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‘He Would Have a Dozen of the Prettiest Peach Roses Delivered to my Office Every Month for Almost a Year…’

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

CYNTHIA & KENNY PERRY

Live: Huffman

Married: Dec. 17, 2005

Met: Fall 2003, at Greater Emmanuel Temple Holiness Church, in East Lake. Kenny was born and raised in that church, while Cynthia had been a member for more than 20 years. They were well acquainted but had each been married to other people. After Kenny’s first marriage ended, he took time away from his home church and later discovered that Cynthia had been divorced for a few years as well.

“I was at my parents’ house [in Center Point] one evening talking to my sister, Sandra, and somehow we got on the subject of dating and ladies in the church, and I told her that there’s only one woman at that church that I would talk to because I liked her mannerisms and how she carried herself as a lady, and that was Cynthia,” Kenny recalled. “And Sandra said, ‘Cynthia’s available now, you know?’… And I think Sandra might have put a bug in Cynthia’s ear [about me], but the next Wednesday night, I decided to go to Bible class, and afterwards I walked up to Cynthia and asked her if I could have her phone number.

“After my divorce, I had made myself content regarding relationships, and I had told God that me and my girls [who were 5 and 9 years old at the time] would live happily ever after,” Cynthia said. “And his sister, Sandra, [said something about Kenny] and I noticed that [he] started coming back to church more often, and had begun showing interest in me. And when he asked for my number, I was a bit hesitant at first because I was content at that point — so I thought — and wasn’t looking for a relationship. Obviously, God had other plans, so I gave Kenny my phone number and we went from there,” Cynthia recalled.

First date: The following week, at Ruby Tuesday in Gardendale. Since Kenny worked the night shift at the Piggly Wiggly warehouse, they opted for a day date during Cynthia’s break from work at UAB and they met at the restaurant for lunch.

“It went extremely well. We talked and got to know one another, and on that date I thought ‘hmm… maybe I could give relationships another try’,” Cynthia said.

“It was good conversation, the food was good and we discovered we loved the restaurant,” Kenny laughed. “That was the first of many, many visits to that restaurant,“ added Cynthia.

The turn: Gradually over a year. “It was important to me to take my time with Kenny because I had daughters. We dated for a couple of months before I began bringing him around my girls, and we eventually shared the news with our kids that we were dating,” Cynthia said. “ … it wasn’t long before I discovered that Kenny was a kind-hearted, easygoing, loving person. At the beginning of each month, he would have a dozen of the biggest, prettiest, peach roses I had ever seen delivered to my office, and this went on every single month for almost a year…”

Cynthia shared there was an adjustment period for her oldest daughter, then 9, who was accustomed to it being her, her mom and sister. However, Kenny had a talk with her and assured her he wasn’t there to take their mom away, and that he only wanted to add to their happiness.

Kenny who also had three children, Kenny Jr., Kenderrel, and Brandi, who were 15, 13, and 10, at the time, had to share the wonderful news with them as well. “After dating for so long, I thought it was time to share the news with my kids too. I, too, had never brought anyone around my kids. But I sat them down and told them one by one that I was serious about someone and they were okay with it,” Kenny said. “For me, after my first marriage, I said I wouldn’t marry again unless the woman was of good character, loving, caring and could cook like my mama, and that (Cynthia) was,” he said. “And when it was time to introduce the kids, I asked her to cook a family dinner, and it went well. The kids got along well, and all of the qualifications to be my wife were met.”

The proposal: One Saturday night after dinner in December 2004, at Cynthia’s home in Roebuck.

Kenny proposed with the help of Cynthia’s daughters, Breanna, and Brayley [who were now 7 and 11]. “They were excited to help… we went into the living room, and they could hardly hold themselves together. I  got down on one knee, and they stood on each side of me, and both of the girls helped me open the ring box, and then I asked Cynthia if she would marry me, and she said ‘yes’,” said Kenny. “By then, we [Kenny, Cynthia and the children] were all in tune with one another, it was good. We’d go shopping, go to the mall, we were together all the time, so it already felt right for them and for me.”

“I was super excited, and all smiles,” Cynthia said, “I said ‘yes’.”

Cynthia and Kenny Perry met in 2003 at an East Lake church. The couple married in 2005. (Provided Photos)

The wedding: At the home of Kenny’s brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Timothy and Allyson Perry, in Huffman, officiated by their former pastor, Pastor Gregory Holsey, of Family Life Center, Warrior, Ala. Their colors were cream and pink.

Most memorable for the bride was the whole ceremony, said Cynthia. “It was just beautiful and intimate and signified the start of the rest of our lives. It was our happily ever after.”

