Home Blog Page 233

The Search Continues for Birmingham’s Oldest African American Genealogy Group

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Dora Marrisette is President of The Birmingham African American Genealogy Group Inc. (BAAGG) and helps members of the organization trace their roots. (Barnett Wright, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

As February comes to a close, Black History continues for Dora Marrisette, President of The Birmingham African American Genealogy Group Inc. (BAAGG) and members of the organization.

“We are a group of people [who] are curious about our roots, where we came from, and our people,” said Marrisette. “We are trying to extend that out into the community, where we help other people who are interested in the same thing. We try to point them to the right direction like the library, the archives in Montgomery, [and] the different archives at the Historically Black colleges.”

BAAGG was founded in 1999 and the oldest such organization in Alabama.

Marrisette, who has been a part of the group since 2000, has been able to “research her paternal side of my family back to 1870,” she said. “I thought that was a big accomplishment. I was able to locate the slave owner and identify my family in the slave owners’ will when his property was distributed,” said Marrisette.

At the time of BAAGG’s founding a growing number of African Americans expressed a desire to research their family’s “roots” in the Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama areas. The first meeting was held in February 1999 at the downtown Birmingham Public Library and this month the group celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Originally from Prichard, Alabama, in Mobile County, Marrisette attended Mattie T. Blount High School and recalled an interest in her roots even back then.

“When I went to high school we went to homeroom based on our last names and there were several people in my class that had the same last name but with different spellings,” she said. “I never really knew if we were related … and that started my quest to find out.”

Marrisette said the family would move to Birmingham and her father had a stroke losing his communication skills. “He couldn’t speak so I really couldn’t have the conversation with him that I wanted about his family.  My father passed last year … and I don’t have anybody to confirm anything that I find from his side of the family now.”

Marrisette attended Alabama State University where she studied biology.  “I wanted to teach science, but I think I sort of lost my patience my second day of observations in the classroom,” she said. “… After graduation I got a job here in Birmingham.”

For 43 years she worked for Southern Research – a nonprofit scientific research organization founded in Birmingham in 1941 and retired in December.

Asked what she’s doing in her free time, Marrisette said, “I have time to travel. I want to visit some of the places where my ancestors lived.”

Last year she started with her grandmother.

“She moved to Gary, Indiana and that is where she lived for a few years. She died there and she is buried there. We went to the cemetery and to her neighborhood. Her home was not there but it did give us a sense of belonging and fulfillment. I just like to go to other places where they have planted roots. Sometimes I just want to get in my car and just drive or ride with no destination in place to just see what I can see,” said Marrisette, who often finds herself imagining what life could’ve been like for her ancestors.

“The group of slaves that my family were a part of came from Tennessee. They say those slaves walked from that state to this one. Sometimes, when I’m driving, I just imagine [them] maybe as [a] runaway slave. Sometimes I imagine their life and what it could’ve been like,” she said.

Since researching her genealogy, she has found ways to honor her ancestors.

“We have a saying in our group, ‘speak their names’, that way we remember them is we speak their names so that is what I try to do. In my research, I have recorded birthdays and weddings. I get reminders so that I can say ‘happy birthday’ or ‘congratulations’ [to her ancestors’, she said.

Interested in researching your family’s history? Join BAAGG In-Person & on ZOOM. Classes are on 3rd Saturdays of each month at the Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Linn-Henley Building, 4th Floor, Computer Room 3 – 5 p.m. 

 

‘She Saw the Ring Box [And] Looked at Me Smiling; I Smiled Back, ‘Will You Marry Me?’

By
Birmingham Times
-
0

K.J. AND GERALDINE JOHNSON

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

Live: McCalla

Married: Sept. 7, 2003

Met: Spring 2000, at Faulkner University. K.J. and Geraldine were in the same history class and wound up in the same study group. K.J. said that Faulkner’s college campus in Birmingham was 70-80 percent women, but he wasn’t looking to find a new mate, as he was a divorced single father, and focused on earning his bachelor’s degree so he could qualify for promotion at his job at UPS.

