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The Flourish’s Block in Bloom Brings Music, Movement and Community to Ensley

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Birmingham Times
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The Block In Bloom Block Party brought together Birmingham residents for a full day of music, performances, workshops and activities. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

The Flourish transformed its Ensley block into a celebration of art, culture and community on Saturday during its inaugural Block In Bloom Block Party.

The event brought together Birmingham residents for a full day of music, performances, workshops and activities designed to highlight the creativity and possibilities within the city’s Black Arts District.

Birmingham City Councilor Sonja Smith of District 8 partnered with Flourish Alabama to bring this free, all-ages event to the Ensley community for all of the city to enjoy.

“For this event, we really wanted to create a space that highlights the talent and beauty that’s made Ensley a hub for artists over the years,” Councilor Smith said. “I’m thrilled to be able to partner with Flourish Alabama, who has done amazing work in this space and has helped local artists find opportunities to grow. Past, present, and future, Ensley is the heart of this side of town, and we are excited to be able to celebrate this historic district with Block and Bloom.”

The event featured a lineup of local artists and DJs, including DJ Stussy, DJ SE7EN, Kennie BLK, Lillian Aleece, Eb the Celeb, DMNiq, Ta Set, Jaeden Henderson, DJ Nano, Classified Alias, Nekaybaaw, Donny Saygo, DJ Girly and Dear Silas. The event culminated with a performance by Memphis hip-hop duo 8Ball & MJG.

The event featured a lineup of local artists and DJs, including DJ Stussy, DJ SE7EN, Kennie BLK, Lillian Aleece, Eb the Celeb, DMNiq, Ta Set, Jaeden Henderson, DJ Nano, Classified Alias, Nekaybaaw, Donny Saygo, DJ Girly and Dear Silas. The event culminated with a performance by Memphis hip-hop duo 8Ball & MJG.

Throughout the day, attendees could participate in workshops held every 30 minutes, offering a range of activities for people of all ages. The programming included gardening, healthy houseplant care, salsa dancing, African drumming and dance, line dancing, belly dancing and yoga.

The event also offered attendees a preview of the upcoming Yonder Wall Mural Festival, a first-of-its-kind mural festival in Alabama scheduled for Oct. 17. During Block In Bloom, Yonder Walls hosted a painting booth that invited attendees of all ages to explore their creativity and contribute to the event’s hands-on arts programming.

The day also included a special showcase from The Flourish Alabama’s Full Bloom Summer Academy, providing young participants with an opportunity to share their work and talents with the community.

Throughout the inaugural Block In Bloom Block Party, attendees could participate in workshops held every 30 minutes, offering a range of activities for people of all ages. Birmingham City Councilor Sonja Smith of District 8 co-sponsored the event. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

For Flourish Co-Founder Jahman Hill, the event was an opportunity to introduce Birmingham to the breadth of work happening at The Flourish while showcasing the artists and creatives who help shape the city’s cultural landscape.

“Today for us is super exciting because it’s our opportunity to really show a whole group, a whole city, what The Flourish does, what we’re about,” Hill said.

The event showcased more than 20 local artists through performances, DJ sets and workshops. Hill said the goal was to demonstrate the possibilities of the Black Arts District and the creative energy already present in Ensley.

“People are here for the local artists as well,” Hill said. “We showcase over 20 local artists today alone, whether it’s workshops, teaching people, whether it’s stuff for people to groove to, whether it’s music to sing along to. We’re trying to show people what this Black Arts District can be and what it is, right here in Ensley.”

Among the performers was DMNiq, also known as Dominique Posey, who said being selected to perform at Block in Bloom held special meaning.

Originally from Atlanta, DMNiq said he appreciates being embraced by Birmingham and given opportunities to contribute his voice and talents to the city.

“Being here at the Block in Bloom means a lot to me,” he said. “I’m not from Birmingham originally, from Atlanta, so being chosen by Birmingham and chosen to be a performer and a voice for people in the city… it’s really cool, really dope.”

DMNiq also spoke about his continued relationship with The Flourish and his love for Birmingham, where his family has roots.

