MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN AFTER SITE DEVELOPMENT BEGAN THIS WEEK ON A CITY OF BIRMINGHAM PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT COALITION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 52 SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES IN PRATT CITY; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, JUNE 27.
Associated Press
Family members of a Black teenager shot and killed by police in an Alabama suburb say they want answers and are seeking to see the body camera footage of the shooting.
Jabari Peoples, 18, was shot June 23 by a police officer in the parking lot of a soccer field in Homewood, just outside of Birmingham.
The Homewood Police Department said the officer fired his weapon after Peoples grabbed a gun from a car door during a scuffle as the officer was trying to arrest him for marijuana possession.
The family is disputing the police version of events. Leroy Maxwell, Jr., an attorney representing the family, said Peoples was shot in the back and, according to a witness, did not have a weapon when approached by the officer.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Tuesday said release of body cam or dash cam footage of the shooting would affect the investigation.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil for Peoples at the soccer complex where he was shot. The family released doves and white balloons and brought in a large photo of Peoples with angel wings. Candles spelled out ‘Jabari’ at the spot where he was killed.
Bron Peoples said his younger brother had a plan for his life and would write down his dreams for the future in a notebook. He said their parents had drilled into them how to behave when interacting with police. He said the family is “calling for justice.”
The shooting unfolded at about 9:30 p.m. when a police officer approached a car at the Homewood Soccer Complex where Peoples and a female friend were parked.
The Homewood Police Department posted a statement on social media that the officer smelled marijuana and noticed a handgun in the pocket of the driver’s side door. The officer attempted to put Peoples in handcuffs to arrest him for marijuana possession and a struggle ensued, according to the statement.
“Peoples broke away from the officer and retrieved the handgun from the open driver’s side door pocket, creating an immediate deadly threat to the officer. The officer, fearing for his safety, fired one round from his service weapon to defend himself,” the police statement said.
Peoples is a 2024 graduate of Aliceville High School in the city of the same name, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Homewood.
Aliceville Mayor Terrence E. Windham sent a letter to Homewood’s mayor urging him to work to release “all available footage related to this case.”
Star Robb, a community activist in Birmingham, questioned how marijuana possession escalated into a fatal police shooting. She said the community “won’t stand for lies.”
“He was minding his own business. Even if they did smell weed, when has weed become a death sentence? It’s legal in most states around the country so when did it become a death sentence.”
By Don Rhodes II | Birmingham Times
For Uriah Williams, a 38-year-old seasoned financial professional, the journey to personal wealth starts with small, consistent steps.
“It’s about practical steps today that set the foundation for tomorrow. Whether it’s organizing your documents, updating your beneficiaries, or getting a $50,000 insurance policy it all adds up,” said the Birmingham-based financial advisor.
One of his biggest challenges is for people to know that wealth managers exist and “someone like me is out here ready to help,” he said. “People think, ‘I don’t have enough money to work with a financial advisor,” he explains. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
His advice is simple: Start where you are. Ask questions. Stay organized. And don’t let fear or lack of exposure block your blessings.
In 2023 he joined INTELUS Wealth Management to team up and make one of the largest Black owned RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors) in the state of Alabama and was recently named to the BBJ’s 40 under 40 Class for 2025.
“I was humbled by the selection because it made me feel like the sacrifices and growth to get this point were worth it, and I was shocked because I sometimes feel like I could be doing more,” he said.
Williams began his career in 2013 at Wells Fargo, a multinational financial services company with a global presence and went on to work in 2016 at Morgan Stanley, a major American multinational investment bank and financial services company.
Money is not just about math it’s emotional, he said. “It’s a very intimate thing. People don’t just openly talk about how much money they make. You have to be vulnerable and open your life up financially to someone else. That’s hard.”
For him, financial literacy is the gateway to generational change. For example, life insurance, he said. “You don’t need a million-dollar policy. Even paying $50 a month on that policy can help you leave something meaningful behind.”
He added, “If your mom has a house with a mortgage, your policy should be enough to pay it off. Now your family has an asset. That’s how wealth begins.”
Lessons From Family
Williams also comes from personal experiences. He recalls a family member was dangerously underfunded for retirement.
“She was in her late 50s and had maybe $100,000 to $200,000 saved but should have had at least $400,000 more,” he recalled. “When she started her 401(k), she said she didn’t want to lose money. But the advisor didn’t explain the importance of taking risk while you’re young. That decision cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
From that point on, he made a vow: “That would never happen to another mom, sister, or brother if I had anything to do with it.”