The groom shared similar sentiments. “ … it was a very intimate wedding. It was just family and it was a beautiful time, and I kept thinking about the fact that we had just wed,” Kenny said. “She was beautiful, she was my wife, and she was mine. That’s what stood out to me the most.”

Words of wisdom: “Keep God as the center and core of your marriage,” Cynthia said. “Consistency, prayer, extending grace to one another, regularly setting aside intentional time together, and finding that balance with one another. [And in times of conflict] communication is key, it’s not necessarily my way or your way, but what way best benefits our marriage and family. Know that you can not read one another’s mind…  And be one another’s best friend and biggest supporter.”

Kenny said, “Always keep God first, and communication is a must in any marriage. I had a great example of marriage growing up with my parents, who are still alive and have been married for almost 64 years. I’ve had great examples of how to be a man and how to treat your wife, and how to raise a family.” said Kenny.

Happily ever after: The Perry’s attend Love City Church in Forestdale, where Kenny serves as a Deacon and on the security team, and Cynthia on the Greeter’s, New Partners, Marriage, Women’s, and Outreach ministries. They are a blended family with five children: Kenny Jr., 35, Kenderrel, 33, Breanna, 31, Brandi, 30, Brayley, 26, and nine grandchildren.

Cynthia, 65, is a Wenonah native, and Wenonah High School grad. She attended Jefferson State Community College, where she earned an associate’s degree in business administration. Cynthia retired from UAB in 2010, after 25 years as a program administrator in the department of optometry and currently works part-time for there as a consultant.

Kenny, 56, is a Bush Hills native, and Ensley Magnet High School grad. He worked as a forklift operator at the Piggly Wiggly Distribution Warehouse in Bessemer, for the last 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.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

JPMorganChase Commits $2 Million to Increase Capital Access for Alabama Small Businesses

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Birmingham Times
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JPMorganChase announced a $2 million commitment in support of Alabama’s small businesses. (Provided)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

JPMorganChase on Monday announced support of Alabama’s small businesses through a $2 million commitment to help local companies across the state succeed by improving capital access, assisting entrepreneurs in running their businesses more efficiently, and offering technical assistance for local capital providers.

The Alabama Capital Access Collaborative will help small business owners, including Birmingham Business Resource Center (BBRC) and Urban Impact, obtain the necessary resources to grow, create jobs and thrive long term.

The initial phase will be facilitated by the Milken Institute, which will work closely with each participating organization to create plans that address existing challenges and identify growth opportunities. In addition to BBRC and Urban Impact participating organizations include:

Bob Dickerson

“To be one of the handful of Birmingham organizations selected [for the Collaborative] means a lot to us” said Bob Dickerson, Executive Director of BBRC. “We’re proud to have a great and growing relationship with the biggest bank in the world. Anytime, as a nonprofit leader, somebody gives you [access to capital] it helps because we spend a lot of our time fundraising and every hour we spend trying to raise money to keep the doors open is and hour we don’t spend helping our clients.”

Having the bank in Alabama is the best way to assist the small businesses located in the state, said Tim Berry, global head of corporate responsibility for JPMorganChase. “We cannot be a New York bank in Alabama. We have to be an Alabama bank in Alabama … you have to be the bank for that place,” he said. “You have to have the right strategy, products, services, investment strategy, relationships, understand what the local politicians care about, what people in that community care about and you have to be a part of that community.”

Victoria Phipps, vice president of global philanthropy for JPMorganChase, said the Collaborative is a statewide effort that spans the breadth and depth of geographies.

“We want to make sure we are, first and foremost, picking the right partners who are doing high-capacity great work with yielding dividends, but we are also spending significant time with them to understand the challenges they are experiencing and the opportunities that they see on the horizon.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy here in Alabama. Investing in their success will build stronger communities in our state and drive local economic growth,” said Jennifer DiSalvo, Head of Chase branches in Alabama and a member of the firm’s Market Leadership Team.

Earlier this year, the banking giant announced plans to triple the number of branches in Alabama and hire an additional 170 bankers by 2030 as part of broader efforts to increase access to financial services across the state.

The expansion will bring the total number of Chase branches in Alabama to 35, putting more than half of the state’s population within an accessible drive time to a Chase branch.

“Alabama is a vibrant state with a strong manufacturing economy, good small business growth, and burgeoning aerospace and technology sectors. Our mission is to support economic growth and foster opportunity for all,” said Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, earlier this year. “This is the right time and the right place for an expansion of Chase branches and jobs in communities all across this state- from Mobile to Montgomery and Muscle Shoals.”

Chase opened its first Alabama branch five years ago near Auburn University. There are currently seven Chase branches in Greater Birmingham and 11 statewide, including Auburn, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville.

