ANGELA ABDUR-RASHEED, GRADUATE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS LEADER OF THE RAMSAY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AT 95TH ANNIVERSARY BREAKFAST CELEBRATION; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, SEPT. 27.
Times Staff Report
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) late Tuesday night blamed President Donald Trump and Republicans for the government shutdown.
Sewell said the Republican-led Congress and the Trump Administration failed to pass a single appropriations bill before the September 30 funding deadline and refused to negotiate with Democrats on an extension.
“Trump and Republicans are responsible for this government shutdown,” said Sewell. “They are so hellbent on kicking Americans off their health care that they are willing to shut down the government in order to achieve it. Now, not only will Americans face skyrocketing health care premiums, but they will also have to pay for this reckless Republican shutdown. It is outrageous.”
The government shut down on Wednesday morning at 12:01 a.m., amid a deadlock between Trump and Democrats in Congress that will leave many federal workers furloughed. It was the first federal shutdown since 2019
“As Democrats, our position has not changed,” said Sewell. “We are willing to work with Republicans on a bill to end this shutdown and protect the health care of the American people. However, we will not vote to rubber-stamp the Republican assault on our health care system. It’s time for Republicans to come to their senses and meet us at the negotiating table.”
In July, President Trump and Congressional Republicans passed the largest cut to health care in American history in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy, said Sewell.
“Their so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ makes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and more than $500 billion in cuts to Medicare in the next ten years,” she said in a statement. “An analysis from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that Republicans’ so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ would result in more than 15 million Americans losing health care coverage. More than 330 rural hospitals could be forced to close.”
Without action by Republicans in Congress, Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits will expire in December, sending health care premiums soaring for American families, Sewell said.
To help constituents understand the impacts of the shutdown, Sewell’s office has compiled answers to frequently asked questions here.
dcwins.com
Bipartisan legislators and Alabama physicians gathered in Birmingham on Tuesday to celebrate a landmark new maternal health care law that takes effect Oct. 1.
The new law, known as “presumptive Medicaid eligibility,” speeds access to prenatal care for low-income pregnant women by allowing Medicaid to pay for outpatient medical care for up to 60 days while a woman’s application for Medicaid is being reviewed.
Alabama’s maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are above the national average. Under the new law, pregnant women may receive outpatient care for up to 60 days while their Medicaid application is processed.
The law will help save lives by reducing delays in care and improving Alabama’s troubling rates of maternal and infant mortality, supporters say.
“Every mother deserves the chance for a healthy pregnancy, but far too many women in Alabama go without the care they need in the early weeks of pregnancy,” said Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “With presumptive eligibility, mothers will be able to see a doctor sooner, giving them and their babies a healthier and safer start. Presumptive eligibility is an ounce of prevention that saves tax dollars in the long run.”
Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, who carried the bill in the House, highlighted the bipartisan effort that made the law possible. “This was about doing what’s right for Alabama families,” she said. “By working together across party lines, we put mothers and babies first. I look forward to building on this momentum to continue improving healthcare in our state.”
Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, who co-sponsored the bill, said the law represents a strong commitment to both life and health. “This is a strong pro-life measure that ensures expecting mothers have access to the care they need,” DuBose said. “By expanding coverage at the very start of pregnancy, we’re giving more Alabama moms and babies a healthier future.”
Physicians stressed how meaningful the change will be for both patients and providers.
“Every week matters in a pregnancy,” said Dr. Janeen Arbuckle, an obstetrician-gynecologist, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “The earlier a mother receives prenatal care, the more we can do to prevent complications and ensure the best possible outcome for both mom and baby.”
Dr. Jamie Routman, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Brookwood Baptist Health, added, “This law removes a major barrier to care. It gives doctors the ability to provide the right care at the right time without waiting weeks or months for paperwork to catch up. It’s a victory for public health in our state.”
The Medical Association of the State of Alabama, which has long advocated for measures to address the state’s high maternal mortality rate, praised the law as an important step forward.
“This is about partnership and progress,” said Dr. Arbuckle. “With this new law, Alabama is making it clear: Healthy moms and healthy babies mean a healthier Alabama.”
The law is currently authorized through Oct. 1, 2028.
