MARCH 2022
IRON CITY
VOLUME 6
ISSUE 10
INK HELLO FRESH AIR X
Our Spring Recreation Guide highlights city’s top spots to exercise, enjoy nature. 16 INSIDE
CITY BEAT
City Beat Downtown gaining a new movie theater; lots of sports on tap this season for Magic City; Birmingham searching for new police chief. 6
BUSINESS
SIPS & BITES
HAPPENINGS
ARTIST
FACES
NECK OF THE WOODS
Seeking Racial Equity
Celebrating the Arts
Regions invests in minority communities through ¡HICA!, BuildUP programs. 10
Birmingham Museum of Art kicks off busy spring, summer seasons with exhibitions, festivals. 12
DISCOVER
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Lakeview/ Southside 720 32nd Street South 205.731.2177
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SEASON OPENING See what’s new at the BMA for 2022! Join us at the ReFRAME, an immersive celebration with a fresh perspective, inspired by art and culture from around the world.
The [ Spring ]
ReFRAME Friday · March 18 · 5–9pm free admission · artsbma.org
Manjari Sharma, Lord Ganesha, 2011; Museum purchase, 2020.48.1a, Courtesy of the artist < Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Red Spirit, 2020; Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Gift of Frederick Hutson, AFI.89.202, © Tunji Adeniyi-Jones
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ABOUT
CITY BEAT
BUSINESS
SIPS & BITES
IRON CITY INK
HAPPENINGS
MARCH 2022
ARTIST
FACES
NECK OF THE WOODS
DISCOVER
16 HELLO FRESH AIR: Our Spring Recreation Guide highlights city’s top spots to exercise, enjoy nature.
CITY BEAT
FACES
NECK OF THE WOODS
ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTIONS: Downtown gaining a new movie theater; lots of sports on tap this season for Magic City; Birmingham searching for new police chief. 6
FOREST PARK: The Crisis Center receives one of first grants from Megan’s Fund. 18
BUSINESS
SEEKING RACIAL EQUITY: Regions invests in minority communities through ¡HICA!, BuildUP programs. 10
A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE ARTS: Birmingham Museum of Art kicks off busy spring, summer seasons with exhibitions, festivals. 12
UAB: Student microloans, honors for UAB Hospital, $6M for epidemiology researcher. 18
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Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Nick Patterson Community Editors: Jesse Chambers Jon Anderson Leah Ingram Eagle Neal Embry Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley
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Legals: Iron City Ink is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Information in Iron City Ink is gathered from sources considered reliable, but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Iron City Ink. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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ON THE COVER: Walkers get some exercise and enjoying the outdoors along the Rotary Trail in Birmingham. Photo courtesy of Kalli Jones and the Freshwater Land Trust.
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IRONCITY.INK
ABOUT
EDITOR’S NOTE
S
pring begins March 20, and I look forward to warm weather and a feeling of rebirth and renewal. “Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer,” composer Gustav Mahler said. “I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.” Of course, there’s still the matter of the COVID-19 pandemic, which marks its second anniversary this month. In fact, as I write this, the weather is still cold, the Omicron variant rules, and that sense of rebirth that spring provides seems a long way off. But we can at least hope that soon we’ll return to some kind of normalcy. And regardless of COVID-19, I need to get outdoors and exercise. I need to run and walk and feel my heart and lungs pumping.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
During the pandemic, I’ve been inactive, and I haven’t felt safe going to the gym. But now, whatever it takes, I have to take care of my body, especially because exercise has psychological as well as physical benefits. Following this theme, our cover story this month is our second annual spring recreation guide, with a rundown of outdoor facilities in Birmingham. So check it out, and perhaps visit a place you’ve never visited before. Happy spring!
Alabama Power (3) Art House Creative (19) Bedzzz Express (20) Birmingham Museum of Art (2, 11) Children’s of Alabama (5)
Max Transit (10)
Cottontails Village (5)
ROME Study, UAB Division of Preventative Medicine (7)
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department (3)
Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (7)
Magic City Art Connection (10)
The Altamont School (14) TherapySouth Lakeview (2)
FIND US Pick up the latest issue of Iron City Ink at the following locations or go to ironcity.ink/about-us for a complete list of our rack locations: ► Birmingham Public Library – Avondale, Central, East Lake and Southside branches ► Birmingham Museum of Art ► Charm on 2nd ► Crestwood Coffee Co.
Over 500 Booths!
► Five Points Market ► Jim Reed Books ► McWane Science Center ► Niki’s West ► Red Cat Coffee House ► Seasick Records ► Ted’s Restaurant ► The Westin Hotel
► YMCA - Downtown ► Yo’ Mama’s Restaurant Want to join this list or get Iron City Ink mailed to your home? Contact Anna Jackson at ajackson @starnesmedia.com.
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MARCH 4-6
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M I D T O W N P E D I AT R I C S 1 4 0 0 4 T H AV E N U E S O U T H BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 205-329-7200 ChildrensAL.org/midtown-pediatrics
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Movie theater, lots of sports on tap for Magic City By ERIC TAUNTON and JESSE CHAMBERS
T
his month in City Beat, downtown Birmingham gets a boost with the addition of another first-run movie theater. In sports, the Legion FC soccer team will open its fourth season in the Magic City in a new home stadium. The revived United States Football League will host its entire 2022 season in Birmingham. The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced a series of “SWAC Classic” football games to be in Birmingham, with the first game this fall featuring Jackson State University and its famed head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. At press time, the city of Birmingham is also in search of a new police chief.
REMEMBER THE ALAMO
The 1895-vintage Powell Avenue Steam Plant — located at Powell Avenue and 18th Street South — once supplied the electric power to downtown Birmingham, including its street cars. Now Alabama Power and the developers at Birmingham-based Orchestra Partners hope the newly renovated mixed-use facility can draw a roster of new tenets to supply a different kind of energy to help power an already booming Parkside district. In February, Orchestra Partners announced the first major tenant in the steam plant: the popular movie theater chain, Alamo Drafthouse. “Since announcing redevelopment plans for Powell Steam Plant in November 2019, our goal from day one was to be intentional about finding the right tenant that aligns with the shared vision for this historic property,” Orchestra Partners co-founder and principal Hunter Renfroe said in a statement. “By partnering with a reputable national plan like Alamo Drafthouse, we will pay homage to the steam plant and create a vibrant entertainment destination that attracts more people downtown.” Alamo Drafthouse has received critical acclaim from magazines such as “Entertainment Weekly” and “Wired,” being named “Coolest Theater in the World” and “No. 1 Theater in America.” Alamo Drafthouse, based in Austin, currently has 37 locations across the country including California and New York. Construction of the new location will begin this summer and is expected to open in fall 2023. The developers also plan to bring more entertainment amenities to the steam plant.