Wrapping Up Birmingham 2025 World Police & Fire Games by the Numbers

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Birmingham Times
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bhm2025.com

 The Birmingham 2025 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) concluded Sunday, July 6, after 10 days of competition, camaraderie, and celebration among the global first-responder community. Beyond the athletic achievements and cultural exchange, the Games delivered a significant boost to the local economy – drawing tens of thousands of visitors, filling hotels, and energizing local businesses. The event also positioned the Birmingham region on the global stage as a premier host for international sporting events, showcasing its hospitality, infrastructure, and vibrance to a worldwide audience.

Standout Statistics:

  • 8,750 registrants from 72 countries around the world descended upon the Magic City for 10 days of competition from June 27 – July 6, 2025. This was a 20-percent increase in registrants from the 2023 Winnipeg, Canada Games and the 2022 Rotterdam, Netherlands Games.
  • Athletes competed in 65 sports at 30 different venues across Greater Birmingham.
  • Top-attending countries were: United States (2,670 athletes), Canada (1,020), Brazil (925), and India (555).
  • 644 registrants hailed from Alabama bringing home 118 medals[i].

“Having these Games come to the City of Birmingham and seeing firefighters and police officers from all over the world serves as a reminder that these Games not only highlight the high level of competition but also showcase the high level of camaraderie between first responders,” said Birmingham Fire & Rescue Chief, Cory Moon. “Being a part of these Games has been the honor of a lifetime.”

Economic Boost for Local Businesses

The 2025 Games delivered a meaningful economic boost to Birmingham’s hospitality and retail sectors over the event’s 10-day span.

Hotel occupancy surged during what is typically a slower period for the city’s lodging industry. Downtown hotels averaged 77 percent occupancy, a 42 percent year-over-year increase, while hotels across the Birmingham metropolitan area averaged 72 percent occupancy, reflecting a 21 percent increase.

Though final spending and economic impact figures are still being calculated, businesses across Greater Birmingham reported increased foot traffic, sales, and brand visibility. Among those seeing a notable uptick were Stivers Ford, Taco Mama, Eugene’s Hot Chicken, Mountain High Outfitters, Soho Social, and Paramount. Hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, and transportation services also experienced heightened demand throughout the event.

“We’ve had people coming in here eating all of our food. Last night we ran out of meat and had to close an hour early,” said the hostess at one of WPFG’s Proud Host restaurants, Creekside BBQ in Pelham.

 Community Engagement & Recruitment Success

Various activations gave first responder communities and Alabama residents a preview of the Games, building momentum and sparking interest in participating as athletes and volunteers.

  • Global Ambassador Program: The Birmingham 2025 WPFG Host Committee established the inaugural Global Ambassador program early in planning to help with athlete recruitment and increase brand recognition. The program yielded 230 ambassadors (new, former, and current WPFG athletes) from across 26 countries.
  • BHM 2025 Road Shows: WPFG embarked on a statewide road trip to engage with public safety agencies and raise awareness about the Games. Through these events, not only did WPFG secure athlete registrations but also received commitments from several cities to sponsor the cost of athlete registration, which removed financial barriers for many competitors.
  • Chick-fil-A “First Responder Appreciation” Series: WPFG teamed up with Chick-fil-A across Alabama to produce “First Responder Appreciation” events, where the community could meet local first responders at Chick-fil-A, try out WPFG events like axe throwing and cornhole, and register to volunteer at the 2025 Games.
  • BHM Shuttlesworth Welcome Campaign: A six-week welcome campaign at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport (elevator graphics, pole wraps, floor decals, and digital screens) was implemented for increased branding and to create a touchpoint for arriving athletes and guests.

 Global Media Spotlight

Media coverage of the 2025 World Police & Fire Games reached unprecedented levels, driven by strategic outreach and timely regional developments:

  • Targeted National & Regional Outreach: WPFG developed original, market-specific content and secured a steady stream of broadcast and online coverage across major U.S. cities, capturing media hits in Tennessee, Florida, and Boston, doubling athlete registration from Florida and tripling registration from Tennessee.
  • Alabama-Focused Recruitment Campaigns: WPFG partnered with Governor Kay Ivey for video messages and press conferences that were amplified through statewide media, which helped increase Alabama first responder registration by over 500%, far exceeding recruitment goals.
  • Volunteer Recruitment Success: WPFG ran four consecutive weeks of earned media campaigns focused on volunteer recruitment, which helped quadruple the number of volunteers to more than 1,500, ensuring strong operational support throughout the 10 days of events.
  • Wall-to-Wall Local News Coverage: In the weeks leading up to and throughout the Games, WPFG prepared unique athlete stories for each journalist, rotating local, national, and international spotlights. Every major local news network aired original content on nearly every news broadcast for three weeks straight, securing more than 800 earned TV and radio hits.
  • National Spotlight via ESPN: ESPN spent two days on-site filming Pickleball, Jiu Jitsu, and Boxing, and reported live from the Firefighter Challenge as part of its “50 States in 50 Days” series. The coverage was amplified by local media outlets, which reinforced the enormity of the event, garnering millions of impressions.
  • International Reach: Media outlets from Canada, France, Czechia, India, Indonesia, and others broadcasted highlights, interviews, and cultural features, which elevated Birmingham’s profile as a premier global host city.
  • Earned Media Impact: Total earned media coverage reached into the thousands of placements, spanning broadcast, print, and digital platforms.

