obtained a master’s degree in 2020 and an education specialist degree in 2023, both from the University of West Alabama.

Today, Chandler serves in administration as an Instructional Specialist with the Birmingham City Schools system. In her spare time, she runs Queen O Empowerment LLC, where she is an empowerment coach, a motivational speaker, a mentor, and a fashion ambassador for distinct brands. She said God has also opened her heart to being loved again.

“Even in your brokenness, God will put you back, piece by piece, and you will become His masterpiece,’’ she said. “God has given me beauty for my ashes.’’

How Podiatrist Dr. Ronald Agee Helps Patients Get Back on Their Feet

By
Birmingham Times
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Dr. Ronald Agee's AG Podiatry, has been a community staple in Birmingham’s West End neighborhood for more than three decades. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | The Birmingham Times

Even though he didn’t know it at the time, Dr. Ronald Agee worked a job while young that prepared him for a career he never expected.

“[My siblings and I] had an uncle who had a shoe shop by Legion Field, and, when we were small, he made us work in the shop. That kind of kept us out of trouble,” he recalled. “I think it was the way God gifted me to do what it is that I’m still doing today because I wouldn’t have known that when I was a little boy coming up—that I want to be a foot doctor.”

AG Podiatry, with its main office located at 1529 Bessemer Road, has been a community staple in Birmingham’s West End neighborhood for more than three decades.

“When I started looking in the Birmingham area at the time that I started my practice, the densest part of Birmingham was the western area. Things just kind of fell in place for me. With the location I’m currently at, we’ve been there for 33 years, and it’s been good,” said Agee, who added that he’s been at podiatry for so long that “I watch people walking that don’t know I’m looking, and I’m diagnosing the problem … without realizing I’m doing it.”

He also has found a way to assist his patients before they reach his office. For instance, the parking lot is located near the building’s front door, which is crucial for people who can’t walk far distances.

“I had the opportunity to have a hospital-based practice, but in a situation where you have foot problems, you don’t want to do a lot of walking and going up and down steps,” he said.

A Family Affair

Agee, the fifth of nine brothers and sisters, grew up with his family in Birmingham in the Fountain Heights neighborhood. He remembers that his uncle wanted to “guide” him, so he provided the young Agee something to do at the shoe shop.

“I gained that talent of being a cobbler at an early age. Even before we could go play baseball on the weekend, we had to be at that shoe shop,” said Agee, recalling the experience he gained shining, selling, and resoling shoes.

His family was “tight knit with a lot of love, and we all looked out for one another,” he said.

Agee graduated from Birmingham’s John Herbert Phillips High School in 1976 and then attended Talladega College, where he earned a degree in chemistry in 1980 and also met his wife, to whom he has been married for 40 years. He then went on to the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed his surgical residency at Norfolk Community Hospital, in Norfolk, Virginia.

Foundational Advice

Proper foot care is the key to overall health, said the doctor of podiatric medicine, a medical professional which diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg,” according to the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine.

“Your feet carry [the weight of] your entire body,” said Agee. “So, if your feet hurt, you don’t want to get up and do a whole lot. … You don’t want to get up and cook for yourself, … you don’t want to walk, [but] you need [physical] activity to promote heart health.”

The podiatrist stresses to his patients the importance of being mindful of things they’re doing to cause problems with their feet, such as corns, calluses, blisters, bunions, and ingrown toenails.

He also mentioned another foot problem, plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of a thick band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes, for which treatment could involve surgical repair or palliative care, methods of alleviating pain and discomfort without surgery.

The best prescription Agee offers for daily foot care is a simple preventative remedy—wearing the appropriate shoe for the appropriate activity.

“[Each foot has] 26 bones and multiple ligaments, … [so] if you’re not wearing the right type of shoe, it can lead to a lot of problems,” he said.

Problems can also stem from the fact that “we inherit our feet from mom and dad,” he added. “Certain foot problems can develop just because they are passed down from generation to generation.”

Agee is quick to warn against walking barefoot because of the danger of “picking up some bloodborne pathogen on the ground,” and he strictly advises against soaking feet in scalding hot Epsom salt water.

“Your feet may feel good at the time, but there may be some lasting consequences if you have poor circulation,” said Agee, adding that soaking feet in cool or room temperature water is just fine.

Dr. Ronald Agee’s son, R. David Agee II, right, joined the practice at AG Podiatry in 2019 as a podiatric physician and surgeon. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times))

People First

As for the future of his practice, Agee wants to continue to provide, along with his team of five employees, great service to his clients, all while teaching them the importance of foot health.