DMNiq performs Saturday at the Block In Bloom Block Party. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

“Teaming up with The Flourish is always an amazing thing as well,” he said. “I love them. They do a lot of great work, and they always call me, and I’m just glad to be a part and lend my services. I love Birmingham. I love Ensley. My family’s from here. I’m home.”

With its combination of live music, hands-on workshops and family-friendly activities, Block in Bloom offered attendees more than a traditional block party. The event created space for residents to experience local artists, learn something new and engage with the work The Flourish continues to do in the community.

The event also served as a preview of the programming The Flourish has planned for the months ahead. Hill encouraged residents to continue following the organization for upcoming workshops, events and community programming, including its recurring High Tea gathering and future courtyard workshops.

For more information about upcoming events and programs, follow The Flourish Alabama on social media @theflourishalabama.

UAB Doctor Advocates for Pediatric Migraine Awareness Following Proclamation by the City of Birmingham

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Birmingham Times
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Awareness efforts are especially meaningful because many people do not realize children can experience migraine attacks. (UAB News)

By Angel Pine | UAB News

June is recognized as Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, and this year, the city of Birmingham helped shine a light on a condition that affects millions but is often misunderstood.

Through the advocacy efforts of Scott Turner, DNP, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and several patient advocacy organizations, the City of Birmingham issued a proclamation recognizing Migraine and Headache Awareness Month.

turner scott
Scott Turner, DNP

The recognition is an important step toward increasing public understanding of migraine as a serious neurological disease rather than simply a headache, said Turner.

“Migraine is a very common and disabling condition,” Turner explained. “It is important that people realize it often begins in childhood.”

Turner serves as treasurer for the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, a national organization focused on raising awareness, combating stigma and improving advocacy for people living with headache disorders. As part of a nationwide awareness initiative, advocacy groups encouraged members to promote migraine awareness in their local communities through outreach and education.

While advocacy partners worked to secure statewide recognition through Gov. Kay Ivey’s office, Turner coordinated with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office to secure the city proclamation.

For Turner, awareness efforts are especially meaningful because many people do not realize children can experience migraine attacks.

“People often think of migraine as something that affects middle-aged adults, but migraine is actually a lifelong disease of the nervous system,” Turner noted.

Migraine can significantly affect a child’s ability to function at school, participate in sports and maintain daily routines. Symptoms often extend beyond head pain and may include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, vision changes and cognitive difficulties.

One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Turner, is that recurring headaches in children are normal.

“It is common, but it is not normal to have recurring headaches that interfere with daily life,” Turner emphasized. “If headaches are causing a child to miss school, struggle with activities or experience symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity or vision changes, that is something that needs attention.”

Turner’s research has focused on understanding migraine-related disability in children and adolescents. In a  in JAMA Pediatrics, Turner and colleagues found an association between headache disorders and reduced school functioning, highlighting the impact migraine can have on attendance and academic performance.

Because migraine often runs in families, many children grow up assuming frequent headaches are normal and may not receive a diagnosis until symptoms significantly worsen.

Early recognition is critical, said Turner.

“One of the biggest opportunities we have is identifying migraine earlier,” Turner explained. “If we can recognize and treat it in childhood, we may be able to reduce much of the long-term disability associated with it.”

He believes school nurses and other frontline providers may play an important role in identifying migraine symptoms earlier, allowing children to receive evaluation and treatment before the condition becomes more disabling.

Migraine is highly treatable and early diagnosis can help reduce long-term disability. Treatments may include lifestyle interventions, preventive medications and therapies designed to stop migraine attacks when symptoms begin.

Beyond clinical care and research, Turner advocates for broader systemic change. His advocacy efforts focus on raising awareness, combating stigma and correcting misconceptions about migraine disease while pushing for increased federal recognition of migraine as a major public health issue.

Turner is also involved in efforts encouraging the federal government to address migraine through national strategy development, improved interagency coordination, expanded data sharing and increased research investment, including legislation such as the HEADACHE Act.

Despite migraine affecting millions of people, research funding remains disproportionately low compared with other highly disabling conditions, Turner added.

“Migraine is treatable, and help is available,” said Turner. “Early intervention can make a meaningful difference in a child’s long-term quality of life.”