That family member became one of his first clients at Morgan Stanley and began his career of helping others, he said.
Dispelling Myths
Wealth can not only grow, but it also can disappear, he said. “Let me give you an example. An athlete gets a million-dollar signing bonus. After federal taxes and ‘jock taxes,’ that might shrink to $350,000. But they spend like they have a million. After gifts, houses, and cars they might be left with $100,000 — and they haven’t even started living yet.
“Athletes get paid per game. When the season ends, the money ends. People don’t realize how quickly it can all go away. Add an agent’s fee of 20 percent or more, and things get tight fast,” he added.
His point? Whether you’re an athlete or everyday working adult, having a financial advisor is less about wealth and more about wisdom. “My job is to help you avoid the loopholes and landmines simply by knowing the right questions to ask.”
Other tips he said, keep your financial documents in order. “Make sure your beneficiaries are correct. Some people haven’t updated theirs in years … Be organized, your family needs to know where your policies and documents are.”
Community-Focused Leadership
Williams grew up in East St Louis, Illinois, where he attended East St Louis Senior High School and participated in the marching band, football and track and field.
“I was on the drumline, and I played every drum between sophomore and senior year,” he said. In football he played defensive back his freshmen year while shot put and discus were his specialties in track and field.
He attended Alabama A&M University where he was a member of the Marching Maroon & White band and graduated from Athens State University with a degree in Business.
Outside of work, the father of three (ages 1 to 17) has long been committed to uplifting others. He previously served in 100 Black Men of Metro Birmingham, an organization focused on mentoring young Black men.
“Their motto is, ‘What they see is what they’ll be.’ That stuck with me because exposure leads to expansion,” he said.
He also served as president of the Kiwanis Club of Vulcan and currently sits on the executive board of Fiesta, a nonprofit supporting Birmingham’s Hispanic community through scholarships and cultural celebration.
“My wife and I are focused on exposing our kids to what the world has to offer,” he says. “If you’ve never seen a Black financial advisor, you may not even know to dream of becoming one.”
For more information visit www.inteluswm.com/about-uriah
BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times
APRIL AND JEFF WORFORD
Live: Hoover
Married: Aug. 29, 2009
Met: November 2005. April was in anesthesia school pursuing her clinical studies at UAB Hospital. She worked alongside Jeff’s mom, Angela Worford, who took a liking to her, and thought she would be perfect for her son.
“[Angela] would always ask me if I would give her my number to give to her son, every time I worked clinicals,” April said. “And one of my friends from high school [Miesha] was also a nurse there and worked with [Angela too] and she was the first one to say that I would be perfect for Jeff. Then one day [in a group discussion], Jeff came up and Miesha and Angela [double-teamed me] about giving Jeff my number. So I finally asked Miesha what Jeff looked like, and when she said he was cute, I went on and gave [Angela] my number to give to him.”
“My mom described April to me and asked me would I call her, but I was hesitant at first because I didn’t really want to date anybody that worked with my mom,” Jeff laughed. “So, I held out a little bit, but eventually I called her. The call went fine, but I’m not a big phone person so I preferred to meet and get to know each other better that way, which is what led to our first date.”
First date: Late November 2005, at a restaurant called ‘The Mill’ on the Southside. Jeff picked April up from Lister Hill Library on UAB Campus and rode over to the restaurant together. Although in its infancy at the time, social media did exist, and both April and Jeff had Myspace profiles, but neither took to the platform to get a glimpse of one another before the date. “We were flying blind,” said Jeff.
“When she walked out, I thought she was pretty,” he said.
“I was like ‘he cute, I can work with that’,” April laughed.
April and Jeff have differing opinions on how the first date went. “To me, it went fine,” said April. “But I didn’t,” Jeff laughed. “There was no chemistry. There weren’t any awkward pauses, there just wasn’t any spark. And I was just thinking, ‘I did what my mom asked me to do, I called her, we went out, it didn’t work, the end.’”
Although the first date was stale, things would change. “When we got back to the library for me to drop her off, we ended up talking in the car for a couple hours,” Jeff recalled.
“I don’t remember the exact conversation, but I think the thing that [went wrong] during the date is that I kept talking about what my preacher said,” April laughed. “But once we got back to the library I started talking about other things.”