Recognizing that each pair of feet brings a unique story, Agee said he likes to treat his patients the way he’d want to be treated and wants to “dispel the myth that going to the podiatrist is going to be painful.”

Of all the success stories he’s had during his more than three decades of treating feet, two stand out: one patient was a young man for whom he helped remedy a severe foot fungus “that his mother could not stand,” and the other was a young man who had an ingrown toenail that was “one of the worst” he’d seen.

Speaking about his practice, Agee said, “It’s not about the money. It’s about serving the community well and the joy of seeing people get better.”

Agee is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Alabama Podiatric Medical Association, and he was named Podiatrist of the Year in 1999 by the Consumer Business Review.

Agee has three children: two daughters—one is a dentist in Tucson, Arizona, and one is a librarian in Germany—and a son, R. David Agee II, a graduate of the University of Alabama, Alabama State University, and Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine, who joined the practice at AG Podiatry in 2019 as a podiatric physician and surgeon.

AG Podiatry has three office locations in Alabama: Birmingham, Montgomery, and Eufaula. Agee is authorized to practice at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, University of Alabama (UAB) Medical West Hospital, the Princeton Baptist Medical Center Outpatient Surgical Center, and Lakeview Community Hospital in Eufaula.

Agee proudly said he has lived by one biblical principal in life and while working in his practice.

“There’s a [Bible] passage that I tell my children and other people likewise—Matthew 6:33 [King James Version]: ‘… Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’”

“[When I was young], I didn’t realize what that meant, other than that was kind of how they brought us up and how they raised us,” Aggie said. “But now I understand it to be, if you keep God first, most times things will open up to you through his blessing … and people [will be a] blessing to you in the process.”

To learn more about AG Podiatry, visit www.agpodiatry.com.

Easy, Safe, and for Everyone: The Essentials of Opening a Bank Account

By
Birmingham Times
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Whether you’re opening a bank account online or at a bank branch, it’s important to prepare and anticipate what information you will be asked for. (Provided)

Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase

There are many reasons for opening a bank account. From depositing a check to making a transfer, working with a bank makes it seamless to manage your money in a safe way.

Opening up a bank account also makes it easier to pay bills on time, open a debit card, deposit and withdraw money from an ATM, and make transfers from an app, among many other things.

Whether you’re opening a bank account online or at a bank branch, it’s important to prepare and anticipate what information you will be asked for.

Personal Checking Account

If you’re opening up a personal checking account, you will need to fill out an application form and provide the following documents:

  1. Identification: You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to open an account, but you need documents to verify your identity. These may vary slightly from bank to bank, but valid documents typically include:
    • A government-issued photo ID. It could be a driver’s license, for example, or a state ID.
    • Passport with photograph and birth certificate for minors.
    • Social Security card or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues this identification number for those who do not have a Social Security Number. Having a Social Security Number to open a bank account is not mandatory. Some banks and credit unions may accept documents, such as a consular identification card with a photograph to verify identity.
  2. Proof of address: An up-to-date and valid document showing the customer’s name and address. This information could be found in a utility or cable bill, for example—any payment document that provides both pieces of information—or even the rental agreement for the apartment where you reside.
  3. Money: When opening the account, you need to make an initial deposit, which can be the minimum required by the institution or more. You can deposit with cash, a check, or a transfer.

Business Bank Account

If you’re opening a bank account for your business, make sure you prepare and bring the following documents with you:

  1. Documents regarding the structure of your business detailing who is in charge of finances and how it operates. For corporations or LLCs, this may include articles of incorporation or articles of organization—anything about the company’s name, purpose, structure, and basic administration.
  2. Ownership agreement outlining the rights and responsibilities of each business owner.
  3. A certificate with the legal name of your business.
  4. A business license if it is necessary to operate legally.
  5. Personal identification of the business owner, similar to those required for individual accounts.
  6. Employer Identification Number issued by the IRS.
  7. Money for an initial deposit.

What questions should you ask the bank when opening an account?

Before walking into a bank branch, have a list of questions prepared to help you determine which account will work best for you and your financial needs. Some of those questions may be:

  1. What are your monthly maintenance fees, and how can I avoid those fees?
  2. Are there any fees associated with different services, including ATM fees within and outside the network, or overdraft fees, and how can they be reduced or eliminated?
  3. What is your process for accessing funds from abroad?
  4. Do you have any current offers or discounts with opening accounts or credit cards?
  5. What is your current interest rate for depositing into a savings account?
  6. For a business banking account, what are the monthly transaction limits? And what additional banking services would I have access to, including loans, credit cards and line of credit?

