A few weeks ago I began my series “Birmingham, We Can Do Better” (created to call this city to a greater level of consciousness), and this community has been showing out. Cue a literal nod to the OG’s who use this term affectionately to say that something real good is happening.
Most recently you all came out to the Magic City Classic at the end of October, and apparently a time was had by all as they say. Many walked away commenting that it was one of the best Classics they’d attended in a while, even though I do realize this is highly subjective.
But point being — attendees absolutely enjoyed partaking in the largest football classic of any Historically Black Colleges Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. Despite what you made have heard about events with large crowds that have dominated headlines from other cities, Birmingham stepped up to create beautiful experiences for its residents.
We’ve also entertained stars such as R & B singers Ashanti and Chris Brown, and rapper NBA YoungBoy. All three performances went down with no issues. Police stepped up. You stepped up. And now the stage is set for even more high-profile artists to come to our great city.
For Gen-Xers, we are excited about R & B, boy-band royalty coming in the spring (March 28, Legacy Arena). New Edition will join a couple of artists to put on a performance as only they can, and I know friends who already have their tickets.
So again, when things go wrong and the city gets called out, we should also acknowledge the wins. You’re doing an amazing job Birmingham.
There’s so much instability in our nation right now, but Birmingham has been about good vibes and good music. I’m wishing you more good days and more good entertainment. With you nothing but absolute love in my heart for you, Birmingham… here’s to you!
And to the Birmingham Police Department, we sincerely appreciate what you do.
As always, I’m Keisa, Coach K and I am cheering for you (and my community).
Keisa Sharpe is a life coach, author and speaker. Her column appears each month online and in The Birmingham Times. You can contact Keisa at keisasharpe@yahoo.com and visit www.allsheanaturals.com for natural hair and body products.
OLYMPIAN ALLYSON FELIX, THE FEATURED SPEAKER AT THE WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA’S UNLEASHED EVENT HELD AT THE HAVEN IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, NOV. 4.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell thanked Birmingham for stepping up to allocate $1 million to help feed SNAP recipients who may not receive all their benefits during the federal shutdown. Sewell spoke at the Birmingham City Council meeting on Tuesday. (Greg Garrison, AL.com)
Times staff report
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell dropped in on the Birmingham City Council meeting on Tuesday to thank Mayor Randall Woodfin and the council for allocating $1 million to help feed SNAP recipients who may receive lesser amounts of food aid due to the federal government shutdown.
“The reality is people are struggling,” Sewell said.
After leaving City Hall, Sewell went to the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to help pack meals.
“We need to put party and partisanship aside and do our jobs as lawmakers,” Sewell said at the Food Bank. “People send us there (Washington) not to close government but to have government open and fully fund it. Hunger knows no politics. It’s no respecter of persons. It effects Republicans and Democrats. To me, it’s not about party.”
The food drive will run daily through Thursday, November 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3600 Third Ave. South.
“The moment that we’re in requires us to open up our hearts, and our checkbooks,” Woodfin said. “Birmingham, Alabama, has always been in the top 10 of the most altruistic giving cities in America … I am convinced that there will be an overwhelming amount of support for this food drive.”
Williams said the point and message of the food drive “is very simple … this is not something that we can ignore and say, ‘This is a problem that Washington created. Let’s let Washington fix it.’ What is going on with the holdup of SNAP benefits will have such an adverse effect on our community here in the state of Alabama as well as the central Birmingham region.”
The Trump administration said Monday it will partially fund the SNAP program, after two judges issued rulings requiring it to keep the nation’s largest food aid program afloat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1 because it said it could no longer fund it during the federal government shutdown.
SNAP is the nation’s most extensive anti-hunger program, serving nearly 42 million people nationwide.
The program, often referred to in the past as food stamps, serves about 1 in 8 Americans. It costs more than $8 billion per month nationally. The government says an emergency fund it will use has $4.65 billion, enough to cover about half the normal benefits.
The average SNAP benefit is $180 per month per person, or about $6 per day,
Nearly 23,000 Birmingham households – one in four – rely on SNAP. Statewide, more than 750,000 Alabamians depend on more than $140 million in support each month.
Statewide, more than 750,000 Alabamians depend on more than $140 million in support each month.
Sewell said there are enough emergency funds available to cover SNAP payments.
“Most of them receive under $10 a day,” Sewell said of SNAP recipients. “Most of them are working poor.”