‘His Words Reflected How I Felt About Him and How I Knew He Felt About Me’

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Birmingham Times
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By Mia Watkins | For the Birmingham Times

Michelle & Reggie Torbor

Live: Forest Park

Married: April 30, 2005

Met: Usually, student group meetings on college campuses result in free food, but for Michelle and Reggie Torbor, it’s resulted in two decades of marriage.

The two met at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meeting on the campus of Auburn University through a friend of Michelle’s. Reggie was on the football team while Michelle was concentrating on her studies.

“I had never seen him,” she said. “I didn’t know him. I’m like, ‘How did I not see him in all these years?’ We met on a Tuesday night, and I would go with her. Our focus was getting a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich, get our dinner and listen to whoever is going to speak and get up out of there.”

Her friend, a social butterfly, would introduce Michelle, an introvert, to people in attendance that she knew. Michelle meeting Reggie was brief.

“It was a quick hi and bye,” she described the interaction. “Then, we walked off and did FCA. At the end of FCA, I saw him leaving. There’s a column in the building, so I was peeking around the column when I said, ‘Hey, it was nice to meet you.’ In his mind, his story is that I was stalking him from around the column, trying to get his attention. I was just saying nice to meet you.”

The members of the organization would trade off cooking for the group. The same friend she attended the initial meeting with would cook for the group, but Michelle would usually skip dinners with them. Finally, her friend convinced her to go to Reggie’s.

“He made jambalaya, and, funny enough, he asked me to make the cornbread,” she said.” It was like Jiffy cornbread, and I put too much milk in it. He can cook, like cook cook, and I do not cook. So, I messed up the cornbread. So now when he says, ‘You can’t cook,’ I say, ‘You know that.’ But, that was the night that I could tell that he kind of liked me. Some of his friends had told me that he liked me. Beyond that, we just became friends. We would be in the same Bible studies. In my mind, that was all it was. I knew he liked me, but that was all it was for me.” Michelle said the friendship continued through hanging out with the FCA group and talking on the phone.

“We were talking about deep stuff,” she said. “There was another time that my roommate cooked, and I actually stayed. He came, and we stayed up all night talking about our families and how we grew up and some of the hardships. Our lives were pretty similar in how we were raised.”

The two parted ways for a break, but Michelle said she couldn’t stop thinking about Reggie.

“I was like, ‘Oh shoot, I like him,’” she said. “I was so mad about it because it really was like a switch went off. I had it in my mind that I was trying to graduate and get out of there. I didn’t want to be in a relationship, and then all of a sudden, I went home and couldn’t stop thinking about him.”

First date: Michelle and Reggie, after recognizing their feelings for each other, decided to go on what they call their first unofficial date. Reggie cooked and they watched the movie “Antwone Fisher.”

“I cried [at the movie],” she said. “It was such a good movie. At the end of the movie, we were just talking and kissed. We hadn’t talked about liking each other. It was like my little “Love Jones” moment. From there, he asked me if I wanted to spend the night and I was like, “No.” He said, “You can sleep in my bed, and I won’t bother you.’ I was like, ‘Absolutely not. This is a setup. You know it and I know it, and I’m going home. So, I left and we talked the next day. Then, we set up what we call our first date, which was to Red Lobster.”

The turn: Michelle said she knew Reggie was the one for her fairly quickly.

“In my mind, I did not want to be married and have kids because I had never seen it done well,” she said. “Before him, there was never a moment where I thought I was going to marry somebody, that it seemed like a real possibility. Probably about a month into us talking after that first date, I think he told me that he loved me, and I didn’t say anything back. But I knew that I thought that I did, but I was just scared of this idea of falling for somebody. I don’t think it was very long before I had thought through it and said it back. We were calling each other wifey and husband by that summer. There was a bond, and we really attribute that to the friendship that we had before.”

Michelle and Reggie Torbor met at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting while students at Auburn University. The couple married in April 2005. (Provided)

The proposal: After Reggie was drafted by the New York Giants, Michelle went up to visit with his mother and sister. He knew he would be proposing while she was there, so he contacted his former FCA mentor and friend to buy a ring for Michelle.