What if you want to save for a few years from now?

Whether it’s to prepare for retirement, or maximize the return on cash for a down payment on a house, many banks have financial experts who can recommend different strategies and investment products to grow your money over the years.

Choose to work with a financial advisor who you can create a strong relationship with and are comfortable expressing concerns and expectations. Keep in mind in some cases, financial advisors may receive a commission deducted from a percentage of the assets they manage for their client and/or charge transaction fees.

All banks offer online access, but not all banks have branches. While digital banking, whether online or with an app, makes managing your finances convenient, having access to a physical branch where you can sit down with someone to discuss your personal or business financing needs may make all the difference.

For more visit https://www.chase.com/

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Saxophonist BK Jackson (bkjackson.com)

BY GWEN DERU | The Birmingham Times

CELEBRATING WOMEN HISTORY AND BLACK HISTORY…every day!

TODAY …

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

**HOME GROWN TOMATOES, 11 a.m. – Noon in the Adventure Classroom with CHIP EAST at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

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

**ST. PATRICK’S 40th CELEBRATION- 10th ANNUAL IRISH FLAG RAISING, 5 p.m. at Chick-Fil-A at 2000 Highland Avenue.

**TODAY through SUNDAY – YOGA + WRITING RETREAT at 1309 19th Street South.

**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.

**THAT TAX MONEY FLOWING with BENNIE MAC featuring COACH WESLEY, DREKA DAEYELASHDIVE, OSCAR P, MILES BRISON and MOTORCITY FATTS. at StarDome Comedy Club.

**12 ELEVEN 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 HOT107 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.

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

**JOHN ELROD performs at The Margaret. John Elrod is a singer with a silky soulful voice and a songwriter. He plays all of the love ballads and tells all of the stories. Elrod plays his originals as well as showcases his Nashville songwriter friends’ songs. Elrod, also, enjoys helping local musicians get their sound out to a wider audience.

**DRAG NIGHT at The Nick.

**FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH R&B DIVA DEIRDRE GADDIS at Perfect Note.

**MOM JEANS at Iron City.

**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.

** BLACK FAMILY WELLNESS EXPO, 10 a.m. at Miles College. FREE.

**STATE PLAY: THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, 2 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium. Celebrating the 100th Year of the Boutwell Aud. with a production of the CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 that was adapted by REGINALD ANDRE JACKSON, about a family’s journey to Birmingham during the civil rights era. Get tickets.

**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.

**R&B TRAP PAINT PARTY, 4 p.m. at 1475 Bessemer Road.

**ELECTRIC AVENUE – THE 80s MTV EXPERIENCE at Iron City.

**LOLLY LEE & SUGARCANE JANE! Double Album Release Show, 4 – 6 p.m. at The Nick. BYO chair.

**ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR – THE SIREN RETURNS TOUR: RAVINER, THINK SANITY AND FOREVER BROKEN at The Nick.

**SAXOPHONIST BK JACKSON at Perfect Note.

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.

**THE FLOURISH presents: HIGH TEA THE GREENHOUSE – SZN 3, 7 p.m. at 602 19th Street Ensley.

**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.

**3RD ANNUAL ST.PATTY’S DAY CELEBRATION with FIRE CAMINO, TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH & KID SCOOBA at The Nick.

**SOULFUL SUNDAY with SAXOPHONIST VES MARABLEat Perfect Note.

**ST. PATRICK’S DAY, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Grab your best green garb and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day at The Margaret Bar.

MONDAY …

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

**HIPPIE SABOTAGE at Iron City.

**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.

**SWEET N’JUICY & THE UPPER STRATA at the Nick.

NEXT THURSDAY …

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

**TINY MAKERS SERIES 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

**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.

**X5 NEW FACE SHOWCASE at StarDome Comedy Club.

**SKYWAY 61 & THE HEAVY STRIDES at the Nick.

NEXT FRIDAY …

**EVERY FRIDAY DURING LUNCH – FRIDAY COUPON CHEAT DAY WITH HOT107 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.

**SAVANNAH DEXTER & BRABO GATOR at Iron City for all ages.

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

**RAMBLE TRIO NIGHT 1 featuring RUDE & TRUE at The Nick.

**TROMBONIST CORD BRADLEY at Perfect Note.

**ALEXA FONTAINE at The Margaret Bar. Alexa Fontaine singer songwriter is from Birmingham Alabama. She started writing songs when she was just 13 years old. She focused more on vocal melodies than guitar. The best way to describe her genre is indie/alt or indie/folk. She has a single out “Bittersweet” on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, and new music dropping soon.

