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If you’re a ‘Birmingham critic,’ this column is not for you.

What the City of Birmingham is doing is ambitious, strategic, and definitely would not be expected from a governmental entity.

Most folks may not be aware of this broad-based effort, but it’s getting national attention.

Ever since the first ComebackTown column was published in 2012, readers have had to endure countless negative comments by Birmingham critics and CAVE people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) painting Birmingham’s Mayors, City Councilors, and the Board of Education as incompetent and combative with one another.

Today, working as a team, Birmingham Mayor Randal Woodfin, City Councilors, and School Board members have developed a thoughtful comprehensive plan focused on improving the quality of life for Birmingham’s youth that points to a brighter future for Birmingham.

The plan is long-term, however, and will require discipline, patience, and perseverance.

It’s not being sold to the public as a flashy ‘quick fix’ to appease voters, but as a serious effort to attack the two biggest problems plaguing Birmingham today—crime and perceived poor educational opportunities.

I was not aware of this multifaceted plan until my wife, a retired educator in Birmingham City Schools, volunteered to tutor 3rd graders at Oliver Elementary School in Birmingham for a program called Page Pals.

Page Pals

A provision in the Alabama Literacy Act went into effect this year that requires 3rd graders to read at a 3rd grade level or they will not be allowed promotion to the 4th grade.

There are 1,300 third graders in Birmingham City Schools and it’s estimated about 700 of them are unable to read at a 3rd grade level. The City of Birmingham, partnering with Birmingham City Schools, has recruited an army of about 700 volunteers to tutor these students.

What I never expected

My wife came home from her first day of volunteerism not only excited about working with her students, but also enthusiastic to be working with other committed volunteers.

Some of the volunteers working alongside her at Oliver Elementary School are Mayor Woodfin’s mom, who is a retired educator, the wife of Birmingham City Council President Darryl O’Quinn–along with city employees and retired teachers.

Ingenious program to help preschoolers

Small Magic is another initiative being promoted and supported by the City of Birmingham and is quite ingenious.

My wife always told me that the biggest obstacle facing Birmingham City School teachers is that too many students start school lacking pre-reading and social skills.

The Small Magic organization works with preschoolers as young as four months old, parents, and care givers to use state-of-the-are technology to prepare students for preschool and kindergarten.

The City of Birmingham is investing $1 million into this program— the single largest municipally funded early childhood investment in the history of the City of Birmingham.

Full college scholarships for all high school graduates

The Birmingham Promise guarantees high school graduates of Birmingham City Schools a full college scholarship to any two or four-year public college in Alabama, as long as they are accepted for admission.

College scholarships are offered to all families no matter their economic status.

According to the Birmingham Times, “Since its creation in 2020, Birmingham Promise has provided $5.5 million in tuition assistance to 1,000 graduates of Birmingham City Schools.”

Internship Program and trade opportunities

Mayor Woodfin estimated in his State of the City address that there are about 1,000 students graduating from Birmingham City Schools this year. He said 450 to 500 won’t go to college. They may join the work force, the military, or become entrepreneurs. Thanks again to the Birmingham Promise there is a robust internship program for them.

There is a track for students who wish to pursue a trade. And seniors in Birmingham City Schools who have at least a 2.0 grade point average are eligible to apply for internships. They leave school early, work a minimum of 15 hours per week, and receive a wage of $15 an hour.

Conflict resolution

Many young adults across the nation are lacking social skills and the City of Birmingham is making the necessary investment in conflict resolution.

The city is working to address violent crime through investments in prevention and re-entry programs as well as enforcement. There is even a component that teaches financial literacy. The city has committed:

• $1 million with all services performed over the next three fiscal years
• $1 million to mental health support for in Birmingham City Schools students
• $2.1 million as a funding-partner with the Jefferson County Department of Health in a hospital-linked violence intervention program”

Birmingham in the spotlight nationally

According to the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ), “Four Birmingham non-profit leaders were selected to present at South SXSW EDU Conference (previously South by Southwest) in Austin that draws more than 160,000 attendees each year and has been expanded to include national luminaries from entertainment, technology and politics including Willie Nelson and President Barack Obama.

“Birmingham will be represented in four panels at the conference and is the only city in the spotlight for the event. According to a release, the Birmingham group plans to engage in conversations about boosting college access, early literacy, innovations to support neurodivergent learners and the role of AI in preparing students for the workforce.”

A brighter future for Birmingham

Mayor Woodfin, the Birmingham City Council, and Birmingham City Schools have developed a broad-based program that touch youth from the time they are toddlers until they are ready for the workforce.

Assuming future government entities follow through on these initiatives, the result will be a more highly educated population, greater public safety, increased economic development, and a better quality of life for everyone.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected].