Home Blog Page 47

Inside UAB’s Newly Opened Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine Building

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
UAB celebrated the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building. (UAB Photo)

By Alicia Rohan | uabnews.com

The University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday celebrated the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building, a transformative facility that will accelerate breakthroughs in precision medicine, genomics, informatics and data sciences. It is the seventh new or renovated facility to open on campus in the past five months, underscoring UAB’s rapid growth and commitment to innovation.

Located at Seventh Avenue South between 19th and 20th streets, the 175,000-square-foot building features an iconic double-helix design and marks a new era for UAB, Birmingham and the state of Alabama in biomedical research and innovation — impact that will be felt locally, nationally and globally.

Serving as a physical and symbolic nexus for UAB Medicine, the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building unite the core missions of research, clinical care and education — with the research enterprise to the south, clinical operations to the north, and Volker Hall, the heart of the medical school, to the west. The striking double-helix design, prominently displayed through its glass curtain wall, reflects the code of life and UAB’s commitment to bridging biology and medicine — from bench to bedside — while embracing the future of AI-driven, personalized care and data-powered innovation.

The facility brings together researchers, equipment and staff from the Heersink School of Medicine, Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute, the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Live HealthSmart Alabama, the Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center, and the Marnix Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, as well as translational scientists from many other disciplines.

It will serve as a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting leading scientists, clinicians and entrepreneurs to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time and elevate UAB and Alabama’s competitiveness in research, innovation, commercialization and economic development.

“This building is more than bricks and mortar — it’s a launchpad for discovery,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts, M.D. “The people who work in this unique, world-class facility will drive innovations that improve lives locally and worldwide and position UAB and Alabama as global leaders in precision medicine and data sciences.”

Research initiatives will focus on preventing and managing such chronic diseases as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and addiction. New collaborations will bring together frontline clinicians and researchers to strengthen UAB’s translational health efforts. Cutting-edge disciplines — including data science, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, genomic engineering and laboratory science — will be leveraged alongside expert consultation to develop therapeutic strategies for genetic disorders. These include rare diseases, neurodevelopmental conditions, cancer and diabetes, to name a few.

Support from the Altec/Styslinger Foundation was the first major investment in the project. (UAB Photo)

Partnerships

The project was funded through a historic $50 million investment from the State of Alabama via the Public School and College Authority, the largest-ever investment from the state in a university facility. Jefferson County, the City of Birmingham, and generous donors including the Altec/Styslinger Foundation and Dr. Marnix and Mary Heersink also supported the project.

“This facility represents the power of public-private partnership among UAB, the University of Alabama System, individual and corporate donors, the local business community and city, and our county and state leadership — all in an effort to drive better health and prosperity for the people of Alabama and beyond,” said Sid J. Trant, chancellor of the UA System.

The new facility will empower UAB researchers to advance the full spectrum of biomedical innovation — from basic research to commercialization, drug discovery and the launch of startup companies. Purpose-built spaces designed for collaboration and innovation will enhance recruitment and retention efforts, drawing emerging businesses to Birmingham and Alabama and positioning the region as a thriving hub for biotech entrepreneurship.

“This facility will attract top-tier talent, generate high-paying jobs and stimulate economic development,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “It’s a wise investment with a lasting return for all Alabamians.”

UAB will have 90-plus talented and renowned researchers and their teams located in the new facility with space to recruit an additional 30-plus investigators.

“This really is a bold leap forward in our ability to translate scientific discovery into real-world impact,” said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine. “It’s also a catalyst for our region. This building will essentially house dozens of ‘small companies’ that would not be in Alabama if not for UAB and its research engine. We will be able to attract new talent, increase our competitive advantage in supporting researchers who will in turn bolster our economy and aid in the care of all Alabamians.”

Donor and public support

Support from the Altec/Styslinger Foundation was the first major investment in the project. Altec, Inc., is a global company headquartered in Birmingham with products and services in more than 100 countries focused on the electric utilities and telecommunications industries. The Altec/Styslinger Foundation “is a collective family effort,” noted Lee Styslinger III.

The Styslinger family worked closely with officials from UAB, the state, Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham to leverage the foundation’s initial investment to attract additional public dollars, with the idea of creating an economic driver for the state and a world-class facility for biomedical research, drug discovery and commercialization.

Leaders from Jefferson County and Birmingham also praised the collaboration that brought the project to fruition.

“This facility is a testament to what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together for the greater good,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “It will have a lasting impact on the health and prosperity of our residents and position Jefferson County as a center for biomedical innovation.”

“UAB continues to be a cornerstone of Birmingham’s growth and success,” said City of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “This investment will help attract world-class talent, create high-tech jobs, and strengthen our city’s reputation as a destination for innovation and opportunity.”

The Altec/Styslinger building also features space for computational research, research support, offices, administrative and scientific collaboration, and meeting areas tailored to the needs of genomics and precision medicine investigators. The new facility includes the renovation of the existing Lyons-Harrison Research Building, located at 701 19th Street South on the UAB campus.

Also opening as part of the new facility are the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation Conference Center and the Kracke Plaza. The Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation Conference Center was made possible through a portion of the Heersinks’ transformational $95 million gift, which also named the Heersink School of Medicine. Adjacent to the Conference Center, Kracke Plaza — a newly created greenspace on the site of the former Kracke Building — honors Roy Kracke, M.D., the inaugural dean of what was then the Medical College of Alabama (1944-1950), now known as UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine.

