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Woodfin Says He Was ‘Surprised’ at Rumors that UFL’s Birmingham Stallions May Relocate

By
Birmingham Times
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The Stallions and their fans showed love during a 2023 victory parade in downtown Birmingham. (File)

By Riley Conlon| WVTM

Mayor Randall Woodfin responded to social media rumors about the Birmingham Stallions on Wednesday.

While nothing is confirmed, it’s been speculated that the team is galloping straight out of the city, and taking their wins with them.

Mayor Randall Woodfin

“We were surprised by these rumors, since the Stallions have already begun collecting deposits for next year’s season tickets,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin in a statement posted to X Wednesday afternoon. “The Stallions have built a strong, passionate fan base and have seen tremendous success on and off the field. Birmingham was FOX’s number 1 UFL viewership market in the country. There’s no question the team has become a source of pride for our city.”

News of the Stallions’ potential relocation, along with three other UFL teams, was first reported by the Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen. He claims the other affected markets would be Michigan, Houston and Memphis.

We reached out to the league for answers and received this response from a spokesperson:

“The League office is in the planning stages for next season and beyond. At this point, we have nothing to report on any unauthorized speculation.”

Mayor Woodfin received similar information, stating that he was “assured by the league that no final decisions have been made about numerous teams for next season, including the Stallions.”

Woodfin says his office is working closely with the UFL to “maximize the team’s long-term success” by strengthening attendance and sponsorships.

“There is opportunity for growth and we’re committed to working together to make that happen,” he said.

Meet the Birmingham Native and Ramsay High Grad Shaping the City’s Tech Future

By
Birmingham Times
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Deon Gordon, president and CEO of TechBirmingham, inside Innovation Depot, where his company is a tenant and Gordon is a board member. (Joe De Sciose, Provided)

By Alec Harvey | Business Alabama

When Deon Gordon talks about his college years, it’s not to boast about perfect grades or rigorous classes. Quite the opposite.

“I was a terrible student,” he says, laughing. “Instead of going to architecture class, I’d head to the library and teach myself how to code.”

That pivot — away from the classroom and into a world of self-taught tech — would change not only Gordon’s life, but also the landscape of Birmingham’s innovation economy.

Today, as president and CEO of TechBirmingham, Gordon is at the helm of the city’s tech ecosystem, guiding its growth with a vision rooted in community, equity and storytelling.

A Path Less Traveled

Born and raised in Birmingham, Gordon graduated from Ramsay High School before attending Auburn University. There, he enrolled in the architecture program but quickly discovered a different passion.

“I didn’t even know computer science was a discipline when I got to college,” he says. “No one told me this could be a career.”

Instead, he learned by doing, experimenting with online ventures. “I wasn’t creating the next Facebook or anything like that,” Gordon says. “But I started some small businesses, and once money started coming in, as a college kid, I’m like, ‘Oh, well, this is the path.’”

Gordon was eventually earning enough to catch the attention of Birmingham entrepreneur John Garrett. Garrett invited Gordon to work at his firm, which would become Chronicle Studio, a full-service digital agency.

That experience gave Gordon a crash course in entrepreneurship and operations, working with clients like the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Royal Cup Coffee.

Under Deon Gordon’s leadership, TechBirmingham focuses on five pillars: marketing, advocacy, growth, innovation and community. (Joe De Sciose, Provided)

TechBirmingham: A Unifying Force

A couple of career stops later, Gordon ended up as president and CEO of TechBirmingham.

Founded in 2002 under former Mayor Bernard Kincaid — with great assist from attorney Jim Rotch, Gordon says — TechBirmingham began as a city task force. It has since evolved into an influential trade association for the region’s tech and innovation industries.

Gordon came to TechBirmingham at the end of 2017, and at the beginning of 2020, TechBirmingham, along with Apple, TechAlabama, the Alabama Power Foundation and Birmingham City Schools, launched the tech education initiative Ed Farm. “We incubated it in Birmingham, and they’re just growing like gangbusters,” Gordon says. “It’s one of the best things I feel I’ve ever done in my life. It truly can develop into a national platform, and I’m just so super proud to have been a part of that experience.”

Under Gordon’s leadership, TechBirmingham focuses on five pillars: marketing, advocacy, growth, innovation and community. All are part of what Gordon calls “helping members create magic” — a nod to Birmingham’s historic nickname, The Magic City.

“We’re member-driven,” he says. “But increasingly, we’re supported by corporate partners, philanthropic dollars and our foundation, which helps us run programs like Next In Tech, which provides free access to events for students and early-career professionals.”

The organization also is closely aligned with Innovation Depot, where TechBirmingham is a tenant and Gordon is a board member.

Sloss Tech: A Spotlight on the South

One of TechBirmingham’s most visible successes is Sloss Tech, a multiday innovation conference that started in 2016 as a companion to the now-defunct Sloss Music & Arts Festival, known as Sloss Fest.

Inspired by South by Southwest in Austin, Sloss Tech was designed to showcase Birmingham’s growing tech scene — and that goal hasn’t changed.

This year’s conference, slated for June 25-27 at Birmingham’s Lyric Theatre and other nearby venues, features a first: a pitch competition sponsored by the Regions Foundation, awarding $50,000 to the winner.

“That kind of money is nothing to sneeze at,” says Gordon, adding that the conference also will include speakers (keynoters include Zack Kass, Rashaun Williams, Ruha Benjamin and Johnny Cupcakes), a startup showcase, founders house and some nighttime events.

