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Birmingham City Schools Tapped to Spearhead Groundbreaking Research on Student Engagement and Learning

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Birmingham Times
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Birmingham City Schools is spearheading a research initiative to explore the link between student motivation and math performance. (File)

bhamcityschools.org

Birmingham City Schools (BCS) is spearheading an innovative research initiative to explore the critical link between student motivation and math performance. In partnership with sub-awardees WestEd and MIND Education, creators of ST Math, BCS is driving the development of real-time, data-driven insights to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. This three-year initiative is supported by a grant from the Gates Foundation.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan

“At Birmingham City Schools, we recognize that learning doesn’t just happen when students are given access to strong curriculum—it also requires students to be engaged and motivated,” said Dr. Mark Sullivan, Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our district’s strategic focus on academic achievement and evidence-based strategies.”

Through this remarkable three-way partnership, BCS is taking a proactive leadership role in co-designing and co-researching new ways to measure and enhance student motivation.

By adopting ST Math’s visual, game-based learning approach, the district has the vehicle to apply cutting-edge research methodologies to understand and improve student persistence in learning. This initiative is part of the Gates Foundation’s R&D Infrastructure (RDI) strategy, which seeks to make K-12 research benefit all three co-researcher roles alike, building research capacity at districts while pursuing program improvements by developers and publishing rigorous findings to benefit the education field overall.

“By working alongside WestEd and MIND Education, we are ensuring that our students not only have access to best-in-market digital tools but that we deeply learn how to enhance the motivation that drives their success,” Dr. Sullivan said. “This project also contributes to the broader goal of improving use of any high-quality math instructional material for all students.

A Research-Forward Approach to Student Success

BCS has long been committed to evidence-based strategies, a core pillar of its strategic plan, and to fostering academic achievement through innovative approaches. By pursuing and winning this research grant, the district is not only ensuring that students receive ST Math’s engaging visual math instruction but is also leading the charge in shaping the future of how student motivation is measured and supported in K-12 education.

ST Math: A Unique Platform for Measuring Motivation

Unlike traditional math programs, ST Math, developed by MIND Education provides a game-based, mastery-driven learning environment where students must struggle to solve visual puzzles rather than only memorizing procedures. The digital platform generates rich student engagement data—offering unprecedented insight into how student persistence, effort, and challenge-seeking behaviors correlate with math performance.

“ST Math has always excelled at motivating students to persist through challenging puzzles, and this project takes that a step further by transforming motivation into a dynamic, measurable KPI [key performance indicator],” said Andrew Coulson, Chief Data Scientist at MIND Research Institute, the research arm of MIND Education. “For the first time, researchers will use ST Math’s gameplay data to create a real-time quantitative metric for motivation, identifying where and when students disengage. This ‘right-now’ student metric will empower educators to proactively support students before motivation wanes, ensuring productive learning time.”

A Model for Future Educational Research

This project goes beyond traditional district-vendor relationships. BCS, WestEd, and MIND Education are co-designing the research, ensuring that the insights generated are directly relevant and actionable for teachers and school leaders.

“Involving the partnering district in every step of the research, from developing questions to how the findings get reported, is critical if the research is to useful and meaningful to the district, and its school leaders and teachers,” said John Rice, Senior Research Director of Research Practice Partnerships at WestEd.

Addressing the Urgent Need for Effective Digital Learning

With millions nationwide using digital learning programs, ensuring that these tools are used effectively by all students is more critical than ever. Even well-proven benefits are often lost when students simply fail to engage at the necessary levels.

By leading this research, Birmingham City Schools is tackling a core challenge in digital education—ensuring that students not only have access to the best tools but are actively motivated to use them in ways that drive success. The project’s findings will inform future instructional strategies, instructional designs, and help scale the productive use of evidence- based digital learning that can benefit students in Birmingham and beyond.

“This model for conducting research considers everyone at the table (the district staff, the product developers, the research team), as bringing their own areas of expertise to the conversation while we all work towards the same goal – to improve student math achievement in BCS,” Rice said. “And, what we learn from throughout the three-year project will be disseminated to educators outside of BCS as well.”