The turn: February 2006. April’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day and they went on their first weekend trip to Atlanta to see a jazz concert and celebrate both occasions. The pair said things went well.
“For me, we were already serious before Valentine’s Day. I felt like we were exclusive when he invited me to his company’s Christmas party. I was like ‘I got him’,” April laughed. “I went to his grandma’s house for Christmas, and he came to my aunt’s house [Christmas Day], and my family liked him from the very beginning. But on the trip I felt like he really took initiative and put a lot of effort into planning the trip. He wanted to make sure I enjoyed myself. He’s always been a nice person, but I saw that he really did all he could to make sure I was happy and that meant a lot to me.”
“We had a really good time spending the weekend together… I fell in love with her and felt like we were really exclusive,” said Jeff.
The proposal: Christmas Eve 2008, at Jeff’s place in Hoover. Jeff proposed on the exact day April said she never wanted to be proposed on “but he did it anyway,” she laughed.
“April had told me that before, but I didn’t take it seriously,” Jeff said. “But [with that consideration] I did it on Christmas Eve and not Christmas Day. We were sitting on the couch in the living room watching TV and I had the ring on me, and I got down on one knee and proposed to her. It was short and to the point, I asked her ‘will you marry me?’, and she said ‘yes’.”
“We had already looked for rings and discussed it, so I had been wondering when it was going to happen and how it was going to happen. And even though it was practically on Christmas, I was happy anyway,” April said. “And he did get the one I liked best. We had narrowed it down to two choices and he got the one I really wanted so I was thrilled.”
The wedding: At The Beach Club in Gulf Shores, Ala., officiated by a local pastor. Their colors were pink and yellow.
Most memorable for the bride was being overwhelmed with emotion. “I was boo-hooing because I was so happy I was about to marry this man that I loved so much,” April said. “And, since our wedding was kind of a destination wedding, I felt like we were working the whole [wedding] day. So for me, it was the rehearsal dinner that was memorable. It was a party, we had a luau theme and it was really fun. We all had a good time together.”
Most memorable for the groom was “April standing behind me, and when I turned around and saw her for the first time, I thought she looked so beautiful. I was just happy and smiling. And also the reception. We both had family from come to Gulf Shores from out of town, so being altogether as one big family was really memorable,” Jeff said.
The couple honeymooned in Jamaica. “We stayed at a small resort that only had a few guests… I enjoyed the intimacy of the resort,” said Jeff. “You could go to the pool and there would be nobody else there, and if we went to the beach there would only be a few other people there, so that was really nice,” April added.
Words of wisdom: “People always say when you get married, make sure you’re marrying your friend, and that’s important because you should be able to have fun together and get along. You should be able to talk about anything. And make sure [your connection] is not based on superficial things like looks, because looks fade,” said April.
“Marriages can go through tough times, but when you’ve married someone who’s your friend and partner, who you can talk to and share anything with, it makes that journey a lot easier,” said Jeff.
Happily ever after: The Worford’s have two children, Jaden, 13, and Camille, 7.
April, 48, is a Tarrant native, and Tarrant High School grad. She attended The University of Alabama, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and works as an anesthetist for UAB Hospital.
Jeff, 44, is a Fairfield native, and Pleasant Grove High School grad. He attended The University of Alabama where he studied aerospace engineering and owns a software development company, JWEB Development out of Hoover.
“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.
By Jordyn Davis | For The Birmingham Times
Madison Smith, a 12-year-old aspiring veterinarian and rising 8th grader at Phillips Academy in Birmingham, spent the last week at Children’s of Alabama as part of a nursing summer camp for teens and would only change one thing – she’d like for it to be longer.
“My favorite experience was in the Simulation Center, learning how to take vitals and do CPR,” Smith said. “Right now, I’m feeling a little sad because I’m going to miss some of the amazing friends I’ve made, but I’m grateful for the experience.”
Sanaya Conley, a 13-year-old student at Phillips Academy, also enjoyed her week at the camp.
“The people here are amazing and help you understand things better. They were very patient and kind with us, even when we were a lot at times. My favorite experience was when we learned about safety and science. I feel extremely prepared if anything comes up at school,” she said.
On Friday, June 27, Smith and Conley were among 14 students who completed the nursing summer camp at Children’s of Alabama with a graduation ceremony. The program, in partnership with the Birmingham Black Nurses Association (BBNA), introduces rising seventh and eighth graders to careers in health care and aims to inspire future paths in the medical field.