NEW HOME FOR LEGION FC
Alabama’s first and only professional soccer team, Birmingham Legion FC, announced all its kickoff times for the upcoming 2022 season. The team announced the recently constructed Protective Stadium at the BJCC as their new home pitch last December. Legion FC will play 35 games in 2022, with 18 home games taking place at Protective Stadium starting March 13 at 4 p.m., which will be the first United Soccer League game of the season. The Legion had a good 2021 season, earning 18 wins, eight losses, including its last game of the season against Louisville City FC, and six draws, putting them at the number two spot for the Central Division of the United Soccer League. The team also made the USL playoffs in November, but the season came to an end with a tough 1-0 road loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.
THE USFL REBOOTS
The Birmingham Stallions were an original franchise in the United States Football League in the early 1980s. The Stallions were the second in a long series of professional football teams that have played in the city. Now the Stallions, and the USFL, are getting a spring 2022 reboot courtesy of FOX Sports. Not only that, but the USFL and the city of Birmingham announced that all of the
Above: An interior rendering of the renovated Powell Steam Plant,where Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse plans to open a new cinema. Right: A view of the audience seating. Photo courtesy of Orchestra Partners.
games for the league’s 2022 season will be played at Legion Field and Protective Stadium starting Saturday, April 16, at 6 p.m. The first game will see the Birmingham Stallions face off against the New Jersey Generals. “I consider it an honor to welcome the USFL to the ‘Magic City,’” Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement. “This is an amazing opportunity to promote our city on a national stage, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with this league. The USFL is not only bringing to Birmingham but is committed to being a strong community partner.” The teams competing in the USFL Southern Division include the Birmingham Stallions, New Orleans Breakers, Tampa Bay Bandits and Houston Gamblers. The Northern Division consists of the
Pittsburgh Maulers, Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals and Michigan Panthers.
CLASSIC SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference, based in Birmingham, will host a series of three “SWAC Classic” football games the next three years at Legion Field. The Birmingham City Council approved an agreement with the conference in January with Woodfin’s recommendation. The agreement includes the option to extend the agreement for an additional two years, according to a council news release. “Our city is steadily becoming home to some of the best sports events in the state and the region,” Woodfin said. This is a win for Birmingham and a win for SWAC.”
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CITY BEAT Legion Field will host a series of “SWAC Classic” games with the Southwestern Athletic Conference from 202224. Photo courtesy of the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl. Former Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith, who resigned in January. Photo courtesy of city of Birmingham.
The city expects a positive economic impact and national media attentions from hosting the games. The SWAC is one of the premier conferences for teams from Historically Black College and Universities. The 2022 “SWAC Classic” will feature the Jackson State University Tigers led by Sanders, the 2021 FCS Coach of the Year, versus the University of
Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Jackson State will play Southern University in 2023 and 2024.
LOOKING FOR A CHIEF
Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith resigned in January, citing “personal reasons.” At press time, the city was in search of a permanent replacement for Smith, a
Tuscaloosa native and a 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who Woodfin hired in 2018. Woodfin appointed Capt. Scott Thurmond as BPD’s Acting Chief of Police after former Smith resigned. “I have every confidence in the leadership of Acting Chief Thurmond,” Woodfin said. “He has a history of innovation, strength and humility. Acting Chief
Thurmond will be a bridge builder for our residents and police force. He is the right man to help keep our community safe.” Thurmond has been with the police department for 23 years, according to a city news release. “I am honored,” Thurmond said. “I know there will be challenges, but I am excited and ready to serve. As a department, we are committed to providing the high level of services our community members expect and deserve.” He began his career at the police department as a patrolman in 1999 and soon became a field training officer. In 2007, he earned the rank of sergeant and was assigned to the BPD West Precinct. He later served in many leadership capacities at several precincts and is credited with launching a task force in 2020 that confiscated 5 to 10 guns each week. Smith resigned as chief about eight months after the Fraternal Order of Police issued him a vote of no-confidence, the first against a Birmingham Police Chief. The FOP cited a slight spike in violent crime and low morale among BPD officers. The FOP also issued a vote of no confidence in Assistant Chief Darnell Davenport, who stepped down in October.
