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Auburn’s Jourdin Crawford Opens Community Resource Center in North Titusville

By
Birmingham Times
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The Greedy House is a community resource center funded largely through Jourdin Crawford’s NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earnings. (Provided)

By Sym Posey | The BirminghamTimes

On a quiet block near Memorial Park in North Titusville, a new kind of community hub is taking shape — built not by a nonprofit executive or longtime philanthropist, but by a college football player who simply believes everyone deserves a chance.

Inside the former Modern House Coffee Shop at 422 Sixth Avenue South, Jourdin Crawford, a defensive lineman for the Auburn Tigers football team and former standout at A.H. Parker High School, has opened The Greedy House, a community resource center funded largely through his NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earnings.

Crawford isn’t known for long speeches. In fact, he admits he’s “not really a big talker.” But what he lacks in words, he more than makes up for with action.

“Everybody should have the same thing, or something close to what I have,” Crawford said about his motivation to give back.

Though Crawford is still early in his college football career, his commitment to community service began before he even left Birmingham.

“His senior year is when he first started giving back,” his mother, Patsy Crawford, said. “He did a shadow program with younger kids so they could go through the recruiting process and understand what that looks like.”

From there, the efforts kept growing — from book giveaways to community events — eventually leading to the creation of The Greedy House.

Now, the new center aims to serve as both a resource hub and a welcoming space for neighbors.

The Greedy House operates as a free community workspace and gathering place — a place where residents can meet, study, apply for jobs or simply connect.

“Basically, it’s a headquarters and a community hub,” Patsy Crawford said. “You can come and work there, have small meetings or classes — and you don’t have to purchase anything.”

The center already includes a public computer station with printing access where residents can complete job applications, homework or research.

“We’re just trying to find other ways to pour into the community and fill some gaps,” she said.

The Greedy House operates as a free community workspace and gathering place — a place where residents can meet, study, apply for jobs or simply connect.

There’s also a community pantry stocked with emergency meal kits, hygiene items and other essentials.

Crawford has even invested in improving the property itself — installing fencing and safety upgrades to make sure neighborhood children can safely use the space and surrounding yard.

“He wants it to be somewhere kids can come and feel safe,” his mother said.

The center also plans to host regular workshops and community events each month.

“We’ll have somewhere between three and five small workshops or community events every month,” Patsy Crawford said.

Programs may include small-business pop-up clinics, job application assistance and mental health discussions.

One upcoming event — called “Mind Over Pressure” — will focus on mental health conversations with athletes and community members.

The Greedy House is accepting community donations.

Drop-offs are welcomed on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Needed items include:

  • Non-perishable food items
  • Hygiene products
  • School supplies
  • New or clean, gently used clothing

Smaller after-hours donations can be placed in a secured drop box on the front porch. Crawford asks donors to send a message through Instagram before arriving.

Giving back feels right

For Crawford, the work isn’t about publicity. In fact, his mother jokes that he’d prefer to stay out of the spotlight entirely.

“He doesn’t like to talk,” she said with a laugh.

But the Auburn lineman says the opportunity to give back to Birmingham — especially to neighborhoods like the one he grew up in — means everything.

“I feel great,” Crawford said. “Just looking out for the communities… even the surrounding communities, the adults and the kids that’s around.”

As the Greedy House begins to open its doors to neighbors, volunteers and donations, Crawford hopes the impact will extend far beyond the walls of the small building near Memorial Park.

Learn more about The Greedy House at wakeupgreedy.com.

Birmingham Residents Push for Tighter Limits on Short-Term Rentals

By
Birmingham Times
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City estimates show between 1,500 and 2,000 short-term rentals are currently operating in Birmingham. (Adobe Stock)

By Emily Cundiff | ABC 33/40

Frustrated residents urged Birmingham city leaders Tuesday to restrict short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods, arguing the growing number of Airbnb-style properties is disrupting communities and straining city resources.

The comments came during a City Council meeting ahead of a scheduled Committee of the Whole session Thursday, where council members are expected to review the city’s short-term rental ordinance and discuss whether changes are needed. Only city leaders will be allowed to speak during that work session, prompting residents to voice their concerns in advance.

City estimates show between 1,500 and 2,000 short-term rentals are currently operating in Birmingham. While the properties generate tourism activity and income for owners, several residents said the concentration of rentals in residential areas is eroding neighborhood stability.

“The big problems are, of course, the transient nature of the people who go to short term rentals — the parking problems, the noise problems, the trash and garbage problems — the behavior problems,” resident Valerie Abbott told council members.

Abbott and others argued that short-term rentals function more like “mini motels” than homes when located in single-family districts.

“Just a lot of problems that don’t belong in a residential environment,” Abbott said.

Residents described issues including unfamiliar visitors cycling in and out of homes, vehicles crowding narrow streets and increased calls to police.