About 45 percent of the SNAP recipients in her Seventh Congressional District have children, Sewell said.
DONATE FUNDS: The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama can stretch a single dollar into four meals, so every bit you can share helps. Click here to learn more and donate.
DONATE FOOD: Shelf-stable items can be dropped off at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama’s warehouse.
From left: Jeremy Ervin; Mayor Randall Woodfin; DeMarcus Joiner; Jordan Davis and Police Chief Michael Pickett. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Birmingham’s historic Boutwell Auditorium Exhibition Hall was transformed into a space of distinguished celebration on Monday evening as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated Omicron Lambda Chapter, in partnership with Perkins Law LLC, and Toasted Yolk hosted “A Salute to Alpha Excellence” to recognize two of the city’s most influential leaders: Mayor Randall Woodfin and Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett.
The event drew fraternity brothers, city officials, business leaders, and community members in tribute of Woodfin and Pickett.
Bryon Perkins, of Perkins Law LLC, one of the sponsors and organizer said the mayor and police chief should be recognized by the city and their brothers for a number of achievements.
Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett (left) and Mayor Randall Woodfin hold Alpha Phi Alpha traditional String Art Coat of Arms imported from Ghana. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
As members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Woodfin and Pickett represent “examples of Black male leadership, not only in the city and the state, but nationwide,” said Perkins adding, “we just wanted to honor them for their service to the city of Birmingham.”
Woodfin said he and the chief are “very hard on ourselves … we don’t believe in perfectionism but we do believe in always striving to be better — better men, better brothers, better servant leaders, so as humble as we are, he [Pickett] won’t say it but I will say it on our behalf — it’s hard for us to stand here because we know the work is not yet done.”
Pickett thanked Woodfin for giving him the opportunity to become the city’s youngest police chief and continued support.
The mayor also gave a shoutout to his fellow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers, “I thank every brother in this room for your prayers, your encouragement — for pushing us to be better servant leaders,” he said.
Photographer Marika N. Johnson contributed to this article.
Byron Perkins, left, of Byron Perkins Law, sponsor and organizer of “A Salute to Alpha Excellence” has a word with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Police Chief Michael Pickett looks on. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times
JERMELL & ENEKA IRVING
Live: Pleasant Grove
Married: July 25, 2020
Met: October 2016, at Jermell’s home church, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Brighton. Jermell was there serving for the church’s youth day, and Eneka was invited by their mutual friend, and Jermell’s fellow church member, Bernita.
“When she came across [the food] line my eyes lit up, and I gave her an extra piece of chicken,” Jermell laughed.
“I was just in my own little world getting my food, I didn’t think nothing of it,” Eneka laughed. “I just smiled back, and said ‘thank you, nice to meet you.’”
A few weeks later, Jermell reached out to Bernita “and asked if Eneka was single and if it would be okay to get her number,” Jermell recalled.
When Bernita let Eneka know of Jermell’s interest initially she thought he was talking about this other guy and said, “no thank you, he’s an old man, and he’s married anyway,” Eneka laughed, “and she said, ‘no, not that guy. This one is divorced and he’s young, he’s our age.’ She told me about Jermell, and I told her she could give him my number.”
Jermell called and the two began chatting and set up their first date.
First date: October 2016, at Applebee’s in Bessemer. The pair met up at the restaurant and Jermell showed up bearing a dozen pink roses.
“He got points for that because it told me he was listening during our phone calls,” Eneka said.
“We sat in a booth in a corner, and we talked for hours just getting to know each other, and after the date ended we took a picture outside of Applebee’s together,” Jermell recalled.
The turn: Nov. 6, 2016, at Jermell’s parents’ home in Fairfield. Eneka stopped by for a visit, and Jermell took the opportunity to gauge how Eneka felt about a future together.
“Our second date really showed me she was different. The bill came, and she reached for it first and said, ‘I got it.’ And I was like ‘what?’ I was shocked. That showed me she wasn’t selfish and didn’t mind helping out or treating a person that she cares about … So when she stopped by my folks house that night, we were outside talking and I told her that I wanted us to be in a relationship,” Jermell said.
“I was thinking along the same lines because he was showing me something different too, so I was like ‘yeah, let’s try it.’ But I did ask him if he was sure he wanted to take it that far this fast … and I didn’t say no because I was really interested in him and he was completely different from what I was used to,” Eneka said. “[It was] the conversations we were having, his attentiveness to me, and [the desire] to grow together in a relationship.”