Serving Communities
The seven-day camp included daily lectures on various aspects of nursing, essential life lessons, and hands-on experience in different departments within the hospital. Longtime Children’s nursing faculty members Alyssa Cooper, MSN, RN-CPN, and Jennifer Coleman Ph.D. facilitated classes and guided students through medical demonstrations.
“I think a lot of members of BBNA grew up here in Birmingham and have similar backgrounds, which is the main reason we focused on schools in Birmingham. These are the kids who may not see that they have as many opportunities as others. The opportunities are there — but students may not be aware of them,” Coleman said.
Coleman, a BBNA member for 36 years, has worked at Children’s of Alabama for more than 30 years and teaches nursing at Samford University. She was thrilled to combine her passions for nursing and education.
“On the first day, I taught them about camp procedures and confidentiality. I also taught a class on personal hygiene and personal health. We talked about the importance of sleep and exercise, and for Thursday’s class, I taught them how to care for bleeding wounds and how to stop the bleeding,” Coleman reminisced.
Serving underrepresented communities and beyond, BBNA was established in October 1989 and received its official charter from the National Black Nurses Association in 1990. The organization’s mission is to elevate Black nurses within the profession and provide health resources to underserved populations.
A Vision Fulfilled
Cooper, director of nursing professional development at Children’s, played a pivotal role in launching the program. According to Cooper, she realized the camp was making a difference the moment applications started coming in.
She reached out to local middle schools with Health Academy programs in Birmingham City Schools. After the application and selection process, the real work began.
“Once I started getting the children’s faces and putting them in a file, any work that followed was just pure joy. I could see their faces, and I began to pray for them to have an amazing experience and hopefully find their passion,” Cooper said.
Coming from a family of nurses and choosing the profession straight out of high school, Cooper always knew she wanted to work with children. After 19 years as a bedside provider, she earned her master’s in education from Walden University and shifted her focus toward development and leadership.
“In this role, I’m fortunate to oversee all inpatient processing. But I really want to be seen as a servant leader, and one of my biggest role models is Delicia Mason, vice president of nursing operations and chief nursing officer,” Cooper said.
Mason also helped make the summer camp possible by engaging with students in class and monitoring their experience.
“I really have to give hats off to Alyssa Cooper, who truly guided this effort. She held meetings with BBNA and coordinated with our corporate communications team to bring everything together,” Mason said.
Inspiring
Students responded and were inspired.
“I really enjoyed learning from all the nurses and taking care of the babies. I feel like these skills will always stay with me and be important when I make career decisions in the future,” said Madyson Clements, a 12-year-old from W.J. Christian School.
Parents were also excited to see their children inspired. LaToya Clements, mother of Madyson, said her daughter called nearly every night to share stories about what she had learned and her eagerness to return the next day.
“When we first applied, Madyson said, ‘Mom, I don’t even know if I want to do this.’ Then, just a few days in, she was telling me how she wished it lasted another week,” Clements said. “I wanted her to apply because I want her to know all of the opportunities she has. At first, she was focused on engineering at school, but we saw this and thought it would be something new to expose her to.”
“I can honestly say everybody was great, and it’s such a strong program. We’re looking forward to applying again next year,” said Latoya Clements.
According to Cooper and Mason, the program will return next summer, with applications reopening in 2026.
By Roy L. Williams | Birmingham Public Library
Planning a summer vacation or your next international adventure? Don’t let passport paperwork slow you down. The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) makes it easy and affordable to get or renew your passport, without the stress.
As an official passport acceptance facility, BPL helps first‑time applicants, seasoned travelers, and families navigate the passport process step by step.
Here’s how BPL can help you take off with confidence:
Walk In
At the Central Library in downtown Birmingham, you can apply for a passport without an appointment. Just walk in Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., and our friendly team will help you get started.
Call (205) 226‑3705 or visit the Citizen Services Department for details.
Prefer to plan ahead?
Make an appointment at:
Choose the location and time that fits your schedule.
First Time? We’re Here to Help
Applying for your first passport or your child’s? BPL’s trained passport acceptance agents walk you through every step, so you’ll know exactly what documents to bring.
Tip: Click here to check out our passport service page.
Need a Passport Photo? We’ve Got You Covered
Skip the extra stop! BPL offers quick, affordable passport photo services on site, so you can handle everything in one visit.
For Families, Students, and Seniors
Whether you’re:
BPL’s passport services fit every stage of life.