Gordon is quick to note that Sloss Tech isn’t just for Birmingham — it’s a platform for the entire state.

“About 30% of attendees are coming from over an hour away,” he says, a number that continues to grow.

“It’s very affirming and reassuring and exciting, and so, over the next two years, we’re going to see the rise of Birmingham, but also the entire state and recognizing that we’re all going to be stronger together.”

Tech, Mobility and the Next Wave

As the state moves further into innovation-driven economic development, Gordon sees mobility as a major opportunity.

“Think of Alabama as a diamond,” he says. “You’ve got Mercedes to the west, Honda to the east, Toyota and Mazda to the north, Hyundai to the south — and Birmingham is right in the middle.”

That centrality is why TechBirmingham is launching a new mobility accelerator. The program will attract startups focused on electric vehicles, drone delivery, autonomous logistics and more.

And the beauty of Alabama’s ecosystem, Gordon notes, is that each region plays to its own strength: aerospace and defense in Huntsville, maritime logistics in Mobile, inland port infrastructure in Montgomery.

“We all have our own unique lanes and industries that allow us to play to our strengths without necessarily competing with one another,” he says.

Changing the Narrative

Deon Gordon was born and raised in Birmingham. He graduated from Ramsay High School before attending Auburn University. (Joe De Sciose, Provided)

Gordon believes that Birmingham’s story — both its past and future — needs to be told more fully and more accurately.

“What happened here led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and what happened in Montgomery and Selma led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and those were things that started to shake the conscience of the nation and move it in a better direction,” he says. “It inspired the world, but most people are more familiar with the tragedy, not the triumph. We’ve got to change that.”

He argues that a city’s reputation impacts its ability to attract tech talent. “If graduates don’t see Birmingham as aligning with their values, we lose them before we even have a shot.”

That’s why TechBirmingham invests heavily in brand awareness and storytelling. “Birmingham is a city that’s gritty in all the right ways,” Gordon says. “It’s scrappy. It’s a city where you don’t have to wait in line to make an impact, if you want to roll up your sleeves and fight for the underdog.”

From the food scene to the people, from affordability to grit, Gordon sees Birmingham as a hidden gem. “We just have to tell that story,” he says. “We have to be incredibly vocal and aggressive and consistent about it.”

Building for What’s Next

Looking ahead, Gordon wants to see continued growth: more TechBirmingham members, more startups and more statewide collaboration. The mobility accelerator is just one initiative that will position the state as a national leader in innovation.

And Sloss Tech, he hopes, will become a fixture on national calendars. “One of the ultimate goals is to make sure that Sloss Tech is so well known that people nationally are circling the dates of it,” he says. “People are already getting hired because of who they meet there.”

For Gordon, it all comes back to building the kind of ecosystem he didn’t have growing up.

“I’m grateful for my convoluted, crazy path,” he says. “It’s obviously given me a certain perspective and appreciation. But my goal now is to make sure that there are pathways and avenues that provide clear on-ramps into these industries.”

Alec Harvey is executive editor of Business Alabama, working from the Birmingham office. Joe De Sciose is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor.

This article appeared in the June 2025 issue of Business Alabama.

‘Revitalization, Not Gentrification’ Coming with New Housing in Woodlawn

By
Birmingham Times
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Jason Avery, President of the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association. (File)

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com

New market rate and affordable housing developments are coming to Woodlawn this fall.

Woodlawn United, a neighborhood revitalization nonprofit, is breaking ground on their mixed-income housing initiative. Developers are building four market rate houses on 50th Street North in West Woodlawn, each priced at $259,000 and expected to be up and running by September. Another project in the works is affordable housing in South Woodlawn on Georgia Road.

Local officials said the projects will ensure community members have access to housing that doesn’t price out or displace them.

“We have to make price points accessible for those who want to come into the community. We need to make sure that Woodlawn does not go the way of other neighborhoods where the original community is priced out,” Jason Avery, president of the Woodlawn neighborhood association, said.

“As long as we work together and we continue to make space for houses and developments like this, I think we’re going to continue to see a diverse, vibrant and growing community.”

For 15 years, Woodlawn United prioritized the creation of mixed-use housing throughout the community while ensuring none of the neighborhood’s residents were displaced.

“We are really, really determined to make sure that we do it the right way that we have revitalization, not gentrification,” Avery, a Woodlawn United board member, said.

“In Woodlawn, we always want people to know that change is happening with them, not to them.”

Since its inception, homeownership in the neighborhood has increased 10 percent, according to President and CEO of Woodlawn United Mashonda Taylor. Developers are building four market rate houses on 50th Street North in West Woodlawn, priced at $259,000. This is a rendering of homes by Woodlawn United. Woodlawn United

“In West Woodlawn, we did not have a market rate product, so this enables us to fill a need within our community,” Taylor said.

“This house doesn’t just represent a house being built. It represents community, us coming together with a shared vision to say that we will lead the charge not only in Woodlawn, not only in the city, not only in the state, but people around the nation are recognizing that we are doing this the right way. Our community will not be priced out. We will be intentional.”

District Four Councilor J.T. Moore said additional housing and investments in the neighborhood will help to mitigate blight issues like illegal dumping in vacant, abandoned and overgrown lots.

“Anybody who has bought a house can attest to the fact that it’s a very scary thing…By having all of these partners come together to be able to find ways to make housing affordable, eliminates that fear,” Moore said.

“And I think that that is truly important, because the more we can eliminate that fear, the more we can get people into housing so that they can add value to their community.”