The Altec/Styslinger building also features space for computational research, research support, offices, administrative and scientific collaboration, and meeting areas. (UAB Photos)

‘It’s All Love’: Meet the Birmingham High School Teammates Turned Magic City Classic Rivals

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
From left: Marquel Patterson, Jaylin Peterson and Jalen Wright, are Ramsay High School graduates who all play for AAMU. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times) From left: Eldridge Shelton, Wenonah High School; Jalen Jones, Ramsay High School; and Eric Tarrant, Arthur Harold Parker High School, are on the ASU team. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

When Alabama State University (ASU) and Alabama A & M University (AAMU) meet in the 84th Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday, October 25, at Birmingham’s Legion Field, two student-athletes on opposite sidelines will not be strangers — ASU’s Jalen Jones and AAMU’s Jalen Wright.

“We text like every other week,” said Wright, a redshirt sophomore. “[He and I] talked like last week. We had a little conversation.”

Jones, a redshirt freshman, said of Wright, “I know his story, the hard work he put in. I just want to see the results he’s getting from all his hard work. I see that he’s started making big plays on defense. I’m just really happy for him.”

“Yeah, I’ve been following him for a while, even though he plays for a rival school,” continued the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Hornets wide receiver. “We grew up together.”

That’s right. Jones and Wright may be on opposite sides at the Magic City Classic, but they share a bond: They were schoolmates and teammates going back to their middle school days at Birmingham’s Phillips Academy and then at Ramsay High School.

But they’re not the only former BCS students at Legion Field for the Classic. Alabama State features six players who played at Birmingham City Schools. Two of those are products of Ramsay High School – Jones and sophomore Ashton Ashford. The others are freshman Aydden Moody-Copeland of P. D. Jackson-Olin, sophomore Eric Tarrant of Arthur Harold Parker, freshman Eldridge Shelton of Wenonah and freshman Jakoby Smith of George Washington Carver.

On the other side of the field, Alabama A&M has four BCS grads. Three of those players – Wright, freshman Marquel Patterson and redshirt senior Jaylin Peterson – hail from Ramsay High. Nikolas Barnes, a junior, is a product of Jackson-Olin.

But the relationship between the Wright at AAMU and Jones at ASU is even deeper than being schoolmates or teammates, Jones said.

“Going to middle school and high school with Jalen Wright was actually a blessing,” he recalled. “He was like a big brother to me. He always wanted me to come out and play football when I first came to high school, but I never went until his last year [in 2022]. He used to play basketball, as well, until he stopped playing and just focused on football.

“We just built a bond all the way from middle school to high school, a big-brother-little-brother bond,” Jones continued. “Always around, always laughing, always talking to each other.”

Jalen Wright, a Ramsay High School graduate, plays for AAMU. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Fans of the Classic

Jones grew up near Tarrant, Alabama. Wright, a 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker, grew up near Forestdale, Alabama, first playing youth football for the Adamsville Tigers. Each grew up a fan of the Magic City Classic, the largest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football classic in America.

Jones remembered attending the game while younger: “I used to go out there with some friends from middle school. As I got older, I kept going. But, no, actually, I really never thought I’d be playing [in the Classic], to be honest,” he said.

Wright shared a similar experience: “I really never thought about playing in it [either], but I always went to the game in Birmingham,” the Bulldog said. “Everybody would come out and watch it.”

AAMU’s Wright is a biology major. He enjoys “learning how the body works, and [understanding] the different types of muscles and stuff you need to know that help a person out when they are injured,” he said, mentioning athletes, in particular.

Wright grew up playing shooting guard and small forward in basketball and played third base, pitcher, and first base in baseball. Of football, he said, “[It’s] my first love.”

ASU’s Jones is a physical education major, who would like to work with up-and-coming athletes “so I can give back to the next generation,” he said.

Jones had middle school flirtations with football, but his heart belonged to the hardwood: “Actually, before ASU offered me [a scholarship], I was committed to basketball at Montevallo [University].”

Jalen Jones, a redshirt freshman wide receiver is a Ramsay High School graduate. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Big Plays

Wright, the former Ramsay Ram, chose to attend AAMU and joined the Bulldog football team as a walk-on in the fall of 2022.  Jones, Ramsay Class of 2023, recalls Wright’s performance on the middle school football field for Phillips.

“I played [football] the year after he left middle school,” Jones recounted. “The year before that, [Wright] made a big play in a playoff game in middle school where he caught [the ball on offense] over like two, three people. I don’t remember if it won the game for us or tied it up — it was one or the other — but I remember that [play].

“In every high school game, [Wright] was making a lot of tackles, doing things the leaders should be doing, being the head of the defense, … a lot of stuff for defense.”

Wright remembers being taken aback by a play Jones made for the Ramsay Rams. “My senior year, which was like his junior year at Ramsay, [Jones] caught a screen [pass] and scored a 90-yard touchdown,” Wright said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this kid is really fast.’”