By Don Rhodes II | The Birmingham Times
Tiffany Nicole White lives by a simple philosophy “delay doesn’t mean deny.”
At just 23 years old, the Birmingham native would know. She has already overcome more obstacles that many face in a lifetime. From growing up in foster care and dropping out of high school at 16, to becoming a mother at age 18, and as well as a first-generation college student, White has turned her trials into testimony.
Now a freshman at Miles College, White is stepping into leadership as the newly elected Miss Freshman 2025-2026.
“I’m a resilient woman of faith, a proud mom to my five-year-old daughter Amaya, and I’m determined to rewrite my family’s story,” she told The Birmingham Times.
Her journey has been shaped by hardship, but also by the guiding influence of her late grandmother, Vicki Mayse, a librarian and English teacher. “My grandmother modeled grace and determination,” White said. “Her legacy fuels my desire to lead and to leave a lasting mark through education and service.”
Growing up in Birmingham in the Warrior/Kimberly, Alabama, area just north of Birmingham, White says her upbringing instilled in her perseverance and a passion for justice.
“Being in foster care and facing those tough transitions gave me a heart for others,” she said. “It made me want to create opportunities and advocate for people who feel unseen.”
She was born on July 1, 2002, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. Just eight days after birth, she was placed in foster care because she was born addicted to cocaine and remained in the system until she was about six years old. While her older siblings were placed with family, she was placed in a foster home, which meant she didn’t get the chance to grow up alongside them.
After dropping out of Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, she was in no rush to get her GED because she never saw herself having a career in anything. It wasn’t until May 15, 2025, at her daughter Amaya’s Pre-K graduation that she saw her child in a cap and gown, and that made her want to get her GED. Over the next few days, White put in work online and obtained her GED on May 20 just five days after her daughter’s graduation.
At the time, White was working in the law offices of Attorney Bobby L. Davis, a Miles Law School graduate. The two met Miles College President Bobbie Knight at a networking event, and then Miles Vice President of Student Affairs Rev. Leon F. Parker III, who offered White a scholarship after hearing her story of perseverance.
White said she didn’t have a plan to work in law but there was an opening as a legal assistant for her older sister’s attorney where White got valuable experience in criminal defense and juvenile delinquency law which went hand and hand with her passion for advocacy.
As a business administration major with a pre-law focus at the Fairfield Historically Black College and University (HBCU), White has her sights set on the future. “At Miles, I plan to excel academically while building my PLACE platform, Purpose, Leadership, Advocacy, Community, and Education,” she explained. “It’s about creating a space where others can grow, too.”
PLACE was her campaign-winning proposal for Miss Freshman.
Her ambitions extend beyond campus. After graduation “I want to attend law school and specialize in criminal defense and juvenile justice,” she said. “Every step I take now, from campus leadership to organizing conferences like Flourish | Galantines, is preparing me to advocate for others and transform lives.”
Flourish | Galantines began as a pizza and pajamas meetup that sold out in 36 hours with over 300 attendees. It’s now increased to a two-day conference with 1,000 women from all over the world in Birmingham.
Outside of her schoolwork, White enjoys a balance of fun and self-care. “I love traveling to places such as Chicago, New York City, and Nice France, shopping, and taking Pilates classes,” she said. “But I also value quiet time, where I can refill my cup so I can pour into others. Whether I’m exploring new places with Amaya or practicing mindfulness, I need experiences that keep me grounded and inspired.”
With her story of resilience and vision for leadership, White, who attends Love City Church under the leadership of Bishop Jonathan L. Woods, Sr. and Pastor Lady Nicole Woods in Forestdale, Alabama, embodies the spirit of perseverance. Or, as she puts it: “I’m proof that no matter what life throws at you, delay does not mean deny.”
For more on Tiffany visit her Facebook page here
The City of Birmingham, in partnership with the Community Funding Accelerator (CFA), convened 30 employer and community partners in K-12 education, community college, workforce training, transportation, entrepreneurship, and childcare to confirm and release their Workforce Strategy.