“When I first saw Geri in class, I noticed her because of her walk it was the motion of her arms with her little shuffle that caught my eye,” K.J. said.

Geraldine said K.J.’s dapperness caught her attention. “…he was very nicely dressed. [K.J.] always came to class in a crisp button-down shirt, slacks, and nice Johnston Murphy dress shoes, and he was very articulate. I wasn’t looking for anyone either, my goal was to go to school at a later age [she was in her 30s] and get my degree. But we ended up in the same study group and things went from there.”

First date: Early fall 2000, at K.J.’s church, New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Titusville.  Geraldine was asked to accompany him to his Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother’s wedding, which was a move K.J. said none of his friends dared to make.

“Out of my group of friends, none of them would ever take women to a wedding on a date, and I always took women to weddings with me,” K.J. said.

The wedding was largely attended by K.J.’s fellow church members, and he was pleased by Geraldine’s ability to handle his interactions with his friends.

“I can’t deal with anyone with insecurities. I don’t really know a stranger, I like to mingle and talk and move around… And I recognized that she was ok with me not being right next to her every minute while we were at the wedding, that was a plus,” K.J. said.

The invite did not add pressure to their early courtship. Geraldine said, “I was kinda surprised when he asked me to go, but I didn’t read anything into it. I was just excited to go and go out to eat afterward,” she said. “I realized the wedding was at his church and was happy to get to see him in his element at his church.”

After that wedding, they went to Baumhowers on Lakeshore Drive, and “we really got a chance to know each other better,” Geraldine said. “We sat at the bar, and we talked about our kids, I had been divorced and he had been divorced, we were both single parents, we both had sons… and it’s really uncommon for a single father to have custody of [his kids]. That impressed me, that showed me his character…,” she said.

“I was a single parent with two of my three sons [ages 13, and 15] living with me, and she was a single parent with her only son [age 11] living with her,” K.J. said.

The turn: October 2001. A year into their courtship. “A lot of things were put on the table on the first date about our [individual] plans. Her plan was to go to school, get a degree, move up in her company, and buy a house. And my plan was to get a degree and get promoted [at UPS] because I was a driver and you couldn’t get promoted to management without a degree.,” K.J. said.

“I already owned a house, but I was actually in the process of trying to move my mother into my house and build another one for myself. [It seemed] our goals were aligning. I’m a real big proponent for taking it kinda slow [in regards to marriage] because you never want to make the same mistakes twice. But our goals were aligned and there was so much similarity, and that drew us closer,” K.J. said.

“When I met his mom and he met my mom, that’s when we knew we were going someplace,” Geraldine said. “It was at that cookout in October when I met his sons, his mother, his sisters, and aunts, that let me know we were moving to the next level in our relationship.”

The proposal: May 2002, in Hawaii. The pair went on a trip to Honolulu and K.J. proposed at a restaurant on the beach. “I had bought the ring and the plan was to do it [on vacation]. I had a high school buddy that was in the Army and that’s where he was stationed so I involved him and his wife in setting it up,” K.J. said. “His wife was going to video it, and I told the [restaurant] manager what I was doing and gave him the ring, and he was supposed to bring it out with one of those big silver tins on top, but what he did was brought everyone else’s meal out on plates, and brought Geri’s out in a to-go box, and she was clueless and asking why was her meal in a to-go box… the manager played along and said, ‘I thought yours was to go, but open the box first, you may want to eat it.’ And when she did she saw the ring box and she looked at me smiling and I smiled back and said, ‘Will you marry me?’ and she said ‘yes’.

“I was in shock. I had a little bit of an attitude because I couldn’t understand why everyone else’s food was presented to them on plates and mine was in a Styrofoam box… so I was very caught off guard. How he had everything planned out was perfect, the scenery (from where we were sitting you could literally walk right onto the beach), the atmosphere and we had people there that we really cared about and wanted to share [the moment with]… having my sister-in-law, Diedra there, Mike and Jackie, they’re like brothers, so it was just perfect for me,” Geraldine said.