“I told him that I wanted to propose to Michelle, and he had been instrumental in our lives,” Reggie remembered. “I didn’t have a lot of spare time, so I was like, ‘Hey, will you please go to pick out a ring for me?’ He said, ‘What kind of ring?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, I’ve never done this before. Go find the nicest ring you can find.’ He was in Auburn and he walked in and said he needed the nicest ring they had. He ends up mailing me this ring.”

He proposed that evening with the help of a rose.

“I’d bought a yellow rose; roses are her favorite, and yellow is her favorite color,” he said. “I said some sweet nothings; I don’t remember what I said. I was a playa back then. I was smooth. I put the bulb of the rose in her hand, and I held on to the stem. I told her how much I loved her and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and I had the ring tucked in the palm of my hand. As I was saying that, I released the ring and it slid up the stem to the bulb.”

“It was such a sweet moment,” Michelle added. “His words reflected how I felt about him and how I knew he felt about me. It was like the start of a new part of our journey.”

The wedding: The two got married in front of 300 guests at the Wynfrey Hotel attached to the Riverchase Galleria. The ceremony was officiated by the same friend who bought the ring, Chet Williams. Williams, who died a few years ago, also provided the couple with premarital counseling.  The colors were champagne and cream.

“It was very elegant,” Michelle said. “I had looked at every wedding and book, and anything I asked he said yes. It was the wedding of my dreams.”

Reggie said he remembers her walking down the aisle.

“I remember being so nervous, scared with butterflies,” he said. “Then, as she walked up, when I saw her, she was so beautiful. There was peace that started growing, overtaking the nervousness. I just remember being so proud and so happy. I felt like this was what I was supposed to be doing. By the time she got to me, I remember having this calmness.”

Michelle remembers something that Reggie did at the reception.

“I was exhausted and my face hurt from smiling so much,” she said. “At the end, I think I was getting a little dizzy. He looked at me and said, ‘I’m going to get you out of here.’ He took my hand and basically led me out. I waved and smiled at people, but it was such a moment of protection, like he’s got me.”

The honeymoon: “I went to practice,” Reggie said. “We got married April 30. I think we had maybe two weeks before I had to be back in New Jersey for practice. It’s one of the reasons why we planned the wedding so quickly. We knew if we didn’t do it that month, it would have been another year at least before we could get married.”

Words of wisdom: Reggie said he doesn’t necessarily believe in soulmates, and that love is something you work at daily.

“My view is that you find someone, you get as close as you can, and you choose each other every single day,” he said. “You have to fight for each other every single day. Some days are better than others, some days that fight is in the background and you learn and evolve together. That need to choose each other gets easier. It’s much easier 21 years later than it was at five.”

Michelle said their friendship laid the foundation for a successful relationship.

“What has helped us is our friendship, our truly caring about the other person,” she said. “I think that in many ways, the ways we have hurt each other are a product of the ways that we have been hurt. When I look at this person as somebody I truly care about and my friend, then I can lean into patience. My love can be more long-suffering. I can withstand the hard times.”

Happily ever after: Reggie went on to play in the NFL for eight years and is now the owner of Pylon Building Group. Michelle is a licensed counselor and owner of Cardinal Wellness and the brain-mapping clinic, Novo Integrative. The Torbors share two sons, who are both in college.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

Tarrant Mayor Tracie Threadford is Striving to Be the Change She Wants to See

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Birmingham Times
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A former councilwoman and mayor-pro-tem, Tracie Threadford defeated former Tarrant mayor Wayman Newton in a September runoff last year. (Facebook)

By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times

Tracie Threadford didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in politics. Even now as the mayor of the City of Tarrant, a town of about 6,000 just north of Birmingham, Threadford still doesn’t consider herself a politician.

“I never saw myself here. This is definitely from the divine,” she told the Birmingham Times.  “I’m just a person in the community that stepped up to try to make the community better.”

Tarrant Mayor Tracie Threadford. (Provided)

A former councilwoman and mayor-pro-tem, Threadford defeated former Tarrant mayor Wayman Newton in a September runoff last year. She took office on Nov. 3, ready to address the city’s dwindling finances and need for physical improvements. She’s also eager to change the reputation of City Hall.