The strategy outlines how $20.2 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant will be used to advance the Reinvest Birmingham workforce revitalization initiative. With this funding, the City of Birmingham aims to engage 5,000 residents in North Birmingham, Northside, Pratt, and Smithfield in information sessions and career and job fairs with a goal of enrolling over 3,000 residents into Career Pathway Training.
Partnering with workforce training and apprenticeship programs, Reinvest Birmingham will revitalize the local economy in these neighborhoods, ultimately creating 1,500 new jobs.
“Our partnership with CFA has been instrumental for not only in shaping the implementation planning for Reinvest Birmingham but also in Birmingham’s selection as an awardee of this historic investment. From research to accountability to relationship-building, the CFA team has consistently made the process seamless,” said Archie Stewart, Reinvest Plan Officer. “The foundation of success for this initiative rests on the care, intentionality, and standard of excellence first established by CFA.”
Created in partnership with CFA, the Workforce Strategy is a city-level plan that maps the current workforce landscape, identifies opportunities for jobs in high-demand construction, advanced manufacturing, childcare, and healthcare sectors. The launch brought together multi-stakeholder partners to guide decisions about workforce training and fill job market gaps in the coming years.
“We know the City of Birmingham is committed to developing a comprehensive workforce pathway to train residents for good jobs and keep them, starting as early as K-12. CFA is proud to partner with the City on this forward-thinking strategy that prepares residents for the jobs of today and the opportunities of tomorrow,” said Mara Eala, Project Leader at CFA.
In collaboration with Lightcast, the strategy is grounded in labor market and service area data to inform and serve as a guidepost for the next four years of the grant and other city-level workforce investments. CFA provided strategic technical assistance in developing effective structures, processes, and tracking key metrics for implementation in the six to twelve-month pilot phase of the grant. While initially impacting Reinvest Birmingham, the Workforce Strategy will also inform other regional investments throughout the city.
To learn more about this partnership, visit the CFA website at communityfundingaccelerator.org and the City of Birmingham’s website at birminghamal.gov.
BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times
JOYCELYN ‘JOY’ AND CHRIS WHITE
Live: Hoover
Married: Dec. 6, 2014
Met: Spring 2012, at The Plum Bar in downtown Birmingham. Joy was a regular patron and friends with the establishment’s sound tech, who was also friends with Chris. Chris, also a musician who plays bass guitar, was invited by their mutual friend to the bar’s open mic night when he and Joy first crossed paths.
“I was just chilling up there in the sound booth with our friend and Chris was standing in the corner wearing a black batman jacket…,” Joy laughed. “He was smiling at me and then came up to me and asked me if I had the time, and I was thinking ‘don’t you have a watch on?’, but I told him it was 9:30, and he smiled, said ‘thank you’ and walked away.”
The pair did not make a connection that night, but began running into to each other every week at open mic night. Eventually, Joy said she began to let her guard down and started conversing with Chris and realized she liked him.
“I would go up there and sing a little something, and he would go up there and play a little something, and then one night he was already playing when I got on the stage, and he played and sang with me [Anita Baker’s ‘Caught up in The Rapture of Love’] … It was a nice groove, and then after that we [hit it off] because we enjoyed singing together,” recalled Joy.
“Of all the women in the room, Joy stood out to me. I like her style, she was a classy girl, and she could sing and I’m a sucker for women who can sing because I’m a musician,” Chris said. “And when I heard her sing, I was hooked– a beautiful girl who could sing? That was it for me. She was educated and everybody seemed to know her, she was respected, and that sat with me. I really enjoyed being around her.” So much so, Chris told their mutual friend, “that girl is going to be my wife one day.”
Although Chris and Joy made an initial connection, the two did not immediately go on a date. For months, they nurtured a friendship over the phone and weekly meetups at open mic night before Chris asked Joy out for a date.
First date: Fall 2012, at Stix, a Japanese Hibachi restaurant, in Hoover. Chris picked Joy up from her job at Target in Brookwood and they headed out. “I put a little extra effort into my outfit for work that day,” Joy laughed. “I tried to touch up my makeup before I walked out because I wanted to look perfect.”
“I was nervous,” said Chris. “I had never been [to Stix] before and I didn’t eat any Japanese or Chinese food… That wasn’t my vibe, but that was the first step in building trust because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at this place,” he laughed. “I’m a gentleman, and I followed the old school rules. I made sure I got her home at a decent time and was very respectful.”