K.J.’s sister, Deidra was invited along on the vacation because both she and K.J. were grieving the recent passing of their mother at the time, and Hawaii made for a great change of scenery.

The wedding: In the chapel at New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Titusville, officiated by the [former] associate pastor, Robert Bearden. K.J. wore a black suit and grey tie, and Geraldine wore a black two-piece dress suit. “It was just a small intimate wedding with our immediate family and close friends,” Geraldine said.

In February of the following year [2004], the newlyweds had their wedding reception at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and moved into the new home they had just finished building.

Most memorable for the bride was going out to celebrate with their family after their nuptials. “All the family that was at the wedding went out to dinner with us at Copper Grille in Brookwood Village, and for me, it was the family celebrating our union that was memorable for me,” Geraldine said.

Most memorable for the groom was the reception a few months later.

“The pastor and I were very good friends, and that was a big deal for him to be marrying Gerry and me. He was 10 years older and believed that Gerry and I had a very strong foundation. We were sincere in what we wanted and what we were bringing to the table so [the wedding ceremony] was just the final formality. I was already looking down the road and making plans and I saw how we were both enhancing each other’s lives. But the reception was a lot more memorable, we had a lot of family there to celebrate our being married. Gerry’s mother flew in from Chicago…,” K.J. recalled.

“We had [the works] at the reception, we had the wedding cake, the photographer, my mother was able to attend, it was wonderful,” Geraldine said.

They returned to Hawaii for their honeymoon. “It was the perfect way of bringing us full circle. We went there in our dating stage and went back when we were married, and I felt the difference in being there with my wife versus my girlfriend. I had to get used to [hearing people] referring to us as Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,” K.J. said.

Words of wisdom: “You’ve got to communicate,” said Geraldine. “Always put God first. I make her priorities my priorities and she makes my priorities her priorities. We took several Bible classes together, and that really goes to the basis of our foundation… I think that put a foundation on both of us because I understood that she was going to follow the principles in the Bible when it came to marriage, she knew I was, and she started attending my church [New Pilgrim Baptist Church, in Titusville] during the dating stage and that had a lot to do with me looking at her as a potential wife that surpassed her having some goals that lined up with mine,” K.J. said.

Happily ever after: The Johnsons attend New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Titusville, where K.J. serves as the senior class Sunday school teacher. They are a blended family with four adult sons, K.J. Jr., Jason, Jamarious, and Aaron, ages 39- 27, and have one granddaughter, Jayla.

Geraldine, 54, is a Chicago, Illinois native, from Goshen, Ala., and a Goshen High School grad. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Faulkner University [Birmingham campus], an associate degree in medical office administration from Virginia College [Birmingham campus], and an associate’s degree in nursing from Lawson State Community College [Birmingham campus]. Geraldine is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and has worked as a business analyst for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, for the past 20 years.

K.J., 57, is a Memphis Tennessee native, from Birmingham, and an A.H. Parker High School grad. He attended Faulkner University [Birmingham campus], where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources, a master’s degree in the science of management from Troy University [Troy, AL], and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and served in the US Marine Corps for eight years in the Second Marine Division, 2nd Tank Battalion.  He recently retired from UPS as an industrial engineer after 33 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.

https://www.gusterlawfirm.com/

 

Donna Dukes, Founder of Birmingham School for Critically At-Risk Students, Shares the ‘Way to Hope’

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Donna Dukes will hold a pre-launch of her book — “The Way to Hope: The Challenges, Hard Truths & Triumphs of Working With Critically At-Risk Students” — Wednesday at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) beginning at 5 p.m. in the Abraham Woods Community Meeting Room. (File)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Donna Dukes, Founder and Executive Director of Maranathan Academy in Birmingham, knows about the hard truths and triumphs of working with critically at-risk students in the metro area.

Founded in 1991, Maranathan Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit school and learning center that caters to critically at-risk students — some with little or no support system, others who have been expelled from school, had trouble learning, or may not have the best home life.

Dukes said she’s often asked at speaking engagements and conferences about some of her proven techniques to help young adults and now she’s found a way to share some of what she knows.