By fall, Woodlawn United will be breaking ground for the Cottages on Georgia Road which will provide housing for moderate-income and extremely low-income individuals and families.

“We’ve got market-rate housing today. We will be breaking ground on affordable in the next few weeks…People deserve high quality houses regardless of their income level,” Taylor said.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Irondale Senior Activity Center. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

HOT SUN AND FUN IN THE SUMMER TIME!!! ENJOY!!! STAY COOL!!!

TODAY, JULY 24…

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

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**STPE RESOURCE AND CAREER FAIR, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the 5 Points West Library. Apply for a job, sign-up for a trade, GED, firearms safety presentation, financial literacy workshops, children services, mental health and more.  For more info, 205-224-7571 or rdrakes@uab.edu.

**DISTRICT 5 HEALTH FAIR, 2-6 p.m. at A.H. Parker High School. FREE.

**LEGENDS COME TO CITY WALK BHAM – Another round of legendary performances at 23rd Street North and 9th Avenue North, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., to close out the summer series in style. There will be live music performances, food trucks, the Social Bar (Drinks for the grown-ups, and outdoor games: Ping Pong, Bocce, Corn Hole & more. NOTE: all guests 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

**DEAR SILAS “I AIN’T STRESSIN’ TODAY,” 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**SEBASTIAN BORDEAUZ’S “ HILLBILLY ROYALE’ w/ special guests REXACO at the Nick.

**LATE NIGHT with ALABAMA SO & SO MACHINE at The Nick.

**(FREE) WE HAVE SIGNAL: UNRELEASED & B-SIDES at Saturn.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**JOSE CARR EVERY THURSDAY, 5-7 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, at 1631 4th Avenue North.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m.  at 1821 2nd Avenue North

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

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

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY, JULY 25…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**ROARING 20’S MURDER MYSTERY DINNER, 6:30 p.m. at Birmingham’s Historic Arlington House.

**DRAG NIGHT at The Nick.

**EMO NIGHT BROOKLYN with MORE WEIGHT at Saturn.

**EST GEE at Iron City.

**WINSTON RAMBLE – 2 Sets Live at Avondale Brewing Co.

**FRIDAY NIGHTS SCREEN SCENE MOVIES SERIES at Beacon Park, 5309 Beacon Drive. Fun and Games begin at 7 p.m. Movie begins at Dusk. There are FREE hot dogs, lemonade, train rides, popcorn, snow cones and more.

**GOOD PEOPLE & GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

SATURDAY, JULY 26…

**MCALPINE FOOTBALL SKILLZ CAMP, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, at 1115 Avenue F, 35218. Admission is FREE, for ages 8-18. The attire is t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, cleats, etc. Breakfast, Lunch, Haircuts and Camp t-shirt is provided. For more, call 205-520-6542.

**FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET, 8 – 11 a.m., Every Saturday through August 2, located at By the Tracks at Irondale City Hall -Free Honey Samples & Bee Demo. There will be fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, baked goods, honey and handcrafted items.

**AVONDALE ADULT SWIM – A DAY PARTY at Avondale Brewing Co.

**SHADOWS OF THE WIND + BLOOD MOON RIOT + NEOTERRA at The Nick.

**HOT IN HERE: 2000s DANCE PARTY at Saturn.

SUNDAY, JULY 27…

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7th, 2808 7th Avenue Suite105

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**JAZZ ON 4th with NEW JAZZ UNDERGROUND, 5 p.m. at the Carver Theatre

**LITTLE HOPES with G.W. HENDERSON at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT SUNDAYS at The Nick with TABULA RASA and RABBIT HOLE.

**2ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.

**4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.

MONDAY, JULY 28…

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND (Open Mic) at the Nick.

**THE MOTH BIRMINGHAM STORY SLAM: DIRT at Saturn.

TUESDAY, JULY 29…

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**COMMUNTY KITCHENS FAREWELL COOK-OUT, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at 5712 First Avenue North, for celebration, love, laughter, and plenty of delicious food. For more, 205-251-3569.

**SENIOR GARTEN 101 & BINGO – Come on out and learn about Medicare and win some prizes at the West End Library located at, 1348 Tuscaloosa Avenue, 205-226-4089.

**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**(FREE) MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT at Saturn.

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE LATE NIGHT TUESDAYS at The Nick.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30…

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**WEDNESDAY OPEN DECK with SUNDROP at The Nick.

**EVERYTHING IS GREAT – A TOWN HALL FOR THE PEOPLE at Saturn.

THURSDAY, JULY 31…

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

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THE BAND SOLTSTICE, ORANGE MUDD & THE BAND HONEY at The Nick.

**DREW MORGAN at the Upstairs Comedy Series at Avondale Brewing Co.

**(FREE) BLACK SABBATH’S PARANOID at Saturn.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1….

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**LATE NIGHT with SHOCK TEA, THE BAND HONEY, THE RUGS & BRUNCH with ROSIE at The Nick.

**ROBIN SHAKEDOWN, MOSTLY STRANGERS, FETCH at The Nick.

**JULES at Saturn.

**Y2K – A THROWBACK DANCE PARTY at Saturn.

**LAND AID w/BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS + THE HIP ABDUSCTION at Avondale Brewing Co.

 CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY IN ALABAMA…

…IN MONTGOMERY…

**UNVEILING OF MARKER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS NEWSPAPER – THE COURIER – A ceremony, unveiling the marker for the historic Southern Courier civil rights newspaper, will be held Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at the site of the paper’s former headquarters, the former Frank Leu Building (located in downtown Montgomery at 79 Commerce Street and Bibb Streets).

