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‘Turning Pain into Purpose’ After Losing Child to Gun Violence

By
Birmingham Times
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Kimyatta Henry, left, receives a hug from Sheree Kennon, founder of What About Us, a support group for those who have experienced the loss of a child. Both lost sons to homicide in Birmingham. (File)

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com

This is another installment in AL.com’s series “Beyond the Violence,” which explores solutions that could make Birmingham safer, healthier and happier.

It has been four years since Sheree Kennon’s son was shot and killed. She is “turning her pain into a purpose,” she says, by helping other mothers.

Kennon founded What About Us, a Birmingham support group for women who have lost children and other loved ones to gun violence, after her son, De’Traio Whorton, 27, was shot and killed in 2021. After one of the deadliest years in Birmingham’s history, Kennon says the work is not over as she continues to turn her grief into support and advocacy for more families than ever before.

“We want to show you love. We want to show you that you’re not in this struggle alone, that you have a support team,” Kennon said. “We are all dealing with the same loss. And it’s not easy. Everyone needs support.”

She has turned her nonprofit from a kitchen table effort working with three other moms who had experienced tragedy, into a project that helped more than 120 families last year.

Sheree Kennon’s story: ‘I can help someone’

Kennon’s son was shot and killed by his friend while he was in a car, with his wife in the passenger seat. Whorton became one of 132 violent deaths in Birmingham in 2021.

“He was a loving father. He had two beautiful boys. He was a good guy and was very well known in the community,” Kennon said.

When she saw the crime scene, Kennon fell, leaving her with a fractured hip and difficulty walking. While dealing with her own physical pain, she also had to help take care of her son’s children, pay her own bills and figure out how she was going to start working again.

She said she remembers not wanting to get out of bed, bathe or even eat.

“Once that casket closes, you go home, in three to four months the phone calls stop. Your child is gone, and it’s like your household is falling apart. It’s really hard to understand all those different aspects that come along with losing a child or a loved one. You lose a piece of yourself,” Kennon said.

“It’s hard to fill a cup when you’re empty yourself, but once you begin to refill that cup, you begin to realize, ‘I can help someone.’”

Kennon began taking classes about trauma and learning more about her own grief. She decided to start her own nonprofit.

“God just kept saying, ‘You need to help the ones like you.’ And I stepped out on faith and got my proposal and plan together. I started from nothing at my dining room table. And we’ve been doing this ever since. We started with three moms. Now we have over 30 moms that come to the support meetings regularly.”

Today, What About Us offers grief counseling and assists families with victim’s compensation applications, burial and funeral planning.

In 2024, Kennon helped over 120 families fill out victim’s compensation applications, a process that can be grueling, slow and disheartening.

Kennon is a violence interruption specialist with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s hospital trauma team and the Offender Alumni Association, a local group helping gunshot victims at the hospital.

Kennon also leads annual Stop the Bleed events. Last week, more than 30 people, from ages five to 70 years old, learned techniques to stop a bleeding wound and help save lives.

Some of her group’s members say they would not be alive if it were not for Kennon and the support of other mothers.

What to Know About a One-Day Feb. 28 Economic Blackout

By
Birmingham Times
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Consumers are preparing for a 24-hour economic blackout on Friday, one of several boycotts planned by groups of consumers or activists to protest elimination of DEI programs. (File)

By Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY

Consumers are preparing for a 24-hour economic blackout on Friday, one of several boycotts planned by groups of consumers or activists to protest what they call corporate greed, companies that have rolled back their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and President Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate federal DEI programs since taking office.

On Friday, those groups are encouraging consumers to not spend any money anywhere for one day. If they have spend, they are encouraged to buy from a local business.

Why do organizers seek a spending boycott?

The organizer of the boycott goes by TheOneCalledJai on Instagram, but his real name is John Schwarz. He told USA TODAY he started the “bold” idea because the time was right and people are frustrated with what he calls corporate greed and other frustrations.

The one-day action has since been expanded by The People’s Union, the organization Schwarz started. It includes boycotts of various companies and retailers during different time periods including Amazon (March 7-14), Nestle (March 21-28), Walmart (April 7-14) and a second broader one-day economic blackout on April 18.

Do boycotts work?

Conservative activists have successfully rallied in recent years to force retailers and companies to rein in their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by staging boycotts to hurt sales.

Professors have told USA TODAY that boycotts can be successful in shaming a company into reversing decisions or taking action, but they don’t always work. There needs to be clear actions outlined, they say. But consumers do like being able to take action against something they feel strongly about.

What other consumer boycotts are happening?

Friday’s boycott is one of several. A national boycott of Target started Feb. 1 to coincide with Black History Month. It was launched by civil rights activists in Minneapolis upset that Target has rolled back its DEI programs. Another boycott that lasts through the end of the year was outlined on Instagram by comedian and actress Leslie Jones. It encourages consumers to buy directly from Black-owned businesses and outlines planned protests in certain months against Amazon, Target and Walmart.

The faith community also plans a 40-day fast or boycott of Target because of its retreat from DEI initiatives starting March 5. A website, targetfast.org, has been created with more information.

The Latino community has also been active on social media using the hashtag #LatinoFreeze, encouraging supporters to “hold your money” amid freezes on DEI initiatives, reduced funding for the National Institutes of Health and actions on immigration.