GWEN’S SPOTLIGHT …

**16th ANNUAL ALABAMA WILDLIFE FEDERATION WILD GAME COOK-OFF – Talladega Superspeedway hosts the 18th Wild Game Cook-Off, Saturday, 4 p.m. at the BIG BILLS’s in the Talladega Garage Experience. Media personalities will judge the competition. Talladega’s Spring tripleheader weekend is April 20-21. Saturday features a doubleheader with the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 200 at 12:30 p.m. ET and 4 pm. ET with the NASCAR Xfinity Series AG-PRO 300. Then on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 is at 3 p.m. For more visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.

CELEBRATING WOMEN…

**TUESDAY – WOMEN OF THE KAUL WILDFLOWER GARDEN, 6-7 p.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Join MOLLY HENDRY as she shares the rich history of the Kaul Wildflower Garden.

AT THE BRCI …

**NEXT THURSDAY, March 21 – MOMS OF THE MOVEMENT: WOMEN OF DYNAMITE HILL, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the BCRI Community Meeting Room. BARRY MCNEALY will lead a panel of sons and daughters of the Women of Dynamite Hill including JEFF DREW, THEODORA SHORES, JUDGE HOUSTON BROWN, plaintiff from Mary Means vs. Birmingham. Register.

**THURSDAY, March 28 – THE WOMEN GATHER, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the BCRI COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM & VANN GALLERY. Register.

FOR THE YOUTH …

**FIRST CLASS PRE-K PROGRAM is in the Birmingham City School. Enroll your child at prek.alaceed.alabama.gov. For more info, call 205-231-9841 or 205-231-9842.

**FIRST CLASS PRE-K PRE-REGISTRATION is open for all children that are four years of age on September. Contact Alabama School Readiness Alliance or call 334-224-3171.

**GIRLS MENTORING is in person sessions for 8-12th grade young ladies for positive development. This is a YWCA Family Resource Center and Girls, Inc. partnership. Sessions are 2nd Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. It ends in April. Registration is required.

**THE MAN PROJECT is an all male mentoring program with a mission to empower, encourage and enlighten young males. It will teach them how to have productive lives, develop coping skills and take responsibility for the choices they make. The program wants to challenge them to be positive decision makers and shape them into successful young men. Register at: tmanproject.org.

**REACH & RISE THERAPEUTIC MENTORING PROGRAM – BECOME A MENTOR to 6-17 year olds by volunteering for 12 months. You must be at least 21 years of age. Help to create opportunities for youth to gain new experiences, improve life skills, build relationships, help to cultivate a positive atmosphere while nurturing and supporting youth. The program encourages mentors to impact youth through community engagement, experiences, education and skill building. REQUIREMENTS: Be at least 21 years of age, complete 6 weeks of training, pass fingerprint and security screening, have a clean driving record, and commit 1-3 hours per week with a paired youth for 12 months. Apply at The Y-for youth development for healthy living and for social responsibility.

**LIFEGUARDS NEEDED- Birmingham Parks and Recreation Youth will accept applications through May 10. REQUIREMENTS: Certification is preferred. Non-certified will be trained. Must be 16 years of age on or before May 10th. Interested? Call 205-254-2189 or 205-254-2391.

**MEN’S DREAM CONFERENCE, May 25, 2-4 p.m. at 525 Bradley Road in Gardendale, Alabama, 35071 with DAVID CRAIG, JUSTIN EVANS and ALEX JONES hosted by JAJUAN WIGGINS and AHMAD COLLINS. Call 205 515-0441 for more or email: jajuan_Wiggins@ymail.com.

HAPPENINGS AT SIXTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH …

**THIS FRIDAY through SUNDAY – CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SUMMIT at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church for faith, fitness, family, friendship, finances, fun and future.

**NEXT THURSDAY – SIXTH AVENUE SENIOR NIGHT, 6-7:30 p.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

**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).

COMING SOON …

**JULY 11 – CHRIS BROWN “11:11 TOUR” with Special Guests AYRA STARR and MONI LONG at Legacy Arena.

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.