The proposal: November 2018, at Eneka’s parent’s home in Midfield, during the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn. Jermell had previously asked her father for her hand in marriage when they attended the Auburn vs. Alabama State football game, prior to the Iron Bowl.
Jermell and Eneka Irving met in October 2016 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Brighton. The couple married in 2020. (Provided)
“Her dad was in on it. The [gathering] was also a birthday celebration for Eneka because her birthday was a few days later… and during halftime, her dad stood up and started giving a speech or like a birthday tribute to Eneka, and he had her back turned to me so that I could get down on one knee. After he finished his speech, he was like ‘alright, it’s [Jermell’s] turn’, and when Eneka turned around to face me, I was down on one knee and she started crying and jumping up and down,” Jermell said. “I cut right to the point, I asked her if she would marry me and she said ‘yes’.”
“I was honestly thinking it was just [a gathering] for the Iron Bowl game. Most of my family was there, but it was the same thing we did [the previous] year. But my brother, Rodrick, was acting [suspicious]. He kept walking around calling out the quarters, and then at halftime, he said, ‘OK, its go time’, and my dad stood up and said, ‘let’s all give a speech to Eneka,’ and he went first, and then when I turned around and saw Mell down on his knee, I started crying because I was shocked and excited. I was extremely happy. I was expecting him to propose soon, but I wasn’t expecting it that night,” Eneka said.
The wedding: At Victory Missionary Baptist Church, in Birmingham, officiated by Pastor Albert Bry Jr. Their colors were peach, mint green and gold.
Most memorable for the bride was when she first entered the sanctuary. “…I saw Jermell and his eyes lit up, I saw pure happiness in his eyes, and I could tell that he thought I looked really beautiful,” Eneka said. “It was just so nice to see [that expression] in his face. And someone also caught a picture of me when I first started walking down the aisle and my eyes were lit up too. My face matched his face, and I remember thinking, ‘ain’t no going back girl, this is it,” she laughed.
Most memorable for the groom was surprising his bride with his vows. “I had told her that I wasn’t gonna write any vows, I was just going to say the traditional ones. And the night before at the rehearsal dinner, I sat at a table and wrote my vows to her and told the pastor I’d be saying my own. So when it came time to say our vows, the pastor passed me the mic, and her face lit up. I had memorized them the night before so that I could say them with passion and let her know that I meant every word I said,” said Jermell. “She had a little tear in her eyes because she didn’t think that I was going to do that.”
Eneka begs to differ. “I did not cry, I laughed. It was funny because we had a full on debate about writing our own vows and he kept saying ‘no, I’m not doing it’. So to get to that day, and he actually did it was funny to me,” she explained.
Jermell clarified that he was never against writing his vows to Eneka, he just wanted to surprise her at the altar.
The couple honeymooned in Las Vegas the following year, due to getting married during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had fun touring Vegas, sightseeing, and being together,” Jermell said.
Words of wisdom: “Keep God first, always communicate, and be willing to sacrifice. Sometimes you might not want to sacrifice, but you never know how much that sacrifice could mean to your spouse,” Jermell said.
“Always pray together, put God first, and your husband second under God. And don’t let anyone come between your marriage. Always communicate, date each other and be a listening ear and shoulder to lean on,” Eneka said.
Happily ever after: The Irving’s attend New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Bessemer, where Eneka serves as the praise dance teacher, and Jermell, as an usher. They are godparents of Chosen Walker, 3.
Eneka, 41, is a Midfield native, and Midfield High School grad. She attended Lawson State Community College where she studied business administration and works as a quality technician at Steris in Birmingham. Eneka is currently advocating for greater awareness for women battling with endometriosis.
Jermell, 42, is a Bessemer native, and Jess Lanier High School grad. He attended Miles College where he studied business administration, and Lawson State Community College, where he earned a degree in applied science in business administration and management. Jermell works for Canteen Vending, in Bessemer as a delivery merchandiser.
“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 Mayor Randall Woodfin, third from left, and city workers gathered Monday to support a food drive for those who may lose SNAP benefits. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Mayor Randall Woodfin and City Councilor Hunter Williams on Monday helped kicked off Birmingham’s response to cuts in SNAP benefits with a community-wide food relief drive at the Christian Service Mission.