The Courier was founded 60 years ago by students from Harvard University Law School to report on civil rights issues and the Southern way of life that the white-controlled news media did not cover in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. Known as one of the most courageous newspapers in the country (from 1965-1968), the Courier covered race relations, social justice issues, school desegregation, and human rights concerns.

Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. was one of the Courier’s contributors. Rev. Dr. Viola Bradford, who is spearheading the event, is a Montgomery resident who was a 14-year-old student at George Washington Carver High School when she was recruited during the Summer of 1965 by Geoffrey Cowan, a Yale University Law student and Courier reporter, and Jim Peppler, a photojournalist from Penn State University–becoming the Courier’s youngest and first Black reporter. The Collection is housed at Tuskegee University; and its photo collection was donated to the Alabama Department of Archives and History includes rare photos of Dr. King in Alabama, and a pictorial coverage of Dr. King’s funeral.

FOR MOVIE LOVERS…

AT THE SIDEWALK FILM FEST… August 18-24 – The 27th ANNUAL SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL!!

**TODAY…SIDEWALK FOREVER KICK-OFF PARTY, 5-7 p.m. at Sanctum. Six local artists have contributed their designs as tattoos we well as prints, stickers or t-shirts. Stop by anytime between July 24-August 16.

**TODAY – HAPPPY GILMORE.

**TODAY – THURSDAY MATINEE with WAYNE’S WORLD, 2 p.m.

**TODAY – THURSDAY MATINEE with FAN, 2:15 p.m.

**JULY 25, 27 and 31 – BRIDESMAIDS.

**JULY 25-27 STEP BROTHERS.

**JULY 25-31 – POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING.

**JULY 26 and 27 – E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, a Steven Spielberg classic to watch 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in your pajamas with a light breakfast, Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar for the grown-ups.

**JULY 27 – AMARCOD, 6 p.m. about the Italian legend Federico Fellini.

FOR STUDENTS – BACK TO SCHOOL…

**TODAY – BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, 5- 7 p.m. at 5330 Oporto-Madrid Blvd. with free school supplies and book bags.

**AUGUST 2 – BACK 2 SCHOOL RALLY, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Greater Saint Thomas Community Church.

**AUGUST 2 – BLOCK PARTY, at Ballin Fast Gym, 4412 9th Avenue, 35224 with back packs, school supplies, bouncy house, hair cuts, personal growth educators, DJ booth and food.

**AUGUST 2 – JACKSON’S BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, 2-4 p.m. at 507 41st Street North with Free school supplies and food.

**AUGUST BACK TO SCHOOL YOUTH DAY FUN DAY, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Zion City, 1104 Gene Reed Road with moonwalk, water slide, snow cones, hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos and popcorn.

**AUGUST 2 – REHOBOTH CHURCH BIRMINGHAM BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, 12-4 p.m. at 2120 Center Point Parkway with back packs, giveaways, games, financial literacy, food, movie and more.

**AUGUST 2 – ENSLEY CHURCH OF CHRIST BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY, 10:30 a.m. with school supplies for all students.

**AUGUST 3 – TOOLS FOR SCHOOL, 2- 5 p.m. at Linn Park with games, inflatables, food trucks and more.

**AUGUST 3 – KENSATION’S ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL HAIR CHARITY, 8 a.m. until at 921 19th Street North, Bessemer. For boys and girls ages 13 and under, must have all hair washed, blown out and braid ready.  For more, 205-862-3424.

**AUGUST 5 – APPLEBEE’S BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY, 2 – 6 p.m. at Five Points Location, 2246 Bessemer Road.

**AUGUST 9 – CORNELL LEWIS 10th ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY, 2:30 – 6 p.m. at Helena Sports Complex, 110 Sports Complex Dr. For more, cornellewisfoundation@gmail.com.

FOR COMMUNITY LOVERS…

**JULY 25 – BUILDING BIRMINGHAM EXPO 2025, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Bill Harris Arena. FREE. Meet with builders, lenders, realtors, on site mortgage pre-qualifications, view new construction homes and floor plans, homebuyer education sessions, live presentation and more.  For more, 205-254-2117 or landbank@birminghamal.gov. 

AT THE BPL…THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY MOBILE:

**JULY 29 – TITUSVILLE SENIOR CENTER, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

**July 30 – COLLEGEVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER, 11:30 – 1 p.m. 

IN FIVE POINTS WEST…

**JULY 29 – SURVIVE & THRIVE [DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP, 5-7 p.m. at the Five Points West library. Learn how to prepare for emergencies, Build your own disaster kit, Protect your family and home. A FREE community workshop on disaster readiness.

IN HOMEWOOD …

**AUGUST 5 – FREE ADVICE FROM VOLUNTEER LAWYERS IN BIRMINGHAM – ASK AN ATTORNEY at Homewood Library. Volunteer attorneys will be on hand 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. to answer your legal, FREE. VLB assists with civil legal matters.  For more 205-250-5198 and www.vlbham.org.

FOR LOVERS OF OUTDOORS… 

**SATURDAY KAYAK AND CANOE TRIP, 8:45 a.m. with Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Trip, Chattooga River near Gaylesville, Alabama – DETAILS:

This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area, fairly easy and without classified rapids.  See wildflowers, swim, investigate islands and beaches.  Plan to go for an optional dinner, at Smorgasbord at the Cove in Cedar Bluff, located on Weiss Lake. Bring shower things and/or a change of clothes to be kept in the car if interested.  Reservations Required: Meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s in Trussville. Plan to depart at 9 a.m.  Information: If you have questions or would like additional information about this kayak and canoe trip details, call Dan Frederick, before July 26 at 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.

