CRYSTAL MULLEN-JOHNSON, A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND FOUNDER OF NURTURE ALABAMA ON THE UPCOMING FOURTH ANNUAL CITY OF BIRMINGHAM MENTAL HEALTH DAY, FRIDAY, JUNE 27; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, JUNE 23.
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. |The Birmingham Times
For many Birmingham-area first responders, this week’s 2025 World Police and Fire Games (BHM 2025 WPFG) is about more than competing against peers from around the globe. It’s a family reunion, they say.
“It’s competition. It’s athleticism,” said Sergeant Dana Sartalamacchia of the Birmingham Police Department, who’ll compete in rowing. “You get to have camaraderie and meet people from all over the world that you might not have another chance to meet.”
Birmingham Fire Department Lieutenant Garth Jones described it as a worldwide family gathering in a central location.
“No matter where we are from or where we work, ultimately we all do the same job,” Jones said. “We all have an immediate commonality in our profession. Even as competitors and total strangers, we all share an unspoken bond from similar experiences ‘doing the job.’
BHM 2025 WPFG will host more than 8,500 first responders, about 700 Alabamians, from nearly 80 countries in 1,600 medal events, who are current and retired public agency personnel. The opening ceremony is 6 p.m. on June 27 in Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The closing ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on July 6 at the Athletes’ Village at City Walk.
In between, competition will span central Alabama. From swimming, toughest competitor alive and indoor volleyball at Birmingham CrossPlex, to jiu jitsu, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling at Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium, to boxing at Alabama Theater to cycling criterium at Talladega Superspeedway and 31 more sports.
(For a full competition schedule click here)
The Games of Heroes, as they’re sometimes called, features more than 60 sports across more than 30 venues around Birmingham and central Alabama. The metro area will be treated to free, exciting opportunities to watch these athletic events.
And while firefighters, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, game wardens and bobbies from Great Britain will compete against one another, they bring a brotherhood and sisterhood to this event.
They are truly on one team, one worldwide family.
“No matter where we are from or where we work, ultimately we all do the same job,” Jones said. “We all have an immediate commonality in our profession. Even as competitors and total strangers, we all share an unspoken bond from similar experiences ‘doing the job.’
“I expect that making new friends even competing against one another will be extremely easy,” Jones added. “I hope there will be plenty of down time to meet each other, share stories, and learn something new from each other.”
Michael Peagler, a Birmingham Fire Department medic who’s competing in boxing, said it’s an honor to be among first responders from all over the world. “I never imagined myself in this position,” he said.
BPD Officer Telly Hernandez said he will bring a hefty amount of admiration for those against whom he’ll be competing in a pair of pistol-shooting events – Police Pistol Combat and biathlon.
“Even though it’s a competitive event, I have mad respect for other countries and their police force,” he said. “I’m sure that no matter how much training I’ve done to this point, there’s going to be other competitors that are very well versed in their craft and that are very physically fit.”
For BPD’s Ronald Jennings, 63, this won’t be the first time he’s gone against other first responders “because back when we had the Southeastern Police and Fire Games, in the 2000s, I competed then in the Toughest Competitor Alive at least twice,” he said. “I did pretty good. I came in second in that arena. But at that time, it wasn’t an age bracket.”
Jennings will participate in track and field, running the 1,500, 800- and 200-meter races and CrossFit, a circuit training event that involves lifting weights and doing calisthenics.
“It is very unique and surprising to meet different races from other countries, and find out that the way they do things and the way things are organized are so much different from us,” he said. “Just to meet people and find out that they are like-minded, even though they are spread abroad … across the world.”
BFD Sergeant Courtney George, 32, who grew up in Birmingham’s Ensley Community, said she’ll be thinking about much more than the thrill of competition when she tees it up on the golf course.
“It’s also an opportunity to create lasting bonds with first responders from around the world,” she said. “The camaraderie that happens is truly special.
“When first responders gather for these Games, we share a common purpose which I believe is to celebrate our dedication to service and to honor the sacrifices made in the line of duty,” continued George, whose primary job is driver of her apparatus. “Whether they are police officers, firefighters or emergency medical personnel, each competitor brings their own stories, experiences and insights to the games.”
Here’s a closer look at some Birmingham’s competitors:
Sgt. Courtney George, Birmingham Fire and Rescue
George grew up in Ensley but is a 2011 graduate of Ramsay High School. She picked up golf as a freshman for the Rams.
“I want to say we started our golf team that (her freshman) year or maybe two years before that,” she said. “My history teacher was the golf instructor, the golf coach. He kind of talked me into trying out for the team and I actually had a really good swing.