The food drive will run daily through Thursday, November 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3600 Third Ave. South.
“The moment that we’re in requires us to open up our hearts, and our checkbooks,” Woodfin said. “Birmingham, Alabama, has always been in the top 10 of the most altruistic giving cities in America … I am convinced that there will be an overwhelming amount of support for this food drive.”
Williams said the point and message of the food drive “is very simple … this is not something that we can ignore and say, ‘This is a problem that Washington created. Let’s let Washington fix it.’ What is going on with the holdup of SNAP benefits will have such an adverse effect on our community here in the state of Alabama as well as the central Birmingham region.”
The Trump administration said Monday it will partially fund the SNAP program, after two judges issued rulings requiring it to keep the nation’s largest food aid program afloat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1.
Nearly 23,000 Birmingham households – one in four – rely on SNAP. Statewide, more than 750,000 Alabamians depend on more than $140 million in support each month.
DONATE FUNDS: The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama can stretch a single dollar into four meals, so every bit you can share helps. Click here to learn more and donate.
DONATE FOOD: Shelf-stable items can be dropped off at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama’s warehouse.
Allyson Felix was the featured speaker last week at the Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s Unleashed event held in Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, was the featured speaker last week at the Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s Unleashed event held at the Haven in downtown Birmingham.
Felix, holder of 31 global medals at the Olympics and World Championships, and titles as both a World Record Holder and a Master’s World Record Holder, won medals across five Olympic Games, from 2004 to 2020.
But Felix said her biggest victory was not what happened on the track. “It really all began when I wanted to become a mother. I always wanted to be a mother,” she told the women gathered for the event. “It was ever since I was a little girl, I had that desire. But there was a lot of fear for me to move into motherhood, and it really stemmed from what I had seen. I had watched teammates and colleagues of mine, really struggle through motherhood.
“I had watched them hide pregnancies. I had watched them lose sponsorship. I had watched them really having a difficult time. And so I felt like maybe if I accomplish enough, then that won’t be my same fate. And so I waited until I had gone to four Olympic Games. I had six Olympic gold medals, and I felt like, ‘okay, I think I’m in a safe place.’”
But she wasn’t really, as Felix recalled.
“Sadly, I found myself in a very similar situation to my teammates,” she said. “At the time, I was going through a contract renegotiation. I had been with Nike for almost a decade. Because I had this fear around motherhood and moving into that direction, I was really unsure of what I would face.”
“Gut Punch”
Even before she disclosed her pregnancy, Felix said her contract renegotiation was not going well. “I had been offered a contract that was 70 percent less than what I had previously been making,” she told the audience. “And that was just like a gut punch. And so that led me to do what so many women who came before me did. I hid my pregnancy … I started training in the dark. I would go to the track at 4 o’clock in the morning when no one was out there. I stayed in my house for most of my pregnancy. I wore baggy clothes.”
Allyson Felix was the featured speaker last week at the Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s Unleashed event held in Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
Felix said she missed out on all those moments that most people get to cherish like the baby showers and the moments together with family. “And instead, I was dealing with this really difficult negotiation.”
Track and field contracts are performance based, the Gold Medalist said. If you go to the Olympics, to a world championship, you get rewarded and if not, you could lose earnings. “Now, if you are pregnant at that time, or if you just had a baby, there was nothing in place to protect you … So what had been happening in our sport is that women would become pregnant, and they would face these reductions to the point that they would be push out the sport because they could no longer earn a living,” she said.
All she wanted, Felix said, was time to recover from pregnancy. “Time to be able to get back to top form before facing another financial penalty. And so I was told that I could have that time. I was like, ‘great. That’s exactly what I asked for.’ You know, the pay was still very disrespectful, but I was like, ‘I can handle that part. But when I got the contract back, there was no language to tie it to maternity.’”
Finally, she broke her silence in a New York Times opinion article writing “I’ve been one of Nike’s most widely marketed athletes. If I can’t secure maternity protections, who can?”
After broad public outcry and a congressional inquiry, Nike announced a new maternity policy for all sponsored athletes in August 2019. The new contract guarantees an athlete’s pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy. Three other athletic apparel companies added maternity protections for sponsored athletes.
“A Workforce Issue”
Felix called it all a learning experience and something that deeply impacted her.