Travel Inspiration at Your Fingertips
While you’re here, why not explore the travel resources our libraries offer to help? Browse BPL’s shelves for books about destinations, culture, or new languages. From Paris to Rio de Janeiro, we have stories and guides to fuel your excitement even before you board your flight.
Get Ready to Go!
Don’t wait until the last minute. Apply early and travel stress‑free.
For details, visit the Birmingham Public Library passport website or contact us by calling:
Your next adventure starts at BPL, where your passport to the world is just pages away.
HBCU Buzz
Beyoncé just did it for the culture—again.
The global icon’s philanthropic arm, BeyGOOD Foundation, has donated $100,000 to support Texas Southern University’s legendary Ocean of Soul Marching Band, amplifying her deep connection to HBCU tradition and hometown pride.
The gift comes on the heels of the band’s standout performance in Beyoncé’s widely acclaimed “Beyoncé Bowl,” aired during the 2024 Christmas Day football showcase. That appearance didn’t just put the Ocean of Soul on a global stage—it set the tone for this moment of recognition and reinvestment.
The $100,000 donation will help fund scholarships, enhance recruitment efforts, and support technology and infrastructure upgrades for the marching band program—one of the most recognized in HBCU culture.
“This is more than just a donation,” said Dr. Brian Simmons, director of the Ocean of Soul. “It’s an investment in our students, our sound, and our story.”
A Legacy of Giving Back
This isn’t Beyoncé’s first time giving back to the HBCU community. In 2018, following her legendary “Beychella” performance, she launched the Homecoming Scholars Award Program, which awarded $25,000 scholarships to students at eight HBCUs, including Texas Southern, Xavier, Wilberforce, and Morehouse.
Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, she’s championed education, disaster relief, small business development, and now—HBCU marching bands.Her recent focus on cultural preservation through music aligns perfectly with what the Ocean of Soul represents: precision, pride, and performance that goes beyond the field.
Ocean of Soul: More Than a Band
For decades, the Ocean of Soul has defined the sound of Texas Southern, electrifying audiences with its high-energy performances, tight formations, and signature style. From football games to parades and national showcases, the band has become one of the most respected ensembles in the HBCU band world.
Now, with this donation, the band will have greater capacity to recruit new talent, retain seasoned musicians, and provide scholarship support to students who bring the program to life.
“This funding provides critical support to our students as they work to balance academic, financial, and performance demands,” said Charlie Coleman III, Senior Associate Vice President of Development at TSU. “We’re grateful to BeyGOOD for recognizing their excellence.”
The Bigger Picture
This donation highlights a broader movement toward intentional HBCU investment from Black celebrities, alumni, and leaders. It’s not just about writing checks—it’s about acknowledging legacy and using platforms to uplift institutions that have historically been underfunded but never underestimated.
Texas Southern’s president Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young noted the impact goes far beyond music“This generous contribution strengthens our university’s commitment to academic excellence, student development, and cultural leadership,” she said.
With her BeyGOOD Foundation, Beyoncé continues to center HBCUs in the national conversation—whether through scholarships, performance opportunities, or legacy-building donations like this one.
As the Ocean of Soul marches into a new season, they do so with the backing of a hometown hero who continues to give HBCU students more than inspiration — she gives them opportunity.
The Birmingham Times
The Birmingham Times Media Group won 10 first-place prizes in the 2025 Alabama Press Association (APA) Media Awards competition including Best Local News Coverage; Best In-Depth News Coverage and Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage.
First-place awards were presented Saturday in conjunction with the 2025 APA Summer Convention banquet held at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. This year, 53 publications submitted 1,725 entries in the annual contest. The Michigan Press Association membership judged the entries.
The 10 first-place finishes were a record number for the Times which also won two second-place awards and a third for General Excellence.
“This year’s awards are a testament to the work that our news team and the efforts to cover our community,” said Samuel P. Martin, president and publisher of the BTMG. “I am grateful that their work has been recognized by others.”
Freelance journalist Solomon Crenshaw Jr. captured first place awards for Best In-Depth News Coverage (Jeffco’s Turnaround Story Brings Billions from Investors); Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage (America’s Oldest Baseball Park Gets Major League Attention); and Best Sports Single Story, (A.H, Parker High School Captures First Ever State Football Championship).
Design/Contributing Editor Kathryn Sesser-Dorné won first place awards for Best Layout and Design and Best Use of Graphics or Illustrations, Best Special Section – Newsprint, and second place for Best Special Section – Newsprint.