“I was really good at it and I just stuck with it,” George said. “It came easily for me and, honestly, it was almost calming once you learn how to play and get the gist of the game. It Is actually really, really calming. I think that’s what got me attracted to it.”
The fire department sergeant worked on her game by playing rounds with her uncle, Robert George. “I think he’s the only (other) one in my family that played,” she said.
George said her long game at least puts her on par with anyone else.
“My biggest strength on the course is my driving,” she said. “I drive the ball really far off the tee box. I think that’ll be my plus on that end. I do have some things I need to work on but I know where I need to perfect my game at but driving is one of my strong suits.”
Telly Hernandez, Birmingham Police Department
Hernandez is a Houston, Texas, native who was raised in a law enforcement family.
“As a young child, I grew up and saw my dad come home from work every day,” he said. “He originally started his career as a New Orleans cop but he served at multiple different agencies in Texas. My dad was a cop for over 30 years in Texas in around the Harris County area, to be specific. But my older brother, he’s actually a game warden in Texas as well.”
The 27-year-old has been a Birmingham police officer for four years. The University of Alabama alumnus is in the Special Enforcement Team, a uniformed division that falls under narcotics.
In the World Police and Fire Games, Hernandez will compete in Police Pistol Combat and the biathlon, an event where he will run a mile, shoot 12 rounds, run an additional mile, shoot another 12 rounds and then run a final mile.
“I guess I’m just looking forward to see, number one, how the events are done, period,” Hernandez said. “But also I would really like to see how the other cultures and other countries police departments perform as well.”
Ronald Jennings, Birmingham Police Department
Family members tell the story of Ronald Jennings foretelling his career in law enforcement.
“I don’t recall this but my uncles told me that when I was 5 years old that I told them that one day I was going to be a police officer,” Jennings said. “But I knew for a fact that I always liked helping the underdog. I hate to see anybody getting taken advantage of. Growing up with my siblings and friends, whenever we had a physical altercation with anybody, I made sure I stepped in and handled the situation.”
Jennings recently became a detective on BPD’s Crime Reduction Team. Before that, he worked 25 years in SWAT in the Tactical Unit.
Lt. Garth Jones. Birmingham Fire and Rescue
Jones, a lieutenant at Birmingham Engine Company 6 downtown, knew he liked his sport – fishing – from his days growing up between Birmingham’s East Lake and Roebuck Springs neighborhoods. “I used to fish in East Lake Park,” the 12-year veteran firefighter said. “Actually, the first time I remember going fishing with my dad was with cane poles at East Lake Park.
“As a child, the first time you catch a fish, you’ve got the bug,” Jones said. “But really, it starts out as more like a father-and-son hanging out kind of deal. That’s the fun part. Then when you start catching fish, you realize, hey, it’s actually fun for this one too.”
Down the road, he’s envisioning having some of those father-son moments with his son, 11-month-old Dylan. “I already have a fishing rod for him,” the angler father said. “We got him his first infant life jacket the other day so he’ll be ready to get on the boat.”
Michael Peagler, Birmingham Fire and Rescue
Peagler, a 24-year-old fire medic, grew up in Birmingham’s Grasselli Heights neighborhood. He began his high school education at Wenonah High before a house fire forced his family to move to Hoover, Alabama, where he graduated from Hoover High. And set him on a career path.
“We lost everything in the fire, pretty much,” he recalled. “I always wanted to help people. I wanted to go to the military but it seemed like being a firefighter was the next best thing, so here I am.”
Peagler shares a love of boxing with his father and recalled them taking in a Deontay Wilder title defense in Birmingham. But while he’s long been a fan of boxing, Peagler has little experience in the ring.
“My friend, who’s like my brother, he’s been boxing,” the medic said. “He stays in Kansas right now and he kind of just got me deeper into it, to actually come and training for it. He pretty much pulled me into doing it (with us) having a little sparring session between each other. And just, I liked it.”
Sgt. Dana Sartalamacchia, Birmingham Police Department
Sartalamacchia will race but she won’t actually go anywhere as she’s signed up to compete in stationary rowing. “I did CrossFit for about six years,” she said. “I stopped doing it because of a back injury I was always rowing since it’s one of the staple exercises in CrossFit.
“I was always a really, really strong rower,” Sartalamacchia said, adding that she could out-row a lot of the men in the class. “When I saw that they had stationary rowing, I was like that won’t aggravate that my back and I know I’m good at it. I wanted to do that.”
Sartalamacchia, 42, grew up in Piedmont, Calif., across the bay from San Francisco. She works in recruiting and hiring, which Birmingham has worked to increase its ranks of officers.