Anna Brown, who said she lives next door to a short-term rental, characterized the experience as disruptive and raised concerns about public safety.

“Using our resources from public safety, such as police officers having to monitor these Airbnbs when there may be other crime going on that they’re meant to be there,” Brown said.

Others linked the issue to broader concerns about housing availability and population trends. Some residents argued that the growth of short-term rentals may be reducing the number of properties available for long-term occupancy.

“Our population is dropping every year. It goes down,” Abbott said.

Still, speakers clarified they are not opposed to short-term rentals across the city. Instead, many advocated for limiting them outside of single-family residential zones while allowing them in commercial or mixed-use areas.

“I do not support short term rentals in residential zone districts — I support them everywhere else in Birmingham,” Abbott said.

Birmingham’s current ordinance regulates short-term rentals, but city leaders are now considering whether adjustments are necessary to address neighborhood concerns while balancing economic impacts.

Miles College Women Win SIAC Tourney For Third Year In a Row, Earn South Region Bid

By
Birmingham Times
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Miles College Coach Pete Asmond poses with the 3-time SIAC champion women's basketball team. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

For the third time in as many seasons, the Miles College women’s basketball team won its conference championship and a berth in the Division II NCAA Basketball Tournament.

And this time, coach Pete Asmond thinks his Golden Bears may stick around a while, especially as they begin the postseason just over an hour and a half up the road. No. 24 Miles will face No. 17 Nova Southeastern at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the South Region Tournament in Spragins Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Tickets are $15.

This Miles squad already has more wins than any other in the school’s history with a 25-5 record. That betters the 23-7 mark of the 2023-24 team and the 22-7 record of the 2024-25 squad.

And they’re eager to build on that string of success.

“We’re definitely not content,” said Asmond, whose team knocked off Lane College 59-52 Saturday for their third straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown. “I think this team is kind of ready now. The first year we got there, it was kind of like we were deer in headlights. They’d never really been on that stage before. Last year, having a veteran team, I think we just kind of ran into a team (then No. 1 Union of Tennessee) that was really hot and playing really good basketball. They actually got to the Final Four last year.

“This year, I think we have a really good chance with some veteran leadership that came back with some talent that we had,” the coach said. “I think we’ve really got a chance to go out and make some noise in this national tournament.”

Asmond’s team is a blend of senior leaders (five) and talented newcomers (four). Guard Samarian Franklin paces the squad with 12.2 points per game and 5.26 assists per contest.

“She’s our conductor,” the coach said of his floor general. “She makes everything go. She can make plays for herself. She’ll make the right plays for the team. And she’s never rattled. You’re never gonna see her get frustrated or rattled in each and every moment, and she’s up for every challenge.

“If you challenge her, that just makes her go harder,” Asmond continued. “Most teams, I would advise them not to challenge her as much because she lives for those types of moments.”

Miles College President Bobbie Knight talks with Cheer coach Le’Andrea Anderson-Tolbert. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

Miles President Bobbie Knight had praise for the women’s basketball team as well as the Miles cheer squad, which earned first place in the college Coed Gametime Division and captured the title of collegiate grand champion at the Christian Cheerleaders of America National Championship in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

“What better way to begin Women’s History Month than when our women’s basketball team made history?” Knight began. “Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of two outstanding programs whose discipline, preparation and commitment have brought tremendous pride to Miles College.”

The president said Miles College is an institution of champions, a distinction she said she doesn’t say lightly.

“I have seven rings — soon to be 10 — championship rings since I’ve been at Miles College,” Knight said. “They told me at the beginning of the fall semester that they were going to win me a third ring so, hey, I got it.”

Cheer coach Le’Andrea Anderson-Tolbert could scarcely speak when she was invited to the podium for a press conference on Tuesday.

“I was yelling,” she said in a near whisper. “I was cheering right along with them. They need to get hyped so I’m gonna be there just to encourage them on the stage as much as possible, keep that energy going.”

Anderson-Tolbert and her team will continue cheering with the women’s hoops squad extending its season.

“As long as they’re going around, we’ll be traveling with them as much as we can,” she said. “We will be there on Friday and to support them in Huntsville. As long as they’re winning, we’re gonna try to make it as much as possible.”

While the Golden Bears will be away from the friendly confines of Fairfield, Asmond expects there will be plenty of purple and gold in the stands in the Rocket City.

“I feel like being in Huntsville, I think we are home,” said the coach. “I look at it as being a home game, not an away game, just to be that close. We have a really good support system here at Miles, the families of the players. I think everybody’s going to be ready to drive up and support this team.”