The findings from this study will provide new models for measuring motivation, inform edtech implementation training for teachers, and shape future design improvements in digital learning programs nationwide.

Sun Ra Arkestra Returns to Birmingham for Artist’s 111th Birthday Celebration

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Birmingham Times
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Jazz guitarist Carl LeBlanc performs as the Sun Ra Arkestra returned to Birmingham, Alabama for a special performance at the Carver Theatre, celebrating what would have been Sun Ra's 111th birthday. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Written and Photographed by Marika N. Johnson

The Sun Ra Arkestra returned to Birmingham last week for a special performance at the Carver Theatre, celebrating what would have been Sun Ra’s 111th birthday. The event was part of the Sun Ra Day Festival, honoring the legacy of the avant-garde jazz pioneer born Herman Poole Blount in Birmingham on May 22, 1914.

The Sun Ra Arkestra, typically led by 100-year-old saxophonist Marshall Allen—who was absent from the Birmingham performance as he celebrated his 101st birthday —was instead led by fellow longtime Arkestra member and saxophonist Knoel Scott, a veteran of Sun Ra’s cosmic collective.

Scott guided the ensemble through a dynamic and visually striking performance that captured the spirit of Sun Ra’s Afrofuturist vision. The evening featured swirling cosmic jazz arrangements, vibrant costumes, and theatrical stage presence, staying true to the band’s mission of using music as a transformative, otherworldly experience.

Before the concert, fans were treated to a special meet-and-greet at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the musicians and learn more about the legacy of Sun Ra and his legendary Arkestra.

Sun Ra (1914-1993) was recognized as a prolific and influential composer, bandleader, keyboard player and intergalactic philosopher, best known for his experimental and avant-garde works.

The Sun Ra Day Festival, held from May 21 to 24, featured a variety of events across the city—including educational panels, art exhibits, performances, after-parties at The Nick, Saturn, and House of Found Objects, and a record signing at Seasick Records—all celebrating Sun Ra’s enduring influence on music and culture. The festival showcased Birmingham’s pride in its native son, whose innovative fusion of jazz, space imagery, and Afrocentric philosophy continues to inspire artists around the world.

The events were produced by creative Lee Shook in conjunction with Earth Libraries, Energy Alabama, and Create Birmingham. “In these tumultuous times, when funding for creative endeavors are being defunded I really wanted this celebration of Sun Ra, the Arkestra, and Birmingham’s jazz legacy to focus on community,” Shook said. “I also wanted any funds generated to go back into the arts and non-profits—especially the Jazz Hall of Fame, Sidewalk Cinema, and East Village Arts, where the events took place.”

Funds raised will also support programming such as the Jazz Hall of Fame’s Saturday Jazz Greats, which provides free jazz instruction taught by jazz professionals to aspiring musicians.

Sun Ra’s legacy, rooted in Birmingham’s rich musical heritage, was commemorated through these events, reaffirming his status as a visionary artist who expanded the boundaries of jazz and imagination. This celebration ultimately led to May 22 being named the official Sun Ra Day in the city of Birmingham, a designation also recognized by the state of Alabama.

Knoel Scott, a veteran of Sun Ra’s cosmic collective, guided the ensemble through a dynamic striking performance that captured the spirit of Sun Ra’s Afrofuturist vision. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Birmingham’s JCCDC Hosts 1st Annual Sneaker Ball for Early Childhood Development

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Birmingham Times
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From left: Dr. Ann Thiele, JCCDC Board Chair; Sybil Scarbrough, from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin's office; and Dr. Earlene Reynolds, JCCDC Executive Director. (Provided)

The Birmingham Times

The Jefferson County Child Development Council (JCCDC) held its first annual Sneaker’s Ball on Saturday at Woodrow Hall, 5504 1st Avenue, North, Birmingham with a focus on celebrating the inclusion of children with disabilities.

La’Mere McIntyre speaks at the event. (Provided)

The Early Head Start Family Child Care, established in 1965, currently serves 36 eligible children and their families and has served as a pioneering institution aimed at helping low-income children achieve tremendous strides while promoting their overall early childhood development.