“I feel like maternal health is not just a personal issue. It is an issue that touches so many different people. It’s an equity issue. It is a workforce issue, and it’s a systemic issue. And I know here in Alabama, you all understand that with the maternal mortality right here as well. There’s just so much work to do.”
Last week’s WFA gathering in Birmingham brought together dozens of changemakers, champions, and advocates who support WFA’s critical research, policy advocacy, and groundbreaking philanthropic efforts that empower women across Alabama.
Dozens of changemakers, champions, and advocates who support WFA’s critical research, policy advocacy, and groundbreaking philanthropic efforts that empower women across Alabama attended last week’s event at the Haven. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
Through grantmaking, the organization has invested over $11 million statewide, supporting groups on the frontlines of change. Investments in initiatives like women-owned childcare centers are already making a difference in communities, according to WFA. The group said it has also set an ambitious goal to move 10,000 women into the workforce by 2027.
“Sitting back and listening to the mission in the work that is being done here, it just really touches my heart,” Felix said. “I just deeply relate to all the work that’s been done. From breaking barriers and accelerating opportunity for women, gender, race, and place, all of those things are near and dear to my heart … It feels really great to be in a room with my people tonight.”
The Fall 2025 cohort of the Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator, powered by gener8tor, includes (l to r) Anirudh Aditya (Moonbase AI), Yousof Naderi (DeepCharge), Chayan Battacharyay (Neural Wave), Joy Moore and Jenae Harper (Tag! Fundraising), and Kobi Wu (Cache AI). (Bronze Valley)
By Mark Kelly | Alabama NewsCenter
Global venture firm gener8tor, in partnership with Birmingham-based Bronze Valley, recently announced the Fall 2025 cohort of the Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator. Five startups, selected for their high growth potential from among more than 450 applicants, have begun the accelerator’s 12-week program to support the next stage of their development.
Now in its fifth year, the Bronze Valley/gener8tor partnership has backed dozens of founders seeking to bring bold ideas to market. Each participating company receives a nondilutive investment of $100,000, along with access to mentorship-based programming and access to a national network of prospective investors.
Neill S. Wright, president and CEO of Bronze Valley. (Contributed)
The entrepreneurs in the Fall 2025 accelerator cohort are tackling some of today’s biggest challenges with breakthrough ideas, according to Neill S. Wright, president and CEO of Bronze Valley.
“The startups in this cohort exemplify unique AI-powered technology, with innovative uses across athletics, data, higher education, medicine, and mobility infrastructure,” said Wright. “Our program has become increasingly competitive, and these founders have captured our attention with their vision, creativity, and potential to make outsized impact.”
The startups selected for the Fall 2025 Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator are:
Moonbase AI. Universities and government agencies manage billions in research funding, and yet critical data often remains locked in unstructured documents, creating inefficiencies that lead to missed opportunities. Moonbase AI ingests entire research portfolios and transforms them into a queryable data base, empowering instant answers, compliance tracking, and proactive discovery of funding and collaboration opportunities.
Tag! Fundraising. An AI-powered platform that revolutionizes youth sports fundraising by replacing product sales and high-fee platforms, instead connecting teams with local businesses and community donors to create lasting support. Coaches secure sustainable funding relationships while businesses gain direct, high-visibility community engagement.
Neural Wave. Automates clinical workflows to help doctors reclaim time and joy in practicing medicine. Typically, providers spend two to three hours per day reviewing lab results and documents and coding tasks — a burden eliminated by Neural Wave, helping save considerable time, boost revenue, and reduce burnout.
Cache. An intelligence platform for athlete valuation, standardizing commercial worth with AI-driven scores that integrate performance, social influence, and market dynamics. The platform equips athletes, schools, and brands with tools and brand-fit metrics that enable transparent, bias-resistant decision-making regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation and other aspects of athletic career management.
DeepCharge. Powers enterprise device uptime through an integrated AI platform and smart-charging ecosystem. The Operational DNA platform flags at-risk devices hours before failure, turning reactive scrambles into proactive maintenance. Paired with other DC products for fleet-scale charging and robotics-ready mobile charging, it optimizes warehouse and logistics operations.
“The most exciting part of this work is partnering with founders who are building ambitious companies from the ground up,” said Sierra Peña, managing director of the Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator. “These five startups already are showing impressive traction.”
The Fall 2025 accelerator will culminate at Alabama Founder Fest on December 8 and 9. There, the founders will pitch to venture capital firms, angel investors, corporate partners, and others associated with the broader startup ecosystem in the state.