On Wednesday, (Feb. 28) Dukes will hold a pre-launch of her book — “This Way to Hope: The Challenges, Hard Truths & Triumphs of Working With Critically At-Risk Students” — at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) beginning at 5 p.m. in the Abraham Woods Community Meeting Room.

The book is geared “to bring insight into the plight of critically at-risk students to inspire educators, social workers, all professionals that work on the front lines of the critically at risk [population],” she said.

“My prayer and my hope is that the book can be placed into the hands of those who need inspiration most, given the mass exodus that is continuing to occur in the teaching profession and the collective burnout that is occurring among social workers and others, I hope it provides some much-needed encouragement,” Dukes said.

Having the pre-launch at the BCRI is special for a number of reasons, she said.

“Given my late father’s [the Rev. Frank Dukes] deep and impactful involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and given the fact that Maranathan Academy was [recognized by] the BCRI for being the first school of its kind in the state of Alabama is an honor,” she said.

The Rev. Frank Dukes, an influential Birmingham Civil Rights Movement leader and President of Miles College’s trailblazing student body in the early 1960’s, died in November at the age of 92.

Maranathan is the only private school in Birmingham and its surrounding cities, that works exclusively with critically at-risk youth, and the only private school in the Birmingham area that accepts students who have been expelled for weapon-related or violent offenses.

When: Wednesday (Feb. 28)

Where: The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI)

Time: 5 p.m.-6 p.m.

Description: Dukes will hold a pre-launch of her book – “The Way to Hope: The Challenges, Hard Truths & Triumphs of Working With Critically At-Risk Students.”

The official launch of the book will be held Saturday, April 6 at the Barnes & Noble at The Summit.

UAB Barefield Entrepreneurship Program Hosts National Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Entrepreneurship Program recently hosted the 2024 United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship conference. (Adobe Stock)

By Katherine Kirk | UAB News

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Entrepreneurship Program recently hosted the 2024 United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship conference. With approximately 700 educators from across the United States and 15 other countries attending the conference and more attendees online, UAB was the host sponsor and played a key role in connecting Birmingham to a vast audience of entrepreneurs worldwide.“We deliver a world-class entrepreneurship education to our students and learners in our community, so it was an honor to host those from around the nation in Birmingham to learn more about entrepreneurship education,” said Patrick J. Murphy, Ph.D., Goodrich Endowed Chair and director of the Barefield Entrepreneurship Program in the Collat School of Business. “At UAB, we empower students to use that new knowledge to join and launch entrepreneurial ventures to make an impact on our ecosystem and beyond. It was wonderful to share the work at UAB with so many other leading programs in the field.”

According to the Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the conference’s economic impact on the city was nearly $1 million.

“About 90 percent of attendees had not been to Birmingham before,” Murphy said. “The event established many new connections inside and outside our regional economy.”

Established in 2020, the Barefield Entrepreneurship program offers a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and an Master of Business Administration degree with an entrepreneurship concentration. The program has a strategic alliance with the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and with Innovation Depot, which generate co-curricular and extracurricular educational experiences that magnify the program’s impact on the Birmingham region.

USASBE was founded in 1981 and is the country’s premier entrepreneurship education organization holding its annual conference in different cities around the country.

Darryl Love, Birmingham-Area Chemist, Included in Painting With Black Science Trailblazers

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Retired Evonik chemist Darryl Love is featured in a painting of Black science trailblazers that recently concluded a tour of cities. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Photo, For The Birmingham Times)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

Tour de Love, the journey of a painting featuring Black science trailblazers and local chemist Darryl Love, made it back home last week where it all began a year ago.

Evonik, one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, celebrated the February 20 homecoming of the painting during a Black History Month ceremony. The event in the Evonik auditorium, drew a room full of staffers who were present for the painting but more for the retired colleague who returned to his old stomping grounds.

The art – Black Resilience: Innovation in the Midst of Resistance by New Orleans-based artist Kenneth Scott Jr. – depicts Love with famous Black scientists like George Washington Carver and Marie Maynard Daly. The artwork was commissioned in 2023 by Blacks United in Leadership & Development, or BUILD. It is Evonik’s employee resource group for Black professionals.

Tracy Cheavious, a business development manager at Evonik, with retired chemist Darryl Love. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Photo, For The Birmingham Times)

Tracy Cheavious, a co-chair of BUILD and business development manager at Evonik, said, “BUILD wanted to highlight Black scientists within the company and thus honor Black excellence. While Darryl Love’s career came to an end, the portrait honoring him will have a positive impact for years to come.”

She added, “We have seen such a tremendous, positive response from employees here at Evonik. It has been amazing. To see it make that tour and make it here right at Black History Month is kind of like a full circle moment.”

The painting depicts several Black scientific pioneers in chemistry, botany and drug development, and Evonik’s Love, who retired from the company.

“I’m much honored to be a part of that portrait and to have people take their picture with it,” said Love, who worked 47 years as a research scientist until retiring last year (although) he hasn’t taken a seat in a rocking chair. He is a research chemist/trainer for E3 Solutions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) [non-profit] that was founded by his wife Debra in 2015.

“The theme of Black resilience in regard to Evonik meant featuring Black pioneers in the sciences,” artist Kenneth Scott Jr. said in a company release. “The botanical foliage with lotus flowers in the painting’s background symbolizes resilience and strength. The style of the foliage was inspired by the paintings of botanist George Washington Carver, who was an artist as well.”

The travels of the painting have come to be known as Tour de Love, which plays off Tour de France, the renowned French bicycle race.

Cheavious said the showing turned out better than she imagined.

“(The painting) toured five of Evonik’s largest sites. Throughout the tour, employees had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the painting and take pictures.”

The painting visited:

  • Mobile, Ala., the company’s largest production site in North America
  • Piscataway, N.J., the North America regional headquarters
  • Allentown, Pa., North America’s Innovation Hub
  • Tippecanoe Labs in Lafayette, Ind., Evonik’s second largest production site in North America, and
  • Richmond, Va., the collaboration hub for hybrid workforce.

“We had QR codes at some of the sites where people [could] scan it and read about it, learn about the artist, things of that nature,” Cheavious said.

Some said the painting received a Taylor Swift reception as several Evonik employees snapped selfies with it. “It would be nice if I could make Taylor Swift kind of money,” Darryl Love joked, calling the experience humbling.

The picture will be framed and mounted in the Lakeshore facility’s lobby. “Every visitor and every employee will see that beautiful painting,” Cheavious said. “It’s a reminder of Evonik’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

Messages of Inspiration Shared with Students at Huffman Middle School Summit

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Investor and entrepreneur Monique Johnson shares tips with students on investing and wealth building during the Huffman Middle School Female Summit. (Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson Photo, For The Birmingham Times)

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | For The Birmingham Times

Nearly 30 professionals in fields representing authors, attorneys, educators and entrepreneurs spoke words of guidance and encouragement to students at the annual Female Summit at Huffman Middle School on Friday, February 23.

Principal Genita Matthews, event organizer, said this year’s theme was “Born to Win With a Purpose” and the summit’s key takeaways were to “elevate, empower and educate,” she said.  “We would like for our young ladies to become successful women and see all the powerful women we have who can come in and share their experiences and careers and encourage them and motivate them,” said Matthews.

Students from the 6th through 8th grades participated and were able to choose three individual sessions.

Entrepreneur and investor Monique Johnson’s session was entitled ‘Get to the Bag,’ where she shared financial investment tips.

“It’s important for us to learn early and utilize these resources,” said Johnson. “Long-term investment is a tool that we can use to set ourselves up for success and attain the things we want in the long run. And once they learn that skill, no one can take it away from them.”

Johnson also works as a mentor to students at Huffman Middle weekdays through the Common Ground program, which teaches conflict resolution and other crucial life skills to male and female students in Birmingham City Schools.