“JCCDC wanted to celebrate the children who have impacted our program the most, with the understanding that our students, for whom we provide high-quality services, are amazing,” said Earlene Reynolds, Executive Director of Jefferson County Child Development Council, Inc. “This year’s sneaker ball was about exceptional children with different abilities who constantly remind us that we’re all the same when we look at the heart. We celebrated each of their uniqueness and had an excellent time together.”

JCCDC focuses on six areas of learning, which include cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development, Reynolds said.

“Our agency provides comprehensive early childhood development services annually to about 32 families. We are committed to serving the entire family, empowering them to become self-sufficient and the primary advocates for their child’s learning and development,” she said.

“JCCDC continues to build partnerships and bridge gaps daily for the families of Jefferson County, whom we feel proud and humbled to serve. We help families achieve the very best outcomes possible,” Reynolds said.

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, 94, of New York, Has Died

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Birmingham Times
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Congressman Charlie Rangel leaves a rally for airport workers at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens Borough of New York in 2014 (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, FILE)

By  DEEPTI HAJELA and CEDAR ATTANASIO

NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, an outspoken, gravel-voiced Harlem Democrat who spent nearly five decades on Capitol Hill and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, died Monday at age 94.

His family confirmed the death in a statement provided by City College of New York spokesperson Michelle Stent. He died at a hospital in New York, Stent said.

A veteran of the Korean War, he defeated legendary Harlem politician Adam Clayton Powell in 1970 to start his congressional career. During the next 40-plus years, he became a legend himself as dean of the New York congressional delegation and, in 2007, the first African American to chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

He stepped down from that committee amid an ethics cloud, and the House censured him in 2010. But he continued to serve in Congress until his retirement in 2017.

Rangel was the last surviving member of the Gang of Four — African American political figures who wielded great power in New York City and state politics. The others were David Dinkins, New York City’s first Black mayor; Percy Sutton, who was Manhattan Borough president; and Basil Paterson, a deputy mayor and New York secretary of state.

“Charlie was a true activist — we’ve marched together, been arrested together and painted crack houses together,” the Rev. Al Sharpton, leader of the National Action Network, said in a statement, noting that he met Rangel as a teenager.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement calling Rangel “a patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent and champion for justice who made his beloved Harlem, the City of New York and the United States of America a better place for all.”

Voice Was Memorable

Few could forget Rangel after hearing him talk. His distinctive gravel-toned voice and wry sense of humor were a memorable mix.

That voice — one of the most liberal in the House — was loudest in opposition to the Iraq War, which he branded a “death tax” on poor people and minorities. In 2004, he tried to end the war by offering a bill to restart the military service draft. Republicans called his bluff and brought the bill to a vote. Even Rangel voted against it.

A year later, Rangel’s fight over the war became bitterly personal with then-Vice President Dick Cheney.

Rangel said Cheney, who has a history of heart trouble, might be too sick to perform his job.

“I would like to believe he’s sick rather than just mean and evil,” Rangel said. After several such verbal jabs, Cheney hit back, saying Rangel was “losing it.”

The charismatic Harlem lawmaker rarely backed down from a fight after he first entered the House in 1971 as a dragon slayer of sorts, having unseated Powell in the Democratic congressional primary in 1970. The flamboyant elder Powell, a city political icon first elected to the House in 1944, was ill and haunted by scandal at the time.

In 1987, Congress approved what was known as the “Rangel amendment,” which denied foreign tax credits to U.S. companies investing in apartheid-era South Africa.

Censured Over Ethics Violations

Rangel became leader of the main tax-writing committee of the House, which has jurisdiction over programs including Social Security and Medicare, after the 2006 midterm elections when Democrats ended 12 years of Republican control of the chamber. But in 2010, a House ethics committee conducted a hearing on 13 counts of alleged financial and fundraising misconduct over issues surrounding financial disclosures and use of congressional resources.

He was convicted of 11 ethics violations. The House found he had failed to pay taxes on a vacation villa, filed misleading financial disclosure forms and improperly solicited donations for a college center from corporations with business before his committee.