Social Media & Digital Performance

  • Over 100 posts during the Games directly reached 3.88 million views across Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
  • Factoring in the views on shared and tagged content, BHM 2025 content reached an estimated 13 million.
  • Content posted to the BHM 2025 accounts was shared roughly 8,000 times, received roughly 3,000 comments, and nearly 2,000 mentions.
  • Grew the following on BHM 2025 accounts by over 5,000 people, to reach almost 20,000 subscribers.
  • The BHM2025.com website saw over 356,000 visitors during the Games from 142 countries.
  • 63% of website visitors were engaged for an average session duration of five minutes.

 A Legacy of Unity & Service

Beyond the medals and records, the 2025 World Police & Fire Games fostered a spirit of unity among first responders worldwide. “This wasn’t just a competition – it was a celebration of shared purpose,” said DJ Mackovets, CEO of the Birmingham 2025 WPFG. “Birmingham values hospitality and a deep respect for service, and that was on full display throughout the Games.”

As Birmingham leaders reflect on this momentous event, plans are already in progress to build on its legacy as a premiere global event destination. Meanwhile, the World Police & Fire Games torch has officially been passed to Perth, Australia, host of the 2027 Games, followed by Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, which will welcome the Games in 2029.

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham’s Service Project Wins International Award for Literacy Project

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Birmingham Times
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Kiwanis Club of Birmingham Executive Director Honora Gathings read “Chicken Little” to this preschool class, and the club gave them copies of the book to add to their home libraries. (Kiwanis Club of Birmingham)

By Elise Kidd | WBRC

A Birmingham organization focused on serving the community, especially children, has earned an international award for their 2025 service project which promotes reading for children. This win marks the first time the organization has ever received the award.

The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham is an organization with a mission to move the city forward. The Birmingham chapter was founded in 1917 and is the world’s largest Kiwani club, according to a representative. Each year, members of the club, called “Kiwanians” spend hundreds of hours serving Birmingham’s children and they invest more than a million dollars into the city.

The Birmingham Kiwani Club is credited with spearheading the effort to move Vulcan to the top of Red Mountain, upgrading LED lighting for shows at Vulcan Park and Museum, the Kiwanis Giraffe encounter at the Birmingham Zoo and the Kiwanis Early Learning Center at the McWane Science Center, amongst other projects.

The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham’s service project, Kiwanis Reads, a program promoting preschool literacy, won the Kiwanis International 2025 Signature Project award.

According to the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, there were 519 projects up for selection. Among the 519 project entries was a free dental and health clinic that delivered care to over 3000 people in Jamaica, and another which provided 50 comfort care kits for families of children in end-of-life care in Australia. However, Kiwanis Reads won.

The Birmingham club was recognized for their win at the Kiwanis International Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Birmingham Club President Andrew Nix and Executive Director Honora Gathings accepted the award and received a grant to continue expanding the program.

The Birmingham Club says the Kiwanis Reads project has brought books to schools and homes of thousands of children over the last four years. Members visit 900 preschoolers in Birmingham twice a year to read to the students and they each give a student one book to build up the students at home library. These books have a Kiwanis bookplate with a QR code the students can scan which leads them to a video of a Kiwanian reading the book out loud, which the club says is an extra tool to help kids in homes where there may not always be an adult available to help read.

This year, the Birmingham Kiwanis Club said that the Kiwanis Reads project received a grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund which allowed it to expand into ten new schools, doubling the number of students they are able to work with.

The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham said they also partnered with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to restart a program titled “Books Not Bullets,” which provides books for police officers to hand out while they’re on patrol.

According to the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, school officials say that students are growing their vocabulary and reading fluency through the Kiwanis Reads program, and most of all, they’re learning to associate reading with fun.