Consumers are boycotting major retailers 

Here’s what they plan for ‘blackout’ on Feb. 28.

The movement encourages Latino Americans to shop only for essentials and to be thoughtful about where to buy with a focus on supporting “Latino American, Black American and Allied American Businesses that are supportive to this movement.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network also have held a few “buy-cotts” to bring supporters to Costco to spend money in support of the company’s board of directors, which voted down an effort to drop DEI initiatives.

The National Action Network also said in a news release that it would lead “a strategic boycott in the next 90 days of two companies that have dropped their DEI commitments amid public pressure.” No details have been released.

‘No Amazon, no Walmart, no fast food’: What’s behind the ‘Feb. 28 economic blackout’

A grassroots organization is calling on Americans to participate in what it’s calling the “Feb. 28 economic blackout” by refraining from buying goods from major retailers for 24 hours.

The nationwide protest comes amid rising prices on everything from gas to groceries — including, notably, eggs — and is similar to social media-fueled economic efforts that have cropped up online in recent months, including the “No Buy 2025” challenge against overconsumption.

Who’s behind the Feb. 28 blackout?

The Feb. 28 boycott is an initiative by the People’s Union USA, a self-described “grassroots movement dedicated to economic resistance, government accountability and corporate reform.”

The group, founded by John Schwarz, says it is not affiliated with any political party. According to the organization’s website, its goal is “to unite Americans against the corruption and greed that has kept us struggling for decades.”

The daylong boycott has been promoted online by several celebrities, including John Leguizamo, Stephen King and Bette Midler.

What’s the goal of the boycott?

“For our entire lives, they have told us we have no choice, that this is just how things are, that we have to accept these insane prices, the corporate greed, the billionaire tax breaks, all while we struggle just to get by,” Schwarz said in a recent Instagram video. “For one day, we are going to finally turn the tables.”‘

According to Schwarz, the idea is to halt all purchases from big corporations, both in store and online, from 12 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28.

“No Amazon, no Walmart, no fast food, no gas,” he said. “Not a single unnecessary dollar spent.”

What about medicine or emergency supplies?

On its website, the group is urging consumers to not spend money on “non-essential” items.

For essential purchases like food, medicine, or emergency supplies, Schwarz is encouraging participants to buy them from a local small business rather than a big-box retailer.

Some supporters of the blackout have suggested boycotting specific corporations that have ended their diversity, equity and inclusion programs following President Trump’s executive order targeting DEI initiatives. But while the People’s Union calls the abandonment of DEI programs “regressive and unacceptable,” the Feb. 28 boycott is aimed at all major retailers, regardless of their stance on DEI.

“If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message,” the organization said on its website.

What happens after Feb. 28?

Schwarz told USA Today earlier this month that he hopes to boycott other businesses “that are really the biggest offenders within the system.”

The People’s Union is already planning weeklong blackouts aimed at specific retailers, including Amazon, Target and Walmart.

The first, targeting Amazon, is scheduled to begin March 7.

Black History Moment: Malachi Wilkerson, Educator and Vocalist

By
Birmingham Times
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This article is the last one in the 2025 safety series on how education influenced safety in the African American community especially during the turn of the last century. Mr. Malachi Wilkerson is this week’s focus.

The former Wilkerson Elementary School opened in 1957 and now Wilkerson Middle School is named for in his honor.  The school transitioned to a grades 6-8 Middle School in 1989. The middle school is located on the same site, which is 116 11th Court West in the East Thomas neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama.

Malachi Wilkerson was born Jan. 8, 1884, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the member of the first graduating class at Industrial High now known as A. H. Parker High School. He furthered his education by attending Alabama A & M University and later Tuskegee Institute.

At this time in Birmingham’s history, all roads for African American educators would lead to Industrial High School. Therefore, he followed this path and joined the faculty at Industrial High School in 1911.

Wilkerson taught there for 25 years. He was the choral music director and head of the manual training department. Under his leadership, several immensely popular musical events were held at the school and for the community at large. These events were organized and directed by him.

Wilkerson was also the music director at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church. He was well known throughout the city for his melodic voice which was evident in the choirs directed under his leadership. It was stated in the newspaper article about his passing that he “was a favorite of Birmingham and Alabama.”

Wilkerson passed on March 28, 1935. The Birmingham Public School Superintendent Dr. C. B. Glenn along with Dr. C. A. Brown, associate superintendent of schools and Dr. A. H. Parker, principal of Industrial High School all spoke at his funeral service.

Wilkerson helped Keep an Eye on Safety in his community through the use of education and music.

“I did it [because] of my love for the people. I honestly believe God put me on this path to open up doors for other women and this shows me that we got them open.”

By
Birmingham Times
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0

JUDGE CAROLE SMITHERMAN ON BEING RECOGNIZED BY LOCAL
AND STATE OFFICIALS FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE LEGAL FIELD; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, FEB.22.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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The Selma 56th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations get started Monday, March 3 - Friday, March 9 in Selma, Alabama. (File)

BY GWEN DERU | The Birmingham Times

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY EVERY DAY!!!