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Business Happenings NOW OPEN Owners Corey Whatley, Quincy Coleman and Byron Watkins recently opened Woodlawn Bar and Lounge, 5505 First Ave. N., according to the Woodlawn BHM Facebook group. The establishment serves beer, wine and cocktails. Instagram @woodlawnbarandlounge
COMING SOON Chicago-based tech company Fetch Rewards recently announced it will invest more than $1 million to open a new office facility and customer-support hub in Birmingham. The project, approved Jan. 20 by the Jefferson County Commission, will create 200 new full-time jobs, according to a Fetch news release. At press time, the company was hiring for positions including support, data integrity, engineering, product and fraud. “With Fetch continuing to grow exponentially, Birmingham is the perfect place to launch the next chapter of our expansion,” CEO and founder Wes Schroll said in the release. “It’s an up-and-coming technology and entrepreneurship hub with an incredible pool of local talent.” fetchrewards.com
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS Red Mountain Makers — a nonprofit makerspace formerly located in Woodlawn — moved in February to a new 8,000-square-foot space at 810 Fourth Ave. N. in Hardware Park in Smithfield. Hardware Park, measuring 100,000 square feet, is a tech-centered business campus located in the western portion of the Innovation District. RMM will be able to offer more classes, workspace and studio rentals for small businesses and entrepreneurs, according to the organization’s vice chair, Carlo Rezzonico. 205-588-4077, redmountainmakers.org Apex Systems, a technology services business that incorporates industry insights and experience to deliver solutions that fulfill its clients’ digital visions, is relocating from One Perimeter Park South, Suite 140, in Birmingham to an office with about 3,000 square feet on the 11th floor of The Offices at 3000 Riverchase in Hoover. The new office was expected to open around the beginning of March, said Alan Paquette, vice president for property management for Jim Wilson and Associates and property manager for The Offices at 3000 Riverchase. Apex has a presence in more than 70 markets across North America, Europe and India. 205-623-1115, apexsystems.com SecurIT360, a company that fights ransomware and provides other cybersecurity services, has relocated from 530 Beacon Parkway West, Suite 901, in Birmingham to The Offices at 3000 Riverchase in Hoover. The company has leased almost 9,000 square feet in the office tower next to the Riverchase Galleria, taking up nearly half of the seventh floor,
said Alan Paquette, vice president for property management for Jim Wilson & Associates and manager of The Offices at 3000 Riverchase. The new office was expected to be open by Feb. 15. SecurIT360 has another office in Kansas City, Missouri, and employees in other states as well. 205-419-9066, securit360.com
NEW CONSTRUCTION Pittsburgh-based HarbisonWalker International, the largest supplier of refractory products and services in North America, announced in January that it intends to spend about $25 million to convert its closed property at 2595 Ensley-Pleasant Grove Road in Fairfield into Alabama One, or AL1, a manufacturing, service and distribution hub for steel customers in the southern United States. Construction will begin during the first quarter of 2022, and the 200,000-square-foot facility is expected to open before the end of 2022, according to an HWI news release. 412-375-6600, thinkhwi.com
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Construction continues on 20th Street North for the Birmingham Green Refresh, an extensive redo of the Birmingham Green beautification project carried out in the 1970s. The project stretches from Morris Avenue to Linn Park and includes expansion of the bike and flex lanes installed in 2020. There will be new native and drought-resistant landscaping, similar to that in Railroad Park and Rotary Trail, All businesses on 20th Street North are to remain open throughout construction. The work is being done in four phases. At press time, Phase 1 — the northbound lane of 20th Street from Third Avenue North to Linn Park — was complete, according to the REV Birmingham website. The three remaining phases are: Phase 2: Southbound lane of 20th Street from Linn Park to Third Avenue North; Phase 3: Southbound lane of 20th Street from Third Avenue North to Morris Avenue; and Phase 4: Northbound lane of 20th Street from Morris Avenue to Third Avenue North. Each phase should take about 50 days, according to REV. After all four phases are complete, new plants and planters, bike lanes, colorful flex-lane painting and new seating will be installed along 20th Street North. revbirmingham.org
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS YWCA Central Alabama, 309 23rd St. N., had its annual meeting Jan. 18 and presented the 2021 Jeana P. Hosch Woman of Valor — its most prestigious award — to Eleanor Griffin, according to a news release from the nonprofit. Griffin is a long-serving YWCA Central Alabama board member who serves as vice president of planning and, for several years, cochaired Purse & Passion, the organization’s signature annual fundraiser. A former publishing executive and
a 34-year veteran of Time Inc./Meredith Corp., Griffin was founding editor of Cottage Living magazine and later editor of Southern Living magazine. Among her numerous editorial awards is the Time Inc. Henry Luce Award for outstanding community service. At the meeting, Volunteer Manager Valerie Johnson received the organization’s highest honor for staff, the Annie Caudle “Living the Mission” Award. 205-322-9922, ywcabham.org Jeff Holmes, the dean of the UAB School of Engineering, has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health titled “Multiscale Models for Predicting Short and Long-term Outcome of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” according to UAB News. Holmes will share the grant with a colleague from the University of Virginia. “The goal is to customize a recently developed therapy for heart failure patients,” Holmes said. “There used to be no treatment for heart failure other than a transplant; but when it works, this therapy — called Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy or CRT — can reverse the progression of heart failure.” 205-934-8400, uab.edu/engineering The city of Birmingham, through the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, recently announced the winners of $500,000 in BOLD (Building Opportunities for Lasting Development) grants. The funding recipients are Ed Farm, Rebirth Community Corporation, Urban Impact, Community Care Development Network and the Women’s Fund. The goal is to support organizations and agencies that are taking creative approaches to solving community issues, according to a city news release. birminghamal.gov Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., recently announced it has launched a Commercial Business Development team focused on helping small businesses build customized financial plans. The new team is led by Jordan Baxter, senior vice president in Regions Commercial Banking. It complements the bank’s existing Commercial Banking Solutions group, which is led by Ginger Blake, a Regions executive vice president. 205-326-5151, regions.com Space One Eleven, 2409 Second Ave. N., recently announced it has received a $12,800 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts to fund “Magic City Memories,” an interactive exhibition in collaboration with the Invisible Histories Project, and 2022 summer art camps for children in grades 2-12. SOE will collaborate with the Invisible Histories Project to create an exhibition and interactive timeline of LGBTQ life in the South where community members will be invited to share their stories. Space One Eleven will offer
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BUSINESS summer art camps to children and youth in grades 2-12 using a sliding fee scale to ensure quality art education is accessible for all area residents, regardless of family income. SOE, formed in 1986, is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a series of exhibits during the 2021-22 arts season. 205-328-0553, spaceoneeleven.org Cynthia T. Anthony, president of Lawson State Community College, 3060 Wilson Road S.W., was named the recipient of the Charles A. Long Outstanding Civic Award for 2022 given by the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 3. With over 30 years in the Alabama Community College System, Anthony has held many roles including assistant dean, dean of students, executive vice president, interim president and now president. 205-925-2515, lawsonstate.edu The Birmingham Business Alliance, 505 20th St. N., Suite 200, recently announced that 21 local companies had been selected to take part in its Supplier Scale program, which will provide customized solutions to prepare these companies to do business with the region’s largest employers. Ninety-five percent of the businesses chosen are women- or minority-owned. Supplier Scale is part of the Small Business Advisory Services program funded by Prosper. The chosen companies and owners are: 3G Chemical Solutions LLC, Aleia Shipman; Auto Tread Inc., Carl Colvin; Birmingham Health, Dr. Alex Casey; Blueroot, Jennifer Senske Ryan; C&J Lawn LLC, Tanesha Howard; College Prep U, Jay Johnson; Complete 3 Tech Solutions LLC, Christopher White; Electrical Maintenance & Troubleshooting LLC, Lensey King Jr.; Global Team Staffing LLC, Greg Minard; Life Touch Massage LLC, Lemar Storey; LVL Up Logistics LLC, Olu Aladebumoye; MPA Financials, Cicely Jones; Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn Co., Clem Summers; Never Go Broke Inc., Tae Lee; ProFRESHional Creations LLC, Courtney Woods; Rebirth Marketing & Consulting, Rashida Reese; SARCOR LLC, Selena Rodgers Dickerson; Slade Land Use, Environmental and Transportation Planning, L’Tryce Slade; Smith and Associates Enterprise Inc., Joe Smith; Spiffy Designs, Barbara Cooney; and Weelth Inc/TaxxWiz, Tevin Harrell. 205-324-2100, birminghambusinessalliance.com