The division between the council and former mayor has made headlines and even turned violent. (Longtime councilman Tommy Bryant punched the former mayor after Newton made profane and degrading comments about Bryant’s wife. A Jefferson County judge later acquitted Bryant on assault charges, ruling the response justified.)

Bryant now serves as mayor pro-tem, the senior member of the council, and Threadford is making efforts to unite the council and mayor’s office for the sake of the city.

“I’m keeping my door open to those that want to walk through it,” she said, explaining that she sets aside time each month for any council member to meet with her individually to discuss city matters.

“I’m just going in with the mindset that this is about the community. This is not about me,” Threadford added. “It’s not about my ego. It’s not about what I want. It’s about what’s best for the community. I always frame things in policy, not personality.” 

Moving Tarrant Forward

Threadford’s to-do list for revitalizing Tarrant is a long one, but she’s up for the challenge.

“We have begun demolition of dilapidated properties downtown,” she said. “We’ve restored the zoning board of adjustments.”

The city is also restoring its planning commission so Tarrant can develop a capital improvement plan. Threadford is hoping to help bring a major business to Tarrant too.

A Birmingham native, Threadford grew up in the East Thomas neighborhood and attended Ensley High School. But her ties to Tarrant are strong.

“My children went to school in Tarrant and my husband worked for the city,” she said.

After living elsewhere for some time, Threadford came back to Tarrant around 2018 and wasn’t happy with what she found.

“When I moved back, it was in a condition of dilapidation, and I wanted to make things better, so I ran for city council,” said Threadford, who served on the council for five years. “Things just weren’t progressing like I wanted to see them progress. So, I decided that I would run for mayor and put my best foot forward, make the connections that Tarrant needs to move forward.”

A Full-Time Job

Though serving as mayor of Tarrant isn’t considered a full-time job, Threadford, who works in banking as a compliance analyst in the mortgage department, said it has proven to be one.

“After I get off at the bank, I put in just as many hours with the city as I do with the bank,” she said. “It’s never-ending. And I don’t mean that in a bad way, but on Friday afternoon at two o’clock I know I’m done with the bank. But at any moment on any day of the week, whether it’s morning, afternoon, or night, I can be called up for anything pertaining to the city.”

Threadford credits her assistant Tracy Wright with helping her juggle it all.

“She’s immersed herself in the way that I think and the way that I will handle things, so she’s able to step in when I can’t,” Threadford said of Wright, who she said is “magnificent” at her job.

Threadford’s life outside of work and city hall is full. She and her husband William are a blended family with eight children and 23 grandchildren. She is also pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership.

Balancing school and her banking career with her role as mayor and her role as wife, mother, and grandmother requires getting enough sleep and prioritizing self-care, Threadford said.

“One weekend a month I do absolutely nothing. “Unless something arises, I don’t handle city business. I don’t work on homework.”

Threadford also loves to golf.

“I play golf on Sunday evenings at Oxmoor Valley,” she said.

Be the Change

On August, 1 Threadford will be a featured speaker at TEDxAlabaster. Though she couldn’t reveal much about her talk, she did share that, “it’s about being unstoppable, letting no one break you, no matter what they say or do. You make or break yourself.”

Threadford is the second female mayor in Tarrant’s history. When asked what advice she’d give to other women in leadership, she said, “Be open to pivoting and changing but embrace your humanity. Even though you’re a leader, never lose sight of who you are.”

Though her desire to improve her community led her to city hall, Threadford stressed that there are many other ways to make a difference.

“If you want to do something in the community, it may not be anything huge to you, but just start somewhere,” she said. “No matter if it’s picking up a piece of paper, serving on a board or attending a city council meeting and going back to tell two or three neighbors what’s going on in the community. Just get started. Be the change you want to see in your community.”

Pynk Beard Talks About His Birmingham Roots as He Prepares to Take ‘America’s Got Talent’ Stage for National Television Debut

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Birmingham Times
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Sebastian Kole, aka “Pynk Beard,” performs last year at Pearl River Club Lounge at Regions Field in Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

For nearly 20 years, Sebastian “Pynk Beard” Kole avoided auditioning for television shows.