“I was nervous at first too because I wanted to make sure I didn’t say or do the wrong things,” Joy said. “…I didn’t even really eat my food because I didn’t want him to think I was greedy,’ she laughed, “and I even practiced the questions I was gonna ask before the date because I wanted the conversation to flow. But all of that went out the window because it became so natural and everything just flowed. The date was so good I didn’t want the night to end.”
The turn: October 2012, when they were leaving the Plum Bar. Joy and Chris were parked in different directions, but talked on the phone on the way to their cars.
“He said he wanted to kiss me tonight, and by this time we were both in our cars, and I asked him why he didn’t do it, and he said ‘how about we do it now?’ So we pulled over into a parking lot and got out and kissed. And after the kiss, I asked him ‘so what are we doing?’” Joy said.
“We sat in that parking lot and we talked for a while, and that conversation led to us becoming exclusive. It was an organic conversation, and I don’t remember all the details, but I know we drove away boyfriend and girlfriend,” Chris said.
The proposal: Dec. 13, 2013, at Olive Garden in Hoover. This was the day after Joy’s 28th birthday, and she recalls being upset with him because he didn’t take her out on her “actual birthday”.
“[On my birthday] he took me to Moe’s [a Tex Mex restaurant] to eat and I was sitting there pissed,” Joy said. “And he said, ‘trust me, you’re going to love what I have planned for you tomorrow’, and I wasn’t hearing that. I wanted to celebrate on my birthday, not tomorrow,” she laughed.
The cause for the delayed celebration was because Chris wanted to reserve a private room to host 50 of their family and friends to celebrate Joy’s birthday and witness the proposal, and the restaurant only had availability for the day after her birthday.
“It was a surprise, but she still thought it was just a birthday dinner, and as the night went on the family was distracting her with opening presents until I was ready. And when I was, I got everybody’s attention and got down on one knee and asked her to marry me,” Chris said.
“He got down on his knee and said in the most country way ‘Joy, I would like to know if you want to be my wife?’” Joy laughed. “He said it so slow and country that everybody laughed, and my sister, still mocks him to this day. But I was caught completely off guard, I did not know he was going to propose. I started crying, and then everybody was like ‘yes or no?’ and I said ‘yes’.”
The wedding: At Grants Chapel AME Church, in East Lake, officiated by Bishop L. Spencer Smith of Impact Church in Tuscaloosa, and Pastor Eric Nathan of Grants Chapel AME Church. Their colors were purple, turquoise and grey.
Most memorable for the bride was the reception at the Boutwell Auditorium in downtown Birmingham. “The theme of our wedding was “The White Tour’, and we had it at the Boutwell because we wanted the reception to feel like it was at a concert hall … We did a full playlist in front of a full band, and singing all the songs we’ve ever played together at the Plum Bar. And the song that touched me the most was when we sang ‘Caught Up In The Rapture of Love’ by Anita Baker because that was the first song we ever did together,” Joy said. “It felt so good because he had my hand, and in that moment it was just me and him doing what we love to do in front of all of our friends and family and everybody could see why our love was what it is.”
Most memorable for the groom was his bride’s delayed walk down the aisle. “When it was time for her to walk down the aisle I felt like it took two days and she was standing me up. All the beginning ceremony stuff was done, and they started playing ‘Here Comes the Bride’, and I’m up there with the pastors and my best man, and we’re just waiting and waiting and waiting, and it was like she never came,” Chris laughed. “She says it was only five minutes, but it wasn’t, and it feels like an hour when you’re standing in front of a church full of people thinking your bride ran away.”
Joy chimed in: “It was only like five or six minutes, I had had a malfunction with my makeup, it was doing something real crazy and I was like ‘uh uh, I can’t go’, and then my dad came in there trying to calm me down, and I didn’t care that they were waiting, I felt like it’s my day, they’ll wait. And when I was ready, I came down.”
“Meanwhile, I’m up there suffering, sweating bullets,” Chris said. “I guess I was just happy she showed up,” he laughed.