 

Black Women Struggle to Find Their Way in a Job World Where Diversity is Under Attack

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Birmingham Times
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Chassity Coston, left, and Charity Wallace pose outside Harvard Yard at Harvard University, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. With attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives raging on, Black women looking to climb the work ladder are seeing a landscape that looks more hostile than ever. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BY TERRY TANG AND MICHAEL CASEY

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Miles College Women’s Basketball Team Wins First SIAC Title; Division II Tournament Next

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Birmingham Times
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The Miles College Lady Bears women’s basketball team captured their first SIAC tournament championship Sunday in Savannah, Georgia. (Miles College)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

It was right back to work for the Miles College Lady Bears after capturing their first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) on Sunday in Savannah, Georgia.

The eighth-seeded team began preparations on Tuesday to face top-seeded Valdosta State in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament next with a 4 p.m. CST tip-off on Friday.

“They had a day off Monday to enjoy the win, but it back to work today,” said Head Coach Pete Asmond.

The “win” was historic after the team defeated Kentucky State 75-72 for its first-ever SIAC title behind tournament MVP Feliah Greer, who scored a career high 33 points.

“It was an amazing feeling to be able to get that recognition for the school,” said Asmond. “I’m proud of these young ladies and I’m so blessed to have this job. These ladies were able to accomplish a goal that we set earlier in the year.”

The Lady Bears set several goals at the start of the season. “Winning 20 games, winning all of our home games, and holding opponents to 60 points a game,” said Asmond.

Miles finished 23-6, 14-1 at home and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Asmond has been with the team since 2018 and previously coached under Miles’ men basketball head coach, Fred Watson.

Miles College President Bobbie Knight, holding trophy, celebrates with the Lady Bears women’s basketball team after they captured their first SIAC tournament championship. (Miles College)

‘We Were Falling in Love Without Realizing It. We Went From Being Friends … To Husband And Wife’

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

WILLIE AND ANITA TAYLOR

Live: Irondale

Married: June 13, 1992

Met: Summer 1990, in Ensley at WIllie’s apartment. They shared a friend who dropped by for a visit with Anita in tow. Willie was 34, and Anita was 30.

“There was no goal to make a connection… She was cute, there was a slight interest, but I didn’t act on it at that time,” Willie said. “I had a roommate and we were known for entertaining with music, so people stopped by to listen to music and hang out. We loved rock and roll, and it was different for two Black guys to listen to rock, we had a different kind of vibe,” he laughed.

“I’ll never forget pulling up outside and hearing loud rock music and I was like ‘Oh my goodness, where are we going?’ But we got in and they were nice,” Anita recalled of Willie and his roommate. “When I met him, I said to myself ‘I like everything about him, he likes music, and he listened to a different type of music than me.’ I felt an immediate attraction. I could also see his heart that day. I said, ‘I’d like to spend some time with him, but nobody was matchmaking that day. It was just an encounter and it turned into something else.”

First date: Fall 1990. Willie wanted their first date to be one she wouldn’t forget and took Anita to her first rock concert at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex [BJCC] to see ZZ Top.

“I wanted to show her who I was. She got a taste of my musical style when she stopped by the house. Instead of going to a movie or out to dinner, I said, ‘let me take her to a rock concert. And once she got out of her head and let her hair down, she had a good time,” Willie said.

“I would have never gone to a rock concert on my own, but because I liked him so much, I was willing to try it. Everybody was jumping up and down, there was a full light show, and they [the rock band] had these long fancy guitars and long beards down to their chests, and were on stage wearing dark glasses,” Anita said. “And yes, once I let my hair down, I started doing what everyone else was doing, I was jumping up and down and screaming. It was like taking a kid to Disneyland for the first time, the first time they see Mickey Mouse in person and the light show, it’s a whole new world, and that’s how it was for me. It was the best experience of my life, and to this day I still think of that, and I fell in love with him that night. It was magical… he bought me a band T-shirt, it was gold to me.”

That began a tradition of the couple going to rock and roll concerts every chance they got.

The turn: Fall 1991. “When she moved into an apartment in Pratt City I would go over frequently for dinner, and we became an item. Once she moved out on her own that’s when I started considering pursuing her seriously. We never had a conversation about being a couple, we were falling in love with each other without realizing it. We had so much fun together… We went from being friends, to good friends, to best friends to husband and wife. It wasn’t a long courtship,” Willie said.

Anita said she had been praying to God for a new mate. “I had said to myself that I was tired of being by myself and I wanted a relationship with someone and was ready to spend my life with somebody that not only loved me but also loved my girls because we were a package. And I started praying and I said, ‘Lord send me someone and I’m going to wait for him to pursue me…’ I liked Willie a lot because he introduced me to a new part of life and made things so much fun,” Anita said.