After an unsuccessful audition years ago, the Birmingham-raised singer-songwriter decided he would not put himself through that experience again. But when an opportunity to audition for NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” came around, he decided it was time to give himself another chance.

“When this opportunity came around, I was like, you know what, man, just do it,” he said. “I talked to 8-year-old me and convinced him that it was OK to try again.”

That decision will be seen Tuesday night when Pynk Beard makes his national television debut on “America’s Got Talent.”

He said the experience was different from his first audition for a television show. Rather than being asked to perform someone else’s music, “America’s Got Talent” allowed him to showcase his own work and his full range as a performer.

“I feel like instead of me just trying to go and showcase a voice, I’m able to go and showcase a performance,” he said. “You know, give it a little flair.”

For him, that performance is rooted in the music that shaped him. His sound draws from R&B, gospel, country and other genres he grew up hearing. Rather than viewing those influences as separate, Pynk Beard sees them as part of the same musical story.

“I try to put that back into one big pot and just hand it back out,” he said.

That blend of influences is also a reflection of where he comes from.

A Birmingham native, Pynk Beard credits the city with helping shape him as both a musician and performer. From churches to local bars, he said Birmingham gave him the spaces to develop his sound and learn the art of performing.

“My very first stage, my very first concerts, my very first album … I either picked up at some bar in Birmingham or some church in Birmingham,” he said.

Now, as he takes that experience to a national audience, Pynk Beard said he hopes Birmingham can see its influence in his journey.

“To be able to say, ‘Hey guys, y’all did this. Y’all helped me do this and I want y’all to be proud of it,’ means a lot to me,” he said.

Pynk Beard will host a watch party Tuesday at Bar Sebastian. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with an acoustic set from Pynk Beard, followed by the airing of “America’s Got Talent” at 7 p.m. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.

While Pynk Beard is hopeful viewers will see more of him on the show, he is leaving the outcome to the audience.

“I feel like I did a good job and we’re going to see where that goes,” he said.

“America’s Got Talent” airs at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.

Birmingham Songwriter and Country Artist, Pynk Beard, to Perform on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’

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Birmingham Times
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Sebastian Kole, ventured into the country music genre under his persona “Pynk Beard.” (Marika N. Johnson, File, For The Birmingham Times)

The Birmingham Times

Birmingham’s own Sebastian “Pynk Beard” Kole will make his national television debut on Tuesday, July 21, on the popular NBC show America’s Got Talent.

After spending years behind the scenes writing hits for other artists, Kole ventured into country music — a long-time passion of his — under the persona “Pynk Beard.”

The Grammy-winning songwriter’s catalog includes major successes such as Alessia Cara’s “Scars To Your Beautiful,” and in 2025, he earned his third Grammy for his contributions as a songwriter on the Alicia Keys project “Hell’s Kitchen” for Best Musical Theater Album. Most recently, Kole landed a 2026 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song “The Devil You Know” from Spider-Noir.

But, as Pynk Beard, the man behind the hits can finally take center stage. He has shared that he long believed he had missed his moment as a performer, feeling he was “too old” to audition for a show like AGT.  Now, he’s ready to show that his years of experience make sound as fresh as it is authentic.

Pynk Beard will appear on America’s Got Talent on Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. CT on NBC. Join Pynk Beard for a watch party at Bar Sebastian. The party starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Hundreds of Youth, Their Families Attend Annual Restore Games in Birmingham

By
Birmingham Times
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Babe Ruff joined the Restore Games, a free youth event hosted by the Jefferson County Family Resource Center Restore Program in partnership with the City of Birmingham. (Birmingham Barons)

Compiled From Wire Reports

Restore Games 2026 was more than an event — it was a movement.

Hundreds of young people and families came together at Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium for a day filled with sports, entertainment, career exploration, community resources, mentorship, and meaningful connections. From exciting competitions and live demonstrations to valuable conversations with community partners, Restore Games created a space where fun met purpose.

The event, hosted by the Jefferson County Family Resource Center in partnership with the city of Birmingham and Birmingham police, featured sports, team-building activities, and life skills workshops.