Pageantry and Fanfare

With Jones playing wide receiver and Wright lining up at linebacker, it’s unlikely that the two will square off directly during this year’s Magic City Classic. But if Jones gets behind his defender, Wright may have to chase him down, and he’s up for that challenge. “Oh, yeah,” Wright said. “Of course. Wright and Jones agree that they must keep the pageantry and fanfare of the Classic in perspective.

“We’ve got to stay level-headed and just play the game,” the AAMU linebacker said. “We have to treat it like a regular game.”

Said ASU’s Jones: “We all know it’s a big game, a big rivalry between the two teams, but our strength is in the routine. As our coach Eddie Robinson will say, ‘Just stick to the things we’ve been doing, our preparation, paying attention to the little details.

“We’re just going to keep executing all our plays,” Jones continued. “We’re just going to play it like any other game. We don’t want to make it too high or make it too low. We know the importance of the game, but we want to make sure we keep our same routine so we don’t get off track.”

“All Love”

And when the game is over?

“We’ve always been close friends,” Wright said. “It’s an honor to be able to play in a big rivalry game.”

Jones said, “At the end of the day, it’s all love. Once we step [on the field], we’re competing against each other. But after the after the clock says zero, it’s just all love. We’ll come up, take a picture, talk about the game, just talk about what [we’ve] been doing.”

The 84th Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola pits the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Bulldogs against the Alabama State University Hornets at 2:30 p.m. Central on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field. The game is available via livestream on ESPN+ and will air via tape delay on ESPNU at 10 p.m. Central.

Magic City Classic Coaches Find Birmingham City Schools Fertile Soil to Harvest Talent

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
LEFT: Sam Shade is the first- year coach of the Bulldogs. (AAMU). Right, Eddie Robinson Jr. is the fourth-year Alabama State University football coach. (ASU)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

While a strong game plan is one key to success in the Magic City Classic, Eddie Robinson Jr., the fourth year Alabama State University football coach knows it’s not just about X’s and O’s, but you’ve got to have Jimmies and Joes — talented players — to compete in the nation’s largest HBCU classic.

And the Louisiana native knows where he can often find that talent — Birmingham City Schools (BCS).

“I think it’s usually important just from the proximity of Birmingham to Montgomery (home of Alabama State) and the amount of alumni that we have there (in Birmingham),” said Robinson, (no relation to the Grambling State Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson). “I personally go into all of those Birmingham City Schools to make sure that they understand that we want them to be a part of what we’re doing.”

The fourth year Alabama State University football coach played in four of the rivalry games between the state’s largest historically Black colleges and universities when he was a standout linebacker for the Hornets from 1988 to 1991.

Robinson is 6-1 against the Bulldogs as he only lost once — as a sophomore in 1989. He is undefeated as coach of the Hornets, beating A&M in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The 84th Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola is 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at historic Legion Field.

The Hornet coach said some BCS products on his roster are on scholarship. Others are walk-ons.

Alabama State features six players who played at Birmingham City Schools. Two of those are products of Ramsay High School – redshirt freshman Jalen Jones and sophomore Ashton Ashford. The others are freshman Aydden Moody-Copeland of P. D. Jackson-Olin, sophomore Eric Tarrant of Arthur Harold Parker, freshman Eldridge Shelton of Wenonah and freshman Jakoby Smith of George Washington Carver.

“For me, we will always have at least one game in Birmingham and the last two years we’ve played two games there,” Robinson said, noting Bama State’s 52-42 season-opening loss to University of Alabama at Birmingham (in late August). “Montgomery and Birmingham and Mobile — (those are) the areas that we have to be really good in as far as recruiting.”

On the other side of the field, Alabama A&M has four BCS grads. Three of those players – freshman Marquel Patterson, redshirt senior Jaylin Peterson and redshirt sophomore Jalen Wright – hail from Ramsay High. Nikolas Barnes, a junior, is a product of Jackson-Olin.

Sam Shade is the first- year coach of the Bulldogs, having traveled up Interstate 65 following a three-year stint leading the Golden Bears of Division II Miles College. But while this will be Shade’s first time participating in the Classic as a coach, the Wenonah High product is very familiar with the annual event that annually attracts hundreds of tailgaters around Legion Field for a week-long stay.

“I was very conscious of it,” said Shade, who replaced Connell Maynor as AAMU coach in 2024 after three seasons at Miles. “My mother and some of my family members attended Alabama State. My wife and some of her family members attended Alabama A&M and I’ve got a lot of friends, a lot of high school teammates that attended both universities.”

“But when I was growing up, I pretty much went to every Classic up until I went to college,” said Shade, a standout safety at the University of Alabama. “I followed it heavily. Even when I got out of pro ball before I got into college coaching, I went to every Classic until I became a college coach. Being from Birmingham, oh yeah, I definitely have spent a lot of time around the Classic over the years.”

Shade was drafted in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and traded in 1998 to the Washington Redskins. He ended his playing career in 2002.

Both coaches say they’ve benefited from the Birmingham Promise, which provides as much as four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools to attend any public two-year or four-year college or university in Alabama. That opens the door for some student-athletes from Birmingham to attend AAMU or ASU.

Robinson said some of his walk-ons have come through the program. Shade said he wasn’t able to get Birmingham Promise student athletes at Miles because the school was private and “being here at A&M, obviously that’s different,” the Bulldogs coach said. “We are a state school and that does help” because Birmingham Promise becomes another tool in the box for paying the expenses for a student — or student-athlete, he said.