TODAY…

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

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

**THURSDAY NIGHT AFTER PARTY with KIRKOS! at The Nick.

**UMPHREY’S MCGEE – CRUISING ALTITUDE 2025 TOUR at Iron City.

**CLUB SILENCIO: MUSIC FROM THE WORK OF DAVID LYNCH at The Nick.

**DAVID LYNCH’s WILD AT HEART at Saturn.

**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.

FRIDAY…

IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…

**EVERY FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY – MINI MAKERS AT THE GARDENS, 10 – 11 a.m. in the Adventure Classroom with Erica Scott of Dabble Arts Studio for child-led art playgrounds where children can create, explore and enjoy art. Register.

Living world of plants on a leisurely stroll in the Gardens. Register.

**PARTY ICONIC presents: HOT TO GO at Saturn.

**Q DOT & FRIENDS at The Nick.

**The 2025 AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS is NEXT FRIDAY, 6 p.m. at the Theodore. For more, addys@aafbirmingham.com.

**BIRTHDAY FREE SECTIONS ON A FRIDAY at Tha Vibe Bar and Lounge

**LATE NIGHT FRIDAYS with DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick Rocks.

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

**TRAP KARAOKE – PREMIER ADD ONS at Iron City.

**TRAP KARAOKE at Iron City.

SATURDAY…

**BIRMINGHAM BARONS JOB FAIR in the Pearl River Club Lounge at Regions Field, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for part time and seasonal positions in merchandise, food and beverage, food and beverage, operations, grounds. For more information contact: iberkopec@barons.com

**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.

**SHADOWS OF THE WIND, EMBR, BLOOD MOON RIOT at the Nick.

**SATURDAY NIGHT LATE NIGHT with R.1.Y.T. at The Nick.

**NEON ELECTRIC AND 80s DANCE PARTY at Saturn.

**POUYA – THEY COULD NEVER MAKE ME TOUR with FREDDIE DREDD at Iron City.

SUNDAY…

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

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

**2nd SUNDAY WITH ZAXH AUSTIN at The Nick.

**AN EVENING WITH AJ BEAVERS at The Nick Rocks.

**FIRST CONTACT KARAOKE at Saturn. FREE

**ALEXANDRA KAY CUPIDS A COWGIRL TOUR at Iron City.

MONDAY…

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

TUESDAY…

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

**SUBSTRATE BINGO with JACKIE LO at Saturn. FREE

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE EVERY TUESDAY at The Nick.

WEDNESDAY…

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

**EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT with SUNDROP at The Nick.

NEXT THURSDAY…

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

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

**LADY COUCH at The Nick.

**HOVVVDY with VIDEO AGE at Saturn.

NEXT FRIDAY….

**TERNION SOUND: FAREWELL TOUR with VCTRE LYKWID at Saturn.

**EDGE OF DESTINY & DEAD EMPIRE at The Nick.

**DEBI TIRAR MAS FIESTAS/THE BAD BUNNY PARTY at Iron City.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS FULL OF GOOD THINGS – CELEBRATE EVERY DAY!!

IN SELMA AND MONTGOMERY…

**SELMA JUBILEE 2025 – The Selma 56th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations get started Monday, March 3 – Friday, March 9 in Selma, Alabama. This is a very full week of activities and more into the next week, Set your clocks and your days. Schedule include: Monday- Friday: Kingian Nonviolence Training with certification. For more email training@selmacntr.org.

**THURSDAY -Voting Rights History Bowl, Revisiting the ‘Negro Problem”, Ministers of Justice Roundtable and Mass meeting.

**FRIDAY – Jubilee Golf Tournament at the Ocmulgee Golf Course in Valley Grande, AL. For more, register at kappaselma.com or call 334-327-5640; Education Summit, Children’s Sojourn/ Youth Freedom March Is Black Achievement Under Attack?, 50 Mile Peace Rally and Walk.*Mock Trial and Public Conversation.

**SATURDAY – *Foot Soldiers Breakfast, *Jubilee Parade, *The Formerly Incarcerated People Movement: Backwards March”, *Battle of the Bands, *Wellness & Empowerment Village, *Fighting Forward: Gen Z & Young Millennial Our Future, Our Vote!, *Women’s Roundtable: No Vote, No Voice, Moving Forward Luncheon. For more, 205-249-8559 0r 224-791-9385, *Moving Through Time with Art and Fashion, Fighting Forward: Unifying & Organizing to Face the challenges of 2025, The Blackbelt Cultural Village, Jubilee Street Festival at Water Avenue foot of Pettus Bridge, *Ministers of Justice Roundtable: Movement Building: Education and Activation, *Intergenerational Hip Hop Political Summit, *The Future of Non-Profits: Understanding the Proposed Legislation on 501-3C status, Fighting Forward: Voter Restoration Correction Now, *Induction into the Hall of Resistance, Induction into the Women’s Hall of Fame, *Meet, Mingle & Discuss Networking Reception, *Mr. & Ms. Jubilee Pageant. For more info, call 843-816-6283 OR 470-884-3032. *Induction into the Legal Hall of Fame, *Steppin’ Out on the Vote Step show, Freedom Flame Awards Gala, * Be Heard, World Theatre Troupe & Selma Students with Spoken Word, song, Hip Hop and Modern Dance. For more info 617-513-9314.

**SUNDAY – Martin & Coretta King Unity Breakfast, *Sunday Morning Services, * re March Rally, * Bridge Program, * March to Restore Voting rights,*Post March Rally and Benefit Concert for the National Voting Rights Museum, *Blues Concert and Gospel Concert.