“Kiwanians believe in strengthening our communities by serving children. It’s truly inspiring to see how 600,000 Kiwanians around the world are creatively using resources to change lives,” says Gathings. “To hear their stories and to see the impact being made even by clubs with only 25 members was inspiring. It’s an honor to be recognized for our work in Birmingham to help develop and inspire a love for reading.

“Our Kiwanians bring so much love and energy — dressing up as Santa or a book character, making the books come alive through character voices, and hanging out to read more books and answer student questions. We cannot wait to use this gift to put more books in the hands of students this fall through Kiwanis Reads and Books Not Bullets. We are eagerly looking forward to getting back into the classroom.”

To learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and Kiwanis Reads, you can visit here.

Smithfield’s Public Art Walk Features Large-Scale Murals, Storytelling Installations, More

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Birmingham Times
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Photographer and featured Smithfield Public Art Walk artist Lougè" Dapper Lou" Delcy stands in front of his visual art installation across from A. H Parker High School. The installation features intimate portraits from residents in the Smithfield community. (Reginald Allen, for the Birmingham Times)

By Reginald Allen | For The Birmingham Times

Wanda Carter has lived in the Smithfield community for 30 years and on Saturday was more the happy to be a part of the community’s Public Art Walk, a vibrant, walkable outdoor gallery celebrating the neighborhood’s past, present, and future.

“This celebration today is something that we’ve been needing for a long time,” she told The Birmingham Times. “This is well worth my work on this street. I put flowers in everyone’s yard. I swept. I cut grass. I did everything I had to do to make this perfect on this block…I want this to happen again.”

Lawrence Rose said it was a nice thing to have and “give a little excitement to the neighborhood. It gives people the chance to come out and enjoy themselves and enjoy the community as a whole,” he said.

Spanning key corridors in Smithfield, the Art Walk featured large-scale murals, storytelling installations, sidewalk poetry, and augmented reality experiences that immerse visitors in the spirit and stories of the historic community.

Murals by local artists celebrated themes like legacy, joy, resistance, and future vision during the inaugural Smithfield Art Walk. (Reginald Allen, For The Birmingham Times)

The Smithfield Art Walk initiative honored the neighborhood’s legacy as a cradle of African American resilience, activism, and culture. Through intentional collaborations with local creatives, residents, and organizations, the project invites the community to reclaim and reimagine public spaces.

Smithfield is one of the earliest Black neighborhoods in Birmingham and the home of A. H. Parker High School, the first four-year high school in the city for African Americans. At one time, it was considered to be the largest Black high school in the world. Many well-known figures emerged from the Smithfield area, including activist Angela Davis, Civil Rights attorney Arthur Shores, legendary musician and composer Sun-Ra, bandleader John T. “Fess” Whatley, and others.

Najah Reeves Najiy, who purchased a house in Smithfield in 2004, said, “The historical significance of the community is amazing. The people here demonstrated courage and resilience. I’m so proud to be a resident of this community.”

This initiative was a collaboration between the City of Birmingham’s Departments of Community Development and Innovation and Economic Opportunity, Create Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and neighborhood partners committed to using art as a tool for healing, history keeping, and community investment.

Chase Bank’s Back-to-School & Backpack Giveaway Event Offers Free Supplies

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Birmingham Times
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From left, volunteers Karli Cameron, Sydney Porter, Patrick Hassell and student Leilani Avery at the crafts table during Chase Bank‘s back-to-school and backpack giveaway at the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club in Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey |The Birmingham Times

When 11-year-old Tristen Brown begins school on August 7 he plans to be ready thanks to a brand-new backpack filled with supplies he received on Saturday.

“I got to peak inside, and I know I have a new book. I love books,” said the rising sixth grader at John Herbert Phillips Academy, who said he is looking forward to making new friends this year.

Tristen Brown, 11, rising sixth grader at John Herbert Phillips Academy. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

“It’s a new school and I know that they have a lot of fantastic academic success there. What I want to do when I grow up is be a space astronaut for NASA. Small things like this [supplies] help me along my path to get there.”

Brown won’t be the only one ready for school. Hundreds of other students across the City of Birmingham received supplies during Chase Bank’s back-to-school and backpack giveaway at the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club in Birmingham. The event also featured activities, free financial health workshops, and free haircuts.

More than 1,000 backpacks were filled with materials like pencils, notebooks and folders, and handed out as students gear up for the new school year which begins on August 7 for Birmingham and Jefferson County schools.

For Danielle Cameron, Chase Branch Manager and one of the organizers, the event was more than a part of her job.

“I grew up not too far from this area, so being able to pour back into this neighborhood means a lot to me, to be able to get back to a community that I grew up around and in,” said the Pratt City native.

“Chase is known as this big bank. It means a lot to us to court the community, and the way we do that is for us to get to know the people and the businesses in the community,” Cameron added.