COMING SOON…

**AUGUST 2 – HEAL THE BLOCK, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 13th Street S.W. between Cotton Avenue and Tuscaloosa Avenue.  There will be food, entertainment, music, free haircuts, school supplies, health screenings, vendors children’s corner, community resources, giveaways, job training, voter registration, mental health resources and more.

**AUGUST 10 – DISTRICT 6 SUMMER FARMERS MARKET, 1{30 – 3:30 pm. at Memorial Park with free ice cream, free hamburgers, hotdogs and chips, live chef demo with Chef Amanda and $5 vouchers while they last.

**AUGUST 16 – MOVIES ON THE MOUNTAIN, Saturday with TOY STORY at Vulcan Park & Museum.

FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND FUN…

**AUGUST 29 – WEEK ZERO CLASSIC COMEDY JAM featuring BILL BELLAMY, hosted by NEPHEW TOMMY with Special Guest MS. VEE at the Historic Boutwell Auditorium.

**AUGUST 31 – LABOR DAY CONCERT – ONE NIGHT ONLY – A TRIBUTE TO LUTHER VANDROSS featuring JAY LAMBERT & THE BYRON THOMAS COLLECTIVE, 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  Look for more right here, soon.

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

 

“The vision now is what the vision was when he was alive: two brothers just trying to make a difference. Make your parents proud, do the right thing and try to be different in your own way.’’

By
Birmingham Times
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CHRIS PILOT, OF FAT CHARLES BBQ, WHO RUNS THE COMPANY AFTER HIS BROTHER, CHARLES’S, UNEXPECTED DEATH IN 2024; THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES, JULY 17.

These Birmingham Streets Will Be Resurfaced with $13 Million Approved by City Council

By
Birmingham Times
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Birmingham has approved nearly $13 million for street resurfacing projects across the city. (Adobe Stock)

By Olivia Gauthier | ABC 33/40

The City of Birmingham has approved nearly $13 million in funding for street resurfacing projects across the city. The city council awarded three contracts to Dunn Construction Company, the lowest bidder, to carry out the work.

Residents can visit the Birmingham Department of Transportation website to check which roads are scheduled for paving and which have already been completed.

Concerns were raised by several councilors about the timeliness and quality of previous resurfacing efforts. Councilor Valerie Abbott highlighted issues with past projects, saying, “The people who are doing the paving are paving up to the top of the curb. If you do that, you no longer have a curb. We are doing that certainly on the south side, I don’t know about other peoples districts…but, there’s a purpose for a curb, and, if you don’t have them anymore then all of your rights of way wash away when it rains.”

City Council President Darrell O’Quinn expressed uncertainty about whether Dunn Construction has previously worked with the city. However, he noted that the new contract includes measures to address past issues.

“There is a, what’s called a ‘punch list’ process that happens after the paving where, someone comes out and inspects the work.,” said O’Quinn. “With over 1000 miles of roads in the city of Birmingham that’s a lot of area to cover just in one paving package,” he said, adding that conditions are most conducive for work to begin in late summer into the fall.

Birmingham City Schools Announces Policy For Free and Reduced Meals

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Birmingham Times
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A USDA provision allows BCS scholars to participate in school meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application. (BCS)

Birmingham City Schools

Birmingham City Schools announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

“Children need healthy meals to learn. Birmingham City Schools offers healthy meals every school day,” said Michelle Sailes, Director of Child Nutrition. Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so please encourage students to participate.

For School Year 2025/2026, Birmingham City Schools will continue participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).This USDA provision allows BCS scholars to participate in the school meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

CEP is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools and school districts in low-income areas to eliminate school meal applications and serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all enrolled students.

CEP gives food service professionals more time to focus on preparing nutritious meals that students will enjoy and gives them more time to eat those meals by cutting down on time spent in the lunch line. More importantly, by offering all students a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost, CEP helps ensure more students come to class well-nourished and ready to learn.

The first day of classes for the 2025-26 school year is August 7.

Registration

Register now to ensure your child(ren) are in class on the first day! Head over to our registration page to begin the process. If you need in-person assistance, extended help desk hours are available at the Lincoln Professional Development Center Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Don’t delay; register today!

Calendars

Sync the district calendar with your personal calendar in the Events section of our website. Printable calendars are also available here.

Rooms

Starting this school year, we will use the Rooms platform through the BCS mobile app for classroom communications. Download the BCS app for iPhone or Android and look out for onboarding emails later in July.

If parents or guardians need more information they may contact Michelle Sailes, at (205) 231-9655.

‘We Were on This Journey and We Were Meant to be Together’

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

KALEENA AND MARCUS WATTS

Live: Trussville

Married: June 8, 2008

Met: August 1996, at Ramsay High School in their freshman math class. Both Kaleena and Marcus were self-proclaimed jokesters. “It was a happy-go-lucky type of class,” said Marcus, “We were good classmates.” “It was a fun-loving class, lots of jokes, lots of laughs and that’s how our friendship developed. Our friend groups also ran together and that’s how we used to hang out,” Kaleena added.

Both went out of state to college, Kaleena was first enrolled at Virginia University, in Virginia, and Marcus was at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. “We used to check in on each other, and if we were home visiting at the same time our friend groups would get together and hangout,” Kaleena said. “Marcus and I also had a personal friendship. I knew his mom, and when I moved back to Birmingham, [2006] I had my daughter, Kendall, and his mom suggested that Marcus and I become roommates since we were good friends.”

When Kaleena had transferred to UAB in 2006 and Marcus was also back in town and now attending Virginia College in Birmingham [which has since closed], his mother, Angela Butler, who was moving away, rented her house in Center Point to the longtime friends.

First date: Fall 2007, at Costa’s Mediterranean Restaurant in Hoover. The roommates’ relationship was beginning to shift, and they rode together from their place for their first official date.

“We sat at the bar and had a good time making each other laugh. I’m looking at her and she’s looking at me, and I’m thinking she looks good, I gotta have her to myself,” said Marcus. “It was hitting me that my feelings for her were growing and I loved where we were going. And her smile has always been a thing for me. Ever since high school, she was and always, is smiling and laughing and that’s what got me.”

“…[that date] was one of those intentional moments, and because it was intentional, he looked really good. He has this lovely curly hair, and when he dresses up, whew,” Kaleena laughed. “He was smelling good, and it all came together nicely.”

The turn: Fall 2007. Being in close proximity, Marcus began filling the father role to Kendall, who was a toddler, and they started attending church together.

“I was already attending New Covenant of Faith Ministries in Birmingham, and I would come home and talk to her about how my life was changing because of my relationship with Christ, and I invited her to come with me,” Marcus said.

“He would always tell me about a book called ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ [by Rick Warren], and one day he bought a copy home for me and he put a very loving note in the front of it. And as we both started growing closer to God, we naturally started growing closer to each other,” Kaleena said.

“And the pastor [at New Covenant?] started teaching on a series called ‘Dating’ and that’s when both of our eyes opened,” Marcus said.

Then one evening, Kaleena and Marcus decided not to continue cohabitating as an unmarried couple.

“It was important for me to make the right decision as to whether or not I should continue living in the house. We knew we were dating for marriage, and knew we shouldn’t continue coexisting like this,” Kaleena said.

So Marcus solved the issue. “I said, ‘why don’t we just get married?” said Marcus.

The proposal: The same evening as that discussion at their home in Center Point. “I said, ‘let’s take that step.’ I told her I don’t want to be with nobody else and the only way to make that happen is if we get married,” said Marcus.

“I said ‘Are you sure? Are you for real?’,” Kaleena laughed. “But ultimately, I said ‘yes.’

“It’s wild, because in the midst of all of this [their spiritual growth] God was showing us how he put us together… God had a plan. We looked back over [past relationships, their evolution, romance, and growth in Christ] and realized we were on this journey and we were meant to be together,” Marcus added.

Kaleena and Marcus Watts met in 1996 during their freshman year at Ramsay High School. The couple married in 2008. (Provided Photos)

The wedding: At The Marrying Place [a garden/wedding venue] in Bessemer, officiated by Pastor Thaddues Rutledge, of New Covenant of Faith Ministries. Their colors were black, and white, with a splash of red.

Most memorable for the bride was the scorching hot day: “We chose to use the outdoor garden, and I remember it was so hot,” Kaleena said. “I always wanted a dancing wedding where everyone just danced the night away, but nobody wanted to dance because it was so hot,” she said. “And Kendall [who was 3 at the time] made sure everybody knew how hot it was. Her little voice hollered out “It’s hot” and everybody laughed.”

Most memorable for the groom was how surreal it was waiting for his bride at the altar. “I remember coming out with my best men, which was my brother and my dad… and while waiting for my bride to come down the aisle, I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I was like ‘man, I can’t believe I’m at my wedding, like this is my wedding’,” Marcus laughed. “And during the vows, while repeating them, I remember I did not want to mess them up. I was a little nervous, but I made it through.”

The couple did not honeymoon right away but made up for it with a late honeymoon for their fifth wedding anniversary. “We took a trip to Jamaica and left the kids behind. Both of our sons were born by then, and we left all of them with his mom and had the time of our lives relaxing and reconnecting,” Kaleena said.

Words of wisdom: “You define what makes you happy and fulfilled in your relationship,” said Kaleena. “Comparison is the thief of joy, so know yourself and what you truly need and desire in your relationship. Also, you have to be vulnerable and allow your spouse to see all of you. Past experiences can rob you of the desire to let your heart feel all the feels in a relationship so you end up trying to protect yourself in unhealthy ways, but deep and true love can only be experienced when vulnerability and emotional availability are present.”

“Invite God into your marriage and allow Him to help you continually strive to be the best version of yourself for your spouse. Listen with love when communicating and be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the relationship,” Marcus said.

Happily ever after: The Watts attend Faith Chapel Christian Center, in Wylam, where Kaleena serves as a small group leader, Marcus, on the audio/visual team, and they both serve on the students’ ministry. They have three children, daughter Kendall, 21, and sons Jadon, 15, and Isaiah, 10.

Kaleena, 43, is a Birmingham [Green Acres] native, and Ramsay High School grad. She attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB] where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, and a master’s degree in secondary education. Kaleena also obtained a master’s degree in school counseling from the University of West Alabama and works as a school counselor for Jefferson County Schools.

Marcus, 43, is a Birmingham native, and Ramsay High School grad. He attended Mars Hill College in North Carolina where he studied art. Marcus obtained an associate’s degree in visual communications and graphic design from Virginia College and works as a graphic designer for the City of Birmingham.