They honeymooned in Destin, Florida and said they had fun consummating their marriage over and over again.
Words of wisdom: “Communication is number one. That’s really the answer,” Chris said. “Never go to be angry. Try to fix it in the moment to continue to grow,” said Joy.
Happily ever after: The White’s attend Unity Christian Center, in Alabaster, where they both serve in the music ministry, and have a yorkie terrier, named Bella-Rose, 10-years-old.
Joy, 39, is a Midfield native, and Ensley High School grad. She attended Alabama State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater arts and is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for women, and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Joy works as a third & fifth grade teacher at Calvary Resurrection Christian Literacy School in Roebuck, and also owns a home-based business named Jookin and Juicing, an organic health juicing company.
Chris, 38, is a Roebuck native, and Huffman High School grad. He attended Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music business, and is a Free Mason [a community-based fraternity] and is a music teacher for Birmingham City Schools.
“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 CHARLOTTE KRAMON | Associated Press
Lt. Col. George Hardy, the youngest fighter pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first Black military pilots, has died. He was 100.
Hardy was the last surviving combat pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen who went overseas. He died last week, according to Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
“His legacy is one of courage, resilience, tremendous skill and dogged perseverance against racism, prejudice and other evils,” Tuskegee Airmen Inc. said in a Facebook post.
Born in Philadelphia, Hardy was a dedicated student who dreamed of becoming an engineer and never planned on joining the military. He was intrigued after his brother joined the U.S. Navy, but still pursued a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute, according to the National WWII museum.
“It wasn’t until 1941 when the Army started opening the door for us to be pilots and whatnot. And we walked through the door and had a great opportunity, and we took advantage of it,” Hardy told AVI-8, an “aviation-inspired” watch manufacturer, in an interview.
Hardy was commissioned as a second lieutenant at 19 and flew his first combat mission before he had ever driven a car, he told AVI. He ultimately completed 21 World War II missions and also served in the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Brian Smith, president and CEO of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, described Hardy as a “humble man” with a passion for aviation. He was passionate about encouraging young people to become pilots and up until recent years he often attended air shows, Smith said.
“We always talked about the racism in World War II, but we also celebrated the progress America and the world has made in accepting people of color,” Smith added.
The Tuskegee Airmen were spotlighted in a 1995 HBO film “The Tuskegee Airmen” and 2012 feature film “Red Tails.”
The men are commemorated in several states year each year as a part of Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, usually on the fourth Thursday of March.
Amid President Donald Trump’s attempts to purge federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the Air Force removed training courses with videos of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, in January. They later restored them after bipartisan criticism.
By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times
In a breakout role, Birmingham’s Trinity Anderson is taking on a character that mirrors her own passion for perseverance and growth as an artist.
Trinity, 20, will star as Akeelah in ‘Akeelah and The Bee – The Play’ at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in the Carver Theatre, October 2-4 by the Encore Theatre and Gallery. The production is not just about spelling words but also the courage, community and determination that changes lives.
Even more impressive is that the theatre student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham got the part through cold read auditions at Encore Theatre ahead of the current season.
“Trinity is one of the hardest-working young artists I’ve seen,” said Marc Raby, artistic director and owner of Encore Theatre. “She really shows discipline, focus, and a genuine love for the craft.”
On stage, she’s known for her ability to bring raw honesty and emotion to her characters, including during a recent performance in ‘Everybody and The Revolutionists.’
Trinity said there are similarities and differences between her and the title character.
“Me and Akeelah are alike because of our independence, and we always are standing ten toes down when it comes to a project or goal that we know will affect us greatly in the long run, especially if it’s something we love,” Trinity said. “However, me and Akeelah are complete opposites because of our age, difference in insecurities and her tendency to give up so quickly.”
“What stands out about Trinity is her balance of humility and drive,” Raby said. “She’s constantly sharpening her skills, but she never loses sight of why she’s telling the story… to reflect voices and experiences that deserve to be seen.”
In taking on the role of Akeelah, he added that “Trinity has stepped into something much bigger than a performance, she’s carrying a story that speaks to perseverance, intelligence, and representation. She’s passionate about honoring that responsibility.”