Last year’s event was a success, but this year’s was even better. “Having a line at the door this year, that’s not something we had last year,” she said.

Jerome Morgan Jr of Cigar Men of Distinction volunteer to help with Chase Bank’s back-to-school and backpack giveaway at the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club in Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Jennifer DeSalvo, Executive Director for the Consumer Bank for Alabama, Mississippi Market, said Chase knows the importance of having these kinds of events, she said.

“One of my most special moments in my banking career was last year at this very spot,” she said. “I had a mother come up to me and tell me that her son would finally have a backpack to take to school for the first time.”

She added, “I also had a young younger gentleman who told me, he grew up with people telling him, ‘don’t trust banks.’ And because of some of the workshops, he was like, ‘I’m gonna come see a banker. I want to learn how to save for my kids.’ I got into banking to help people but it’s moments like that that you truly feel like you’re doing that.”

Chase Bank’s community involvement goes beyond back-to-school events. The bank has committed to add 24 more branches in Alabama by 2030.

“We’re really trying to find ways like this to get involved in the community,” DeSalvo said. “We’ve definitely got some things and some community members that were working with very closely. …”

Budgeting resources are available to any student or parent year-round at Chase. More information can be found here.

Jahman Hill: The Unpredictable Life of an Artist, Poet, Playwright, Filmmaker, and Educator

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Birmingham Times
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By Don Rhodes II | The Birmingham Times

In the heart of Birmingham, where creativity and community intersect, Jahman Hill is planting seeds of change through art, education, and empowerment. A poet, playwright, filmmaker, and educator, Hill is the executive director of The Flourish Alabama, a nonprofit organization nurturing young artists and reshaping narratives about Black identity and possibility.

Currently, Hill is working on a new creative venture: a documentary centered on the creation of a Black Arts District in Ensley, supported by a grant from the Southern Artists for Social Change. “The documentary isn’t going to be traditional,” Hill explained. “You’ll feel like you’re at a concert or watching a music video. It’s genre-bending. I want to make it an amalgamation of everything that is art.”

But even as his documentary takes shape, Hill, 31 remains deeply rooted in his community work. “Outside of that, I’ve been working on just getting back into performing poetry and music. I’ve spent a lot of time building The Flourish, but now I’m also looking at doing some keynote speaking,” he shared.

The origin of The Flourish itself is a story born from Hill’s own academic journey. As a college student at the University of Alabama Hill didn’t want to write a traditional thesis paper. Instead, he crafted a series of poems that evolved into a one-man show called Black Enough. That project laid the foundation for what would become The Flourish in 2019.

“It all started with a question I asked some youth: ‘What does it mean to be Black?’ Their answers were all negative,” he recalled. “I thought — what if we attach Blackness to a positive idea? That’s where the theory of The Flourish came from. Black people are infinitely possible beings.”

Hill, along with co-founder and creative director Eric Marable Jr., grew the concept into an arts showcase that eventually blossomed into a nonprofit organization. “Our logo today is literally from the flyer of our very first event at the Freedom House,” Hill said.

Looking to the future, Hill is focused on building out the Black Arts District in Ensley and launching a music recording studio. (Provided)

As executive director, Hill’s days are anything but predictable. “One day I’m teaching African American studies to students in our summer program. The next, I’m in meetings with artists or partners about a festival or potential collaboration,” he said. “Some days, I’m chasing principals around to get programming in schools. It’s a little bit of everything.”

And the results speak for themselves.

Hill lights up when he talks about students who’ve thrived under The Flourish’s programming. “Our administrative assistant, Charles, started as a high school senior in our cell phone cinema program,” he said. “Now, he’s the nexus of The Flourish. Every contract, every payment, every artist it all flows through Charles. He’s grown with us and now holds the organization together.”

Another story that stands out to Hill is of a student named Jiah. “She couldn’t be in our summer program much because she had to finish summer school,” he recalled. “But she stayed in touch with us. This year, she told us she’s graduating and going to college. We even helped pay for her graduation fees. I told her, ‘You’re part of The Flourish whether you were in every session or not. We claim you.’”

With six years of programming under their belt, Hill and his team are now seeing their earliest students graduate high school and head off to college from Montevallo to Alabama State University to the University of Alabama. “One of my own college students at UA said, ‘Wait…you run The Flourish? I was in that program!’” Hill laughed.

As both an artist and professor at Alabama, Hill’s identity is deeply woven into The Flourish’s mission. “I ask myself: what are the things I wish I had as a young artist? And then we build those,” he said. “Whether it’s paying artists fairly or preparing them for touring, we want to be the organization that treats artists with the respect they deserve.”