PERSONNEL MOVES Joseph McGee, the longtime president and CEO of Legacy Community Federal Credit Union, has retired after nearly 45 years in the financial services industry and nearly 31 years at Legacy. The board of directors named Chief Operating Officer Glenn Bryan as the new president and CEO, a change which became effective in January. McGee will remain in a consultative and advisory capacity as CEO emeritus through his planned retirement date in March 2022. During his tenure, the credit union grew from $70 million in assets to more than $600 million in assets. Bryan has worked in the financial services industry for nearly 40 years and has been with the credit
union for 37 years. Legacy Community Federal Credit Union has local locations at 1400 South 20th St., 9825 Parkway East, 1920 Fourth Ave. S. legacycreditunion.com The UAB Heersink School of Medicine, 1670 University Blvd., recently named Dr. Raegan Durant, who is a tenured professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, to the new role of Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, according to UAB News. Durant was also named as one of two recipients of the Heersink School of Medicine 2017 Dean’s Excellence Awards for Diversity Enhancement. In his research, Durant studies both health disparities related to chronic disease outcomes and minority participation in clinical trials. 205-975-8884, uab.edu Childcare Resources, 244 W. Valley Ave, Suite 200, a nonprofit organization and United Way of Central Alabama partner agency, recently announced executive officers and board members for 2022. The officers for 2022 are: Chairman Rick Morris, president of R2 Consulting LLC; Vice Chair Jenna Dorlon, manager of business development, American Express; Secretary Liz Hyde, president, Hyde Engineering Inc.; Treasurer Jay Snipes, operations director and senior advisor, Bureau of Fiscal Service, Department of the Treasury; and Past Chairman Michael F. Walker, attorney, Bradley. 205-945-0018, ccr-bhm.org Alabama Symphony Orchestra, 3621 Sixth Ave. S., recently announced that Mandy Peterson-Tice had been hired as the ASO’s new director of development. Peterson-Tice has held fundraising positions at several universities, including Berry College, the University of Mississippi and Belhaven University. She is also a trained musician who loves classical music. Kimberly King has been serving as director of development since November 2020, but she joined the ASO as corporate development and events manager in 2019 and will continue in her original role with the organization. 205-975-2787, alabamasymphony.org Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Ave. S., recently announced several additions to its staff and leadership team. Brantley Fry has joined the organization as its new vice president of people and community. She formerly worked as chief of staff and general counsel for Pack Health. The new position was created as part of an effort to restructure, modernize and expand Southern Research operations in Birmingham, including the construction of a new biotech facility at its Southside campus, according to a news release from the organization. In other personnel changes, Mark Suto, the vice president of the Life Sciences section, has retired, and his team has been split into two new divisions, Scientific Platforms and Contract Research Oriented (CRO) Services, Corinne E. Augelli-Szafran is the interim vice president for Scientific Platforms, a division that conducts early drug-discovery research to identify new treatments for illnesses. Kevin Burton has been named vice president of Research Services, a division that conducts later-stage drug-discovery research to test the effectiveness of potential new treatments before they move to human clinical trials. The new director of the High-Throughput Screening Center is Paige Vinson. She replaces
Bob Bostwick, who retired in December. Briana Bryant joined Southern Research in December as the organization’s new communications director. She previously served as the marketing manager of the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UAB. 205-581-2000, southernresearch.org Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., recently announced that Nikki Stephenson has been promoted to serve as head of corporate development. She will lead the bank’s mergers and acquisitions strategy, identifying opportunities for Regions to further expand its range of specialty capabilities and high-value financial services for clients across the banking sector, according to a Regions news release. Stephenson, who has 20 years of banking experience, will also manage Regions’ Equity Investment Program, which provides strategic equity primarily in financial technology companies. 205-326-5151, regions.com Union Home Mortgage, based in Strongsville, Ohio, recently announced the hiring of Carl Douglas as a producing brand manager and Michelle Benefield Smith as a loan officer in the company’s Greater Birmingham region. Douglas and Smith will help produce, manage and originate loans for homebuyers. Douglas and Smith have a combined 21 years of mortgage experience. Prior to joining UHM, Douglas served as a loan officer at First Bank Mortgage. Smith is also experienced in working with Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs and Rural Development loans. 1-877-846-4968, uhm.com The board of directors of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc., 4600 E Lake Blvd., recently elected Michael A. Suco as its next president and chief executive officer, effective Aug. 1, according to a news release from the company. Suco, who is currently senior vice president and chief commercial officer, will succeed John Sherman, who is retiring at the end of July. Suco will be the eighth president and CEO to lead the company in its 120 years of operation. 205-841-2653, cocacolaunited.com/locations/birmingham EXIT Realty Birmingham, 2808 Seventh Ave S., Suite 111, recently hired four new team members at its office in Lakeview, according to a news release from EXIT Realty Corp. International. The new hires are Eboni Hale, Tiffany Russell, Cristy Brasher Jenkins and Antwone Henry. In addition, Stacey Duncan has joined the EXIT Legacy Realty office at 7924 Parkway Drive SE in Leeds. 205-202-2747, exitrealtybirmingham.com
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Seeking racial equity Regions invests in minority communities through ¡HICA!, BuildUP
S
By JESSE CHAMBERS
ocial unrest and impassioned pleas for racial justice spread rapidly across the United States in the wake of the death of George Floyd — a Black man — in police custody in Minneapolis in May 2020. In response to these protests, several large banks began committing large sums of money to address social and economic inequities in America. U.S. Bank, which is based in Minneapolis, announced this past June that it had made a total investment of $208 million in Black-owned and -led businesses over the previous year. According to a report at thegrio.com in May, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo were among the large banks investing in Black-owned or Black-led
minority depository institutions. There are only 20 Black-owned or Blackled MDIs in the nation, the website said. Bank of America announced in 2021 that it had increased its target for equity investment in minority-focused funds from $200 million to $350 million. In less than a year, the company said it had committed more than $250 million to 90 U.S. investment funds that provide capital to Black, Hispanic-Latino, Asian, Native American and other under-represented minority and women entrepreneurs. Regions Bank, based in Birmingham, has not been left out of this effort.. In June 2020, Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation made a two-year, $12 million commitment to support initiatives that promote racial equity and economic empowerment for communities of color. Regions Financial Corp. recently announced the bank and foundation had
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surpassed their commitment by investing $14.6 million through November 2021. The original target date to fulfill the original $12 million commitment had been June 2022. However, the commitment was exceeded over six months thanks to the formation or expansion of strategic community partnerships, officials said. Bank officials said the figure will continue to grow as additional investments are made. “At Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation, it is our goal to continuously make impactful strides in advancing and accelerating progress toward greater racial equity and inclusion,” said John Turner, Regions Financial Corp. president and CEO. “These investments and community partnerships are designed to address a gap in access to growth capital, health care resources, housing, education and workforce development opportunities.”