The 84th Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola pits the Alabama A&M Bulldogs against the Alabama State Hornets at 2:30 p.m. Central on Saturday, Oct. 25, at historic Legion Field. The game is available via livestream on ESPN+ and will air via tape delay on ESPNU at 10 p.m. Central. 

Fast-Growing Black-Owned Tax Software Firm In Birmingham to Add 66 High-Paying Jobs

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
SmartWiz, a rapidly growing Black-owned tax software technology company in Birmingham, is expanding its operations in Birmingham with plans to create 66 high-paying jobs. (Provided)

By Jerry Underwood | Made In Alabama

Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair announced Wednesday that SmartWiz, a rapidly growing Black-owned tax software technology company in Birmingham using advanced artificial intelligence to streamline the work of tax professionals, is expanding its operations with plans to create 66 high-paying jobs.

Founded in 2021 in Birmingham by a team of tech entrepreneurs and tax professionals, SmartWiz has quickly emerged as one of only 16 IRS-approved tax software providers worldwide.

Its innovative solutions are simplifying tax compliance for professionals across the country, and its growth in Birmingham will add to the city’s reputation as a rising hub for technology innovation.

The project represents a dramatic growth spurt for SmartWiz, which currently employs 10 people in Birmingham at its base in Innovation Depot.

The Fintech startup is the brainchild of five Auburn University students who discovered that preparing taxes was a miserable experience. They are Tevin Harrell, Olumuyiwa Aladebumoye, Jordan Ward, Justin Robinson and Bria Johnson.

“Over the next five years, our goal is to put our software in the hands of every tax professional, CPA, and accountant across the United States,” said Harrell, the company’s CEO.

“We plan to grow our team here in Alabama with some of the world’s most talented engineers, sales and customer support professionals, building the next unicorn tech company right here in our state.”

Through its expansion, the Fintech startup plans to invest $125,000 in equipment and add 66 new jobs over the next five years with an average annual salary of $81,136, excluding benefits, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“SmartWiz’s decision to grow in Birmingham reinforces that Alabama has the talent, resources and supportive business climate that innovative companies need to succeed,” Secretary McNair said.

“This expansion not only brings high-quality jobs to Jefferson County but also strengthens our state’s growing tech ecosystem,” she added.

Support System

SmartWiz has benefited from Alabama’s robust startup support network, winning $50,000 in early seed funding through the EDPA’s Alabama Launchpad program and participating in the Birmingham Business Alliance’s Supplier Scale initiative (now known as the Small Business Intensive). In addition, the firm works out of Innovation Depot, the Southeast’s largest tech incubator.

An additional $500,000 in funding came from Innovate Alabama’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), as did other investments from Techstars Los Angeles, Google and entertainer Pharrell Williams.

The company’s commitment to Birmingham was tested when it was offered the opportunity to relocate to Los Angeles with $3 million in funding for its latest investment round, but SmartWiz chose to remain and expand in Alabama.

Harrell said the decision to stay in Birmingham was based on the support of Innovation Depot and the ecosystem around the company, the ease of doing business and the access to networking in Birmingham, which has been invaluable.

“As a business owner, people are your biggest investment,” he added. “With support from the Birmingham Business Alliance, Jefferson County, the City of Birmingham and the State of Alabama to help offset training, we’re not only able to attract top talent to the Birmingham region but also strengthen our path toward becoming a billion-dollar company within the next five years.”

The growth project is being supported by the Alabama Department of Commerce, which is providing tax incentives tied to job creation milestones, and state workforce development agency AIDT, which is providing services valued at $780,000.

“This is the blueprint in action. Alabama is no longer just manufacturing; we’re engineering ecosystems that launch tomorrow’s leaders,” said Gary Walton, who headed project recruitment for Commerce. “Through strategic investments in talent development, startup capital and collaborative networks, we’re building the foundation for companies to thrive and strengthen our communities.”

Local Impact

Joining Commerce to support the project are City of Birmingham and Jefferson County, which are providing local job creation incentives totaling a combined $231,000.

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), which was also involved in the project, estimates that the growth project will have an economic impact of $9.6 million over the next 20 years.

“SmartWiz is proving that you can achieve national success while staying rooted in Birmingham,” said Steve Ammons, President & CEO of the BBA. “We are proud to partner with their team as they grow, create jobs and strengthen our region’s reputation as a center for tech innovation.

Other local officials applauded the company’s growth project.

“Jefferson County has long been a hotbed of the entrepreneurial spirit, a fact that is highlighted in SmartWiz’s plans to grow their home-grown software development company,” said Jeff Traywick, the Jefferson County Commission’s Economic Development Advisor.

“We are proud of their success and excited about their plans to increase their workforce by 60 new high-paying jobs. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this rapidly growing company,” he added.

“It’s amazing to see SmartWiz intentionally choose to grow here in Birmingham by bringing 70 news jobs, all paying livable wages,” added Coreata R. Houser, Interim Director of the City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation & Economic Opportunity.

“This is evidence that tech companies can thrive in Birmingham, and we invite others to become a part of our growing tech and innovation community,” Houser added.