BHM 2025 WPFG will host more than 8,500 first responders from nearly 80 countries in 1,600 medal events. Competitors are current and retired public agency personnel from across the globe. The opening ceremony is 6 p.m. on June 27 in Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The closing ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on July 6 at the Athletes’ Village at City Walk.
By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times
When more than 8,000 first responders from around the globe gather for the 2025 World Police and Fire Games (BHM 2025 WPFG) beginning Friday June 27, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS)’s Michael Peagler, who will compete in boxing, will be among them. It’s a day he never imagined while growing up in the Magic City, he said.
“I was always quiet growing up and I never really thought I would be in this position to fight in front of hundreds of people and I’m doing this for my job,” Peagler said. “I’m in a situation to be able to do this for the city. This is really amazing.”
Peagler, 24, has been with BFRS nearly four years and is one of an estimated 700 first responders from Alabama competing in the Games. The opening ceremony is 6 p.m. on June 27 in Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The closing ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on July 6 at the Athletes’ Village at City Walk.
In between, competition will span central Alabama from swimming, toughest competitor alive and indoor volleyball at Birmingham CrossPlex, to jiu jitsu, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling at Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium, to boxing at Alabama Theater to cycling criterium at Talladega Superspeedway among other sports and locations.
The Games of Heroes, as they’re sometimes called, features more than 60 sports across more than 30 venues around Birmingham and central Alabama.
Peagler, who has been training for more than a year, shares a love of boxing with his father and recalled the two of them taking in former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s title defense in Birmingham. Peagler also has a very close friend in Kansas, whom he calls a brother, who got him hooked on boxing.
“We were planning on training each other … and we sparred, and I fell in love with it,” Peagler said. “The Police and Fire games came up I said this is a good opportunity to really get into it.”
Peagler, who is a welterweight in the 147-pound division, said he trains at least three days a week mostly at Champions Boxing Gym in Pelham and “if I could go five days a week [I would] but I work a lot of overtime.”
He grew up in Birmingham’s Grasselli Heights community with two older sisters and a younger brother and attended Wenonah High School until a house fire forced the family to move to Hoover where he attended Hoover High School.
“We lost everything in the fire,” he recalled. “I always wanted to help people. I wanted to go to the military but it seemed like being a firefighter was the next best thing. That’s what inspired me.”
He took and passed all the classes to become a Birmingham firefighter in 2021 and was first assigned to Station 23 in Inglenook. In October he received his paramedic license and was transferred to Station 27 in Roebuck and then station 19 in East Lake.
Peagler, one of the first graduates of the Birmingham Fire Academy’s in-house paramedic program, said he’s learning as much about the profession as he can to help as many as possible.
As a medic, Peagler said he comes across so many who need help that he plans to pursue a degree in psychology or mental health therapy.
“I see so many mental health issues, the stress that can be put on somebody to make them turn into somebody they shouldn’t be, because they have no help … I feel like I can be a helping hand in that, be someone they can talk to help them get their life back in order.”
“My desire is to be the best of myself … ,” he added. “I want to be the best firefighter I can be and since EMS is involved, I want to be the best EMS … I want to be at the top tier in all that I do.”
Not just the best firefighter but also the best fighter during BHM 2025 WPFG, he said. Going up against other first responders will be fun, but it’s also business, said the medic, as he prepares for the boxing competition which begins June 30 at the Alabama Theater.
“I’m not trying to hurt them at all … ,” Peagler said. “I’m trying to have fun, but I’m also trying to win.”
BHM 2025 WPFG will host more than 8,500 first responders from nearly 80 countries in 1,600 medal events. Competitors are current and retired public agency personnel from across the globe. The opening ceremony is 6 p.m. on June 27 in Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The closing ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on July 6 at the Athletes’ Village at City Walk.
The Birmingham Times
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Mayor Randall L. Woodfin’s proposed $591 million fiscal 2026 operating budget which focuses on neighborhood revitalization, resurfacing our streets, advancing a public safety strategy, recruiting more police, and investing in young people.
The fiscal year begins July 1.
“I want to thank the council for their consideration and support of this budget plan,” Woodfin said. “Our shared priorities of neighborhood revitalization and public safety are supported by this budget. We will continue to invest in neighborhoods to resurface streets, invest in sidewalks, traffic calming, and blight removal.”
AL.com reported that some on council had concerns about increased funding for public transit when the results have been disappointing, said Councilor Hunter Williams.
The Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority receives $11 million in general city funding, plus $3 million for Birmingham Xpress Bus Rapid Transit, plus $2.5 million for the Birmingham on Demand Powered by VIA ride service. But Williams said that bus reliability is only 58 percent.
“It’s effectively useless,” Williams said. “We just have to have something better.”