Here’s a closer look at the winning BT categories in the APA contests:
Best Local Economic Coverage
1st – Birmingham Times (Keisa Sharpe, Sym Posey, Ameera Steward)
2nd – Hoover Sun
3rd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
Best Local News Coverage
1st – Birmingham Times (Barnett Wright, Keisa Sharpe)
2nd – Hoover Sun
3rd – Trussville Tribune
Best Use of Photographs/Editorial Content
1st — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
2nd – The Birmingham Times
Best Layout and Design
1st – The Birmingham Times (Kathryn Sesser-Dorné)
2nd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
3rd – Hoover Sun
Best In-Depth News Coverage
1st – Birmingham Times (Jeffco’s Turnaround Story Brings Billions from Investors, Solomon Crenshaw Jr.)
2nd – Hoover Sun
3rd – The Homewood Star
Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage
1st – The Birmingham Times (America’s Oldest Baseball Park Gets Major League Attention, Solomon Crenshaw Jr.)
2nd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
3rd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
Best Sports Single Story
1st – Birmingham Times (A.H, Parker High School Captures First Ever State Football Championship, Solomon Crenshaw Jr.)
2nd – The Trussville
3rd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
Best Feature Photo
1st – Birmingham Times (Germaul Barnes, Meet The Global Dance Maker, Marika N. Johnson)
2nd – Village Living (Mountain Brook)
3rd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
Best Use of Graphics or Illustrations
1st – The Birmingham Times (Rickwood Field Tribute, Kathryn Sesser-Dorné)
Best Special Section – Newsprint
1st — The Birmingham Times (We Are Better Together, Chandra Splond, Kathryn Sesser-Dorné)
2nd – The Birmingham Times (Rickwood Field, Tribute to The Negro Leagues, Kathryn Sesser-Dorné, Barnett Wright)
3rd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
Best Production and Printing
1st – The Birmingham Times
2nd — The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
General Excellence:
1st – Hoover Sun
2nd – The Redstone Rocket (Huntsville)
3rd – The Birmingham Times
Going to college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham was a choice Tanya Contreras, a first-generation student, made as she assumed responsibility to make her parents and community proud.
Contreras, an Honors College student, graduated from UAB’s Collat School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in human resource management, lifelong friends and a stronger sense of self in the spring of 2025. Thanks to her support system and mentorship at UAB, she is realizing her dream of attending the London School of Economics to pursue a master’s degree.
A responsibility to excel
Contreras grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where she often felt isolated in academic settings. Her parents encouraged her to persevere, while working tirelessly and putting in the overtime to ensure she had access to a good education. Contreras’ perseverance and her parents’ sacrifices instilled a deep sense of responsibility in her to pursue higher education and excel.
“Going to college was not just about accomplishing a personal goal,” Contreras said. “It was a milestone for my whole family because I was the first to attend college in my family.”
From a young age, Contreras was drawn to psychology; but she was unsure about her path. She always wanted to work in a people-centric field, and human resources seemed like the ideal way to blend her interests in psychology, business and wellness promotion.
Despite her difficulty in navigating choices for colleges due to lack of academic connections, UAB stood out to Contreras. People around her spoke highly of its programs and welcoming community, driving her to choose UAB.
“I really like the people aspect of human resources — making sure people are doing well to be able to perform efficiently,” Contreras said.
Mentorship at UAB
A pivotal moment came when she met C. Allen Gorman, Ph.D., associate professor of management. For the first time, “I felt seen for my aptitude and skills,” Contreras said. Their conversation about industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology, a field focused on improving workplace well-being and performance, piqued her interest, and she asked to join Gorman’s research ventures.
Together they explored the link between dark triad traits, Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy and their relation to sibling relationships to see how these traits develop and impact work behavior, leadership style, ethics and interpersonal conflict.
As a researcher under Gorman’s mentorship, Contreras published a study on how frame-of-reference training influences performance evaluations.
This experience, coupled with having friends in the medical field, led her to shape her long-term goals of getting a doctoral degree in I-O psychology focusing on burnout among health care workers to improve retention and mitigate their shortage.
“Dr. Gorman has been an amazing mentor throughout my undergrad,” Contreras said. “Our weekly meetings about I-O psychology have given me valuable insights into the field, and he has helped me become a better researcher. Even beyond academics, he helped me apply to my dream graduate schools, including the London School of Economics. I am so grateful for his mentorship because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for his support.”