**STARTING MONDAY, March 10 – FRIDAY, March 14 – The SELMA TO MONTGOMERY MARCH starting at the Foot of the Pettus Bridge on Water Avenue Selma, AL and ending Friday at the State Capital Building in Montgomery, AL   (IN CASE OF RAIN, Festival will be moved to the former Concordia College Campus. For full schedule, updated information, or tickets visit www.selmajubilee.com.

FOR LOVERS OF PLAYS…

**TODAY – BEN DAVIS – WATCH HIM FLY – A One-Man Play – The Southern Museum of Flight presents a One-Man Stage Play BEN DAVIS – WATCH HIM FLY by J. LEON PRIDGEN, author, actor and U.S. Army veteran, at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. with complimentary school performances at the Southern Museum of Flight, 4343 73rd Street north.  The play tells the life story of General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., the first commander of the Tuskegee Airmen who spent more than 35 years in the military and helped integrate the U.S. Air Force by serving as the service’s First Black General. There will also be a Black Aviator Tour and dedicated activities.  A reception and complete stage play will also be performed on Thursday February 27 at 5:30 p.m. That evening will also feature a panel discussion about the inspirational legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and how it can be used to promote educational and career opportunities in the aviation industry among underrepresented communities. The panel will include administrators and educators from Tuskegee University as well as delegates from Tuskegee Moton Field Municipal Airport. For more: southernmuseumofflight.org.

FOR BOOK LOVERS…

BOOK – T. MATTIE’S MANNERS by RITA COLLINS, author tells the story of eight-year0old Morgan’s visit with her great-aunt Mattie.  In this story, children learn practical lessons in etiquette. The beautiful illustrations take you into T. Mattie’s home, where manners are practices and family love abounds. Look for the book and others at www.ritacollinsauthor.com.

FOR ART LOVERS…

AT THE BIRMINGHAM LIBRARY DOWNTOWN…

**ART EXHIBIT – VESSELS OF POSSIBILITY by LARRY ALLEN, now through February 28 on the First Floor Lobby Gallery.

**ART EXHIBIT – ISSUES – TIME by JOURDAN TRUTH MCGOWAN, now through April 18 on the Fourth Floor Downtown Library.

FOR MOTORSPORTS LOVERS…

**NASCAR KICKS OFF THE 2025 SEASON – Talladega Superspeedway’s President Brian Crichton spoke on the start of the 2025 NASCAR season ahead of the Daytona Beach action and the Daytona 500.  The action at Daytona started with the Daytona 500 Qualifying by Busch Light, setting the field for the Duel at Daytona, where drivers battled it out for a spot in the Great American Race. This season’s opening races for all three of NASCAR national series are ARCA Menards Series on FRIDAY, starting with the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250. Then SATURDAY featured an action-packed double-header with the ARCA Menards Series Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente 200 race followed by the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300.  SUNDAY the drivers competed in the 67th DAYTONA 500. The drivers head to Talladega Superspeedway for races APRIL 25 through April 27 and again October 17 through October 19. SEE YOU AT THE RACES!!!

AT THE ALABAMA BALLET…

**PETER PAN, February 28- March 9 at the BJCC Concert Hall.

AT VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM…

**FROM STEEL TO STAGE: THE HISTORY OF THEATRE IN BIRMINGHAM – This exhibition features artifacts, photos and stories from various sources in and around Birmingham. It will reflect how creativity and vision of the past continue to inspire the thriving arts and cultural scene through January, 2026.

AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…

**FRIDAY – PROPAGATING WOODY PLANTS, 10 – Noon, Practice grafting with Horticulturist Julia Adams, using Japanese Maples and experiment with camellias to learn air layering technique. She will guide the attendees on how each can be used to propagate plants that don’t root well form cuttings. Register.

**MARCH 21-22 – 2025 – Native Plant Conference with Keynote Speaker Benjamin Vogt.

FOR THE YOUTH…

**LEARN AND GROW – Discover how you can influence your child’s development and build their future from the beginning. Free for families living or working in Jefferson County: one class per week for 8 weeks, receive books, educational toys and a $75 gift Card. Sessions are on Zoom and in person. For more details, call 502-4406 or 205-538-3379.

**STRIVE BIRMINGHAM is having a Start Career in Healthcare and Office Operations program for 10 weeks that includes: training, certifications and job placement assistance, earn as you learn for students and a lifetime support services for graduates.

**CAMP CREW NEEDED – Help Alabama’s adoptees have a summer at camp. Make new friend and create memories with Camp APAC July 21 – 25th at Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, AL.  Contact Children’s Aid Society of Alabama for more. There is a $450 stipend.

**THINK BIG FOUNDATION x BETTER HELP – FREE THERAPY – This free therapy is with a licensed therapist based on your needs, preferences and location. For more and to address questions: contact@betterhelp.com. It is convenient wherever you are – video, phone or text. Three months free.

AT UAB…MENTAL HEALTH MONDAYS…

**MARCH 1 – INAUGURAL RARE DISEASE FUN RUN at Railroad Park.

**MARCH 17 – “Disability Arts Festival: Spotlight on Jessica Blinkhorn and Victoria Dugger.

**APRIL 21 – STORIES FROM THE STAGE – Creating Community and Connection through Artistic Expression with “FROM WHERE I SIT by Suzanne Costello

**MAY 19 – MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING: A CONVERSATION WITH DONNA DUKE-POPE

(For more and to register go to, AlysStephens.org and questions, email: artsinmedicine@uab.edu.)