Jefferson County Courthouse Mural Celebrates Healing, Restoration and Hope

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
From left: Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson; Deidre "Lady Dee: Green, founder VIRTUE, Inc; Brenda Hong, founder Brenda's Brown Bosom Buddies; Marie A. Sutton, Public Information Officer, City of Birmingham. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Community leaders, breast cancer survivors and advocates gathered inside the Jefferson County Courthouse Wednesday morning to unveil a mural during Breast Cancer Awareness Month that spotlights the journey of healing, restoration, and hope.

The Jefferson County Commission, partnered with VIRTUE, Inc., a local non-profit organization that focuses on issues like women’s health, leadership, and community empowerment, to feature a “Women on the Journey” mural in the downtown Courthouse.

The painting depicts vibrant images that represent the diverse experiences of women facing breast cancer and captures the emotional and physical challenges of their journey. Each figure in the mural stands as a testament to perseverance and support that can be found within the community.

“When I first viewed this masterpiece, I immediately felt each expression. I traveled down my own memory lane,” said Brenda Hong, a breast cancer survivor and founder of Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB), a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting individuals with breast cancer, as well as providing education and promoting early detection of breast cancer in minority, low-income, and underserved communities.

Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson said the mural brings awareness to those “that are often overlooked when it comes to the illness that attack women.”

VIRTUE, Inc.’s founder, Deidra “Lady Dee” Green, said her organization’s mission is to foster holistic well-being and restoration. The group also wants to keep a promise to an administrative assistant who worked for her husband [Pastor Steve Green of More Than Conquerors Faith Church].

Her name was Robin, and she was newly married with kids when she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. “We, [her church family], made a promise to her that we would do what we can to raise awareness of this disease, [even though she lost her battle with it], and promote early intervention as it relates to breast cancer. And that’s what we’ve been doing,” Lady Dee has said.

VIRTUE, or Vessels Imparting and Restoring Temples to Uncontestable Excellence, was founded in 2005, just before Robin’s diagnosis.

“We made a promise to Robin that we would continue to lift up early detection, being aware of the importance of knowing your numbers, your family history, and having you testing done,” said “Lady Dee” Green. “And we’ve done just that … out of prayer, the Lord spoke to me about creating a mural because we wanted to touch more people, expand our reach, and what was birthed out of that was ‘Women on a Journey.’”

The mural was painted by Jamie Bonfiglio, who is known for her expressive style, and commitment to creating murals that celebrate African Americans.

The unveiling drew attention to the ongoing need for breast cancer awareness, early detection, and support for survivors, like Marie A. Sutton, Public Information Officer for the City of Birmingham. The painting represents, “a monument of a journey hard fought, and for me, a journey won,” Sutton said.

For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness Month events and the “Women on the Journey” mural, visit the Jefferson County Courthouse or VIRTUE, or Vessels Imparting and Restoring Temples to Uncontestable Excellence for resources and support.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Macy Gray brings her “On How Life Is 25th Anniversary Tour” to Iron City. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

ENJOY THIS WEATHER!!! Have Fun at Magic City Classic, this weekend AND ENJOY HALLOWEEN WITH THE FAMILY!!

TODAY, OCTOBER 23…

**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.

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**AAF October Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the AmFirst Community Room on 4th Avenue North. Speak is WAYNE REID, Executive Director of Alabama Public Television. Register at www.aafbham.org.

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

**FREE – GOLPE, SIKM, REFUSE TO THRIVE, BORN & ACUTE EFFECT with SKLKM, REFUSE TO THRIVE, BORN, ACUTE EFFECT at Saturn.

**JAZZ IN THE MAGIC CITY HAPPY HOUR featuring Alabama State’s own Jose Carr and his band, 4:30-7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre. FREE. EVERY THURSDAY!

**NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at The Hill, 5415 Beacons Drive, in Irondale. FREE.

**NIGHT 1: DAIKAIJU with TV COP at The Nick.

**COMEDIENNE EUNICE ELLIOT at the StarDome Comedy Club.

** at Avondale Brewing Co.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 5 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill

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

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE MINGLE, each week with Karaoke at 8 p.m., Spin to Win ‘til 9 p.m. and Happy Hour ‘til 9 p.m. with Sounds by DJ SLUGGA and hosted by JIRUS HORTON at Tee’s on 2nd.  FREE, Entry all night.

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

**JOSE CARR EVERY THURSDAY, 5-7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre, 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, OCTOBER 24…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**4TH AVENUE FLICKS with the movie BLACK PANTHER, 6 p.m. at 1500 4th Avneue North. FREE.

**NIGHT 2: DAIKAIJU with MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT at The Nick “A NIGHT OF HORROR – AN IMMERSIVE BURLESQUE AND VARIETY EXPERIENCE.”

**SCARE YOUR FACE OFF FEST XV BY DIY BIRMINGHAM at Saturn.

**JOHNNYSWIM – THE WHEN THE WAR IS OVER TOUR at Iron City.

**ROCKY HORROR MASQUERADE BALL at Avondale Brewing Co.

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25…

**PINK POWER WALK in IRONDALE, 7 Registration, 8 a.m. Opening Ceremony and 8:30 a.m. two-Mile Walk at Irondale City Hall, 101 20th Street South. Free Donations appreciated. Register at www.irondalecommunityfoundation.com.