Expanding horizons
Passionate about improving campus life at UAB, Contreras joined the Undergraduate Student Government as a Collat School of Business senator, working on initiatives aimed at enhancing student safety and well-being.
She joined SALSA, the Spanish and Latino Student Association, which allowed her to celebrate and share her culture and find a community.
“I have made some of my favorite memories as part of SALSA,” Contreras said. “Whether it was staying up late to make churros for events or teaching Spanish dance moves to peers, I have loved it all, connecting with other students.”
Contreras is thrilled to pursue her graduate studies in London.Contreras’ proudest accomplishment at UAB is minoring in Japanese — a decision she made to be more competent in international business.
“Japanese was really hard to learn since I had no background in the language,” Contreras said. “But my friends always encouraged me that I could do it. The professors, Yoshiyuki Hara, Ph.D., and Yumi Takamiya, Ph.D., were always super helpful. They didn’t mind explaining to me repeatedly to help me learn.”
Looking ahead
Contreras traveled to London to see a friend in 2023, loved the city and dreamed to study there one day. In her junior year, the London School of Economics was just a vision because she was nervous to apply and uncertain about getting in. Thanks to Gorman’s guidance, Contreras was able to materialize this dream. She is going to the London School of Economics for a master’s degree this fall — a proud moment for her, her family and her community.
“I had the London School of Economics on my list of schools, but it seemed so far-fetched that I would ever get in,” Contreras said. “When I brought it up with Dr. Gorman, he was confident in my skills and wholeheartedly helped me apply. I cannot believe I got in. My parents and I are thrilled for me to study and experience life in London.”
Gorman has full confidence that Contreras will succeed in her future.
“Tanya is a once-in-a-generation talent, and I am so excited to see her journey continue in London,” Gorman said. “Her unparalleled enthusiasm, leadership, positivity and thirst for learning will be sorely missed in Collat; but I cannot wait to see the great things she will accomplish.”
By Keisa Sharpe | For The Birmingham Times
While fellow classmates in grade school were outside playing or in the house watching television, Martha Williams had one activity that she could do endlessly — watch her mother sew.
Williams would watch from different angles, and by the time she reached eighth grade she knew the profession she would pursue: seamstress.
“If you only knew how many hours I spent [watching my mother]. … No one ever taught me how to sew,” remembered Williams. “I learned from watching my family. I would stand at someone’s elbow or sit across from the [sewing] machine and watch.”
Her mother further fueled the passion when she purchased fabric for her daughter. Young Martha went to work making a “Vogue” suit that was featured in the magazine of the same name.
“I’m sure [the suit] had a whole bunch of horrors,” said Williams, laughing. “My mother invested in me some orange wool, and I made a matching hat. My mother let me wear it to school, and you couldn’t tell me nothing.”
Williams has since created custom coats, costumes, clothing, curtains, and puppets — and she has even sewn a mascot for the University of Alabama (UAB). She takes on jobs for individual clients, too, as well as larger jobs for groups like bridal parties. Her most famous stint was as six months as a seamstress for R & B icon Anita Baker.
Magic City Roots
Family matters brought Williams to the Magic City. Her mother, Frances, a Birmingham native living in Chicago, Illinois, returned to her hometown in 1972 to take care of her father, Bob Williams.
Mr. Williams had garnered quite the reputation as owner of the popular Little Savoy Cafe, or Bob’s Savoy, a restaurant located in Birmingham’s 4th Avenue Historic District, “the center of [the city’s] Black social and commercial activity and professional achievement from 1908 to 1941,” according to a 1982 National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form. Mr. Williams drew on the famed Savoy Ballroom — a legendary Harlem, New York, hot spot — for the name of the venue, which featured an upstairs restaurant that offered chicken and steaks, along with dinner specials and short orders, and a downstairs bar that served as a gathering place for the African American elite.
Among the patrons at Bob’s Savoy were musicians, Birmingham Black Barons players, and out-of-town visitors. The business closed after a fire in 1958. Martha Williams doesn’t remember anything about the venue because she was around 4 years old when it ceased operations.
Martha Williams attended Talladega College for two years before leaving school “because my mother became sick,” she said, adding that her mother passed away in 1982 — something Martha took pretty hard.
Williams, 71, said her mother was a smart woman and “made decisions that helped me and my children.” One of those decisions allowed Martha to inherit her mom’s home in Birmingham, but all was not well, said Williams, a mother of four, who had a growing family at the time.
Williams delivered her first child when she was in the 11th grade in Chicago.
“My first born is a daughter, Robin Harrison; and my son, Robert Preston Williams, is 39. Then I have two more girls: 31-year-old Blessing Williams and 30-year-old Christal Harvel,” said Williams, who also has eight grandchildren.
Addicted
“I think at some point I had a nervous breakdown, but all my bills were paid
and I really didn’t have to worry about anything [financially],” said Williams. She encountered other challenges, though.
“In making a choice to try and help friends by allowing them to stay with me, I would be introduced to the world of drugs,” she said. “I first used crack cocaine on May 20, 1987, at my son’s first birthday party. My attraction to it was that [it let me] stay awake a long time.”
At the time, Williams was working at Parisian at The Galleria in Hoover, Alabama. With the drug use, Williams said she could stay up after she got off and sew more clothing. But the addiction stuck for 10 years.
Williams juggled working her jobs and many were unaware that she struggled with drugs — a 10-year uphill battle to overcome addiction that came, not surprisingly, with many lows.
During her addiction, Williams eventually started her own business as a seamstress, while working as a bookkeeper at a gas station and then at a luggage and leather repair shop as a seamstress.
Anita Baker
While dealing with her addiction, Williams also worked with R & B singer Anita Baker, who she met through a friend of Brenda Hong, founder of Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies and breast cancer survivor. Hong and the songstress are both from Detroit, Michigan. After the meeting, Baker asked Williams to come on the road with her.
Hong said, “Martha is a seamstress and a tailor all wrapped up in one. She is talented and creative.”
Williams got the job because she filled in in a pinch, said Hong: “She was a great designer, and she replicated, [recreated by sewing], a robe for Baker that was based on the style of Hollywood actress Loretta Young,” who had a weekly show/drama series called “The Loretta Young Show” from 1953 to1961.
“It’s simple elegance,” recalled Hong. “Martha created it, and Anita fell in love with it.”
Hong, who’d been diagnosed with breast cancer while working with Baker, saw Williams as being not only a seamstress but also someone who could fill in as sort of a personal assistant.
Asked about working with Baker, Williams described it as “interesting work” and added, “Don’t forget, I was in full-blown addiction when I took this job with Baker, but she was a difficult client because she was very demanding.”
Williams said the singer liked her straightforward and honest style, along with her southern hospitality. She toured with Baker but returned to Birmingham after a fire damaged her home.
“That fire destroyed so many artifacts I was saving to create an exhibit about my family’s history,” including her grandfather’s restaurant, the Little Savoy Cafe, Williams recalled.
This incident would plunge her deeper into drug use because she felt like she had failed her family by losing these artifacts in the fire.
The Turnaround
“I’d gone through rehab seven times, and that final time it stuck,” she said. “My ‘Freedom Day’ was July 19, 1996.”
Pathways, a shelter for women and children in Birmingham, helped her recover.
“I was pregnant with my youngest and they sent me to Pathways. I first met Sister Mary Oliver, who was director of Pathways at the time, with a box of food in her hand that she shared with me,” Williams recalled.
Whether attending one of several surgeries for Williams or through job changes or the loss of loved ones, the relationship between Williams and Sister Mary has seen many life moments. Through them all, Sister Mary, who is currently 97, “always had my back,” said Williams.
Williams not only lived in one of the housing units at Pathways, located in Fairfield, Alabama, for 14 years but also eventually worked as residential manager for nine years at Safe Haven, a 10-bed unit for mentally ill and chronically ill children.
The Gift That Keeps Giving
Throughout it all, sewing was never far away. Williams now sews in her office — a room at her church, Agape Missionary Baptist Church, located in Birmingham’s East Lake community. And although her talent for sewing was initially self-taught, she admits that she got tutelage from some masters in the profession. Williams attended Lawson State Community College from 2002 to 2005 and remembers “Bertha James, a professor at Lawson State, who’s still alive.”
“[James] taught me in the basement at Lawson State. Between what I taught myself and what she straightened out, I learned how to correct my wrongs in sewing,” said Williams, who now gives back by teaching her craft to others.
This summer, she’s hosting classes for students in the sixth through 12th grades on the art of sewing at the Bessemer Recreation Center, located at 100 14th Street in Bessemer, Alabama.
“I want to teach what they want to learn, so we will start off simple to have the best impact that I can,” said Williams.