The House followed the ethics committee’s recommendation that he be censured, the most serious punishment short of expulsion.

‘Fighting For The Little Guy’

Rangel looked after his constituents, sponsoring empowerment zones with tax credits for businesses moving into economically depressed areas and developers of low income housing.

“I have always been committed to fighting for the little guy,” Rangel said in 2012.

Rangel was born June 11, 1930. During the Korean War, he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He would always say that he measured his days, even the troubled ones around the ethics scandal, against the time in 1950 when he survived being wounded as other soldiers didn’t make it.

It became the title of his autobiography: “And I Haven’t Had A Bad Day Since.”

A high school dropout, he went to college on the G.I. Bill, getting degrees from New York University and St. John’s University Law School.

Black Students Keep Graduation Traditions Alive Even as DEI Crackdown Limits Festivities

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Birmingham Times
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Students must move forward despite the lack of school administration approval and resources. (Black Enterprise)

Black Enterprise

Black students and other affinity groups are finding new ways to celebrate their graduations as the Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI initiatives limits their on-campus engagement.

For years, affinity-specific graduations have highlighted the milestones for many students across universities. However, current government orders have stifled these celebrations, forcing graduates to pivot in order to keep tradition alive.

Some institutions, like Harvard University, are pushing back against certain rulings on federally-funded universities. However, these issuances have still impacted race-specific programming. Harvard decided to strip funding used for all affinity group graduations. Despite this setback, Black Harvard graduates remain determined to keep the event in place.

Like others in support of these racially-affirming events, many graduates say they celebrated the cultural traditions while acknowledging their plights. Harvard senior Elyse Martin-Smith took matters upon herself. With the support of the Black Graduate Student Alliance and the Harvard Black Alumni Society, she and fellow graduates held their ceremony off campus.

“It’s an undue burden that continues to be placed upon Black students to create the change that we want to see,” Martin-Smith said to CNN.

Students at other schools like the University of Kentucky have faced similar restrictions. A spokesperson for the university confirmed that the optional celebrations will not longer take place on campus.

“Following a number of federal and state policy changes and directives, the university will no longer host identity-based or special-interest graduation celebrations,” university spokesperson Jay Blanton said in a statement. “In the past, these were held outside of our official commencement ceremonies as optional celebrations and social events. We will continue to comply with the law, while celebrating all students and their distinctive achievements at our official commencement ceremonies.”

However, students attempting to work around the rules must take caution with naming for their newly reimagined events. Students at Kentucky also pursued a path similar to Harvard’s Black graduates, calling their version a “Senior Salute.”

“I feel it’s important to show that there are people coming from other places, underprivileged areas and many different backgrounds and struggles and still making it over to UK (University of Kentucky) and still getting their degree,” shared UK graduate, Kristopher Washington, who helped bring the new event into fruition. “It’s a tremendous achievement.”

This anti-DEI crackdown not only impacts graduates of different racial or ethnic identities. It only applies to those part of the LGBTQIA+ community as well. Queer students also found off-campus venues to celebrate their achievements for their overarching community.

Now, students must move forward despite the lack of school administration approval and resources. However, they remain committed to celebrating their new degrees in ways that specifically acknowledge their heritage and community.

City of Birmingham Increasingly Using Courts to Go After Blighted and Problem Properties

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Birmingham Times
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Demolition of the property, The Vue on Prince at 3128 Prince Avenue, was completed earlier Wednesday by crews representing the property owners. (City of Birmingham)

birminghamal.gov

A major blighted property that was the site of multiple fires has been demolished following a lawsuit filed by the Office of the City Attorney for the City of Birmingham. Demolition of the property, The Vue on Prince at 3128 Prince Avenue, was completed last week by crews representing the property owners.

“This is another example of our focus on removing blight from our neighborhoods,” Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said. “If private property owners harbor blight in our communities, we will hold them accountable through code enforcement and in the courts. I commend City Attorney Nicole King and DNAT for their role in ridding our neighborhoods of blight.”