The proposal: During the Christmas holiday season of 1991. Willie was planning his proposal and asked Anita to name three of her favorite restaurants,

“…I took her to Olive Garden because I wanted to take her someplace kind of romantic where they had low light because I wanted to tell her how I felt about her,” Willie said. “I still remember what she was wearing, she had on a beautiful red dress and her hair was fixed in a nice style that I was crazy about… After we had our meal, we sat there sipping a glass of wine, and I asked her if she had thought about us living a life together and she said she thought about it all the time. So, I went in my pocket and pulled out the ring and asked her if she would be my wife, and she said ‘yes’.

“I said, ‘yes in a heartbeat because he was a person, I could enjoy life with… and when he proposed I put some things on the table. I said, ‘it’s not only me you have to love my girls too,’ and he made it known that he loved them and that was it for me because I knew he cared about my girls. He came around on birthdays, took them out to eat, helped with their homework… It was a special night, almost as magical as the night at the concert,” she said.

Both Willie and Anita were divorcees. The girls were from Anita’s previous marriage and were 12 and 8 at the time.

The wedding: At the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, officiated by Pastor Cleo Clark of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Leeds, Anita’s home church. Their colors were dusty rose and mint green.

Most memorable for the bride was being serenaded by her groom. “He wrote a song for me [called ‘Here We Are’] and he sang it to me at the wedding. As he was singing, we could hear the little birds singing in the background, it was beautiful,” Anita said.

Most memorable for the groom was wondering where his bride was. “It’s kinda funny, she was 30 minutes late getting to the venue and I’m sitting there saying ‘Oh Lord, has she had a change of heart, what’s going on?’ And when they finally said the wedding was about to start, I was [relieved]. And when she walked out of that door and I saw her, I’ll never forget it, it was like she was glowing. She had this big smile … that was one of the happiest days of my life,” Willie said.

Anita said she was late because she went shopping for last-minute items before the wedding, “and when I got to the venue [the photographer] took a picture of me running across the parking lot with my hands full of bags,” she laughed.

They honeymooned on a cruise to the Bahamas. “We went walking along the beach and Anita picked up a seashell that she wanted to take home as a souvenir, and when we got back on the ship, a lizard came out and she freaked out,” Willie laughed. “They had to take our luggage out and give us another room because they couldn’t find the lizard and she said she couldn’t stay in there with the lizard,” Willie said.

“The way he took care of me and cared about making me comfortable that night made me fall more in love with him,” Anita said. In the new room, Anita was now at peace, “I said this lizard is not about to mess up the happiest day of my life and ruin our ‘fun time’,” Anita laughed.

Words of wisdom: “Trust, love, and communication. Be able to meet each other halfway on issues. You have to be able to come together and meet in the middle. I watched my grandmother and grandfather and they did everything together,” Anita said.

“We’re also photographers, we do a lot of weddings, and I always tell the groom towards the end of the night to get them an imaginary bottle and bottle the emotion and feelings [they are experiencing that night], and years down the line, when you need it, pull it out and take a sip and remember why you fell in love with her,” Willie said. “My bottle is still full after 31 years.”

Happily ever after: The Taylors attend The Guiding Light Church, in Birmingham, where Anita serves in the youth ministry, and Willie in the media ministry. They have two adult daughters, April and Cheryl, and six grandchildren.

Anita, 64, is a Los Angeles, California native who relocated to Birmingham in 1975 and graduated from Wenonah High School. She attended Jefferson State Community College [Birmingham campus], where she studied early childhood education and business administration. She owns and operates Glorious Kid’s Youth Center in Irondale with her husband.

Willie, 67, is an Ensley native and Ensley High School grad. He attended the University of North Alabama [in Florence, Ala.] and Alcorn State University [Lorman, MS], where he studied health and physical education on a football scholarship. He retired from UAB Hospital where he worked in guest services and now assists his wife with their day care, Glorious Kid’s Youth Center.

“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

Birmingham Lawmaker John Rogers to Resign, Plead Guilty in Federal Corruption Case

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Birmingham Times
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After serving more than 40 years in the Alabama legislature, Rep. John Rogers was sentenced to 13 months in prison. (File)

By Hannah Denham | hdenham@al.com

After serving more than 40 years in the Alabama legislature, Rep. John Rogers will resign and plead guilty to federal felony charges in a kickback scheme that also brought down his longtime assistant and another lawmaker.