AT BCRI…

**THROUGH MARCH 22 – BLACK HISTORY MONTH ON VIEW… one exhibit is FORGED IN LIBERATION at the Odessa Gallery about the Black Workers in the Struggle for Equality, another one is, FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE: THE LIFE OF RUTH J. JACKSON.

**FEBRUARY 19 – SOCIAL JUSTICE CAFÉ February 19 – FORCED PRISON LABOR AND CONVICT LEASING 4p.m on Zoom

**FEBRUARY 22 – COMMUNITY WELLNESS DAY at BCRI, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the BCRI with free screenings and fresh produce.

**FEBRUARY 27 – LUNCH AND LEARN MOVEMENTS & TODAY’s Workforce Access,

COMING…

**JUNE 24 – DAVE MATTHEWS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

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

At A.G. Gaston Conference in Birmingham, CNN’s Victor Blackwell Offers Way to Counter DEI Rollbacks

By
Birmingham Times
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Award-winning journalist Art Franklin, left, with Emmy-award winning and CNN anchor Victor Blackwell on stage during the 2025 A.G. Gaston Conference. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

With multiple companies peeling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, Emmy-award winning journalist and CNN anchor Victor Blackwell on Tuesday had an important question during the 2025 A.G. Gaston Conference at the Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham.

“If those who are anti-DEI, anti-LGBTQ, or anti-woke … if they can organize, where is the organization for people who believe that DEI is a nonnegotiable? If you believe that it is important and nonnegotiable, where is the organization?” Blackwell asked.

Blackwell was being interviewed by award-winning journalist Art Franklin during a Fireside Chat.

Blackwell was one of more than a dozen featured guests that included attorney J. Mason Davis, a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham office; Rev. Thomas Wilder Jr., Pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Collegeville; Charlotte Shaw, CEO, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority; and Dontrelle Young Foster, CEO, Housing Authority of the Birmingham District.

Some leaders and organizations are beginning to fight attempts by the Trump administration to roll back many DEI initiatives, Blackwell said.

“We’re starting to see some of it. Rev. Al Sharpton has started a 90-day campaign of study of those companies that have divested from DEI,” said Blackwell. “But there needs to be more. There is now a Target boycott being run by [Atlanta] Pastor Jamal Bryant that’s 40 days, my question is what happens after 40 days?”

Business leaders can also apply pressure in Montgomery and in Washington, he said.

“We know that the life blood of politics is not always the people power or those ground organizers, it is the money… Use that power for what you think is important,” said Blackwell adding, “there is no brand damage to divesting from DEI (for many companies) because it’s been two years of a train in one direction. You have 19 attorneys general across the country that are pressuring Costco and other companies as well” to rollback DEI initiatives.

To be effective, those looking to make a statement to companies ending DEI is to “pick one or two things … and pushing in that direction,” he said.

He gave his example: ”It was the day that a student walked into Marjorie Stone Douglas High School and went on a shooting rampage. And so I was there in Florida …  and the next day I sat with five high school students who said, ‘We are going to organize.’ and I said, ‘What do you see that suggests that you’re gonna be able to change policy under Governor Rick Scott, under then-President Donald Trump with two Republican senators and a completely Republican legislature?’”

“They said we will organize. We’ll pick two things and push those. Eight months later, there were hundreds of thousands of people in Washington for the March For Our Lives, and they changed Florida laws.”

As the co-anchor of CNN This Morning Weekend as well as First of All With Victor Blackwell, which focuses on stories affecting communities of color, Blackwell said he has a commitment to empower and amplify stories that are of importance or often go untold.

The show “is the only regular show on a major network that focuses on stories that impact communities of color,” he said.

First of All with Victor Blackwell airs on CNN on weekends and you can also listen to the podcast version. 

Black-Owned Business to Operate Birmingham’s A.G. Gaston Motel Coffee Shop  

By
Birmingham Times
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From left: Naimah Alicia Elmore, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Rashad Harrel after Alicia's Coffee was selected to operate the coffee shop at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

birminghamal.gov 

Alicia’s Coffee LLC, a Black-owned business founded by Naimah Alicia Elmore and Rashad Harrell, was selected to operate the coffee shop at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel.

The business, which officially opened its doors at the Motel this week, was founded in 2020 to serve communities through organic, responsibly sourced coffee and acts of community service, according to the company. Its guiding principle, “Coffee is a connection,” reflects its commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and giving back to the community.

“It is an honor to be downtown to help revitalize the community,” said Elmore. “We want to do great things in the neighborhood and in the community. Certain things you cannot talk about in church, certain things you cannot talk about in school, but you can inside of a coffee shop. It is really a healing place, a safe place for people of all ages and races.”

Alicia’s Coffee is open from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week. It offers three signature blends—Brazilian, Costa Rican, and Colombian—each known for its unique and organic flavors. The owners hosted a soft opening in mid-January and officially celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with the support of the City of Birmingham.

The menu features lattes, smoothies, teas, and a signature drink named “Room 30,” named after the Gaston Motel’s “War Room” where Dr. King planned strategies for the Birmingham movement. The drink is a handcrafted latte with oat milk, two shots of espresso, and raspberry syrups. The shop also has pastries, muffins, and baked goods from Amber’s Dessert, a local, African American baker.