TASTE. SIP. REPEAT. 25th YEAR
Leroy Abrahams serves as president of the Regions Foundation and head of community affairs for Regions Bank. Photo courtesy of Regions Bank.
The investments are a way to create “more equitable outcomes and building meaningful change in the communities we serve,” he said. The nonprofit Regions Foundation is primarily funded by Regions Bank. Its grants, equity investments and
Restaurants & Chefs, Wine, Craft Beer, Spirits & Cocktails, plus Tasting Seminars & Demos Corks & Chefs’ 25th year is honoring the Birmingham Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. April 23 & 24, 2022 Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark @ the 39th Magic City Art Connection GENERAL + VIP TICKETS ON SALE IN APRIL. www.corksandchefs.com
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A recent ribbon-cutting for a home renovated by the student workers of BuildUP, a education and workforce nonprofit in Birmingham that receives support from Regions Bank, Regions Foundation and other partners. Photo courtesy of Regions Foundation.
community partnerships benefit more than 270 organizations seeking to advance racial equity and economic empowerment in 13 states in the Southeast, Midwest and Texas. Leroy Abrahams, president of Regions
Foundation and head of Community Affairs for Regions Bank, said the organizations decided to “prioritize more inclusive prosperity” in 2018. However, in 2020, the “world changed
as never before with the impact of the pandemic as well as a series of racial injustices,” Abrahams said. The bank and the foundation realized they could do more for minority communities, he said. “And while the commitment made in 2020 has been surpassed, the work that’s underway will continue,” Abrahams said. “The bank and foundation are consistently developing impactful, innovative ways to level the playing field and support more opportunities for more people to succeed.” The racial equity commitment announced in 2020 focuses on six areas that are designed to affect communities with targeted outcomes, enabling progress to be tracked and measured. ► Supporting MDIs and community development financial institutions (CDFIs), both of which provide additional access to essential financial products and services for customers in underserved communities. The Regions Community Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Regions Bank, has made several investments such investments, which are designed to help close the racial wealth gap through greater access to capital. ► Advancing minority business development, with one example being a
free admission
EXHIBITION
March 19 · 2022 – Jan 15 · 2023
microlending project supported by the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama in Birmingham that supports Hispanic small-business owners. ► Promoting education and workforce success for people of color. One of the projects in Alabama receiving support is BuildUP, a workforce-focused nonprofit in Birmingham that educates students as it teaches them in-demand construction skills through hands-on apprenticeships and pays them for their work. BuildUP Students entering ninth grade enroll for six years of private school education and earn a high school diploma and a college associate degree, as reported by Bob Blalock at Alabama News Center. They also receive paid apprenticeships in the real estate and construction sectors to help them learn skilled trades as they refurbish houses that have been donated and moved into their community ► Promoting racial understanding. Regions Bank supports programs that foster understanding among cultures and celebrate the importance of racial diversity and inclusion as vital components of true racial equity. The foundation’s last two areas of focus include increasing minority homeownership and reducing the digital divide.
Support for the exhibition provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Vulcan Materials, and the Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust
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Manjari Sharma, Maa Laxmi, 2011; Museum purchase, 2020.48.2a, Courtesy of the artist
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Museum goers enjoy one of the popular Art on the Rocks events at the Birmingham Museum of Art in 2019. The popular Friday night event series will return to the BMA on July 15 for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos courtesy of Birmingham Museum of Art.
A time to celebrate the arts
Birmingham Museum of Art kicks off busy spring, summer seasons with exhibitions, festivals
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By JESSE CHAMBERS
he Birmingham Museum of Art, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021, possesses one of the finest collections in the Southeast. There are more than 27,000 objects at the BMA from almost every historical period and a wide variety of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian and Native American. Best of all, the BMA — unlike many large museums — does not charge admission, though donations are requested. And the month of March is a perfect time to visit. The museum is kicking off the spring in a big way with a numerous exhibitions and
special events. It promises to be a special season. Adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BMA slowly reincorporated in-person events during the fall of 2021. But beginning in the spring, the museum will present a full slate of programming and exhibitions. “For the first time since the pandemic began, we are thrilled to present a full slate of in-person programs and exhibitions for the spring and summer season, offering our visitors a deeper level of engagement and connection through art and culture,” said Graham C. Boettcher, the director of the BMA, in a news release. “The arts are thriving in Birmingham, and we are ready to celebrate,” Boettcher said. The following is a complete rundown
of the many exhibitions, performance and other special events the BMA has planned for Magic City art lovers.
THE (SPRING) REFRAME
Described by the BMA as a community celebration, The (Spring) Reframe event kicks off the spring season on Friday, March 18, from 5-9 p.m. The event is designed to highlight recently opened exhibitions as well as the museum’s permanent collections. “The Reframe is a new concept that is essentially a big open house and a chance to invite the community in to see everything that’s new and fresh at the BMA,” Cate Boehm, the museum’s director of marketing and communications, told Iron City Ink. Attendees will be the first to see
“Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen,” an exhibition that opens Saturday, March 19. The show explores nine Hindu deities by blending vibrant, colorful contemporary pieces by Manjari Shama — a photographer and rising global art star from India — with ancient Indic art from the museum’s permanent collection. “We will also be celebrating fresh installations in many of our other galleries,” Boehm said. The (Spring) Reframe will feature a lecture by Sharma, as well as pop-up performances, live music and other activities in galleries throughout the facility. Registration is required for attendees.