In his eight years on the council, city funding of public transit has doubled, while service remains unreliable for getting to jobs and doctor’s appointments on time, he said.
Woodfin’s spending plan includes an increase in neighborhood revitalization to $21.8 million and another $15 million commitment for street resurfacing. Since FY2019, the city has budgeted more than $100 million in street resurfacing in the city with additional support from the American Rescue Plan Act and the capital budget.
The budget builds on the mayor and council’s partnership in October to launch a $16 million police recruitment and retention program with an increase the police vehicle fleet by $1 million through a $6 million investment in rolling stock.
Community Violence intervention programs will receive $1.5 million to support ongoing initiatives.
The budget and additional information can be viewed at www.birminghamal.gov/2026budget.
Budget At a Glance
Neighborhood Revitalization
Public Safety and Violence Reduction
Youth Investments
Homelessness
Public Transportation
City Employees
BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times
AALIYAH & ROY ORR
Live: Clay
Married: March 25, 2006
Met: Thanksgiving night 2000, at The Platinum of Birmingham nightclub. Aaliyah had moved to Atlanta for a job with Alight Solutions, her first job post college, and was home in Birmingham celebrating the holiday. That night, she and some friends went to the Platinum after dinner to “work off some of our Thanksgiving eats”, and she and her friend April Wortford, spotted Roy from afar.
“April said, ‘ooh, I see somebody real fine’ and pointed him out, and I said, ‘you should step to him then’, and she said ‘uh-uh, you know I love my man’. [Soon after], April saw Roy checking me out, and at some point I ended up in close proximity to him, and he reached back and grabbed my hand and we were just standing there in the middle of the club holding hands, Aaliyah laughed. “And then one of my other friends said, ‘what are you doing?’ And I said ‘we go together.’”
Roy said, “I was actually having a conversation with some guys that I played ball with and they didn’t know I was back in town, so I was standing there talking to them when she was walking by, and I grabbed her hand because I didn’t want to let her pass me by. That was also my way of ending the conversation with them,” Roy recalled.
The pair talked for a while “and this was back when we still had pagers, and I had both a cell phone and a pager, but I gave her the pager number because I wanted to see if she was serious,” said Roy.
Aaliyah said, “After the club, I stayed the night at April’s, and she convinced me to page him that night. She was like ‘y’all need to go out before you go back to Atlanta’. He called back and we stayed on the phone all night.”
First date: The following Saturday night at Chili’s at the Century Plaza Mall and the movies on Lakeshore at the Wildwood Movie Theater where they saw ‘The Grinch That Stole Christmas’ starring Jim Carrey.
“I felt super comfortable because the conversation was easy. We never ran out of anything to talk about and it had been a long time since I had felt that way about a guy,” said Aaliyah. “I also remember he kept asking me if I was seeing somebody, he was like ‘I know you got a man in Atlanta’, and I kept telling him I didn’t…”
“I remember asking her about family and friends in Birmingham, and it turns out she was cousins with some guys [twins] I used to hang out with and I couldn’t believe I never ran into her because I used to hang out with them all the time… I played little league baseball all the way through high school with them,” Roy said. “And Aaliyah was real easy on the eye. I caught myself staring at her all night when she wasn’t looking. I love her light brown eyes, I couldn’t stop staring into them.”
The turn: For Aaliyah, it was spring 2001, when she moved back to Birmingham. “That’s when it got serious for me. [While I was living in Atlanta] we were seeing each other regularly, whether it was me coming home, or him driving out to see me… But it really took the turn one day when I was hanging out at his house with him and his mom [in West End], and he was washing my car while me and his mom were sitting on the front porch, and a neighbor came out and said, ‘Roy, is that your girlfriend?’, and he was like ‘yes, ma’am’. When I heard that I was like, ‘oh, we go together?’” Aaliyah laughed. “That was a defining moment. And when I asked him about what I heard him say he was like ‘yeah’, like ‘duh, Aaliyah.’”
The proposal: June 2005, at City Stages, a music festival in Birmingham that’s no longer around, on a Sunday afternoon. Roy said he always knew he wanted to propose to Aaliyah with a grand gesture, and City Stages was the perfect opportunity. He was acquainted with a singer named Alvin, who was part of ‘Just A Few Cats’, set to perform at the weekend long music event.
“I called him and asked him if he could give us a shout out or something on stage, and he said, ‘I’ll do you one better, we just wrote a song called ‘Lost in Love’, and we’re gonna perform it, so I’ll [dedicate the song] to y’all, and when we get done singing it you come up to the stage and take it from there,’” Roy recalled. “So we were in the front of the stage where everybody could see us, and while she’s clapping and happy about the shout out, I got down on one knee behind her and pulled the ring out and the whole crowd went crazy. When she finally turned around and realized what I did, she covered her mouth and backed up… I got up, put the ring on her, and once we started hugging, all the friends and family ran out of the crowd and that [shocked her even more].”