“We’re happy to have Alicia’s Coffee here in this sacred space,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “This coffee has a mission to serve communities not just through coffee but through acts of community service. There is no better space to live those words than right here. The space that became the headquarters of equality and justice in our city. To the owners, Naimah and Rashad, please note that your city has your back.”

The A.G. Gaston Motel, built in 1954, was a meeting place for Civil Rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It holds deep historical significance as a key site of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, established in 2017 by President Barack Obama.

The motel is the centerpiece of the monument, a partnership between the National Park Service, the City of Birmingham, and the Historic Preservation Authority. The City of Birmingham invested $10 million into its restoration, with an additional $1.1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation supporting the coffee shop, dining room, and exhibit restoration.

“I also want you to remember the words of A.G. Gaston, ‘Find a need and fill it.’” Woodfin told the coffee shop owners. “Successful businesses are found on the need of people. So you’re not just serving coffee, you’re maintaining a legacy of service that extends beyond our lifetime. So continue to pour into this community I promise we’ll be there to receive.

“Birmingham knows how to support our own, we know how to support our own Black-owned and we know how to support our businesses. We can’t wait to make you a staple of our community,” said Woodfin.

‘We Were Always Together … We Were in Love And Making Plans For Our Future’

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Birmingham Times
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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

JANICE & VILGIL VANCE

Live: Helena

Married: Sept. 30, 1978

Met: In 1964, at Zion Lutheran School in Bessemer, Vilgil recalls meeting Janice in kindergarten saying he had a crush on her way back then. “I used to like looking at her long ponytails,” Vilgil laughed. However, Janice remembers their first meeting in their neighborhood on the north side of Bessemer while hanging with her cousin.

“[Alfred and I] started liking each other at age 13, Vilgil was best friends with my cousin, Alfred Moore” Janice said.

“When [Alfred and I] would hang out, and Janice would be around, I could tell she was interested because she would walk to the [neighborhood store] every day, looking cute dressed in her halter-top, and she did that because she had to pass my house on the way to the store,” Vilgil remembered.

“And then when my parents moved us [to the Burstall neighborhood in Bessemer] they gave me and my siblings a little going away party and I called to invite Vilgil to the party and he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said ‘yes’,” Janice said, “and we’ve been together ever since. And when we first [became boyfriend and girlfriend] I could not have company, so we used to meet up under the tree at my neighbor’s house every week. We were among friends and my siblings, but we used to sit out there and have a good time.”

As time went on, the pair got older, and once they turned 16, Janice could start “receiving male company.”

First date: November 1975, at Janice’s family home in Bessemer. She had just turned 16 and could now date Vilgil openly.

“Back in the day, Wednesday and Sunday nights, used to be date night… that was when we could receive company, and knowing Vilgil was coming to see me was the highlight of my week,” Janice said. “And the first time he came over I remember picking out my outfit a whole week before, I had my hair laid and was smelling good. And [my parents] let us ‘sofa-sit’ in the living room and he had to leave by 9 p.m., but as time went on he could stay later.”

“I remember being a little nervous about coming there and ringing that doorbell,” Vilgil laughed. “But her parents were nice and welcoming, they made me feel alright.”

The turn: At age 16, they said. “We were really in love, we would talk about our future… but I knew before then that I wanted Vilgil to be my husband,” Janice said.

“I knew before we started dating that Janice was the one. And once we could be together we were always together,” Vilgil said. “Like she said, we were in love and making plans for our future.”

Janet and Vilgil Vance met in 1964 at Zion Lutheran School in Bessemer. The couple had their first date in 1975, and married in 1978. (Provided)

The proposal: June 1978. Vigil proposed over the phone while away at basic training at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

“I knew I was getting ready to be stationed in Columbus, Ohio, and I wanted her to come with me, so I asked her over the phone, did she want to come to Ohio with me as my wife, and she said ‘yes’,” said Vilgil.

“I said ‘Sure’. I was in my first semester of college at Birmingham Southern and I dropped everything to be with him because I knew he was my husband. It was everything we always talked about, it was time,” Janice said.

The wedding: On the front porch of Janice’s parent’s home in Bessemer, officiated by Reverend William H. Walker, of Mount Hebron Baptist Church, in Bessemer. Their colors were yellow and green.

Most memorable for the bride was “when I actually saw him in his white tux, it was surreal… I was just a teenager and I was actually getting married,” Janice said. “I was thinking about how I was about to leave my mama and daddy, and my siblings and go to a whole new place with my sweetheart and start the life we always talked about.”

Most memorable for the groom was a moment during the ceremony. “When the pastor asked ‘who gives this woman to be wed’, her daddy said ‘I Do’ so loud, and I took that as him trusting me with his first daughter. We had a good relationship, and he looked at me like a son,” Vilgil said.

The couple honeymooned for three nights at the Ramada Inn in Bessemer before getting on the road to head to his station in Ohio.

Words of wisdom: “Keep God as the foundation. Always communicate and continue to date consistently. With God being first as the foundation, you’re able to overcome all the obstacles in marriage and weather the different seasons that marriage presents. Communication is the key because if you do not talk your marriage will be based on assumption, you’ll always be assuming what the other is thinking. And dating is so essential because it gives you that one-on-one time with each other to get away from the distractions and the noise. You can travel, or create space for whatever the two of you need at the moment,” Janice said.