Rogers, 83, signed an agreement to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to court documents made public on Monday. A federal grand jury first indicted Rogers in September for his involvement in a scheme to misuse public money intended to support nonprofits.

He could face years in prison. A sentencing date hasn’t been set.

When AL.com called Rogers’ phone number on Monday afternoon, an error message said that it was not a working number. His attorney, John Robbins, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rogers, D-Birmingham, will resign from the Alabama House of Representatives, where he’s represented the city and parts of the metro area since 1982. Court records say he will resign immediately after a federal judge accepts his guilty plea.

Rogers also agreed to pay nearly $200,000 to the Jefferson County Community Service Fund as restitution, per the plea agreement. In exchange, his other 18 charges will be dismissed.

The plea agreement, which Rogers signed earlier this month, says that he directed about $400,000 from the community service fund to the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League, a nonprofit run by Fred Plump, between 2019 and 2023. Plump kicked about $200,000 of that funding back to Rogers and his assistant, Varrie Johnson Kindall, per the plea agreement. Plump pleaded guilty and resigned from the Alabama legislature last June.

The plea agreement also says that Rogers and Kindall carried out another kickback scheme involving money intended for an unnamed organization in 2019. In that case, the nonprofit received $10,000 and its founder gave $1,800 to Rogers and Kindall as an “administration fee,” per the plea agreement. Rogers previously identified the founder as George Stewart, who leads the American Gospel Quartet Convention.

In February, Kindall also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud and obstruction of justice. She worked for Rogers for many years, both as a personal and legislative assistant.

It was part of Rogers’ scheme with Kindall for her to accept “full responsibility” for any crimes and to say that he was not involved, per the plea agreement. In exchange, Rogers promised to “pay Kindall’s mortgage and take care of her children if Kindall went to jail,” the plea agreement reads.

The maximum punishment for each of Rogers’ charges includes a fine capped at $250,000, and supervised release of no more than three years, per his plea agreement. For the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud charge, the maximum punishment is up to 20 years in prison; for conspiracy to obstruct justice, it’s up to five years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office recommended that the judge reduce his charges and sentence him to a stint in prison followed by supervised release.

Birmingham Awarded $14.5M to Redesign Historic 4th Ave. Black Business District

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Birmingham Times
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Street scenes at the historic 4th Avenue District in Birmingham. (Joe Songer for The Birmingham Times)

The Birmingham Times

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07)

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) on Monday announced that the City of Birmingham has been awarded $14,556,040 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reconnect the Historic 4th Avenue Black Business District.

Funding from this grant will be used to redesign 15 blocks of streets, converting them from one-way to two-way and reconnecting downtown neighborhoods and businesses.

Funding comes from DOT’s Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) grant program and will be used to improve access to businesses and neighborhoods by converting Birmingham’s Black Main Street from a one-way to a two-way road.

“Birmingham’s 4th Avenue Business District has a rich history of African American ingenuity and entrepreneurship,” said Sewell. “With the help of the Biden-Harris Administration, we are working to ensure that the residents, workers, and businesses of this historic place have the infrastructure they need to thrive. This major federal investment will help reconnect our communities and pave the way for strong and equitable growth.”

Birmingham’s Historic 4th Avenue Business District was once a thriving hub of Black businesses and community before it was divided by the construction of Interstate 65 in the 1960s.

Rich In History 

Ivan Holloway, executive director of Urban Impact, a nonprofit community and economic development agency fostering growth in both districts. told Alabama NewsCenter in a past interview that it’s inspiring to see all the activity in the Fourth Avenue Business District and the Civil Rights District, both of which are part of the larger Fountain Heights neighborhood that stretches south to Morris Avenue, and north beyond Interstate Highways 59/20, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex and Oak Hill Cemetery, where some of the city’s founders are buried.

It’s an area “with a rich history of African American culture and entrepreneurship,” said Holloway. He noted the Fourth Avenue district was where local Black leaders, including the pastor of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, pooled resources in the late 19th century to create the Penny Savings Bank of Alabama, the first Black-owned financial institution in the state and one of only three in the nation at the time. By the early 1910s, it had grown to be the most secure Black-owned bank in the country, financing many Black homes and businesses before it failed following a merger. The bank’s six-story headquarters, built in 1913, still stands on 18th Street North.

The Fourth Avenue District only grew in vibrancy during the Jim Crow era of segregation as Black businesses, restaurants and taverns, entertainment venues and professional offices concentrated in the neighborhood.