Roy had arranged for Aaliyah’s family and friends to be present for the big moment, along with his family. They were spread out through the crowd, hiding among the other attendees.
“I was very shocked and surprised. I didn’t even answer him at first, I just got the ring on my finger and then he was like ‘are you ever gonna answer me?’ and I was like, ‘oh, yes’,” Aaliyah laughed. “Plus, Roy had been acting strange all day, kinda like he was irritated with life and I almost didn’t even wanna go to City Stages with him. But after I got over my shock, I realized why he was acting like that…”
The wedding: At Woodland Park Church of Christ in West End, officiated by their pastor, Pastor E.O. Jackson of Greater New Antioch Baptist Church. Their colors were champagne and crimson.
Most memorable for the bride was the feedback she received at the reception about the tone of her responses to her vows. “…I was getting over a cold, and my voice was nasally, and people said I sounded like I was asleep when I said ‘I do’…. so that night I made sure Roy knew that I meant every word in the vows,” Aaliyah laughed.
Most memorable for the groom was the moment their wedding singer serenaded his bride down the aisle. “When Aaliyah was walking down the aisle, Nadia Tellis was singing ‘I Believe In You And Me’, by Whitney Houston, and it was so beautiful, Aaliyah was actually glowing. I don’t know if they had the lights on her or what, but I couldn’t see anybody else in there but her. I was definitely in my feelings,” Roy said.
They honeymooned in Orlando, Florida, and stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. “We also went to Universal Studios Orlando, and they were doing a taping of Ellen DeGeneres [daytime talk show] , and Wyclef Jean [a hip-hop artist] and Shakirah [a Latin artist] were doing a performance and we got to see it,” Aaliyah said. “And they were also staying in our hotel,” Roy added.
Words of wisdom: “Never make assumptions about what you think your partner knows. It’s your job to communicate your feelings because they cannot read your mind,” said Aaliyah.
“Wake up every day and be intentional about choosing your mate and your marriage. Every day is a conscious decision to choose your spouse again and again,” said Roy.
Happily ever after: The Orrs attend Greater New Antioch Baptist Church in Ensley, where Aaliyah serves on the usher board, and both on the couple’s ministry and Vacation Bible School. They have two sons, Mitchell, 15, and Harrison, 11.
Aaliyah, 47, is a West End native, and Minor High School grad. She attended the University of Alabama where earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems, and Birmingham Southern College, where she obtained a master’s degree in public and private management. Aaliyah works as a client service leader for Strada, a human resource services company, based out of Miami, Florida.
Roy, 46, is an Acipco [North Birmingham] native, and a Phillips High School grad. He attended the University of West Alabama where he studied business management, and Jefferson State Community College where he obtained his EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] license. Roy worked for Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service for 10 years and now works at Overnight Parts Alliance as a warehouse manager.
“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 Don Rhodes II | The Birmingham Times
For the City of Birmingham and the law enforcement community, creating safe, vibrant, and connected communities isn’t just a job — it’s a calling. Two upcoming programs are examples: Safe Passage, which joins Birmingham Police Department (BPD) and the Birmingham Housing Authority (HABD) to walk students to and from schools and the Restore Games July 11 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Reva L. Palmer, a lieutenant with BPD, said the department is the primary organizer of the Safe Passage Program and “with police presence during Safe Passage hours, we see less criminal activity and fewer traffic violations. The students are more enthusiastic about school thanks to the encouragement and motivation they receive.”
Residents are welcomed to participate by attending a community meeting on Thursday, June 26, at Harris Homes Recreation Center, 514 Chester Ave. Birmingham, Alabama, 35212 or calling 205-297-8248 for more information.
Safe Passage is part of BPD’s High-Intensity Community Oriented Policing Program (HICOPP) unit that “creates the routes, trains the volunteers, and monitors the areas to ensure safety,” Palmer said.
Uche Bean, Director of Community Safety Initiatives for the City of Birmingham, said the programs help create a culture of prevention, healing, and visibility in neighborhoods that have been historically impacted by violence and neglect.
“Safe Passage ensures that our young people can move safely to and from school and something as basic as safety should never be a privilege,” she said.
A Healing Space for Youth
While Safe Passage addresses daily safety, the Restore Games aims to create long-term transformation, say organizers. The event is part of the Jefferson County Family Resource Center’s Restore Program, which supports justice-impacted youth and families.