Learn more about the Miles College sports and athletic department at milesgoldenbears.com.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s ‘The Victors Write the Algorithm’ Reframes History

By
Birmingham Times
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The BCRI discussion on propaganda, media, and technology, was held in February. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

There’s still time to see the new Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) exhibit that explores how power, propaganda, and technology shape the narratives that ultimately shape how we see the world. “The Victors Write the Algorithm: Power, Propaganda, and the Making of American Memory” is a thought-provoking exploration of how historical memory is often constructed, manipulated, and presented to the public —shaping everything from our understanding of past events to the biases in the media we consume today.

“History is not just about the past — it’s about how the past is remembered and used to inform the present,” says Dr. Vanessa Carter, curator of the exhibit. “The Victors Write the Algorithm asks us to look at the forces that have historically shaped our perceptions of truth — whether in the form of political propaganda, biased media, or even modern-day technology — and to question how those same forces are still influencing the narratives we encounter today.”

The exhibit opened February 6 as part of the BCRI commemoration of Black History Month and is particularly timely as the country marks two major milestones — 100 years of Black History Month and 250 years since the nation’s founding. “The Victors Write the Algorithm” urges viewers to reflect on whose voices are prioritized in the telling of America’s story, and whose are suppressed or erased. By positioning Black history as central to American history, the exhibit challenges the traditional narrative that has long sidelined marginalized communities and invites a deeper reckoning with the ways racial inequities have been woven into the fabric of historical storytelling.

Panelist Nicole S. Daniel, Founder & Executive Editor of The Modern Standard, poses with attendees after the BCRI discussion on propaganda, media, and technology. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

The exhibit dives into the intersection of media bias, propaganda, and the rapid rise of algorithm-driven storytelling in the digital age. From the sweeping influence of social media platforms that tailor the news we see based on our past behaviors, to the subtle yet pervasive ways propaganda has been used to shape public opinion, the exhibit paints a powerful picture of how those in power are often able to dictate the “truth” of any given moment.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Exhibit Opening Reception held on February 12 featured a Roundtable Discussion on the pressing issues of propaganda, media, and technology. The conversation brought together experts and activists who are reshaping the way we think about history and storytelling in the digital era. The panel featured:

• Deborah Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

• Edward Bowser, Deputy Director of Communications, City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office

• Nicole S. Daniel, Founder & Executive Editor of The Modern Standard

• Phillip Howard, Civil Rights People and Places Program Manager at The Conservation Fund

• Cody Short Johnson, Independent Journalist and Content Creator

• Jordan Kiper, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Shauna Stuart, Freelance Journalist and News and Culture Writer

This dynamic group of speakers examined how contemporary media, fueled by algorithms, shapes narratives of power and oppression, and how preserving diverse voices and perspectives is critical in today’s information landscape.

In conjunction with its Victors Write the Algorithm exhibit, BCRI hosted a discussion on propaganda, media, and technology. The panel featured (from left): Phillip Howard, Civil Rights People and Places Program Manager at The Conservation Fund; Cody Short Johnson, Independent Journalist and Content Creator; Jordan Kiper, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Deborah Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Nicole S. Daniel, Founder & Executive Editor of The Modern Standard; Edward Bowser, Deputy Director of Communications, City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office and Shauna Stuart, Freelance Journalist and News and Culture Writer. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

“Media today is so deeply influenced by algorithms that it’s increasingly difficult to separate truth from bias. ‘The Victors Write the Algorithm’ shines a light on this, showing us how those in power can often dictate what ‘truth’ we see, hear, and believe,” said Deborah Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Shauna Stuart, Freelance Journalist and Culture Writer, said, “It’s not just about the stories we tell today, but how those stories are told and to whom. ‘The Victors Write the Algorithm’ pushes us to think critically about who controls these narratives, and how we can be part of changing them to reflect more diverse, accurate histories.”

Just in time for Women’s History Month, BCRI opened an extension of “The Victors Write the Algorithm” exhibit, titled “Miss Representation.” This installation takes this conversation even further, focusing on the distortion and erasure of women’s stories — particularly the stories of Black women — in media, culture, and public memory. From the early days of newspapers to Hollywood, advertising, and today’s digital feeds, women have long been confined to narrow roles and stereotypes, which impact how they are seen, treated, and valued in society.

“Miss Representation” delves into how these limited portrayals of women shape societal power dynamics, influence policy, and affect everyday life. It challenges us to reconsider who gets to be fully human in the stories we tell. The installation reflects on how media and cultural representations have historically — and continue to — flatten the identities of women, especially Black women, while presenting one-dimensional, often harmful, depictions that limit their visibility and agency.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The exhibit also highlights the growing movements to reclaim these narratives — from the resurgence of Black storytelling in literature, film, and music, to the grassroots efforts of communities using new media tools to amplify voices that have long been silenced. Visitors are encouraged to reflect on how these new narratives can reshape a nation’s collective memory and how each of us can help challenge the established truths of our time.

Both exhibits are on view at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Victors Write the Algorithm is through March 20, and Miss Representation will be available for viewing through March 28.

The new BCRI exhibit explores how power, propaganda, and technology shape the narratives that ultimately shape how we see the world. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Tears, Testimony and a Call to Act: Birmingham Screening of ‘The Alabama Solution’ Confronts State’s Prison Crisis

By
Birmingham Times
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Tuesday’s screening of ‘The Alabama Solution,’ held in Birmingham at the Carver Theatre, was followed by a panel discussion featuring producer Beth Shelburne and those directly impacted by the system depicted in the film. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | For The Birmingham Times

As the lights came up following a screening of the documentary “The Alabama Solution,” the room was heavy with emotion. In the quiet, some audience members could be heard crying

For many in attendance, it was their first time seeing the film — an unflinching look inside Alabama’s prison system and the violence, neglect and systemic failures that have drawn scrutiny from federal investigators and human rights advocates.

Documentary co-producer Beth Shelburne stepped to the microphone and acknowledged what everyone in the room seemed to be feeling.

“Sometimes it’s nice to just sit for a moment, take a few deep breaths after what we just watched,” Shelburne said. “Raise your hand if that was the first time you’ve seen the film.”

Hands went up across the room.

“Okay, wow,” she said. “So, I know it’s a lot. It’s a whole lot.”

The screening — held in Birmingham at the Carver Theatre and followed by a panel discussion featuring people directly impacted by the system depicted in the film — became more than a movie night. It turned into a deeply personal conversation about incarceration in Alabama and what must change.

The documentary has drawn national attention and is currently nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards. But the screening in Birmingham was not just about watching a film. It was about confronting a crisis that many panelists said the public can no longer ignore.

Shelburne said the project began as reporting years earlier but grew into something far bigger.

“I started covering the prison system when I was a reporter in 2012, and I really felt like I was just shouting into the canyon,” she told the audience. “So, the fact that this film is out in the world and people are talking about it everywhere — that’s progress.”

Even so, she said real change has been slow.

“Progress is really, really slow,” she said. “But part of the progress is actually all of us being here in this room together talking about this.”

The documentary chronicles years of reporting on a prison system that advocates say is overcrowded and dangerous. During the making of the film, Shelburne said researchers documented staggering numbers.

“Fifteen hundred people died during the making of the film,” she said. “We have a database of all of them and what we learned about how and why they died, because the prison system does not publish that.”

‘The Alabama Solution,’ documentary chronicling the horrific conditions inside the state’s prison system, premieres at Sundance and has now been nominated for an Academy Award. (HBO)

The findings paint a grim picture.

“It’s the highest prison mortality rate in the country,” Shelburne said. “Alabama is number one — and not in a good way.”

Several people who appeared in the film joined Shelburne for the discussion, including Danny Dandridge, who was incarcerated during filming.

“This journey started for me while in prison,” Dandridge said. “I was at St. Clair with the brothers who started the movement of the Free Alabama Movement.”

Now home for nearly three years, he said his focus has shifted to rebuilding and helping others do the same.

“I created and started my own nonprofit,” he said. “It’s based on youth development… and I help guys that are coming home from prison. I’m just giving back every day, embracing being home.”

Former correctional officer Stacy George also spoke about what he witnessed during more than a decade working in Alabama prisons.

“I started in 2009 as a correctional officer… and I left in 2022,” he said. “I saw a lot of things.”

He now travels around the state advocating for reforms.

“There are some good officers in there,” he said. “But the bad ones outweigh and dictate a lot of things in the prison.”

Shelburne noted that violence inside prisons should never be normalized.

“There is a way to run prisons where you’re not beating people,” she said. “It should not be expected that that’s part of the experience. It’s certainly not part of the sentence.”

Few voices during the evening carried the emotional weight of Cookie Garner, a Birmingham advocate whose sons have been incarcerated in Alabama prisons.

“I want us to stop calling them inmates,” Garner said. “They are our loved ones.”

Garner described harsh conditions that she said families witness firsthand.

“The only thing that’s mandatory is 23 hours in a cell and one hour of sunlight,” she said. “Most of the time they never get that.”

She also shared the story of her son being violently assaulted while incarcerated.

“He can’t see out of his eye,” she said. “His ribs were bruised, his wrists bruised from the handcuffs. The guard hit him in the eye with a radio.”

Garner said solitary confinement had lasting effects on her son’s mental health.

“Solitary does a number,” she said. “My son was in solitary for a long time.”

Her advocacy now includes pushing for better medical and mental health care inside prisons and changes to sentencing laws.

“My oldest child went to prison at 17,” she said. “He is now 40 years old. So, we have to start changing laws and looking at what’s happening.”

Faith leader Pastor Kris Erskine urged churches and community organizations to take a more active role.

“I’ve been going to a prison every week since 2014,” Erskine said.

He challenged churches to confront the issue directly.