Said Vilgil, “We were asked this [words of wisdom] while we were in Costa Rica in September celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary, and somebody asked us what was the key to 46 years and we both said the same thing (see above). So, I agree with everything she said.

Happily ever after: Janice attends New Life Church of God Birmingham, and Vilgil attends Isreal of God in Birmingham. They have two adult children, Brian and La’Miracle Vance, and five grandchildren.

Janice, 64, is a Bessemer native and Jess Lanier High School grad. She attended Massey Draughon Business College in Montgomery, Ala., where she earned a business certification. Janice retired from the US Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery after 30 years and is also a certified marriage coach, and content creator with a podcast and YouTube channel titled “Women Majoring in Their Marriage.”

Vilgil, 65, is a Bessemer native, and Holy Family High School grad. He served in the US Air Force for 6 years and worked for the Air Force as a civilian for more than 30 years as a program manager. Vilgil is now a retired Air Force contractor, and he and Janice relocated to Helena in May 2023 to be closer to their family.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

Birmingham Model Royal Cromwell’s High Heels — and Even Higher Ambitions

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Birmingham Times
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As a Gen Z model, creative force, and runway coach, Royal Cromwell, who identifies as “male with androgynous features,” has broken barriers in fashion. (Micah Madison, Special to The Times)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

Ten-inch heels are more than a fashion statement for Royal Cromwell — they are a declaration of confidence, a tribute to his unapologetic androgyny, and a symbol of defiance.

In a world that often demands conformity, Cromwell refuses to shrink. Instead, at 5 feet, 7 inches tall, he rises—and, in his heels, towers—commanding attention in ways that can’t be ignored. At just 24, Cromwell’s journey into fashion wasn’t just about style, it was about self-discovery, resilience, and making space where none existed.

As a Gen Z model, creative force, and runway coach, Cromwell, who identifies as “male with androgynous features,” has broken barriers in fashion.

In 2024, he secured a pivotal role as a model coach and the chief operating officer (COO) with RxRunway, a global fashion production company operating in more than 17 countries, including fashion capitals like Tokyo, Japan; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Milan, Italy; Paris, France; and New York City, New York.

Getting hired by RxRunway felt too good to be true, Cromwell told The Birmingham Times.

“I thought it was a scam,” he said with a laugh. “I took my student refund check and booked a flight. … I flew down to Miami, [Florida], because I had to see if it was real—and it was. I met the founder, [Cassandra Lang], and I’ve been rocking ever since.”

Cromwell’s initial booking with RxRunway as a model coach for its New York Fashion Week shows spun into his first opportunity to travel internationally in 2024.

“Every time my boss sends me an email with my tickets and confirmation, it’s still a dream,” Cromwell said. “I cry every time I leave a country. The first time I cried was [when I was] leaving Paris. … I left Dubai and cried. We went to London, [England], and Spain, and I cried both times. It’s been a very emotional and spiritually gracious process. … I’ve been trying to thank God and stay grounded the whole way because this is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of models.”

As COO with RxRunway, Cromwell oversees the company’s global fashion productions and creative direction. He’s also launched The Artista Firm (TAF), a creative consulting firm that bridges art, business, and technology.

“We empower models and creatives with [artificial intelligence (AI)]-driven strategies for business and marketing in today’s digital landscape,” he said.

Royal Cromwell has broken barriers in fashion. (Chris Bennett, Special to The Times)

Walking Tall

For Cromwell, modeling isn’t just about clothes because nothing commands attention quite like his signature heels.

“At first, I was skeptical when my mentor, Daniel Scott Lewis, [a master in walking and runaway etiquette], proposed the idea of wearing them,” Cromwell said. “But once I put them on, I realized it was an art form. I have 10-inch and 7-inch heels, and heel-less heels that are 6 inches and 8 inches.”

What started as a bold fashion choice quickly became part of his brand. High heels didn’t just elevate his walk, they elevated his artistic expression — and soon the public reinforced it. If Cromwell stepped outside without his heels, people would ask, “Are you OK?” as if something was wrong. It wasn’t just a statement anymore; it was an expectation.

“Birmingham made me comfortable in my own skin,” Cromwell said. “At this point, it’s not just something I do, it’s part of who I am.”

This look helped set him apart but, more importantly, reinforced his belief that modeling is about self-expression, first and foremost.

With a career that has already taken him around the globe, Cromwell is far from done. As he steps into his new role as COO of RxRunway and fully launches TAF, his focus is shifting toward empowering the next generation of creatives.

“I feel like God gave me [an assignment] to deepen what I want to do here in Birmingham, which is why I am the visionary behind [TAF],” he said. “It’s a task to try and provide space for opportunity connection.”

Humble Beginnings

Royal Cromwell officially stepped into his role as COO with RxRunway this year. (Silver Vixen, Special to The Times)

Cromwell, a resident of Birmingham’s Titusville neighborhood, was born at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was an infant, his mother, Valita Marshall, moved to Newark, New Jersey, where Cromwell lived with his mom, his late grandmother, Johnita Marshall, and his big sister, Chi. The family lived in New Jersey for 10 years before relocating to Titusville, his mother’s and grandmother’s hometown, in 2011.

Cromwell attended Glen Iris Elementary on Birmingham’s Southside, William James Christian Middle School in the city’s Roebuck neighborhood, and Ramsay High School, also on the Southside.