Looking to the future, Hill is focused on building out the Black Arts District in Ensley and launching a music recording studio. “We’re hoping to open the studio and a photography gallery next door. That’s the next big thing,” he said. “And we’re working on a pipeline to offer early college credit in African American studies to students in our programs.”

Asked his final thoughts at the end of the interview, Hill returned to what drives him. “We care about artists. Period. Whether you’re working with The Flourish or working with me personally — I’m trying to help you make your dream a reality,” he said. “Collaboration is my favorite thing.”

For more information on The Flourish  www.theflourishal.com

Birmingham to Host Info Sessions in Advance of Home Repair Program

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Birmingham Times
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The Department of Community Development will soon open applications for its Critical Repair Program where 100 eligible residents will receive up to $30,000 in urgent home repairs. (Adoeb Stock)

birminghamal.gov

The City of Birmingham’s Department of Community Development will soon open applications for its Critical Repair Program where 100 eligible residents will receive up to $30,000 in urgent home repairs such as roofing, plumbing, or electrical needs.

Applications will be open for two days only September 4-5. Interested applicants are invited to attend one of the upcoming information sessions that will outline program requirements.

INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS

Virtual Session

  • Thursday, July 31 at 3 p.m.
  • Platform: WebEx

In-Person Session

  • Thursday, Aug. 7
  • Time: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
  • Location: Birmingham CrossPlex
  • Address: 2340 CrossPlex Blvd.

In-Person Session

  • Thursday, Aug. 14
  • Time: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
  • Location: Fountain Heights Recreation Center
  • Address: 1101 15th Ave N.

Residents interested in applying are strongly encouraged to attend one of the sessions. Applicants should not bring any documents to these sessions. These events are for informational purposes only.

Critical Repair Program Eligibility

  1. Applicants must provide proof of ownership.
  2. Applicants must provide proof of occupancy.
  3. Applicants must qualify as low to moderate income & provide proof of income for ALL household residents.
  4. Applicants must provide last (2) months of bank statements for ALL household residents.

About the City of Birmingham’s Department of Community Development: The Department of Community Development administers the City’s Housing and Urban Development Grants, applies to relevant grants, conducts plan implementation, strategic community and neighborhood assessments, community outreach, and code enforcement.

For more information and to register for one of the information sessions, go to www.criticalrepairbham.com or call 205-581-3117.

Trump Administration to Release More than $6 Billion in Grant Money for Schools

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Birmingham Times
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School superintendents had warned they would have to eliminate academic services without the money. (File)

By  COLLIN BINKLEY and ANNIE MA | Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in withheld grants for schools, the Education Department said Friday, ending weeks of uncertainty for educators around the country who rely on the money for English language instruction, adult literacy, and other programs.

President Donald Trump’s administration had suspended more than $6 billion in funding on July 1, as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House’s priorities.

The funding freeze had been challenged by several lawsuits as educators, Congress members from both parties and others called for the administration to release the money. Congress had appropriated the money in a bill signed this year by Trump.

Last week, the Education Department said it would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school and summer programming. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America had said they would have to close or scale back educational offerings this fall.

The Office of Management and Budget had completed its review of the programs and will begin sending the money to states next week, the Education Department said.

A group of 10 Republican senators on July 16 sent a letter imploring the administration to allow the frozen education money to be sent to states, saying the withheld money supported programs and services that are critical to local communities.

“The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support,” U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said Friday. She pointed to after-school and summer programs that allow parents to work while their children learn and classes that help adults gain new skills — contributing to local economies.

In withholding the funds, the Office of Management and Budget had said some of the programs supported a “ radical leftwing agenda. ”

School superintendents had warned they would have to eliminate academic services without the money. On Friday, AASA, an association of superintendents, thanked members of Congress for pressing to release the money.

In Harford County, Maryland, some of the withheld federal money made up more than half the budget for the district’s annual summer camp for kids learning English. The money helps the district hire certified teachers to staff the camp, incorporating learning into children’s play for four weeks during the summer. The program helps kids keep their English and academic momentum over the summer.

The district serves roughly 1,100 students who are non-native English speakers. Many of them are born in the U.S. to parents who came to the area seeking job opportunities, often in the restaurants and warehouses that have popped up in the past decades in the region northeast of Baltimore. During the school year, the soon-to-be-released federal money pays for tutors for kids learning English.

On Thursday, more than 350 children filled the second floor of Bel Air High School for the second-to-last day of summer camp. Young learners crowded around an alphabet wheel, jostling with each other to push each letter button as they thought of foods starting with letters from A to Z.

The uncertainty around the funding was an unnecessary distraction for schools, said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wa.