TO SEE AND BE SEEN
“Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma,
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FACES To See and Be Seen” will be on view in the Pizitz Galleries from March 19 through Jan. 15, 2023. “Visitors are going to love ‘Expanding Darshan’ because of the bold imagery, vibrant colors and the fascinating details within the portraits,” Boehm said.” The contemporary photography of Hindu deities is juxtaposed with ancient sculpture of the same subject matter from our collection.” Works of art from India, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand are used to explore the little-known temporal and regional expansiveness of the Indic world. “It’s interesting to see how artists’ expression of these deities has changed over hundreds of years — or just how much has stayed the same,” Boehm said. The exhibition uses Sharma’s photo-based works to explore the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon and their contemporary relevance in art and faith. But it also provides viewers a gateway to the concept of darshan: to see and be seen by the divine.
THROWING COLORS
The focus on India continues March 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. with the 11th annual Holi Festival, the Indian celebration of color. A part of the BMA’s quarterly Heritage Festivals series, the Holi Festival — presented with the Indian Cultural Society — will include Indian dance, live music, food, henna, art-making activities and gallery exploration. At the end of the event, guests gather outside in the museum’s parking lot for the day’s highlight, the throwing of powdered colors to welcome the spring. The next event in the series — the African Heritage Festival — will be in July (date TBA). Inspired by the museum's collection of African art, the festival will offer food, live music and other performances rooted in the cultures of the African diaspora.
THE ATHLETE’S IMAGE
The BMA will present an intriguing exhibition that shows the influence of games and athletic competition on ancient and contemporary art. “Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games” opens in the Bohorfoush Gallery on Tuesday, May 10, and remains on display through May 2023. Drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, “Ways of Seeing” shows that while images of athletes and games have influenced artistic practices around the world, art has also shaped the popular image of the athlete.
MAKING IT WORK
The BMA will serve as co-host of Magic City Fashion Week from Friday through
specifically to Birmingham’s history,” Boehm said. Art on the Rocks has been part of the museum’s summer schedule for more than 15 years, she said. The event “continues to inspire and entertain new audiences while bringing back visitors who were around for the very first events,” Boehm said. “The formula is simple,” she said. “We bring the best of Birmingham’s creative community together to celebrate art and culture in the Magic City.” The start time of the event is still to be determined, but it will likely take place from 7-11 p.m. There will be an admission charge for Art on the Rocks.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Colorful portraits of deities in the Hindu pantheon by widely acclaimed Indian photographer Manjari Sharma, part of the “Expanding Darshan” exhibition opening at the Birmingham Museum of Art in March.
Sunday, June 10-12. Fashion Week seeks to cultivate, connect and showcase the artistic community in the Magic City. The event also seeks to help develop emerging designers while fostering engagement with community partners to use fashion as a vehicle for change.
ART AND POP COLLIDE
The BMA’s bimonthly Art After 5 series features casual evenings of art, drinks, music and maker activities, and is described as a place where art and pop culture collide. On Friday, April 1, from 5-9 p.m., Art After 5 will return with a throwback theme inspired by the classic 1980’s TV sitcom, “A Different World.” On Friday, June 3, from 5-9 p.m., the series will celebrate Gay Pride Month with a colorful evening of Pride-themed performances and making.
ART ON THE WALLS
“Wall to Wall: Rico Gaston” will be installed in the museum’s lobby beginning Friday, July 15, and will remain on display through July 2023. The second artist in the “Wall to Wall” series, the Brooklyn, New York-based Gaston does painting, video, sculpture and installations. Gaston will transform the lobby walls with a colorful, life-size image of an iconic Birmingham figure and an abstract composition. He’ll also be on hand to take part in the opening of the exhibition. Born in Augusta, Georgia, Gaston grew up in southern California and received his MFA from Yale School of Art in 1991. His work combines abstract patterns
with vibrant colors and comments on key moments in Black culture and history. In 2019, for example, he unveiled a series of portraits of eight key figures in the history of the New York City borough of the Bronx in a subway station. The glass mosaic murals, titled “Beacons,” depict such figures as novelist James Baldwin, poet Maya Angelou and baseball great Reggie Jackson. Culturetype.com called the portraits “powerful” and “radiating.”
ART ON THE ROCKS
Not only will the BMA unveil “Wall to Wall: Rico Gaston” on March 15, but that Friday night will also see the return of one of Birmingham’s most popular summer events. For the first time since 2019 — before the pandemic — the BMA will present Art on the Rocks. Art on the Rocks will feature DJs, live music and signature cocktails. Attendees will also be invited to paint alongside Gaston in the museum lobby to help complete his “Wall to Wall” installation. “One of the things that has kept Art on the Rocks events so exciting in recent years has been the interactive community mural element of the event,” Boehm said. “The energy between the artist and participants working together to make a large-scale mural come to be in just a couple of hours is really thrilling.” This will be a fitting activity for Gaston, who seeks to use community engagement to bring the energy from the civil rights movement into the present. “To have an artist like Rico Gaston elevates that experience even more because his work is so powerful and will speak
The BMA will continue to offer its long-popular ArtBreak series on Wednesdays at noon — part of its “Wednesdays at the BMA” programming. ArtBreak consists of 30-minute tours, lectures and gallery talks featuring BMA educators and art experts. The events give art lovers the change to delve more deeply into the museum’s collections. On March 16, ArtBreak will feature Meghan McCollum of Blank Space, a women-led public art organization in Birmingham. She’ll talk to Hallie Ringle, the museum’s contemporary art curator, about the “Wall to Wall” mural series. On March 30, ArtBreak will feature a tour of “Expanding Darshan” led by Katherine Anne Paul, the museum’s Asian art curator. The Art in Conversation series provides a casual setting for speakers. On Wednesday, March 2, from 11 a.m. to noon, James Williams — director of design and technology at the BMA — will discuss how we communicate within the museum beyond the art in our galleries. He’ll examine the function of design, how inherent biases influence the process of design and what that means for museums. The Highlights Tours are provided by BMA staff and feature new perspectives on the collections. On Sunday, March 27, at 2 p.m., Angela May — the museum’s assistant director of learning and engagement — will lead a tour called “Goddesses around the Globe.”