**BILLY RAFFOUL with PETER RAFFOUL at Saturn.

**THE OPTICS with SOL MUSICAL at the Nick.

**JASON BOLAND & THE STRAGGLERS – THE LAST KINGS OF BABYLON TOUR at Iron City.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26…

**FREE – HALLOWEEN CEREAL BRUNCH, 9 a.m. at Saturn.

**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.

**JAZZ ON $TH WITH UAB JAZZ ENSEMBLE, 5 p.m. at the Carver Theatre Sunday Series – Jazz on 4th.  FREE for UAB Students and Faculty with UAB ID.

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

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

**SUNDAY FREE SHOW with KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick.

**STEVIE TOMBSTONE at The Nick. FREE.

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

**FOUND FOOTAGE FEST: PORCELAIN VHS TREASURES at Saturn.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 27…

**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.

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**MONDAYS – GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, 10-11:30 a.m. at CJFS Conference Room. Open to survivors who have experienced loss within the past 2 years. Call 205-278-7101 to sign up.

**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.

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

**MACY GRAY – ON HOW LIFE IS 25th ANNIVERSARY TOUR at Iron City.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28…

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY THURSDAY at Hemings on 2ND Avenue.

**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.

**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY TUESDAY at The Nick.

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE LATE NIGHT TUESDAYS at The Nick.

**NICK SHOULDERS with CHRIS ACKER at Saturn.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29…

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**PARENTING WITH PURPOSE – A SPACE- Informed Workshop for Parents, 5:30-7 p.m. at N.E. Miles Jewish Day School Register by October 17. Call 205-278-7101 for more.

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

BAD YEAR with AUDIOPHILE at The Nick.

**OPEN DECK with SUNDROP EVERY WEDNESDAY at The Nick.

**KITCHEN DWELLERS with FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE at Saturn.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30…

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

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

**TRAUMA RAY at Saturn.

**Q DOT & JAXXXON + FRIENDS ALL HALLOW’s EVE at The Nick.

**KACIE BELL, VIA VICARY & SAM HOLT – A HALLOWEEN SHOW TO DIE FOR at Avondale Brewing.

 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31….

**DRAG NIGHT at The Nick with BLOOD MOON RIOT + COSTUME CONTEST.

**COMEDIAN MIKE EPPS at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**MILK & HONEY – FREAK (HALLOWEEN) at Saturn.

**THE REVIVALISTS – ALL IN THE FAMILY: 10 YEARS OF MEN AMONGST MOUNTAINS at Avondale Brewing Co.

MAGIC CITY CLASSIC UPDATES…

**PASTOR MIKE, JR. is the Official Ambassador, DJ TRACIE STEELE is the In-Game Emcee AND JERMAINE DUPRI’s Special DJ set is at 1 p.m. at the Amazon Tailgate Area.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

**TODAY – FOOD SUPPORT – DROP OFF LOCATION, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Birmingham Municipal Court, 601 17th Street North, For more info., andrian.penn@bulldogs.amu.edu and mirandaonaaj@birmhml.gov.

FOR WOMEN…

**TODAY – OPERATION: BEAUTY RESCUE – GRACE KLEIN COMMUNITY is hosting an evening of relaxation with facials, massages and more as you learn how to distribute rescued beauty, hygiene and health and wellness items to those in need.  JOIN GRACE KLEIN, 5-7 p.m. at Pinnacle Financial Group, 2020 Cahaba Road (English Village), in Mountain Brook. Enjoy a relaxing evening with friends featuring facials, massages and more. Register and learn about all kinds of valuable items that are thrown out from dermatology offices, salons and even your own bathrooms. Learn how to help spread the word about this exciting new initiative called OPERATION BEAUTY RESCUE. Interested in becoming a vendor, contact marnie131@gmail.com. For more on Operation Beauty Rescue, go to: operationbeauty.org.

THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER...

…FOR HALLOWEEN and FUN THINGS…

TOMORROW…

**SCARE YOUR FACE OFF FEST XV BY DIY BIRMINGHAM at Saturn.

**ROCKY HORROR MASQUERADE BALL at Avondale Brewing Co.

SATURDAY…

**HOWL-O-WEEN PUP-KIN PATCH PAWTY, 10 a.m. – Noon at Tails by the Rails at Ellard Park, 2420 Ruffner Court, in Irondale with Pumpkin Patch Pictures, Costume Contest and Treats.

**CASPER, a Flick Among the Flowers, at Sunset at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on the Formal Lawn.

OCTOBER 29…

**TRACKS & TREATS HALLOWEEN NIGHT, 5-7 p.m. with S’Mores, train rides and Candy Galore at The Tracks at Irondale City Hall, 101 20th Street South.

**WOODFIN’S ROUND-UP HARVEST FESTIVAL, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Birmingham City Hall for ages 2-12. FREE. There will be carnival rides, inflatables, games, food trucks, with safe family fun. Costumes encouraged.

**VIKINGS M/C HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE, 6-9 p.m. at 2501 South Park Dr. S.W. FREE and Free refreshments.