“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

FBI Records on MLK Jr. Released Despite His Family’s Opposition and ‘Continuing Grief’

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Birmingham Times
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The Rev. Ralph Abernathy, right, and Bishop Julian Smith, left, flank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during a civil rights march in Memphis, Tenn., March 28, 1968. (AP Photo/Jack Thornell, File)

By Bill Barrow | Associated Press

The Trump administration on Monday released records of the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate’s family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination.

The digital document dump includes more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration.

In a lengthy statement released Monday, King’s two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said their father’s killing has been a “captivating public curiosity for decades.” But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that the files “be viewed within their full historical context.”

The Kings got advance access to the records and had their own teams reviewing them. Those efforts continued even as the government granted public access. Among the documents are leads the FBI received after King’s assassination and details of the CIA’s fixation on King’s pivot to international anti-war and anti-poverty movements in the years before he was killed. It was not immediately clear whether the documents shed new light on King’s life, the Civil Rights Movement or his murder.

“As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief — a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met — an absence our family has endured for over 57 years,” they wrote. “We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”

They also repeated the family’s long-held contention that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of assassinating King, was not solely responsible, if at all.

Bernice King was 5 years old when her father was killed at the age of 39. Martin III was 10.

A statement from the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the disclosure “unprecedented” and said many of the records had been digitized for the first time. She praised President Donald Trump for pushing the issue.

Release is ‘transparency’ to some, a ‘distraction’ for others

Trump promised as a candidate to release files related to President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination. When Trump took office in January, he signed an executive order to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with Robert F. Kennedy’s and MLK’s 1968 assassinations.

The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April.

The announcement from Gabbard’s office included a statement from Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, who is an outspoken conservative and has broken from King’s children on various topics — including the FBI files. Alveda King said she was “grateful to President Trump” for his “transparency.”

Separately, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s social media account featured a picture of the attorney general with Alveda King.

Besides fulfilling Trump’s order, the latest release means another alternative headline for the president as he tries to mollify supporters angry over his administration’s handling of records concerning the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019, during Trump’s first presidency. Trump last Friday ordered the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony but stopped short of unsealing the entire case file.

Bernice King and Martin Luther King III did not mention Trump in their statement Monday. But Bernice King later posted on her personal Instagram account a black-and-white photo of her father, looking annoyed, with the caption “Now, do the Epstein files.”

And some civil rights activists did not spare the president.

“Trump releasing the MLK assassination files is not about transparency or justice,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “It’s a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility among the MAGA base.”

The King Center, founded by King’s widow and now led by Bernice King, reacted separately from what Bernice said jointly with her brother. The King Center statement framed the release as a distraction — but from more than short-term political controversy.

“It is unfortunate and ill-timed, given the myriad of pressing issues and injustices affecting the United States and the global society,” the King Center, linking those challenges to MLK’s efforts. “This righteous work should be our collective response to renewed attention on the assassination of a great purveyor of true peace.”

Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington. (AP Photo/File)
Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington. (AP Photo/File)

Records mean a new trove of research material

The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the sealing order early. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents for new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. The group, along with King’s family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, hoping to discredit them and their movement.

It has long been established that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoover’s bureau wiretapped King’s telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to gather information, including evidence of King’s extramarital affairs.

“He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the King children said in their statement.

“The intent … was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. King’s reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement,” they continued. “These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth — undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo.”

The Kings said they “support transparency and historical accountability” but “object to any attacks on our father’s legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods.”

Opposition to King intensified even after the Civil Rights Movement compelled Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After those victories, King turned his attention to economic justice and international peace. He criticized rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King asserted that political rights alone were not enough to ensure a just society. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat.

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. walks across the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, April 3, 1968. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly, File)
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. walks across the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, April 3, 1968. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly, File)

King’s children still don’t accept the original explanation of assassination

King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice.

Ray pleaded guilty to King’s murder. Ray later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998.

King family members and others have long questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. Coretta Scott King asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno ordered a new look. Reno’s Justice Department said it “found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King.”

In their latest statement, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III repeated their assertions that Ray was set up. They pointed to a 1999 civil case, brought by the King family, in which a Memphis jury concluded that Martin Luther King Jr. had been the target of a conspiracy.

“As we review these newly released files,” the Kings said, “we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted.”

Associated Press journalist Safiyah Riddle contributed from Montgomery, Alabama.

Demonstrators walk to the courthouse behind the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery, Ala., March 17, 1965, to protest treatment of demonstrators by police during an attempted march. (AP Photo/File)
Demonstrators walk to the courthouse behind the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery, Ala., March 17, 1965, to protest treatment of demonstrators by police during an attempted march. (AP Photo/File)

Popularity of Fat Charles BBQ Continues to Build in Birmingham

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Birmingham Times
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Brothers Charles Pilot, left, and Chris Pilot launched Fat Charles BBQ in 2019 and bought a food truck together in 2020. In 2024, Charles unexpectedly died, but Chris continues into the company he and his brother had always dreamed of. (Provided)

By Chanda Temple | For The Birmingham Times

When Charles Pilot and Chris Pilot launched their Fat Charles OG Tacos in 2019, Birmingham stopped and took notice.

They were soft tortilla shells filled with smoked chicken or brisket; two to three freshly-grated cheeses; colorful, homemade Pico de Gallo; and their own creamy concoction known as OG Sauce. The tacos came with a presentation that pulled you in, and a flavor that refused to let you go.

As soon as Fat Charles BBQ opened, a long line quickly formed. Hours later, “Sold Out’’ would be written across the menu board. “There is a restaurant on every corner in Birmingham, and just to know that somebody wakes up and comes and wants food from us, it was a blessing then and it’s a blessing now,’’ said Chris.