The play centers on Akeelah, a young girl attending a tough school in Los Angeles, who sees the finals of the National Spelling Bee. She decides to enter the competition, despite her classmates’ derision and the antipathy of her mother Tanya. Thanks to the efforts of her teacher Dr Joshua Larabee, she reaches the final. When she meets her fellow competitors, she realizes that coming first isn’t everything in life.
Without giving away spoilers, Trinity said her favorite moment in the show is “seeing the father-daughter like chemistry between Akeelah and Dr. Larabee. You can tell that they need each other, even if they are both are in denial about it.”
Audiences will love the “show for its message, the relatability for some audience members,” she said. “It’s family-friendly environment for all ages, and because it’s a timeless classic, and who doesn’t love those?
There are a number of reasons to come out “to not only witness the different personalities from the cast bring every character to life on stage, but to also support Black-owned theatre companies so shows like these can happen more often,” she said.
Trinity, 20, grew up in Center Point, Alabama, but moved to Meadowbrook, Alabama, after 7th grade. She has one sister who is four years younger. Trinity is a general theatre major at (UAB), “which helps me adjust between being onstage and being offstage,” she said.
Asked about a message that she hopes from Akeelah and the Bee that people take home, Trinity said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
Akeelah in Akeelah and The Bee – The Play at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in the Carver Theatre, October 2-4 by the Encore Theatre and Gallery. For tickets click here.
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
What happens when you combine mental health techniques with anime cosplay? You get “The Demon Slayer: Breathwork Experience” which aims to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being by altering breathing patterns.
Held in early September at Innovation Depot by Healthy Coping Club, Breathwork Experience, is a Birmingham-based brand built with a team of professionals dedicated to promoting mental wellness with resources and support.
Attendees were invited to step into the world of Demon Slayer and discover the real-life power behind the anime’s legendary breathing styles.
Demon Slayer is a popular Japanese anime series and film franchise with total concentration breathing is used to achieve superhuman abilities.
“A Natural Fit”
Jermaine Wall, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Crescent Counseling Services, based in Trussville and Birmingham said it was “a natural fit” for him to connect to evidence-based breathwork techniques in his clinical work.
“It’s a fun way to bring anime and wellness together, providing people with tools they can use daily to manage stress and take care of themselves,” he said.
Wall is a part of a multidisciplinary team at Health Coping Club with a goal to promote mental wellness and provide resources and support for all.
Crescent Counseling Services focuses on youth and adolescent wellness, men’s mental health, and creating products and programs that help with coping skills through workbooks, card games, and workshops that make dealing with stress easier.
Wall said he always wanted to be in a helping profession and volunteered a lot in college and enjoyed helping people. “A natural extension of that was social work for me,” said Wall.
Anime originated as a Japanese animation subculture and has since become a genre and art form that reflects everyday life, traditions, and modern social issues in Japan.
This is not Wall’s first time at hosting anime-centered influences at one of his events. “I work with clients every week using anime and geek culture as part of therapy,” he said. “I also host groups and presentations monthly, and our Anime Club meets every second Thursday at (The Flourish), 602 19th St Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218.
He connects the lessons and stories found in anime to real-life wellness with his Anime Awakening program. “I’ve had the opportunity to share this with schools, conventions, and professional conferences,” Wall told the Times.
He’s also done “create your own superpower type of events” at camps, he said. “It’s a strength-based therapy, where we help young people look for their superpowers within themselves … and use that as an opportunity for them to create your own superhero with their own backstory.”
Wall said his appreciation for anime came while he was in graduate school at the University of South Florida.
“I was stressed out from graduate school, so I got caught up in Bleach (an action-adventure anime series). It was the first anime I really started binge watching and then, you know how it goes. You just fall into the rabbit hole,” said Wall.
“Calming The Nervous System”
Lemar Storey, the founder of Life Touch Massage LLC, led the breathwork class in several breathing techniques and said [Wall] reached out to him about the event at Innovation Depot. “I don’t really watch anime, but he (Wall) sent me a link to Demon Slayer, so I checked it out and saw some of the breathing techniques,” said Storey.
In addition to massage services through Life Touch, Storey also conducts yoga classes, and floating sound therapy experiences.