COPING WITH COVID
Due to the pandemic, the BMA requires all visitors wear masks indoors. The museum is also maintaining 75% capacity. Fortunately, distancing is relatively easy because the BMA measures about 150,000 square feet, Boehm said. “We have plenty of space,” she said. For more information about exhibitions and programming, call 205-254-2565 or go to artsbma.org. Dates and details of programs are subject to change due to the pandemic.
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As days turn warmer, it’s time to start thinking about summertime at last, and no summer is complete without a camp experience. Peruse our guide to learn more about which programs best fit your child’s personality, interest, age and availability. No matter which you choose, it’s time to jump in for fun and adventure this summer.
FIND SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE ALTAMONT SCHOOL Summer is the perfect time to try something new, dive deeper into a current interest, fine tune math and English skills or fulfill required courses in a more relaxed environment. Altamont offers a wide array of quality classes, taught by our outstanding faculty, that are both educational and fun. Altamont’s program is open to rising 3rd through 12th graders. Register at summerataltamont.org. ► Rising 3rd-8th Graders: Summer camp for rising 3rd-8th grade students includes English and math enrichment classes. ► ACT Prep: This two-week course taught by a certified instructor will focus on improving performance on
every aspect of the test including material content and test-taking strategies. Students will have a chance to take two complete ACTs in test settings. ► Credit Courses: High school credit courses for rising 9th-12th grade students include Honors Geometry, Public Speaking and Honors Ancient and Medieval Civilizations. ► Basketball Camps: From beginner to college hopeful, Altamont’s basketball camps provide serious skills building. Camps are open to rising 1st grade through 12th grade students. Questions? Contact Dr. Josh Barnard, Director of Summer Programs, at jbarnard@altamontschool.org
Summer at Altamont 2022 Day Camps | Credit Courses Grades 3-12 | June & July Registration & Information: summerataltamont.org The Altamont School is one of the nation’s premier independent schools for students in grades 5-12.
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Pink reeds line a trail at Railroad Park that a group of walkers use at sunset. Photo courtesy of Freshwater Land Trust.
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HELLO FRESH AIR
COVER: Our Spring Recreation Guide highlights city’s top spots to exercise, enjoy nature
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By JESSE CHAMBERS
he official arrival of spring — always a happy occasion — occurs this year on March 20. However, the coming of spring in 2022 dovetails almost exactly with the second anniversary of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At press time, health officials are saying that the surge in the Omicron variant appears to be nearly over, and people can only hope that we’re near the end of a long, tiring struggle. At least the coming of spring will allow people to get outside and enjoy nature. Of course, this is a natural urge even in a normal year as warmer weather beckons. “You hear the birds singing, you see the butterflies,” said Stanley Robinson, public relations coordinator for Birmingham Parks and Recreation. “Everything is coming into bloom. It’s life-affirming just to get out and take deep breaths.” “We always look forward to spring as the mountain breaks out of dormancy into a lush, verdant park vibrant with guests from all over Jefferson County,” said T.C. McLemore, Red Mountain Park executive director. Outdoor recreation has some profound benefits, not all of them physical, said Carolyn Buck, director of the Red Rock Trail System at Freshwater Land Trust. “Generally, in pandemic or non-pandemic times, outdoor recreation is a wonderful way to get some much needed
respite from everyday life,” she said. “Outdoor recreation is a great way to take care of your physical and mental health.” The great outdoors is also a place where you can have far fewer concerns about exposure to COVID-19. “Especially during pandemic restrictions, it has been a huge benefit for residents to have safe options to get some much needed time in nature,” Buck said. “The past two years has illustrated that outdoor recreation is a beneficial and necessary component of a healthy and vibrant community,” McLemore said. Many people in the Birmingham area have turned to outdoor recreation the last two years as a means of escape from the virus. Most of the facility administrators we spoke to in 2021 and again this year cited an overall growth in visitors at their facilities since the pandemic began. The ever-popular Railroad Park downtown has seen strong attendance, said Camille Spratling, executive director of Railroad Park Foundation. In 2019, 514,000 people visited Railroad Park, but in 2020 that number was more than 560,000, Spratling told Iron City Ink last year. And the park had more than 500,000 visitors again in 2021, she said recently. McLemore said that RMP got a big boost in visitors during the first year of the pandemic. “The park has never been busier,” he said in 2020. Attendance at RMP was down a bit in 2021, however. “We saw a record number of visitors in
Steven Thompson plays a round of disc golf with friends at George Ward Park. Photo by Erin Nelson.
2020 at 150,000,” McLemore said. “2021 was more of a typical year at the park with about 120,000.” The number of people using the city parks in Birmingham “really ticked up” the first year of the pandemic, Robinson said in 2021. And use of the parks has remained high, with many people who began outdoor exercise routines in 2020 or 2021 making those routines a permanent part of their lives, Robinson said this year. “They enjoyed it and have continued to do that,” he said. McLemore has noticed a similar phenomenon at RMP.
“I have met several new park regulars and people who have permanently changed their recreation habits to get them outdoors more often,” he said. More people seems to be using walking trails in the Birmingham area, including the trail at East Lake Park and the Vulcan and Rotary trails, Robinson said. “Anyplace you see a trail you see an uptick in the numbers,” Robinson said. Buck said that, while the FWLT does not have a way to precisely measure trail usage, it seems to be up. “We have heard that our trail system has been heavily used, with many citing the trail as their saving grace in the time of
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FACES COVID,” she said. Birmingham residents also really enjoy and value their parks and green spaces, Robinson said. “They take pride and great ownership of them, as well,” he said. “When we have volunteer events, they really turn out. The parks are places they can call theirs and have time with family and friends.” Birmingham nature lovers certainly have a strong array of outdoor recreation options in the area, all of which are easily and quickly accessible to city dwellers. The city is “richly resourced” with trails and parks, and “should certainly be proud of its greenspace offerings,” McLemore said. Our Facilities Guide below lists some of the most prominent recreation venues in the area.