OCTOBER 31…

**SPOOKTACULAR, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Vulcan Park and Museum.

**CELEBRATE THE MAGIC OF WICKED, 5:30 p.m.  at the Carver Theatre/Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame with a special Sing-Along Screening. Costumes are encouraged.  Dress as your favorite character and enter the Wicked Costume Contest

AROUND TOWN…

**OCTOBER 24 – YOUTH FILMMAKERS SYMPOSIUM, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Velvet Studios, 501 Huffman Road (REAR ENTRANCE) for Students grades 4-12.  There will be breakfast and registration begins at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. For more info and to register, call 205–370-7805.

**OCTOBER 25 – FLICKS AMONG THE FLOWERS, 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The movie featured is CASPER. There is also a Costume contest. Bring your blanker or lawn chair, find your spot and enjoy.  FREE. Donations are appreciated.

FOR COMMUNITY EFFORTS…

**TEN AWARDS CALL FOR ENTRIES with AAFBIRMINGHAM – Nominations are open for the 2025 Ten Awards. These awards shine a spotlight on the excellence of sales, service and leadership in advertising that often goes unrecognized in the world. Celebrate the unsung heroes and visit aafbham.org/the-ten-awards to submit your nominations ASAP.  For more about the organization, go to info@aafbirmingham.com

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.

“We’ve got to stay level-headed and just play the game. We have to treat it like a regular game.”

By
Birmingham Times
-
0

JALEN WRIGHT, ALABAMA A&M LINEBACKER ON THE UPCOMING 84TH ANNUAL MAGIC CITY CLASSIC AT BIRMINGHAM’S LEGION FIELD ON OCT. 25; THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES, OCT. 23.

More Than a ‘Hot and a Cot’: Plans Underway to Build $4.4M Shelter for Birmingham’s Homeless

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
The City of Birmingham has pledged $1 million to help Jimmie Hale Mission open a new facility. (File)

By Greg Garrison | ggarrison@al.com

The Jimmie Hale Mission plans to build a $4.4 million emergency shelter in Birmingham.As Birmingham and the entire metro area continues to struggle with persistent homelessness and encampments on public property, one of the city’s oldest missions has designs for a new project.

“We hope to break ground next year in 2026,” said Perryn Carroll, executive director of the Jimmie Hale Mission. The plan calls for a 98-bed facility, which will be built at 3401 Second Ave. North, across the street from the current Jimmie Hale Mission men’s rehabilitation center east of downtown.

The mission is hoping to secure a commitment of $1 million over the next four years from the city of Birmingham and plans to do additional fundraising to pay for the rest of the project.

“We have just started our fundraising,” Carroll said. “The city of Birmingham has committed $1 million over a four-year period to help fund the shelter.”

Construction could start “as soon as we get the money,” Carroll said.

“It’ll be a new facility and be open year-round, to provide not just a hot and a cot to those in need, but services and resources to help them change their situation,” she said.

The facility would include two family rooms, showers, laundry facilities, dining room, and consultation rooms for mental health counseling and other medical treatment and social work services.

“We want to get them into a more longer-term program to increase their chance of success,” Carroll said.

Last week, Homewood passed an ordinance that will allow that city to crack down on homeless encampments in public parks.

A crackdown on the homeless in Homewood may have a ripple effect in neighboring cities, most likely in Birmingham, where homelessness remains rampant.

“You can expect, when you make it illegal for homeless to be in one area, that they will migrate to adjacent areas,” Carroll said.

“Do I think that this will help the problem? Maybe for the residents of Homewood, but it’s not going to help homelessness.”

Mountain Brook, Hoover and Vestavia Hills have routinely brought the homeless in their cities to Jimmie Hale, she said.

A crackdown on the homeless in Homewood may have a ripple effect in neighboring cities, most likely in Birmingham, where homelessness remains rampant. (File)

“That’s what I’d rather they do – connect those in need with resources that can help them to escape that situation,” Carroll said.

“Criminalizing homelessness does not meet any goal,” she said. “It’s not good for the individual and it’s not good for the city. That’s not an appropriate use of your jail, of your city funds. It doesn’t do anything to help the problem.”

In Birmingham, “different providers are working more collaboratively than in the past, and we’re working very hard,” Carroll said. “We do not currently have the resources available to address the magnitude of the issue.”

The Homewood ordinance was approved with an 8-0 vote with little debate and it drew applause from many in attendance at the Oct. 13 City Council meeting.

It was modeled on a similar ordinance in Mountain Brook.

The ordinance will ban camping on public property without a permit, or storing personal property on public property.

In 2022, Jimmie Hale Mission took over the role of providing a warming station for Birmingham’s homeless on cold nights, at the request of the City of Birmingham.

For years, the city had opened Boutwell Auditorium to the homeless on cold nights.

Now on cold nights, Jimmie Hale Mission offers emergency shelter at its Shepura campus in the old Thomas School, 3420 Second Ave. North.

Jimmie Hale vans offer transportation from Linn Park, Brother Bryan Park, Kelly Ingram Park and the Faith Chapel Care Center downtown on warming station nights.

Jimmie Hale Mission has a history of offering emergency shelter to the homeless of Birmingham, but in recent decades had shifted to formal programs to treat the root causes of homelessness, such as addiction. The historic mission and non-profit ministry was founded in 1944 to serve Birmingham’s homeless.

The downtown men’s shelter moved from Third Avenue North downtown to the campus near Sloss Furnace in 2007, with an increased emphasis on long-term rehabilitation.