This year’s Games scheduled for July 11 from Noon to 4 p.m. at the Birmingham CrossPlex will include a youth-focused resource fair, gaming zones led by business leaders, and a conflict resolution panel featuring Jefferson County Judge Keisha Davis, District Attorney Danny Carr, and members of BPD.
“BPD will provide security, participate in games, mentor youth, and join the panel discussion,” said Palmer. “These events allow kids to see the human side of officers and help break stereotypical barriers.”
Bean agreed.
“Too often, young people only encounter law enforcement in the context of trauma or crisis,” she said. “Programs … like The Restore Games allow for positive, humanizing interactions. When students see officers walking them to school, showing up to cheer them on in a game, or simply engaging with them as neighbors it starts to shift relationships. This familiarity builds trust, and trust is essential for community safety to be real and sustainable.”
Both Palmer and Bean emphasize the shared responsibility of keeping Birmingham’s youth safe, inspired, and connected. “We hope young people see that police officers are not only around when bad things happen,” said Palmer. “We enjoy interacting with the community during the good times, too.”
Bean added, “These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy. We’re not just reacting to violence, we’re investing in people, neighborhoods, and prevention. Whether it’s hospital-based violence intervention, street outreach, or programs for youth, everything we do is designed to interrupt cycles of harm and create new pathways. Safe Passage and The Restore Games are important tools in that toolbox they build community ownership and send a message that Birmingham is serious about safety.”
For more call 205-297-8248
www.miles.edu
This summer, Miles College is proud to serve as the hub for innovation, enrichment, and professional growth through a series of high-impact initiatives tailored for students and educators across Birmingham City Schools.
From middle school students to seasoned teachers, Miles is activating its campus with immersive programs rooted in academic excellence, community collaboration, and hands-on learning.
STEM and Literacy Summer Camps (Through June 27)
In partnership with Birmingham City Schools, Miles College is hosting a dual-track summer camp for middle school students in grades 6–8. Participants explore either STEM or Literacy pathways, engaging in inquiry-based activities designed to spark curiosity and deepen core competencies.
Facilitated by seasoned educators such as Dr. Charles C. Woods, the STEM camp provides interactive lab experiences, while the Literacy track promotes critical thinking through storytelling and writing exercises. The Literacy Camp pathway is led by Dr. Tonya Perry, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, with writing and digital literacies.
Writing for Success: A Professional Development Institute (Through June 27)
As part of the Teacher Summer Institute, this 10-day summer institute is designed for K-12 educators and focuses on strengthening writing instruction through a “teachers teaching teachers” model. Led by Dr. Tonya Perry, this year-long initiative continues through May 2026 with monthly meetings designed to build a supportive community of practice among Birmingham’s literacy leaders.
Dual Enrollment Summer Courses (June 9–July 11)
Miles College continues to build pathways for high school scholars through its face-to-face International Dual Enrollment Academy (IDEA), offering courses in Artificial Intelligence, World Civilization, World Religions, and English Composition. The summer session enables students to earn college credit early, preparing them for a successful academic transition for post-graduation. This is a partnership with Birmingham City Schools and Birmingham Sister Cities.
These initiatives are part of President Bobbie Knight’s broader commitment to ensuring Miles College remains not only a place of higher learning but a regional catalyst for talent development, mentorship, and community partnership.
“We are proud to open our campus this summer to programs that align so clearly with our mission — to educate, empower, and uplift,” said Knight of Miles College. “Each initiative reflects our belief that Miles is more than a college; it’s a launchpad for leadership, a home for transformation, and a bridge from potential to purpose.”
“These summer initiatives reflect the heartbeat of our academic vision — meeting learners where they are and equipping them with the tools to grow,” said Dr. Tonya Perry. “Whether it’s a middle schooler building a rocket or a teacher exploring new strategies for writing instruction, our goal is to foster meaningful, measurable growth for all. Miles College looks forward to welcoming other school districts this fall.”
For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at pr@miles.edu or reach out directly to program leads:
● STEM Camp: Dr. Charles C. Woods | cwoods@miles.edu
● Writing Institute: Dr. Jameka Thomas | jthomas@miles.edu
● Dual Enrollment: Dr. Gloria Hayes | ghayes@miles.edu
By Ben Thomas | bthomas@al.com
Rubin Grant, who combined a legendary Alabama sports writing career with a passion for encouraging others and spreading the Gospel, died on June 18.
The longtime high school writer for the Birmingham Post-Herald was honored in 2022 as one of the 50 legends of sports writing in the state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He was 67.