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists, and musicians. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities, and nonprofits to operate accelerator programs and conferences in more than 45 communities across 25 U.S. states and three countries.
The City of Birmingham will join Christian Service
Mission (CSM) in collecting food for Birmingham food banks in the city. (Adobe Stock)
Compiled by The Birmingham Times
Beginning today, Monday, Nov. 3, the City of Birmingham will join Christian Service Mission (CSM) in collecting food for Birmingham food banks in the city. The food collection days will be Monday, Nov. 3 through Thursday, Nov. 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CSM is located at 3600 Third Ave. South.
Nearly 23,000 Birmingham households — one in four — rely on SNAP to keep food on the table, Woodfin has said. With the federal government shutdown ongoing, benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have been in limbo even though two federal judges ruled Friday the Trump administration cannot suspend food aid used by about 42 million low-income Americans during the shutdown.
The rulings said the government must pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, using emergency funds.
The following items are needed during this week’s food drive in Birmingham: canned vegetables; canned meats; canned fruit; box cereals; soups; nutritional bars; oatmeal; box food (macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rice, etc.); toilet paper; paper towels. Please DO NOT drop off clothing, shoes, accessories, or food in glass containers.
More details will be provided soon on how Birmingham residents receiving SNAP benefits may apply for assistance. The city has created www.birminghamal.gov/bhamready with details on how to donate or volunteer, where to find food giveaways, and community resources for those in need. Questions should be sent to bhamready@birminghamal.gov.
Other donation sites accepting food from Nov. 3 – 6 include:
Levite Jewish Community Center 3960 Montclair Road
Birmingham, AL 35213
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 2210 1st Ave. N
Birmingham, AL 35203
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday – Thursday only)
Seasick Records 3131 5th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35233
Monday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
David J. Vann Municipal Justice Center
801 – 17th Street North
Birmingham AL 35203
Monday – Thursday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Drop off in the lobby.
If dropping off food donations, court personnel will provide tokens for donors to exit. Court personnel can arrange for someone to come out and help unload for vehicles with a lot to donate.
DONATE FUNDS: The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama can stretch a single dollar into four meals, so every bit you can share helps. Click here to learn more and donate.
DONATE FOOD: Shelf-stable items can be dropped off at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama’s warehouse.
The grant will support BPL’s mission to provide free, high-quality arts programming that celebrates Birmingham’s vibrant spoken word community while showcasing the city’s growing craft beer scene. Bards & Brews brings together both seasoned poets and first-time performers, uniting diverse audiences in a shared celebration of creativity and culture.
This funding will allow BPL to continue offering Bards & Brews events free to the public and strengthen the library’s role as a hub for the arts across metro Birmingham, said Chelsea Rodriguez, Outreach Librarian and program coordinator for Bards & Brews.
“We are so grateful to the Alabama State Council on the Arts for their support,” Rodriguez said. “Through Bards and Brews, we aim to spark more community-driven art, reach a broader audience, and reimagine what library space can be. Their continued support allows us to achieve this mission and support artists in Birmingham.”
The 2025–26 grant period from the Alabama State Council on the Arts will fund Bards & Brews events from October 2025 through September 2026.
Now in its 15th year, Bards & Brews has become one of BPL’s signature cultural programs, attracting poets and audiences from across Alabama. Events have been held at multiple BPL branches, county libraries, and arts venues including Vulcan Park & Museum (Friday, October 3), TrimTab Brewing Company, East Village Arts of Birmingham and the Woodlawn Theatre.
The Alabama State Council on the Arts provides funding through an annual appropriation from the Alabama State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. This public support allows programs like Bards & Brews to engage new audiences, foster community connections, and demonstrate how the arts enrich Alabama’s quality of life.
About the Birmingham Public Library
The mission of the Birmingham Public Library is to provide the highest quality experience to our community for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. With 18 locations serving the community for more than 130 years, BPL is one of the largest library systems in the Southeast.
Follow BPL on Facebook, X (Twitter) @BPL and Instagram @BPLpics.
About the Alabama State Council on the Arts
The Alabama State Council on the Arts is the official state agency for supporting and developing the arts in Alabama. The Council strengthens the state’s cultural resources by funding nonprofit arts organizations, schools, colleges, local governments, and individual artists. Learn more at www.arts.alabama.gov.