Birmingham is tackling the homeless problem with several strategies, including purchasing tiny-home emergency shelters to be set up at Faith Chapel Care Center and hiring a non-profit agency, Urban Alchemy, to deploy teams of counselors to meet the needs of homeless people on the streets.

Fifteen new tiny pallet homes, or micro-shelters, should be set up by the end of this year in downtown Birmingham, ready to house homeless people by January.

On any given day, Birmingham has more than 350 homeless people on its streets.

Bound Together: Threads of Remembrance Unites During Community Day at BCRI

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
Seamstress Wilhelmina Thomas. a member of the Bibb & Tucker Sew Op, working on a new piece. Thomas was one of the featured panelists at the Bound Together: A Day of Community gathering at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. ( Reginald Allen, for the Birmingham Times.)

By Reginald Allen | The Birmingham Times

Create Birmingham, in partnership with the Jefferson County Memorial Project (JCMP), Bib & Tucker Sew-Op, The Black Cherry Tree Project, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), on Saturday, October 18 host Bound Together: Day of Community at the BCRI.

The event marked the culmination of the Jefferson County Memorial Quilt, a community-based initiative honoring the 33 African Americans who were lynched in Jefferson County between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. Through art, education, and collaboration, the project promotes dialogue, remembrance, and reconciliation.

“This history is really important to preserve, making sure that we’re honoring these people who have had their lives tragically lost,” said Carey Fountain, Co-Founder of Black Cherry Tree Project, on the importance of events like this. “History repeats itself if you let it. It’s important to preserve these and art is a powerful way to capture that history and continue the conversation forward.”

The Bound Together: Threads of Remembrance exhibit features various quilts and other forms of textile-based artwork on display at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. (Reginald Allen, for the Birmingham Times.)

Said attendee Wilhelmina Thomas: “The importance of today’s event is about how textiles preserve history. It shows joy and resilience within the Black community and how we can use that as a way to teach history going forward”

The day also featured live performances, art-making, a panel discussion, local organization tabling  and free admission to BCRI.

“Just telling the story of so many of us that was not told” is important, said Edmond “Barry” Johnson, founder of the Sahi On Ko Djony West African Cultural Enrichment Program. “It’s this community being bound together … for healing and for education and for enlightenment,”

Road Closures Scheduled Around Birmingham for Magic City Classic Events

By
Birmingham Times
-
0
The City of Birmingham will temporarily close certain roads across the city for the 84th Annual Magic City Classic. (Provided)
birminghamal.gov

The City of Birmingham’s Department of Transportation will temporarily close certain roads as activities take place across the city for the 84th Annual Magic City Classic.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the following roadway adjustments will take place:

  • The outside lane to eastbound traffic of Graymont Avenue will be closed.
  • Legion Field bus stop bike racks will go up.
  • Concrete barricades will be moved to close roads leading to Graymont Ave. from 3rd St. West to 6th St. West.
  • Concrete barricades will be moved to close roads leading to 8th Ave. West from 3rd Ave W to 7th Ave. West.

Please see the following timeline for the remaining road closures scheduled to place.

Friday, Oct. 24

  • 11 p.m. – No parking will be allowed on streets that are part of the parade route. Any cars found parked on the parade after 11 p.m. will be towed.

 Saturday, Oct. 25 – Game Day

  • 2 a.m. – Roads that are part of the Magic City Classic parade route will begin to close, including Park Place. 

No parking will be allowed on streets that are part of the parade route. Any cars found parked along the parade route will be towed.

  • 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. – Any neighboring roads to the Magic City Classic parade route will begin to close.
  • 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. — Graymont Avenue closes from Arkadelphia to Center Street once all parking lots are full at Legion Field.
  • 4 a.m. – 6 a.m.– Birmingham Department of Transportation barricades will move into place for transportation lane and parade.
  • 8 a.m. – Eighth Avenue West closes from Arkadelphia to Center Street.  No one setting up a tailgate may enter after 8 a.m.
  • 8 a.m. – Parade begins.
  • 9 a.m. – Birmingham CrossPlex game day shuttle route begins.
  • 12 p.m. – Boutwell Auditorium and Phillips Academy shuttle routes begin.
  • 2:30 p.m. – Game day kickoff at Legion Field.
  • 10 p.m. – Shuttle routes end.

Sunday, Oct. 26

  • 8 a.m. – All street barricades will be removed.

Downtown parking, Shuttles and More!

  • Game day shuttles will be available at the CrossPlex, Boutwell and Phillips Academy. Tickets are $5, and may only be bought with a credit or debit card. No cash.

Get Directions To The CrossPlex

Get Directions to Boutwell

Get Directions to Phillips Academy

Parking in the Boutwell is free on game day. The Boutwell deck will open at 6 a.m.

Motorists may access the Boutwell deck from 19th Street North and Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

The Boutwell deck is the only Birmingham Parking Authority Deck that will have free parking on game day.

Please be aware of “No Parking’’ yard signs along the parade route, on Graymont Avenue and on Eighth Avenue West near Legion Field. Violators will be towed by Weil Wrecker.

Starting at 4 a.m. on game day, motorists coming off I-65 or 59 East onto 17th Street North, must turn right or left. They will be unable to go straight.

For more information, visit www.birminghamal.gov/classic. 

1...464748...1,736Page 47 of 1,736
©