This year’s event brought together nonprofits, businesses, city leaders, law enforcement, educators, healthcare providers, and volunteers who all shared one goal: investing in the future of our youth. Every activity, resource, and interaction was designed to inspire confidence, build relationships, and connect families with opportunities that extend far beyond a single day.

While Restore Games 2026 has come to a close, the mission continues. Together, we are building safer communities, creating brighter futures, and restoring hope — one connection at a time.

Organizers said the Restore Games continue to grow each year and expressed hope that the connections made during the event will help keep young people engaged long after the day’s activities conclude.

You Had Me At Hello: The Love Story of Lillian and Dick Gregory

By
Birmingham Times
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The late Dick Gregory’s wife, Lillian, was a cornerstone of his career and activism and an ardent activist in her own right. (Public Domain)

The Birmingham Times 

Comedian and activist Dick Gregory was known by many not just for his comedy career spanning four decades but also for his work in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Dick Gregory marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Angela Davis, Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks and many others. He was the featured speaker at rallies and protests worldwide, using humor to expose injustice.

Many are unaware, however, that Gregory’s wife, Lillian, was a cornerstone of his career and activism and an ardent activist in her own right. When he marched, she often did too. When he was arrested, she was often sent to jail too. And sometimes, when money was short, and Dick had to turn down a protest to accept a paying gig, he would ask her to go instead, and she did — sometimes with their children by her side.

Born Richard Claxton Gregory on October 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, Dick Gregory would prove to be an exceptional athlete. Showing off his running skills at Summer High School earned him a track scholarship at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he set records as a half-mile and mile runner.

Gregory’s college education was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army. But it was in the army that he first performed as a stand-up comedian, entering and winning several U.S. Army talent shows. After his military service ended, Gregory worked at the United States Post Office by day, and by night, performed as a comedian in several small Black nightclubs.

Lillian Estelle Smith was born in Willard, Ohio, the youngest of 14 children — seven girls and seven boys. After high school, she worked for two years to save money to go to her choice school, Ohio State University. But she quit after the first day and left for Chicago, where she found a job she loved at the University of Chicago.

One night, while at the nightclub The Excalibur with her sister, Lillian met a “cute” comedian named Dick Gregory, who would become her husband and the father of her 11 children. Dick and Lillian married in 1959, and Lillian’s nickname for Dick became “my damn fine cat.”

In the 1960s, Dick Gregory began to receive national acclaim as a comedian and also became increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Together, Dick and Lillian Gregory organized voter registration drives, marched for freedom, and faced jail. Lillian even spent nearly two weeks in jail while pregnant with twins in 1963.

When she wasn’t out protesting, she was busy taking care of their home and their 10 children. (They lost one child, Richard, three months after he was born.) Also, Lillian managed many inquiries for her husband, which led him to famously tell people to “Call Lil.”

Dick and Lillian Gregory. (Paula Cenac, StoryCorps)

Dick’s vision went beyond civil rights in the U.S. He fought against apartheid in South Africa and against war, sexism, animal cruelty, and public health neglect worldwide.

Meanwhile, Lillian Gregory’s resolve made their legacy a beacon of hope and kept their family nurtured and cared for, as the Plymouth Independent stated in a 2025 article.

Throughout the 1980s, Gregory was also known for his strong voice in the health food industry. Seen as a nutrition guru, Gregory advocated plant-based diets of raw fruits and vegetables.

In 2004, Gregory was listed as number eighty-one on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time. He also has his own star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Dick Gregory died in August 2017. Lillian developed Alzheimer’s disease shortly after Dick’s death but in 2018, Lillian was honored at the Montgomery College Cultural Center in Maryland.

“I look back on my life and think, this little Black girl from this little town of Willard, Ohio, coming to Chicago by happenstance and things just happened,” Gregory said in an interview with The Washington Informer at the time of the tribute. “I can’t tell you why. I can only say it was God’s plan and I had a wonderful life.”

Published in the program for the event were these words from Dick about Lillian: “And to the folks out there whose whole lives were filled with hatred and bigotry, y’all needed a Lillian. The world would be better off if they had a Lillian. You don’t need but 1.”