On Friday, the city announced Friday it filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court against Norwood Plaza Apartments, LLC and its property management company, Tutwiler Realty, Inc., seeking to have the property declared both a drug-related nuisance and a public nuisance under Alabama law.

The Drug Nuisance Abatement Team in the Office of the City Attorney sued The Vue on Prince, LLC, and Toorak Capital Partners, LLC, in August after the property owner failed to address multiple code violations and repeated fires at the multi-building property.

“The DNAT team in the Office of the City Attorney is dedicated to addressing problem properties that create a nuisance and public safety concerns for neighborhoods,” City Attorney Nicole King said. “The city filed a lawsuit following inaction by the property owner to address multiple code violations and repeated fires at the buildings. Residents were clear about their concerns at this location, and we were committed to have this dangerous blight removed. Due to this successful effort, the property was demolished without additional cost to the city. DNAT is committed to breaking down blight one property at a time.”

In the spring of 2020, City Attorney King created DNAT, which through the courts, holds landowners accountable for keeping their properties clean and free of crime and blight. The team has successfully prevailed in multiple lawsuits and worked with property owners to generate a safer environment for the residents both on those properties and in surrounding neighborhoods. The city’s DNAT strategy has served as a model for other municipalities.

To report a nuisance property, contact the Office of the City Attorney at problemproperty@birminghamal.gov or 205.254.6450, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Birmingham Files Lawsuit to have Apartment Complex Declared Public Nuisance

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Birmingham Times
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The City of Birmingham filed a lawsuit against Norwood Plaza Apartments, LLC. (File) 

birminghamal.gov

The City of Birmingham announced Friday it has filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court against Norwood Plaza Apartments, LLC and its property management company, Tutwiler Realty, Inc., seeking to have the property declared both a drug-related nuisance and a public nuisance under Alabama law.

The action comes after years of repeated, documented drug activity, illegal behavior, and threats to public safety centered around the apartment complex located at 1717 32nd Place North in the Norwood neighborhood. The City is pursuing injunctive relief and other legal remedies to protect residents and stabilize the surrounding community.

“This property has been a consistent source of danger, criminal activity, and community disruption,” said City Attorney Nicole E. King. “Despite repeated warnings and enforcement actions, the property owners and managers have failed to take meaningful steps to address the illegal activity occurring at Norwood Plaza Apartments. Today’s legal action is necessary to protect the safety, health, and peace of the neighborhood.”

Apartment management did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to AL.com.

The petition outlines a disturbing pattern of illegal activity and inaction:

  • Multiple drug seizures and arrests from December 2023 through April 2025 involving large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, ecstasy, marijuana, prescription pills, and illegal firearms.
  • Search warrants executed by the Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, leading to the recovery of narcotics and weapons.
  • Repeated correspondence and warnings from the City of Birmingham advising the owners of potential legal consequences.
  • A substantial drain on City resources, with numerous police calls for service and a continued risk to residents, schoolchildren, and businesses nearby.

The City is asking the court to issue a preliminary and permanent injunction that would:

  • Prohibit further illegal activity at the property.
  • Require 24/7 certified security, modern surveillance systems, fencing, and a security plan.
  • Mandate the installation of license-plate reader technology compatible with the Birmingham Police Department.
  • Place rental income under a court-appointed trustee and appoint a Receiver to manage the property if needed.
  • Allow for the sale of the property should the owners fail to abate the nuisance.
  • Impose a $50,000 fine and award the City attorney’s fees.

“The residents of Norwood and the families in surrounding neighborhoods deserve a safe, healthy place to live and thrive,” said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “We will not allow lawlessness and neglect to endanger our people. This legal action demonstrates our unwavering commitment to public safety and neighborhood revitalization.”

An emergency hearing and oral argument have been requested.

80-Year-Old Vietnam Vet Earns Bachelor’s Degree from South Carolina HBCU

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Birmingham Times
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Linwood Riddick accepts his bachelor's degree at South Carolina State University on Friday May 9, 2025. (Sam Watson, South Carolina State University)

By Tolly Carr | HBCU Gameday

Linwood Riddick didn’t enroll at South Carolina State University, an Orangeburg, South Carolina, HBCU, in pursuit of a career. Instead, he came seeking clarity, a renewed sense of purpose, and a way to honor a legacy that deeply moved him.