The brothers, who are Birmingham natives and graduates of E.B. Erwin High School in Center Point, were like Batman and Robin, tightly connected in working to make Fat Charles BBQ a household name.

They first started selling barbecue plates out of Charles’ Clay home in 2017. Then, Chris thought that people may not always be in the mood for ribs, and he suggested they pair their smoked meats with street tacos. Things positively shifted when they added the OG Tacos in May 2019. A month later, they introduced the Mexican pizza.

In 2020, they bought a food truck and rolled it out in 2021, which is when they added shrimp tacos. Salmon tacos were added in 2022, and oxtail tacos were added in July 2023. In 2022, they were contracted to be a vendor at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa for University of Alabama home games that fall. They won the “People’s Choice Award’’ for “Best Tacos’’ at Birmingham Taco Fest in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Things were good. Really good.

Then, five days before Thanksgiving in 2024, Charles died unexpectedly. He was 38. The death not only shocked Charles’ family, but it also rocked the Birmingham community. The company already had catering orders for Thanksgiving, Christmas and parties on the books, and Chris didn’t want to let down anyone. So, he remained committed and filled all the requests.

“My brother passed on that Saturday, but I was back to work on Monday,’’ Chris said. “I don’t want to sound like a cliche when I say this, but if it were me, I’m pretty sure he would want to do the same thing.’’

“Some things are bigger than you, and sometimes, it’s bigger than explaining. If the ‘Big Man’ puts it on your heart, you just go and do it.’’

Chris Pilot, outside the food truck that bears Fat Charles’ name. (Barnett Wright, The Birmingham Times)

“Brothers Trying To Make A Difference”

Chris, 33, still misses his brother, but said he’s building Fat Charles BBQ into the company he and his brother had always dreamed of. “The vision now is what the vision was when he was alive: two brothers just trying to make a difference,’’ Chris said. “Make your parents proud, do the right thing and try to be different in your own way.’’

One way Chris is doing that is spreading the heart of Fat Charles BBQ to Birmingham youth.

On Saturday, July 26, Chris will host taco cooking classes for children as part of Birmingham Restaurant Week. It will be held at City Walk during the Food Truck Pop-Up Park and The Modern Green Book Vendor Market. Reservations for “The Fat Charles Experience: Cookin’ With Chris,” are now filled and no longer available.

However, the food truck park and vending event, which will be from 2 to 7 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Charles had a passion for teaching others about food, which is why Chris is offering the class. At the center of the class will be the OG Tacos, which were originally known as “GO Tacos” when Chris and Charles made them at home years before going into business.

“We called them ‘GO Tacos’ because they just kept going. We looked at the word, ‘GO,’ and said, ‘Let’s just call them the ‘OG Tacos’ for ‘original’ tacos, ‘’ said Chris, explaining they wanted a standout or classic dish people could immediately connect to Fat Charles BBQ, just like how Burger King has the “Whopper,’’ and McDonald’s  has the “Big Mac.’’

“If we can change one person’s life or influence one person’s life by what we are doing, it’s all worth it,’’ Chris said of his plans to teach children on July 26.  “You never know whom you might help to get over that hump or create a different vision to be successful or change things in their reality.”

On Saturday, July 26, Chris Pilot will host taco cooking classes for children as part of Birmingham Restaurant Week. (Provided)

A Name In Lights

A few things have changed since Charles’ passing. One of them is the company logo, which Chris and Charles had discussed changing well before Charles passed. The old logo featured a caricature of Charles in dark shades and a bucket hat. The new logo features the Fat Charles BBQ name, surrounded by lights.

“It’s kind of like your name, up in lights,’’ Chris said. “I wanted to try to put it (the company) in the best space possible and try to move forward, not only for the people in the community but for Charles, my family and for my parents.’’

“We really started the business because we wanted to make our parents proud. Without them, I don’t know where we would be.’’

Another change is that Chris added jerk tacos to expand the menu. They are grilled, flour tortilla shells with a cheese blend, jerk seasoning, jerk sauce and Pico de Gallo on top.

He’s currently in talks with some schools to be a vendor for football games this fall. Brides continue to book him for rehearsal dinners and post-wedding reception parties. And he’s reduced the company food truck fleet from three trucks to one.

“I know things look kind of different now, and we might not be out in the public and stuff. But we are still moving along. We are still doing what we gotta do,’’ Chris said.

“We are taking it one day at a time, just trying to make a difference.’’

Birmingham Restaurant Week

Birmingham Restaurant Week, which is in its 15th year, exists to highlight restaurants, bars, food trucks and caterers, July 17 – 26. Participants will offer special menu deals during that time. Visit www.bhamrestaurantweek.com for details on events and menu specials from participating vendors.

Chris said the Fat Charles BBQ Birmingham Restaurant Week special will be four corn (hard shell) OG tacos with a choice of chicken or brisket for $10. It will come with the Pico de Gallo, which is made with fresh cilantro, white onions and tomatoes.

“I’ve always said the most important part of a taco is the Pico,’’ Chris said. “If the protein is great and then you add (Pico) to it, it makes it phenomenal.’’

Chris is not sure if he will be selling tacos during the July 26 event at City Walk, but the public can visit his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FatCharlesBBQ; or the new company app, Fat Charles BBQ, to find out where the truck will be during Birmingham Restaurant Week. His commissary kitchen in Homewood, 195 Vulcan Road, is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for call-in and pick-up orders.

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