“Ask your congregation how many have been incarcerated or have someone close to them incarcerated,” he said. “Watch their hands go up.”

Erskine said prison outreach should be seen as a moral obligation.

“This is not prison mission — this is prison ministry,” he said.

The panel closed with a call for audience members to turn emotion into advocacy.

Birmingham City Councilor LaTonya Tate urged attendees to support organizations already working on prison reform and to push lawmakers to act.

“Get involved with nonprofit organizations that are doing this work today,” Tate said. “Storytelling is powerful — but you also have to change laws.”

She encouraged the crowd to stay engaged beyond the screening.

“You’ve got to write your legislators,” she said. “You’ve got to organize. You’ve got to put pressure on people.”

Real change, she said, will require citizens to show up and demand it.

“I’m going to charge every person in this room to show up in Montgomery,” Tate said. “Because that’s the only way things are going to change.”

The Alabama Solution is currently available for viewing on HBO Max.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Comedian Donnell Rawlings at the StarDome Comedy Club, Friday and Saturday. (theparkwaytheater.com)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

HAPPY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH!! “CELEBRATE THE SHEROS IN YOUR LIFE!!!”

TODAY, MARCH 12…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

**FREE – COSMIC CARE-AOKE NIGHT benefitting ACIJ at Saturn.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.

**RnB POETICALLY LIT, 5-7 p.m. at Lit on 8th, 518 Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. with HUNCHO ZAVY, KD MCQWEEN, CAROL HOOD, DKMODE, BRIANNE SHARDAW and hosted by HEMP THE ARTIST. Every Thursday.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2nd Avenue North

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**MILLENIUM GREY at The Nick.

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 13…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**SOS: THE RECESSION POP PARTY at Saturn.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN DONNELL RAWLINGS at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN CP at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**SOUTHSIDE MAB at The Nick.

**FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, 5 p.m. at Howard’s Unlimited Lounge & Cocktail Bar at 4010 Avenue I with food by 1918 Catering Food Truck. Happy Hour at 5 p.m. Call 205-213-9097 for more.

**GOOD PEOPLE & GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

**LANDON TALKS – A NIGHT OF STANDUP COMEDY at Avondale Brewing Co.

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 14…

**SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY with SUNDROP at The Nick.

**MUSTACHE ETHE BAND – 90’S COUNTRY PARTY at Avondale.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT:  COMEDIAN DONNELL RAWLINGS at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT:  COMEDIAN CP at the StarDome Comedy Club.

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 15…

**HOWARD’S UNLIMITED LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR, 4010 Avenue I, in Belview Heights opened recently by our own favorite son radio personality and D.J. CHRIS COLEMAN. Check it out for Sunday Brunch with food by 1918 Catering, music and more!! For more, call 205-213-9097. 1918 Catering is the best food for lunch, dinner or your special event. (Take my word.)

**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7th, 2808 7th Avenue Suite105.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**2ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.

**4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with our favorite TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.

**MOTION SUNDAYS at Platinum, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. with DJ CUZZO X DJ A1 Controlling the Vibes. There will be Drink Specials.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT:  COMEDIAN CP at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN JAMIE LISSOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**ROCK BAND LEAGUE at Saturn.

**ST. PATRICK’s SUNDAY PARTY with HANNAHWARD PASS at Avondale Brewing Co.

 

MONDAY, MARCH 16…

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**MONDAYS – GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, 10-11:30 a.m. at CJFS Conference Room. Open to survivors who have experienced loss within the past 2 years. Call 205-278-7101 to sign up.

**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 17…

**Music Program with DJ DOUG at the Irondale Senior Activity Center

**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY THURSDAY at Hemings on 2ND Avenue.

**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY 2ND TUESDAY at The Nick.

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**THE BLOB (1988) FREE SHOW at Saturn.

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18…

**REVOLUTIONARY ALABAMIANS ”PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE”, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Electra Room at Vulcan Park and Museum.

PANEL DISCUSSION.

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**HOWLING GIANT, INSOMNIAC with HIRAETH at Saturn.

**WHISKEY + NOVUM + DRIFT SEEKER at The Nick.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: ZACH RUSHING at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**FREE – TV BUDDHA at Saturn.

 

NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 19 …

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

**FREE – GOOD FLYING BIRDS with TOUCH GIRL APPLE BLOSSOM, CASH LANGDON, FROWNLINES at Saturn.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.

**STEVIE TOMBSTONE with the EXLAWS at The Nick.

 

NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 20….

**FISH FRY FRIDAY at Lil Mama’s, 1200 Hall Avenue EVERY FRIDAY 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: TOMMY DAVIDSON at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**ALFRED BANKS featuring PACO & SAYGO, SOUNDS BY ISH at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT with QDOT + JAXXXON + FRIENDS at The Nick.