Dr. Emanuel Foster, Huffman Middle School Assistant Principal with Principal Genita Matthews during the Huffman Middle School Female Summit. (Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson Photo, For The Birmingham Times)

Author Dr. Deven Tellis is a veteran teacher and owner of Blooming Books Publishing and currently teaches online and shared messages and affirmations from her book “Who’s to Say …?”, which inspires its readers to visualize themselves in various professions.

Tellis’ class session was titled, ‘Born to Win: Cultivating Self-Love and Self-Awareness through Reading, Writing and Children’s Literature.’

“We had a fun time talking about positive mindset, loving yourself and being aware of yourself and how you talk to yourself and how what you do, affects others and how that determines the trajectory of your success as a young adult and later as an adult,” she said.

Speakers hosted sessions through late morning and the summit concluded just after midday with keynote speaker Attorney Ellise Washington of EMW Law in Birmingham.

Parents and other supporters were also invited to take part in the summit, which featured vendors who sponsored giveaways for the staff and female students.

Birmingham’s YouthSpeak Event a Celebration of African Americans in the Arts

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman during the Third Annual YouthSpeak event, held Friday at Red Mountain Theatre. (Sym Posey Photo, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman said she felt right at home Friday at the Red Mountain Theatre and wanted to make sure students from throughout Jefferson County did as well.

“I can remember when I was in school being able to perform on a stage like this and get access to instructions just like this,” said Smitherman, to students and parents from various schools who gathered for the Third Annual YouthSpeak event at RMT. “The theme for this year is African Americans in the arts. That is the theme for the entire Black History Month.”

The event featured poetry, music, theatre, and dance by students from Ramsay High School, Jefferson County Academy of Theatre & Dance, Huffman High School, Wenonah High School, Jackson-Olin High School, Paul W. Bryant High School, Indian Springs School, and Hemphill Elementary.

Less than 10 percent of artists are African Americans, said the councilor. “This is a matter of giving Black artists as young as five years old up to the age of 18 a voice to represent themselves, being able to say it in the safe space ‘this is what is going on in my life, this is how I feel, this is how I want to represent the art community,’” she said.

She added during her speech at RTM, “… we really want to make sure our kids have access to a state-of-the-art facility … I am so happy that these kids decided to participate. It really means a lot to me.”

Guests were also treated to a special performance by the cast of “The Color Purple”.

Company Brings Glass Recycling Back to Return to Birmingham Next Month

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
In addition to launching a curbside program New Orleans-based Glass Half Full is opening a facility to process the glass in North Birmingham. They will eventually offer free drop off for all residents at the site. (Adobe Stock)

By Pat Byington | Bham Now

The wait is over. New-Orleans-based Glass Half Full is launching their curbside glass recycling program in several Birmingham neighborhoods in March. They also intend to offer a free drop-off location in the near future.

Glass Half Full’s first 5 neighborhoods

In November 2023, Bham Now reported Glass Half Full’s intention to expand its successful glass recycling program to Birmingham in 2024.

They have made good on that promise.

Earlier this week, the company announced that it will begin its subscription-based monthly curbside program in 5 Birmingham neighborhoods. They are:

  • Five Points South
  • Highland Park
  • Lakeview District
  • Forest Park
  • Crestwood

The cost of the pickup service begins at $20 a month with a 20% limited-time discount if you sign-on to a yearly subscription.

Crate delivery for customers start the week of March 4th.

Monthly pickup service will commence the week of March 18th.

Below is a map of the initial service area. The company does expect to expand the program.

New Glass Half Full facility

In addition to launching the curbside program Glass Half Full is opening a facility to process the glass in North Birmingham. They will also offer free drop off for all residents at the site.

And of course, they are onboarding a local business glass recycling pickup program.

“We are so excited to bring glass recycling back to the Birmingham community. We have had an incredible experience getting to know everyone and feel very welcomed in the sustainability community. We cannot wait to turn your glass into a local resource,” said Franziska Trautmann, co-foudner and CEO of Glass Half Full.