There are 15 different types of pranayama (ancient yogic practice for controlling the breath) but only three were chosen for the class.
“Giving people some techniques that they can use to help with calming the nervous system, lowering their heart rate, calming themselves down in case of anger or not being able to sleep, or anxiety, or depression, are the main,” Storey said.
At the end of the breath-work session, he conducted “a sound bath” a form of therapeutic experience where a practitioner uses different instruments, like gongs, singing bowls, and chimes, to create soothing vibrations and frequencies … to just let the body settle after we do those breathing techniques,” he said.
Working with Story makes for a healthy partnership, Wall said.
“Lamar and I have known each other for years. I do not think we partnered and worked on anything, but this was the perfect opportunity for me to find somebody I respect and somebody that is doing great work in the community,” Wall said, “and for us to partner in a way that is going to help the people. Similar to the two favorite characters linking up to save the day.”
By Jordyn Davis | For The Birmingham Times
Yolaine Sykes, a retired teacher and owner of a skin-care line of products in Avondale, Alabama, was among more than 500 women in pink and brown at Birmingham’s Legion Field Stadium on Saturday for messages of hope and show of support.
“Women of color — Black and Brown women—are not really represented when it comes to breast cancer research and awareness,” said Sykes, “A lot of the studies that have been done are not connecting to us [Black women] specifically … It’s a big deal to have Brenda’s Brown Bosom because they focus on donating money to research and organizations that really target us as citizens,” said Sykes, this year’s Vendor Coordinator for Sistah Strut, said.
The pitter-patter of those running and walking, along with the sounds of abundant laughter, filled Graymont Avenue as women from all over participated in the 14th Annual Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) Sistah Strut walk/run/ride/stroll, that took place on September 27, at Legion Field Stadium.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins Oct. 1.
BBBB is 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.
The Birmingham-focused support and advocacy program originally began as a support group for African-American women to discuss health issues as well as support women unable to afford costly medical bills. Then, in 2010, founder Brenda Phillips-Hong expanded her group to focus outreach, awareness and collaborative education and action to help reduce mortality rates in women. Since then, countless women have depended on this program to help cover bills for those in underprivileged communities.
“As African Americans, we have other issues that are hereditary and connected to our diet and lifestyles…a lot of times, we may not feel comfortable discussing our healthy issues because of our culture, said Sykes, who lives in College Hills.
In addition to survivors and supporters, multiple vendors were at Legion Field to support BBBB. An Auburn University research group, which focuses on the genetics of hereditary breast cancer, was also able to attend.
“I’ve been a nurse for 40 years and I’m out here to talk about our project and help out with questions,” said Betsy Stallworth, MEd, BSN, RN at Auburn University. “ … the breast cancer numbers here are incredible and there’s still so much we don’t know about hereditary breast cancer and it’s very important in this community, especially with high rates of triple negative breast cancer in certain families.”
She added, “Women often put everybody and everyone ahead of us and oftentimes it’s not the best option because we are not taking care of ourselves.”
The Crown Campaign Alabama, an advocacy group that seeks to end racial discrimination through enhancing natural hairstyles in the workplace environment, was also in attendance.
“This is our first year doing the ‘Sistah Struth’ and I felt like it was very important … because I wanted to give something back to the community, said LaShawn Hill, Crown Campaign Alabama Ambassador. “When I found out about Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies, through one of my clients, we began supporting them. It’s important for women to have spaces like this so that they can nurture their mind, body and soul.”
State Rep. Juandalynn Givan said her mother is a breast survivor from the early 2000s when medicine was not as advanced. “She went in December — and had just a knot, just a small little bump— and by February they had to remove her first breast. A few weeks they had to take off the second breast. Glory be to the Lord that she is a survivor.”
Givan said BBBB provides a space for supporters and survivors.
“First of all, we [Black women] don’t have that many spaces and we have to make them. Shirley Chisolm said it best: ‘If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring your own folding chairs.’ But we’re beyond that now, because I believe we can make our own table. You bring your own table, you make your own place setting and you put your seat where you want it to be at the table,” Givan said.
Visit wearebbbb.org to learn more about resources available for those in need as well as becoming a donor.