**SISTER HAZEL with HIGHWAY HOME at Avondale Brewing Co.

**HEATED RIVALRY NIGHT at Saturn.

 

NEWS TO KNOW

CELEBRATE THE SHEROES IN YOUR LIFE – Across the Americas, Caribbean and beyond, women have fought for freedom, championed culture and redefined leadership. During Women’s History, we honor the freedom fighters who stood against colonial rule, the heads of state who navigated their nations through global shifts and the visionary diplomats advocating for climate justice on the world stage. From entertainers to pioneering educators and scientists shaping the next generation, their influence is woven into the fabric of our history.  This month, we honor their legacy and celebrate the women continuing to break new ground.

 

AROUND BIRMINGHAM…

**SATURDAY – FABRICS OF OUR LIVES at Woodlawn Theatre, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. is a part of THE VIEW FROM HERE Series rooted in perspective, identity, culture and place by Bare Hands partnership with the BCRI funded by a City of Birmingham Community Arts Grant with support from Woodlawn Theatre. It invites people to share their own stories and hear the stories of others. “Fabrics of Our lives” focuses on each of us creating art in the company of community. Get inspiration for projects to create in the future. Take your t-shirt that you would like to turn into a pillow and an item you would like to mend with visible stitches for a T-Shirt Pillow and Visible Mending workshop stations.  Featured are DARLENA KING (T-Shirt Pillows and 9-Square Pillows, VERO VANBLAARE (Sock Buddies), WILHELMINA THOMAS (Visible Mending and Story Quit Blocks), JULIE CARPENTER (Embossed Aluminum Decorations from Aluminum Cans) and BRIANNA PAYNE (Small Hands Corner – Children’s Community Tapestry. This is FREE intergenerational community Arts da of making art from everyday items with local artists.

**MARCH 17 – ST. PATRICK’S DAY DISH GARDENS, 10-11:30 a.m. with ALLISON CREEL of Blue Rooster Farms at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

**MARCH 19, 20 and 21 – THE VOICES OF DONNY HATHAWAY at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. show on Sunday.

**MARCH 28 – THE NEW EDITION WAY TOUR 2026 with NEW EDITION, BOYZ II MEN, TONI BRAXTON is coming to Birmingham.

 

FOR FILM LOVERS

**THE ALABAMA SOLUTION A HBO OSCAR AWARD NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY is a MUST SEE when you can. Look for more it on HBO.

 

AT SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL

**TODAY – THURSDAY MATINEE -THE BRIDE, 2 p.m.

**TODAY – THURSDAY MATINEE – 2026 OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS, 2:30 p.m.

**TODAY – BETTLE JUICE, 6 p.m. Student Night.

**TODAY – DIVAS – Honoring Women’s History Month inspired by DIVAS Concert Series. FREE

**FRIDAY – BAD MOVIE NIGHT. FREE

**SUNDAY – HOLLYWOOD AWARDS WATCH PARTY. FREE

  

FOR OUR YOUTH

**MAGIC CITY YOUTHBUILD is accepting applications from 16-24 year s old.  It is a 6 to 9 month program. Youth can earn their GED.  They get paid a biweekly stipend and get training in construction and healthcare careers.  Contact youthbuild@habd.net or call 205-983-7550 to learn more.

**ROTARY CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM FOUNDATION for Seniors graduating in the Spring. Application Deadline is Sunday, March 15.

**MARCH 23-27 – 5TH ANNUAL DUNDRILL HEIGHTS SPRING BREAK FILM CAMP, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the YMCA Youth Center (Downtown), 2400 Seventh Avenue North. For more info, CALL 205-370-7805 or go to CinematicCreations.agency.

**ANYTOWN ALABAMA TEEN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT has a deadline of Sunday. Anytown Alabama will be June 7-13, 2026.

**BRAIN READ YOUTH STUDY – UAB is looking for children diagnosed with autism ages 7 – 13 to participate in an MRI study at UAB that includes a complimentary 10-week intervention for improving reading comprehension. The child gets to participant in an intensive intervention program at no cost, which may improve their comprehension. You will also help to learn more about how children understand what they read.  Children will be paid up to $250 for their participation.

For more contact The Cognition, Brain and Autism Lab at 205-202-0616.

**KIDS SUMMER CAMP, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., starts June 8 – 20 and July 6 -24. Centers for Summer Camp are Central Park Ensley, East Pinson Valley, Fountain Heights, Don Hawkins, Inglenook, M.L. King, McAlpine, Memorial, North Birmingham and Roosevelt.  Call 205-254-2391 for more.