“Instead of spending the last many weeks figuring out how to improve after-school options and get our kids’ reading and math scores up, because of President Trump, communities across the country have been forced to spend their time cutting back on tutoring options and sorting out how many teachers they will have to lay off,” Murray said.

It added up to millions of dollars for the nation’s largest school districts. Data available from the Census for three of the grant programs — teacher development, academic enrichment, and bilingual education — shows the Los Angeles Unified School District, for example, received $62 million in the 2022-23 school year. Philadelphia’s school district got $28 million, while Miami’s got over $24 million.

Associated Press writer Sharon Lurye in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

Harvard Welcomes Second Cohort of HBCU Executive Leaders

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Birmingham Times
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College and university presidents strengthen their capacity through Harvard collaboration with Clark Atlanta University. (Harvard University)

By Julita Bailey-Vasco | Harvard News

This month, Harvard University welcomed its second cohort of presidential fellows from historically Black colleges and universities to participate in the Seminar for New Presidents. The presidential fellows represent the next generation of HBCU legacy leaders and comprise 10 of the 55 participants of the Seminar. They join as participants in Clark Atlanta University’s HBCU Executive Leadership Institute, a program supported by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative.

The Seminar provides a vital skill-building opportunity for new presidents who can face challenges related to faculty tenure, free speech on campuses, economic stability, student mental health, and more.

“Learning environments like the seminar are critical for new presidents,” said founder of the Seminar for New Presidents Judith Block McLaughlin, senior lecturer emerita of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “New presidents today don’t have the luxury of a long entry runway. From the very outset of their presidency, they must make major financial, governance, personnel, and policy issues, with their decisions being scrutinized and challenged as never before.”

HBCU presidents encounter these and other unique difficulties. Through the support provided by the Seminar for New Presidents, they have the opportunity to address them alongside non-HBCU presidents by participating in faculty-led sessions and discussion groups.

Collaborating for a stronger future

In 1990, McLaughlin recognized the need for confidential spaces where new presidents could learn from and ask questions of one another and be guided by experienced leaders. She created the Seminar for New Presidents as a solution. McLaughlin has worked with over 1,500 new presidents since the program launched. Harvard and Clark Atlanta University have been working in collaboration since 2024, offering the Seminar for New Presidents as part of the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute’s 12-month program.

“It is our privilege to welcome the HBCU presidents to campus this summer,” said Sara Bleich, the vice provost for special projects and leader of the H&LS Initiative. “These relationships will help drive lasting change and meaningful progress across the landscape of higher education.”

The HBCU ELI advances one of the H&LS Initiative’s three strategic priorities – deepening partnerships with HBCUs. This program combines academic instruction, peer-based mentorship, and practical executive training.

HBCU ELI was co-founded by Louis Sullivan, the president emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine and former secretary of health and human services, by Jonny Parham, the retired executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Fund, and by the Council of HBCU Past Presidents to address the high turnover rate of HBCU executives by cultivating and developing a talent pipeline.

“HBCUs are facing some of the most difficult headwinds in recent history—financial constraints, leadership transitions, and increasing demands for accountability and innovation,” Sullivan said. “HBCU ELI is not just timely—it is essential. By equipping emerging leaders with the tools, training, and mentorship they need, ELI is helping to safeguard the future of higher education in America. Its impact will be felt for generations.”

HBCUs Drive Impact

HBCUs continue to fulfill the promise of higher education by creating upward mobility for their graduates. For example, UNCF released a report in 2024 demonstrating that HBCU students who enter college at the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution rate graduate at the top 60 percent. The same report highlights that HBCUs are also an economic engine for growth, collectively generating $16.5B per year and supporting 136,000 jobs nationwide. The work of HBCU ELI is an investment in the continued future success of HBCUs and the US at large.

The opportunity for HGSE and the H&LS Initiative to collaborate with HBCU ELI through the Seminar for New Presidents represents one component of Harvard’s commitment to developing enduring partnerships with HBCUs, as recommended in the Report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery. The Report acknowledges that Harvard, like many other institutions of higher learning, benefits from the scholarship of HBCU alumni. HBCUs have been crucial in producing professionals, leaders, and changemakers who make significant contributions to American society.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of our 2025 communities and all those who have come before them,” said Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Executive Director, HBCU ELI, Clark Atlanta University. “As we commemorate our five-year milestone, we celebrate not only leadership in action—but the systems of mentorship, scholarship, and vision-building that ensure HBCUs continue to thrive. We are thankful for George T. French, the president of Clark Atlanta University, and Ronald A. Johnson, the former president of Clark Atlanta University, for their continuous support. And we are thankful for the collaborative work of institutions like Harvard University that propels this program forward.”

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