This month, the Vietnam War veteran and longtime member of the SC State Concert Choir received his bachelor’s degree in music industry — just weeks before his 80th birthday in July.

His journey to that diploma was far from traditional, but it was firmly grounded in personal conviction.

“I was walking through campus one day and overheard some men discussing the Orangeburg Massacre,” Riddick recalled, referring to the tragic 1968 police shooting that claimed the lives of three unarmed Black students at SC State. “I thought to myself, ‘I need to come here, leave my mark on this institution in honor of those young men.’”

Now, with his academic journey complete, Riddick hopes his story will inspire others. “People will see me and hopefully understand the purpose behind my being here,” he said.

A Moment of Recognition

SC State President Alexander Conyers made a special pause during Friday’s commencement ceremony to honor Riddick as he stepped down from the choir risers.

“Mr. Riddick, at 80 years old, has been fully immersed in the student experience—singing in the choir, performing at events,” Conyers said. “You inspire us all.”

Later in the ceremony, Conyers personally handed Riddick his diploma, and the arena erupted in applause from his fellow graduates and the audience.

From Service to Song

Born in New York and raised in Virginia, Riddick began his college journey at Norfolk State University before being drafted into the U.S. Navy and serving in Vietnam. After returning home, he built a successful business selling souvenirs and various goods for over 30 years.

“I did my time in the military, came back, got some help from the VA, and started my own business,” he said. “I ran that business until I retired at 72.”

Instead of settling into retirement, Riddick began commuting from his home in Summerville, South Carolina, to Orangeburg for classes.

“I wanted to keep my mind and body active,” he said. “The brain is like a spiritual muscle—it needs to be used. Mind, body, soul, and spirit—all must be engaged.”

An HBCU Voice and a Mentor

At SC State, Riddick became a familiar face in the Concert Choir, performing at commencements and special occasions. But his impact extended far beyond the stage. His presence brought inspiration and wisdom to a younger generation of students.

Riddick hopes to continue supporting his HBCU. He plans on working with faculty and students to build stronger intergenerational connections and spark greater student engagement.

“We need to bridge the gap,” he said. “Sometimes, one must teach one. With all I’ve been through, I want to mentor these students. Hopefully, the faculty and I can foster more connection. We need innovation.”

A Message of Hope

Riddick’s advice to others, particularly seniors, is simple but powerful: “If I can do it, you can do it. Nothing’s impossible if you try.”

As for the future? He jokes, “The only thing left for me now is to get computerized—but I’ve got everything else covered.”

Birmingham Pools Will Be Open During the Memorial Day Weekend, Lifeguards Sought

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Birmingham Times
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Eccoe Jones pulls Level 1 swimmers around the pool during lessons. Four Birmingham Parks and Recreation pools will be open during the Memorial Day weekend. (File)

birminghamal.gov

Four Birmingham Parks and Recreation pools will be open during the Memorial Day weekend. The cost to swim, for children and adults, is $1.

The following pools will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, and Monday, May 26; and Sunday, May 25 from 12  to 6 p.m.:

  • Crestwood Park, 5400 Crestwood Blvd.
  • Memorial Park, 524-6th Ave. South
  • Martin Luther King Jr., 529-43rd St. North
  • McAlpine Park, 1115 Avenue F, Ensley

A summer schedule for which Parks and Recreation pools will be open and their hours of operation will be released on Tuesday, June 3.

For more information on the pools, contact Teri Sewell at 205-254-2391 or send her an email at teri.harris@birminghamal.gov.

Parks and Recreation is still hiring lifeguards for the summer

Seasonal lifeguard positions remain available. (Forty hours a week.)

Applicants must be at least 16 years old and know how to swim.

The pay will be $16.03 an hour.

A five-day lifeguard training and certification class will be held Tuesday, May 27 – Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Birmingham CrossPlex Natatorium, 2337 Bessemer Road. Applicants must attend all five days.