Help Wanted at Glass Half Full

Thanks to the new facility and curbside program, Glass Half Full is interested hiring people with the local community to help with operation. If anyone is interested in a career with Glass Half Full contact them at hello@glasshalffull.co.

For more on the modern, mobile guide to Birmingham, visit www.bhamnow.com.

UAB Launches Global Seal of Biliteracy Program for Anyone in the Community

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
People in the University of Alabama at Birmingham community who speak another language can now earn a Global Seal of Biliteracy, an internationally recognized proficiency credential. (Adobe Stock)

By Shannon Thomason | UAB News

People in the University of Alabama at Birmingham community who speak another language can now earn a Global Seal of Biliteracy, an internationally recognized proficiency credential.

The Global Seal recognizes and celebrates the achievements of students and professionals who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages. The UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of World Languages and Literatures began offering the Global Seal of Biliteracy to its students in 2020 — the first university in Alabama to do so.

In an increasingly interconnected world, bilingual proficiency can open doors to academic, professional and personal opportunities. Now, with the launch of this program, anyone in the UAB or Birmingham community can attain it, says Krista Chambless, Ph.D., associate professor of French and Spanish.

Those interested in the distinction must earn qualifying scores on a standardized exam in the second language. Recipients will demonstrate their proficiency through a variety of assessments, including standardized tests, writing samples and oral interviews.

Having the Global Seal elevates people’s potential and equips them with a valuable credential that distinguishes them in a competitive job market and enhances their academic pursuits.

The Global Seal is recognized by leading employers worldwide, increasing the marketability of graduates and building UAB’s partnerships with multinational companies seeking multilingual talent.

By recognizing and nurturing biliteracy, UAB strengthens its commitment to global engagement and attracts a diverse student body, Chambless says.

“This marks a significant milestone in fostering a globally competent and multilingual learning environment,” Chambless said. “Biliteracy fosters intercultural understanding and communication, preparing our graduates to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.”

The Global Seal program caters to diverse linguistic backgrounds and proficiency levels, offering multiple pathways to earn the seal. Dedicated faculty advisers will guide people through the program and provide personalized support. The program’s success hinges on collaborative efforts across campus.

“Working together, we can cultivate a campus that celebrates and values biliteracy, empowering not only our students but everyone in our community to become global citizens prepared to make a difference in the world,” Chambless said.

Meet Willie Williams, the ASFA and Birmingham Southern Grad with City Walk Sculpture

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Willie Williams with his sculpture “Village” at City Walk Bham. (Callie Morrison, Bham Now)

By Callie Morrison | Bham Now

Through its skatepark, pickleball courts and so much more, City Walk Bham is known for bringing the community together. Continuing to support the community feel, there’s something new headed to the area—a sculpture garden.

Featuring the work of local artists, this garden will tell the stories of Birmingham’s people and history.

Bham Now chatted with Willie Williams about his pieces at City Walk and the inspiration behind them.

After graduating from Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) in 2014, Williams pursued an art degree at Birmingham Southern College.

In addition to his years of art education, Williams said that art follows him back to the age of four years old. That love brought him not only to receive a degree in the craft, but also to start his own studio, and now, having his art in the area he used to park his car in high school.

When I asked Williams what it meant to have his art displayed in his hometown, he expressed nothing but gratitude. “It means so much. I literally parked here to go to ASFA and now my art is on display in that very same spot. It’s a very full circle moment and I’m very proud.”

You can find Willie’s two sculptures — ”Village” and “The Hope and Dream”—on display at City Walk now.

Bham Now got the scoop on the inspiration of these two pieces. Williams said:

“‘Village’ is inspired by the concept that derives from different African traditions that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ I just wanted to reflect something that speaks to that tradition and highlights people in an abstract way. You can see the predominance of silhouettes, a sense of unity and family in the piece.

‘The Hope and Dream’ represents the different generations that come forward and have different aspirations in the world. I like to pay homage to the people who came before me, and this piece does that. Now, I’m able to live the hope and the dream.”

For more on the modern, mobile guide to Birmingham, visit www.bhamnow.com.

1...232233234...1,740Page 233 of 1,740
©