“I was always considered a very bright but quiet child,” he recalled. “I was in the gifted program [because] people knew there was a lot inside me. But by the time I got to high school, I was bullied so much that I just wanted to have a voice. I didn’t want to bully back, but I wanted people to hear me when I said, ‘Leave me alone.’”

Cromwell used fashion as his voice.

“I developed in my style and what I wore. … As I put those clothes on, I started creating this different, more confident personality inside of me,” he said. “I guess the core of why I started playing with fashion was because in high school I was trying to express myself without hurting anybody else.”

Cromwell’s entry into the world of fashion was as much about lineage as it was about passion. He was raised in a home where creativity wasn’t just encouraged—it was inherited. In the 1990s, his mother was a dancer who performed behind celebrity acts. And in 1965, his grandmother was one of the first African American women from Alabama to get a center spread in Jet magazine.

Cromwell’s mother would sign him and his sister up for modeling opportunities. His early years in fashion, however, were spent behind the scenes, styling hair and helping during fashion shows and theater productions put on by Ramsay High School’s theater department and at several fashion-focused events in Birmingham.

“I’ve paid my dues in this industry, for sure,” Cromwell said. “I’d been working on fashion events in the city as a volunteer since I was 14 years old, doing anything from modeling to personal assisting, styling hair, managing models, sorting garments, cleaning up—you name it.”

A full-circle moment came for Cromwell when he went from being a volunteer at fashion benefits for Poze Bazaar Foundation Inc., a local creative arts nonprofit, to being its talent director.

“To have that shift in position is an honor,” he said. “It’s very rewarding, and it lets me know that my dedication to this cause of providing opportunities to artistic youth is noticed and appreciated.”

For years, Royal Cromwell questioned if the fashion industry had room for him. Now, he no longer asks for space—he makes it. (Chris Bennett, Special to The Times)

Local Runways to Global Stages

Cromwell’s talents have taken him from high school runways to global stages, which has fueled his passion for teaching. Working in other parts of the world changed his perspective “drastically,” he said.

“Considering that I had never gotten the opportunity to learn from anyone in [Birmingham] that had modeled in other parts of the world, I was able to see that what I had learned from mentors was sufficient,” he added. “In Milan and Paris, [workshop] students asked me how much they owed me and if they could continue working with me virtually as a model coach and mentor.”

Coaching his international students means ignoring the fact that he lives in the North American Central Time Zone, Cromwell said: “I had never interacted with someone that was seven or eight hours ahead of my time [zone] before. At 1 p.m. for me, it’s 9 p.m. [for them]. … It took some time to figure it out, but now I’m no stranger to waking up in the middle of the night for a coaching session.”

His experience in local fashion shows and creative events gave him a strong foundation in runway mechanics, production, and stage presence. What truly set him apart, though, was his ability to connect with models beyond technique.

“I’ve had models come to me after trying to break into the industry for 10 years, and I have models who are just starting out. Every model has a different hurdle to overcome, every model has a different goal they’re trying to reach. My job is to help them find their confidence and own their presence,” Cromwell said.

Modeling isn’t just about walking, it’s about presence, Cromwell said: “When you step onto that runway, everyone is watching because you have a certain energy, an aura. My job is to help models tap into that.”

For years, Cromwell questioned if the fashion industry had room for him. Now, he no longer asks for space—he makes it.

“I realized I don’t have to wait for space to be made, I can create it myself. Every opportunity I’ve had came because I stepped out, took a risk, and proved I belonged there—and that’s what I want to show other creatives. You don’t have to fit into a mold. You don’t have to follow a blueprint. If you don’t see a lane for yourself, build one,” Cromwell said.

To learn more about Royal Cromwell, visit his social media sites on Facebook (www.facebook.com/royalcromwell), Instagram (www.instagram.com/royalcromwell), and TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@royalcromwell).

Poze Bazaar Fashion Showcases Spring/Summer 2025 Collections at the Hyatt Regency Wynfrey

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Birmingham Times
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Poze Bazaar Fashion Founder + Executive Director, La'Vinnia Holliday, left, with Host Tonia Michele, WBRC Meteorologist. (Marika N. Johnson)

Story and Photos By Marika N. Johnson | For The Birmingham Times

The Hyatt Regency Wynfrey Hotel on February 22 hosted the Poze Bazaar Fashion Show, a vibrant event blending art and fashion to support education.

The latest Spring/Summer 2025 collections from renowned designers including styles from Belk that included Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Gucci, Betsey Johnson, Jessica Rich and Ralph Lauren were presented. Local boutiques included Hoover Renee’, Camille Anthony Swim, and D’trespa Vintage.

Model with D’Trespa Vintage Boutique. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

The event, organized by the Poze Bazaar Foundation in partnership with Belk at Riverchase Galleria, aimed to raise funds for college scholarships benefiting underserved youth. The theme, “The Connection between Mental Health and Creativity,” highlighted the positive impact of artistic expression on well-being.

Doug Parrish, Director of Sponsorships for the United Football League and the Birmingham Stallions, said the team “takes great pride in partnering with organizations that are making a real impact in the community—especially when it comes to style and fashion…”

In addition to the Stallions community partners included the Riverchase Galleria, BhamNow, Hyatt Regency Wynfrey Hotel, Merk’s Tavern, and Prescott House Child Advocacy Center.

Model with D’Trespa Vintage Boutique. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
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