Times: 

  • Tuesday – Friday: 4 to 10 p.m.
  • Saturday: 6 to 8 a.m.

To register, applicants must complete the lifeguard interest form/application that is available at Birmingham Parks & Recreation’s front office or at Gate 17 at Legion Field, 400 Graymont Ave.

Cost of the five-day class for new applicants or new lifeguards is $100, which covers certification, a lifeguard T-shirt, a book, a whistle, and a pocket mask. Cost of the five-day class for lifeguards seeking re-certification is $55, which covers certification, whistle, and a pocket mask.

For more information, contact Murray Lewis, Jr. at 205-279-8940 or 205-213-5623.

Alabama’s HBCU Students Connected with Startups, Accelerators, and Innovation Hubs Across the State

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Birmingham Times
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Alabama’s talent attraction and retention is at the heart of our economic success. At EDPA, we are committed to fostering a robust pipeline of skilled professionals through initiatives like FuelAL and ALEX. (Provided)

Special to The Times

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) recently celebrated the graduation of its Spring 2025 HBCU Innovation Internship cohort. The event featured professional development, presentations from interns regarding their work, and dynamic pitches and group interviews with intern candidates for Fall Semester 2025.

The HBCU Innovation Internship program, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., and the Innovate Alabama, connects students from Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with leading startups, accelerators, and innovation hubs across the state.

Now entering its fourth cohort, the program continues to expand. A total of 29 students have been placed across both the spring and fall cohorts in 2025—nearly doubling the number from 2024, when 16 students completed the program. Designed to increase representation of HBCU students in Alabama’s innovation economy, the internship provides hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, investment, and startup operations by embedding students directly within high-growth organizations.

“This internship completely reshaped how I see Alabama’s startup ecosystem. I used to think there wasn’t much happening here, but now I can genuinely see myself building a career in this state,” said Munachimso Arubaleze, a spring 2025 intern at the HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator. “This program pushed me to think critically about evaluating high-potential startups and helped me understand the broader startup landscape. More than anything, it taught me how to carry myself professionally. As an engineer, you can have all the technical skills, but if you can’t communicate or lead, it limits your impact. This experience gave me a bigger picture—and a better future.”

The program has drawn support from a wide range of employer partners, including Analytical AI; several gener8tor accelerators including Bronze Valley, HudsonAlpha AgTech, and Prosper HealthTech; Immediate; Innovation Portal; the Chambers County Innovation Center; EDPA; Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator; The E-Center; Birmingham-Jefferson County Port Authority; Innovation Depot; and SmartWiz. Internship placements span startups, accelerators, public-private partnerships, and incubators—each committed to building a more inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystem in Alabama.

“The talent is absolutely here—it’s just about capturing it,” said Kelly Clark, managing director of the Prosper HealthTech Accelerator. “Our interns are building machine learning models, fluent in multiple coding languages, and excelling in data analytics. This program doesn’t just place students; it creates meaningful, relationship-driven experiences that expand their social capital. HBCUs have a rich legacy in our state and bring together students from across the globe. When you zoom out, the question becomes: why wouldn’t you want that kind of diverse, global perspective powering your company?”

The Fall 2025 cohort includes students from across Alabama’s eight partnering HBCUs: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bishop State Community College, Lawson State Community College, Miles College, Shelton State Community College, Stillman College, Talladega College, and Tuskegee University. Throughout the semester, interns will gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, investment, and startup operations.

“The growth of this program reflects what’s possible when HBCU students are given meaningful access to Alabama’s innovation economy—they bring fresh perspective, talent, and skills that strengthen the ecosystem for everyone,” said Estes Hughes, vice president of innovation and talent at EDPA.

To learn more about the HBCU Innovation Internship Program, visit edpa.org/talent.

About EDPA: The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic growth in Alabama. With support from over 600Corporate Partners and guided by a board of top business leaders, EDPA focuses on economic development research, workforce development, talent retention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. EDPA’s initiatives include Alabama Launchpad, ALEX (Alabama Experience), and FuelAL, all aimed at fostering a dynamic and diverse economic landscape in Alabama.

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