At the 2018 event, inspirational author, coach and television personality Iyanla Vanzant served as the keynote speaker and marveled at the decades-long Gregory marriage.

“What kind of woman stays married to one man for 58 years?” she asked. “What kind of woman stays in the background and does the work, is the backbone and doesn’t need the glory? What kind of woman? The kind of woman I aspire to be.”

Families Reminded to Stock Up on School Supplies During Alabama’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

By
Birmingham Times
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This year’s holiday includes expanded exemption limits, allowing consumers to save more than before. (Adobe Stock)

MONTGOMERY – Alabamians are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming school year during the state’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, when certain school supplies and related items are free of state sales tax through Sunday, July 19.

Gov. Kay Ivey

“Quality education is essential to continuing the historic momentum that Alabama is experiencing,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “Successful students need to be properly equipped for the classroom, and this tax-free weekend makes school supplies more accessible to families across our state. An investment in our students is an investment in the future of Alabama.”

This year’s holiday includes expanded exemption limits, allowing consumers to save more than before. During the 2025 legislative session, legislation was passed and signed by Governor Ivey to modernize Alabama’s sales tax holidays by increasing the dollar thresholds and indexing them to the Consumer Price Index.

Pencils, paper, binders, calculators and rulers are just a few of the school supplies that will be free from state sales tax during the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. Other items include school uniforms, books and computers. The Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) has provided a full list of back-to-school items that qualify for the sales tax holiday.

“We’re excited for this tax-free opportunity allowing Alabama families to save their hard-earned money while helping students get what they need for school,” said Commissioner of Revenue Mary Martin Mitchell. “ALDOR encourages everyone in Alabama to make the most of this tax-free holiday, and we look forward to the great things students will accomplish this school year.”

Counties and municipalities may participate in the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday by removing local sales and use- taxes from eligible items during the same weekend.

With School Just Weeks Away, Nearly 10,000 Birmingham Students Remain Unregistered

By
Birmingham Times
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As a parent, you are responsible for ensuring your scholar is registered for school. (Birmingham City Schools)

By Michaela Yielding | myielding@al.com

With the first day of class only three weeks away, Birmingham City Schools is urging families to complete student registration now to avoid long lines on the first day.

Nearly 10,000 students have not completed the registration process for the upcoming school year. The online registration portal opened in April, but only 45% of Birmingham City Schools students have registered.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan

“Every family that has not completed registration should make it a priority,” Superintendent Mark Sullivan said in a statement. “This helps our scholars enjoy a smooth transition into the next grade.”

The first day of school for the 2026-27 school year is Monday, August 10.

Increasing enrollment has been a goal for the district in recent years. Birmingham City Schools saw a slight enrollment increase of about 0.5% in 2024, marking the first increase in nearly 30 years.

In 2025, the City of Birmingham received a $43,000 grant from Penny Foundation Inc. to provide $500 cash bonuses at random to families whose children were registered and present on the first day of class for the 2025-26 school year.

According to the district’s website, 18,385 students were enrolled in Birmingham City Schools during the 2025-26 school year.

The district said completing registration is important because it helps ensure schools have instructional materials, supplies, classrooms and other resources ready for the first day of school.

“Families should not wait,” Sullivan said.

“Timely registration helps schools finalize staffing, classroom assignments, student schedules, transportation, and other essential services before students return.”

Birmingham City Schools said its outreach efforts are becoming more targeted, with parents and guardians of students who have not yet registered being contacted. The district is also monitoring completion rates and scheduling registration appointments.

“Whether you register online, visit your zoned school, or call the technical support line for assistance, you are doing your part to ensure your student will be positioned for success from the first day of the new school year,” Sullivan said.

Registration can be completed on the district’s website.

Families needing in-person assistance may visit their zoned school for help. School personnel can also help families complete the online registration process.

Bilingual families needing assistance can contact one of the Spanish support line numbers to schedule an appointment.

Families needing assistance can call one of the following numbers:

English: 205-231-2690, 205-231-2691, or 205-231-2692

Spanish: 205-231-9700 or 205-231-9710

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