**RAISING ROYALTY BHM is Accepting New Members at Southside Police Precinct, 1320 19th Street South EVERY 3rd Saturday of each month, 3-5 p.m.  Contact Regina at 205-396-7010

**AFTER SCHOOL ART STUDIO CLASSES – CITY CENTER ART is Space One Eleven’s after school program designed to help your artists in grades 2 – 12 build visual communication skills, foster creative thinking and have fun making art. For more or to register, visit at SpaceOneEleven.org

**SMALL MAGIC – BIRMINGHAM TALKS – This program is committed to making Birmingham the best place to raise a child under age 5. It is designed to support early literacy, helping children become three times more likely to be ready for kindergarten. The program provides families with a wearable word counter – technology typically only available to high-income households – along with books, educational toys and the support of a personal coach to help track progress and set developmental goals.

**RENEW BIRMINGHAM – Services that are provided include: housing, adult education/work force development, transportation, jobs, youth services/education, community health and wellness. Call 205-201-4275 or visit www renewbhm.org. Email admin@renewbham.org. Address is 1801 Avenue H, Birmingham 1801 Avenue H.

 

COMING SOON

**MARCH 29 – SPRING FESTIVAL at Railroad Park, 1 – 4 p.m. for families with food and laughter.  There will food trucks, Easter eggs, photos with the Easter bunny, music and more.  Take your basket.

**APRIL 29 – MAY 3 – BLUES TRAVELER BAND TO PERFORM AT THE REGIONS TRADITIONS – Get Ready to Rock on May 2 with the Blues Traveler on Hole 10 at the White Claw Watering Hole. The Regions Tradition Golf Tournament is April 29 – May 3 at the Greystone Golf & Country Club.

 

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your questions, contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com AND thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.

“Seeing young leaders like Jourdin Crawford pour back into the same community that raised them is incredibly inspiring.”

By
Birmingham Times
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CRYSTAL SMITHERMAN, BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCILOR  ON THE GREEDY HOUSE, A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER IN THE FORMER MODERN HOUSE COFFEE HOUSE IN NORTH TITUSVILLE; BHAM NOW, MARCH 8.

Birmingham City Council Approves Multiyear Plans for HBCU Sporting Events

By
Birmingham Times
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Quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads Jackson State University against host Alabama State University in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest. (File)

By Sarah Whites-Koditschek | swhites-koditschek@al.com

Birmingham leaders agreed to host multiple college sporting events involving Historically Black Colleges and Universities over the next two years.

The city approved plans for two SWAC football games at Legion Field during a city council meeting Tuesday. The first game will be held on Aug. 26. Another game will be held in 2027.

“Any time we can get heads in beds in our hotels, people eating in our restaurants, or shopping at our businesses, it’s an economic win that we can keep stacking,” Councilor Hunter Williams said in a city press release.

The city also agreed to host the 2027 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championship at the CrossPlex.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference is made up of historically Black colleges and universities. In 2022, Birmingham signed a three-year agreement with SWAC to create the SWAC Classic.

That year, Jackson State University played against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In 2023 and 2024 Jackson State took on Southern University.

The city signed a contract for those three years to pay up to $300,000 per year to the league.

Deborah Bowie Comes Full Circle as New CEO at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

By
Birmingham Times
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Deborah Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Deborah Bowie has returned home. And you can hear it in her voice.

“For the 14 years that I’ve been gone,” she said, “my tribe is actually in Birmingham, even though I’m a Florida girl. Birmingham is my home.”

Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI).

She studied in New Orleans at Xavier University and came to Birmingham in 1993 — a move that would alter the course of her life. “I feel like that’s (Birmingham) where most of my career [was built]. I mean, I feel like I grew up professionally in Birmingham,” Bowie said.

She spent nearly two decades in the city — working in news, serving as a public information officer for the city council, leading at the Chamber of Commerce, and eventually becoming chief of staff to former Mayor Larry Langford.

“That was the best job I’ve ever had,” she said. “I learned so much … It put like a fire under our team to make sure that Mayor Langford’s big vision projects actually came to fruition.”

That fire — a refusal to back down from hard work, hard truths, or hard fights — has defined her career ever since. And that’s some of what she plans to bring to the BCRI. Bowie steps into leadership at a critical time for the institute.

The building — owned by the city since 1992 — faces infrastructure challenges. Exhibits have not been significantly updated since 2009. Staff reductions have thinned capacity. Archives hold untold stories waiting to be preserved.

But Bowie sees opportunity. “We don’t have any new exhibits,” she said. “That means Black Lives Matter is nowhere in the institute. And it should be.”

She envisions updated technology, new galleries, AI-enhanced experiences, expanded programming, revitalized fundraising, and a renewed commitment to truth-telling.

She’s especially proud of the Institute’s nearly 20-year-old Youth Legacy Leadership Program. “It’s probably the best thing the institute has ever done,” she said. “The world needs more people versed in the history, not less.”

She is equally passionate about the archives — and capturing oral histories before they are lost.

“How many people like that exist in Birmingham whose stories?” she asked after meeting a former prosecutor who had never been asked to record his history. “Tons.”