“The Fourth Ave Business District played an enormous part in making sure people had access to the necessities of life at that time,” Holloway said. “It was a community within the downtown construct of Birmingham.”

Nearly 60 years after desegregation opened doors for Black businesses to spread to other locations, as much as 35% of the properties and businesses in the Fourth Avenue District are Black-owned. That compares to an estimated 7% nationwide.

Holloway said Urban Impact continues to work to increase economic opportunities for Blacks and Black-owned businesses. “African Americans are part of the Birmingham economy in a very meaningful way. They not only add value, but add context to the Birmingham story,” he said.

Urban Impact is working to incorporate the Fourth Avenue district history into the broader story of civil rights being told a few blocks away.

“We know that the Civil Rights District has visitors from all over the world,” Holloway said. “We see this as a great opportunity to transform the Fourth Avenue district in a historical manner that gives context and further develops the story line of the work of African Americans.

“If we can recreate … some of that, it not only provides a service, but it tells a story about our ability to make it in this society, no matter what hindrances were put forth,” Holloway said.

Birmingham Celebrates StrongHer: Power of Women Supporting Women

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Birmingham Times
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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, surrounded by this year’s StrongHer honorees and guests, unveil the art exhibit of inspirational women in the second-floor lobby of Birmingham City Hall. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | For The Birmingham Times

The City of Birmingham on Friday paid tribute to many of the city’s unsung she-roes.

On International Women’s Day during Women’s History Month, Mayor Randall Woodfin, joined by this year’s honorees, unveiled the StrongHer art exhibit on the second-floor lobby of Birmingham City Hall.

“All the women you see here that are present, today ladies we celebrate you, we acknowledge you, we honor you. I’m honored you’ve shared your gifts with us, your families, your communities and the City of Birmingham,” said Woodfin.

“And what makes this moment even more special is the art you see …. It’s testament to the power and beauty of women supporting women,” said Woodfin.

The exhibit, Textures of Strength, was commissioned by Christina Johnson, the 2024 Artist in Residence for Railroad Park.

Johnson, a cancer survivor, says each woman’s story in this year’s StrongHer campaign represented a part of her own soul.

“The stories of the honorees inspired me deeply to create works that represent women – their beauty, their strength, their perseverance and dedication through the many layers, the many moving pieces and daily interactions,” said Johnson.

“They (the honorees) have chosen to lead by example with faith and with kindness, and I’m deeply honored to be a part of this beautiful campaign,” said Johnson.

Cancer survivors and StrongHer honorees, Milana Price, left, and Christina Johnson, (Amarr Croskey Photo, The Birmingham Times)

Johnson had a touching exchange at the press conference with nine-year-old Milana Price, a StrongHer honoree, lung cancer survivor and aspiring artist, who has a pencil drawing featured in the StrongHer art exhibit.

Price’s lung cancer was detected when she was four years old.  She had surgery afterward to remove half of her right lung and, according to her mother, has been resilient and encouraging in the face of her recovery.

Price is now cancer-free and her mother, Imaan Cross, says “she’s an encourager in her own little way.”

Johnson, a wife and mother of three, shared she also overcame a childhood cancer diagnosis of non-hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Johnson gifted Price with, in her words, “a painting that represents your survival, your strength and your light,” and added, “I’d like to encourage you to continue to pursue your art and everything you desire.” said Johnson.

As the StrongHer campaign continues to grow, it also features a book, published in 2023, to cement the stories of those whose work and lives have been honored.

Chanda Temple, Senior Project Manager for the City of Birmingham, and an award-winning author, compiled the 150 stories for ‘StrongHer: Women Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges in Birmingham.’

Chanda Temple

Temple said the StrongHer campaign started as an idea back in 2019.

“Mayor Randall Woodfin came to me and said he wanted to recognize women in Birmingham. I started thinking about the best way we can do that, and then StrongHer just came to me,” said Temple.

“These are people who work in the trenches. You never see them out front a lot and they make things happen. They move the city forward and so that was our theme,” said Temple.

The book was the natural evolution of the campaign honoring female community leaders.

Temple encouraged residents to keep sending in their nominees.

“If they nominated someone and they weren’t selected this year, or they weren’t selected in the past, please keep letting us know about these individuals because everybody is a StrongHer.” said Temple.

The book is $28 and can be purchased from the downtown Birmingham Public Library’s Friends Bookstore Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Profiles from the book will be shared each day in March at https://www.birminghamal.gov/strongher.

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