“Rubin Grant was the best,” longtime friend Solomon Crenshaw Jr. said. “As a person, he was the highest standard individual in terms of not just being known but knowing how to carry himself. There was no one he didn’t get along with. No one with whom he couldn’t identify. Professionally, top notch doesn’t seem like a high enough bar. He absolutely loved his coverage of high schools and took it so seriously whether he was working for the Post-Herald, the Over the Mountain Journal or anyone else.”
Grant was a graduate of Carver-Montgomery and the University of Alabama. In 1978-1979, he worked as the first Black sports editor of the Crimson White student newspaper. He then spent 25 years at the Post-Herald, working with writers like Bill Lumpkin, Ray Melick and Paul Finebaum. In addition to covering high school sports, Grant also covered the Birmingham Barons for a quarter of a century and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2008.
“I remember him covering Charles Barkley in basketball,” Melick said. “And, of course, he covered Michael Jordan that summer in baseball with the Barons. Rubin really had a broad depth of things that he covered, but at his core he was just a great person. He loved his family, loved his friends, encouraged people, stayed in touch with people. He meant a lot to an awful lot of people even outside of sports.”
Longtime Birmingham Barons general manager Jonathan Nelson said he was “heartbroken” over Grant’s death.
“I certainly knew Rubin and his family through all of those years and thought the world of him,” he said. “Not only was he a great personality, but he brightened up the whole room. Whether covering the Barons when we won the championship in 1993 or the (Michael) Jordan year or the years after, Rubin was always a great person who had a contagious laugh, and it was always fun to show up at the ballpark and work with him.”
Nelson said Grant would always be remembered by the Barons because of his contributions to the minor league baseball organization.
“It was an honor to call him a friend,” he said.
Grant — along with Finebaum and Lumpkin — combined to win the ASWA’s Herby Kirby Award in 1981 for their coverage of the recruitment of Huntsville basketball standout Bobby Lee Hurt. The Herby Kirby Award is given annually to the year’s best overall sports story.
“It was truly one of the highlights of my life to share that award with Rubin and Bill Lumpkin,” Finebaum said. “It was the biggest story of my career, and we are forever linked to it. We spent a lot of time together on that story and other stories, and Rubin became an incredibly close friend and someone I cherished as a friend.”
Since 2004, Grant has worked as a freelance journalist and also as sports editor for The Over the Mountain Journal. He also co-authored the book “Tales from Alabama Prep Football” with former Birmingham News high school writer Ron Ingram.
“Rubin and I worked at rival newspapers in Birmingham for many years but from day one we struck up a professional friendship that led to a treasured bond in our professional and personal lives,” Ingram said. “He was a rock for me when I needed it, and he was a true professional at his craft. He was a journalist of high standards who happened to write about sports. He saw the human side of sports and the lessons those games could teach to our young people, and he told those lessons well. That was his profession. However, it was his life of caring for others that stands out to me on this sad day for his friends and family.”
In 2021, Grant was honored by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame with the Mel Allen Media Award, which honors media members in the state who have made a lifetime contribution to sports through their work.
“Rubin was kind to everyone,” said Scott Myers, executive director of the ASHOF. “He loved Jesus and was just a wonderful person to be around. He was a mainstay in the sports writing world in Birmingham for so many years. He will surely be missed. It’s a huge loss for the sports world in Alabama, and everyone who knew him.”
Grant also was a licensed Baptist minister and frequently sent carefully written devotionals to friends and others entitled, “Do you know what time it is?” Finebaum said one of the most moving experiences of his life came when he attended the funeral of Rubin’s mom.
“Rubin gave the eulogy,” he said. “I didn’t know that part of him, the preacher side. He gave a eulogy that was electrifying. From that moment, I started thinking, ‘Rubin has a higher calling than being a sports writer.’ That was an eye-opening experience. I knew he was a man of great faith but to see it displayed in a pulpit in a church of Montgomery, Ala., was quite revealing. That is who he was. Sports writing was a hobby for him. Preaching and helping people and ministering to people was his calling. Having said all that, he was a great sports writer, too.”
Ingram said Grant was a true legend.
“He taught all of us how to be better individuals,” he said. “His faith and family are what mattered most to him.”
Services were held Thursday at Mountain Brook Community Church on Highway 280 in Birmingham. Visitation at 10 a.m. Service began at 11.
The City of Birmingham and Nurture of Alabama will host the Fourth Annual City of Birmingham Mental Health Day on Friday, June 27, in Linn Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to mental health resources across the Birmingham area.
Attendees will have access to mental health resources; free depression screenings; mental health consultations; wellness screenings; and free chair massages. They will also be able to experience line dancing, low impact exercises, music and register for door prizes. Food trucks will start serving at 11 a.m.