A Fighter’s Heart

Bowie, 56, has never been one to back down, but she doesn’t see herself as combative. She sees herself as committed. “One thing I know about me is, one, I am a fighter. I don’t bow down for anything. I’m not afraid of anything. I’m actually more committed to the work now.”

Her passion for advocacy is personal.

She is the daughter of an interracial marriage. Her Jewish mother was disowned for marrying a Black man. Bowie and her sister grew up isolated, navigating rejection and instability. Later, Bowie’s sister was murdered in a home invasion — a tragedy that pulled her into courtrooms for decades.

“I have never doubted myself,” she said. “I’ve always realized that there wasn’t anything wrong with me. There might be something wrong with the rest of the world.”

That perspective shaped her professional throughline: advocating for marginalized communities. Whether leading immigrant policy initiatives, running the United Way of North Central Florida, serving as interim city manager during a pandemic in Gainesville, Florida, or heading a foundation created after a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, her work consistently centered access, inclusion, and dignity.

“All the work that I have really ever done… has been about advocating for people who are marginalized, who don’t have resources,” she said. “They all connect. I’ve just been in different roles.”

Debra Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Preserving The Institution

They all connected and seemed to lead back to the Magic City.

Even while living in Georgia and Florida, Bowie found herself constantly talking about Birmingham.

“To the point where my colleagues and friends would say, you know, you talk about Birmingham all the time.”

She stayed connected to friends. To mentors. To the spirit of the place. “I realized… Birmingham was my chosen family,” she said.

Birmingham also represents something rare, said the CEO.

“I don’t know of a place I’ve ever lived where people would say, ‘I’m willing to be bitten by a dog or hosed or thrown in jail before I let you treat me like dirt.’”

She pauses when she says this, as if weighing the present against the past.

“If this is not the time to stand 10 toes down, then I don’t know what is. I don’t think it’s been a time since 63 years ago where we are right now, where you must be in the space. You must preserve the institution itself. You must preserve the memory. You must preserve the history. And you must teach it to the next generation — and it needs to be based on truth.”

She adds, without hesitation: “I am in no way discouraged… I think this is the gasoline that we needed to wake people up to how important it is to advocate, stand up, and preserve and enshrine the work of the institute.”

“Hit The Ground Running”

Bowie is returning to Birmingham with her children — triplets Ryanne, Cloud, and Raymond, who are high school seniors, and her eldest daughter Alexis, a board-certified behavior analyst.

“I feel like Birmingham was a place where I grew up. It’s where I came into my identity in terms of who I am and what I believe in.”

Fifteen years ago, she says, she wouldn’t have been ready to lead the Institute.

“I can tell you based on everything that I’ve been through since — I wasn’t ready. I feel like all these other experiences have really prepared me.”

Now, she feels uniquely positioned to bridge business, higher education, civic leadership, and community voices.

“I just feel like I’m in a unique position to bring back all of that experience … I feel like I could hit the ground running. And I am.”

Birmingham City Council Approves Plan to Expand Access to Childcare

By
Birmingham Times
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The Reinvest initiative focusing on childcare is helping with the city’s Cradle to Career framework, which focuses on setting up children for success in Birmingham. (Adobe Stock)

By Gillian Brooks | WBRC

The Birmingham City Council has approved a federal funding package aimed at expanding childcare access and workforce development in four city neighborhoods: North Birmingham, Northside, Pratt and Smithfield.

The Reinvest initiative is helping with the city’s Cradle to Career framework, which focuses on setting up children for success in Birmingham. The initiative is aimed at helping four of the city’s neighborhoods and focuses on affordable childcare as one of five components.

Childcare Resources is partnering with the city to strengthen the quality and availability of childcare in those areas. Joan Wright, executive director of Childcare Resources, said access to childcare is tied to workforce participation.

“One barrier to workforce participation is often childcare, ” Wright said.

Wright said improving childcare quality has broader benefits for families.

“When we can make childcare high quality, it increases the availability of childcare and gives families that peace of mind that their child is being attended to,” Wright said.

The Reinvest initiative will also fund training for childcare workers. The city is working with the YMCA to create a Childcare Center of Excellence in the Smithfield area, which will create 100 new childcare spots.

Wright said the Smithfield program will also serve as a hub for provider development.

“In the Smithfield area, we’re going to have a unique childcare program that’s also going to offer training and assistance opportunities right there on site for providers.” Wright explained. “So, not only will we be staffing that center but encouraging people to open other centers across the city.”

Archie Stewart, Reinvest Plan Officer for the City of Birmingham, said the grant covers five components, with childcare as one piece.

“The grant is actually 5-fold, it’s five different components, childcare just happens to be one piece of it. I just really really hope the residents know they are being heard,” Stewart said.

The other components of the Reinvest initiative include transportation, small business and workforce development.

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