Crystal Mullen-Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Nurture Alabama, said that since June is also Men’s Health Awareness Month, it’s important to encourage men to prioritize health visits with the doctor. Experts will be on hand to provide free glucose and high blood pressure screenings, as well as answer male urology questions.
“This event underscores the collective effort to prioritize mental health, promote resilience and ensure that all Birmingham residents have access to the tools they need to thrive mentally and physically,” Mullen-Johnson said. “With more than 70 organizations slated to participate, this will be our biggest event yet in the last four years. We are all commitment to expanding access and creating a stronger, healthier community so the city of Birmingham can thrive.’’
Mayor Randall L. Woodfin is slated to attend the event, adding that it’s a much-needed service for the Magic City.
“Far too often, our community overlooks the importance of mental health. It’s vital that we take our collective wellness seriously – and that’s what Birmingham Mental Health Day strives to do,’’ Woodfin said. “It’s our opportunity encourage the community to invest in self-care and prove that they matter.’’
Activities on the main stage:
Activities on the lawn:
For more information, visit www.nurturebham.com
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
When travel advisor Brittany Shuford, owner of Darling Destinations LLC, books getaways for her clients, she does more than create memorable experiences for vacationers — she also represents an industry with few Black women.
“Being a Black woman in this industry comes with challenges, but it also gives me purpose,” said Shuford. “I’m proud to bring cultural insight, creativity, and a sense of belonging to the spaces I enter. It feels empowering to carve out space and create opportunities for other Black travel professionals to thrive.”
Many don’t know what goes into planning trips that people can find unforgettable, she said.
“One of the hardest parts is balancing the behind-the-scenes logistics. People see the fun side of travel, but there’s a lot of planning, problem solving, and late-night calls to vendors. When flights are delayed or resorts don’t meet expectations, clients turn to the agent. It’s a job that requires resilience, patience, and a deep understanding of the industry.”
Personal Journey
Shuford’s personal journey to a successful small business owner has come with resilience and patience. The 36-year-old native of Birmingham’s Pratt City area remembers an encounter she had while working full time as an office manager at an optometrist office in Bessemer, Alabama.
“A patient came in and explained to me how she worked from home, and she never left home to do anything. She had her own tax business, and she had her own travel agency,” said Shuford, adding that speaking to this woman inspired her to operate her own business.
Shuford began by doing taxes in 2015 and found success monetarily — but, she said, “I hated it. I love the money I made from doing taxes, but I hated doing it.”
Her efforts weren’t a complete loss, though. She used the funds from doing taxes to pivot. “I used that money to invest in the travel business through an agency that allowed you to pay to start your own [company],” she said.
Since 2022, Shuford’s company — Darling Destinations LLC, formerly Journeys with Brittany — has helped clients create customized travel itineraries that are tailored to their specific interests and needs.
“When I first started off, I wasn’t a well-versed [traveler], as far as internationally. I had been on a few cruises with my family, going to Florida, the normal stuff. I had done all of that, but I hadn’t done a fraction of the things I do now, [like traveling internationally]. Yes, you need to travel in order to sell travel, but also don’t be discouraged that you can’t start,” Shuford said.
Favorite Places
Since starting her business, Shuford’s favorite places have been Tanzania and Ghana.
“I grew up watching movies like ‘The Lion King,’” said Shuford, who has three siblings. “I can remember [traveling to Tanzania], sleeping in a tent in the Serengeti [region], and hearing people say, ‘Hakuna Matata,’ [a Swahili phrase that means ‘no troubles,’ or ‘no worries.’] That’s what everybody says there, and I was just putting two and two together. This movie that I loved, [which featured the song ‘Hakuna Matata’], I was literally in the land it was based off of.”
Shuford also recalled an experience while dining in Africa.
“I went into a village where food was being prepared, and the lady used no utensils. She simply used her hands, cooking the whole meal. I remember sitting there looking like, ‘I’m not about to eat this food this lady is cooking with her hands. I don’t know where her hands have been.’ It was the best food I ever tasted in my life. … It was a full feast,” she recalled, adding that Morocco and Australia remain on her list of places to travel.
Although she works from her home in Birmingham, the Minor High School graduate has a team of independent contractors who help in her business. Doing the job alone can often lead to overworking.
“Do not over-push yourself because at the end of the day it is only going to end up hurting you,” said Shuford.
She added that she is optimistic that she’ll see more travel agents who look like her. “We are underrepresented, but we are growing in numbers and strength,” she said. “Kudos to organizations such as the Association of Black Travel Professionals.”
Asked if she has advice for anyone wanting to craft their own business, Shuford said, “Start scared if you have to, but start. You don’t have to know it all just be willing to learn, pivot, and show up consistently.”
To learn more about Brittany Shuford’s travel services, visit here