BIRMINGHAM PARKS AND RECREATION
The following are some of the highlights among the facilities maintained by Birmingham Parks and Recreation. Most city recreation facilities are open with some restrictions related to COVID-19. For example, visitors are required to wear masks indoors, and indoor facilities are being operated at 75% capacity. Water fountains are also turned off. However, the city is carrying on with much of its programming, including senior activities and youth sports. For details, call 205254-2391 or go to birminghamal.gov/ parks-and-recreation/parks. ► East Lake Park, 8101 Fourth Ave. N., is a 100-acre park with a 45-acre lake stocked with catfish, bass and bream and surrounded by a 1-mile walking track. Adjacent to the park are public ballfields, tennis courts, a playground and a swimming pool. There’s an island in the lake where herons, ducks, hawks and other birds gather. Robinson calls the park “a quiet of oasis right in the city.” ► George Ward Park, 1901 Green Springs Ave. S., is a 100-acre recreational venue that features a disc golf course, baseball fields and picnic facilities, as well as a dog park. “There’s also lots of open space if you just want to walk and get some exercise, Robinson said. ► Crestwood Park, 5400 Crestwood Blvd., offers a playing field with bleachers and a field house, a jogging track, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a barbecue pit and a picnic shelter. ► Highland Park Golf Course, 3300 Highland Ave., is an 18-hole, par-70 course measuring 5,801 yards. “Highland is a short course, but it’s beautiful and has great views of the city,” Robinson said. It is also “extremely well-maintained,” he said. For information, call 205-322-1902 or go to highlandparkgolf.com. ► Roebuck Golf Course, 8920 Roebuck Blvd., is 18-hole, par-71 course, measuring
Hikers begin their journey on the Quarry Trail as they hike Ruffner Mountain in February. Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve offers 14 miles of trails and is a protected area for thousands of species of native plants. Photos by Erin Nelson.
Jamie Nobles, the conservation director at Ruffner Mountain, collects nandina berries as part of the invasive species removal along the trails. The nandina berry contains cyanide and other alkaloids that produce highly toxic hydrogen cyanide that is poisonous to all animals.
6,509 yards from the longest tees. “It’s a great course,” Robinson said. “It’s very walkable. You have a lot of flat area, so if you’re not hitting the ball straight you can recover.” The facility is dubbed “Rogusta” by the course regulars, Robinson said. “There’s a really friendly, community vibe,” he said. For information, call 205-836-7318. ► Tennis is available at several locations, including George Ward Park and Ensley Park, located at 2800 Avenue K. One highlight is the Highland Park Tennis Center, located above the golf course at 3300 Highland Ave. The facility has two hard courts and 10 clay courts — the only clay courts in Birmingham, Robinson said. For details, call 205-251-1965 or go to academytennis.com.
AREA FACILITIES
► Once the site of iron ore mining, Red Mountain Park, 2011 Frankfurt Drive, is now a 1,500-acre urban green space, one of the largest in the country. It offers more than 15 miles of trails, two city overlooks, the 6-acre off-leash Remy’s Dog Park and other amenities. Formore information, call 205-202-6043. redmountainpark.org ► A 19-acre green space in downtown Birmingham, Railroad Park is on First Avenue South between 14th Street and 18th Street. Often called “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park offers a number of opportunities for recreation. There are several walking and running trails, including the Magic City Loop (3/4 mile), Rail Trail (1/3 mile), Powell Avenue Promenade (1/3 mile) and Limestone Trace (1/2 mile). There is also outdoor gym equipment and a designated area for skateboarders. For more
information visit railroadpark.org or call 205-521-9933. ► An urban nature preserve in South East Lake with more than 1,000 acres, Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve offers 14 miles of trails and is a protected area for thousands of species of native plants. Ruffner’s trails are open Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., from November through February, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., from March to October. Due to the pandemic, the facility’s Nature Center remains closed. Visitors who are non-members must purchase a $5 parking permit via the Parkmobile app or from a vending machine at the pavilion near the South East Lake entrance. For more information, call 205-833-8264 or go to ruffnermountain.org. ► Developed by Freshwater Land Trust, the ever-growing Red Rock Trail System is an ongoing effort to develop a 750-mile network of greenway trails and on-street walking and cycling paths in Jefferson County over the next couple of decades. There are currently 125 miles of greenways and bike lanes in the system, Buck said. For a guide to signature trails less traveled, accessible trails and an interactive map of the system, go to freshwaterlandtrust.org/ find-a-trail. ► The Kiwanis Vulcan Trail, 1701 Valley View Drive, is a 2.2-mile trail that stretches from the Vulcan Trail parking lot on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard at the northside of Vulcan Park & Museum all the way to Green Springs Highway. The mostly flat trail, which opened in 2018, is open from sunrise until sunset to walkers, runners, cyclists and dogs on leashes. For more information visit freshwaterlandtrust. org/2018/03/kiwanis-vulcan-trail or call
205-251-0032. ► Rotary Trail, First Avenue South, downtown, is a pedestrian greenway with a unique setting — the railroad cut running along the middle of First Avenue South between 20th Street South and 24th Street South. It is part of the 2-mile-long Jones Valley Trail, another piece of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System that provides a continuous path from Railroad Park to Avondale. For more information visit facebook.com/rotarytrail or call 205-251-1995.
ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR OPTIONS
► Magic City residents in search of an easy stroll in beautiful, calming surroundings shouldn’t overlook the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road. In addition to an indoor conservatory, the gardens — covering 67.5 acres — offer numerous outdoor attractions. The gardens have “miles of walking paths that provide a wonderful vantage point for exploring, imagining and dreaming,” Mindy Keyes Black, director of communications and marketing for Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, told Iron City Ink in 2021. “For so many in our community, the gardens provide a peaceful and calm respite.” For more information, call 205414-3950 or go to bbgardens.org. ► You may not immediately think of the Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Road, when you think of exercise or outdoor recreation, but it’s a great place to get out of the house during the pandemic. Covering about 122 acres, the zoo has both indoor facilities and outdoor areas where guests can socially distance while getting exercise and fresh air. For more information, call 205-879-0409 or go to birminghamzoo.com.
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Counselors Lauree Blair and Jeanna Gregory from The Crisis Center, which received a grant for its Bystander Intervention Program from Megan’s Fund. Photo courtesy of Susann Montgomery.
The Crisis Center receives 1 of 1st grants from Megan’s Fund By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Just after the two-year anniversary of Megan Montgomery’s death at the hands of her ex-husband on Dec. 1, 2019, the first donations from a fund set up by her mother and stepfather were awarded to two local organizations: The Crisis Center in Forest Park and Restoration Academy in Fairfield. When Megan’s husband was found guilty of murder March 31, 2021, her mother, Susann Montgomery-Clark, and stepfather, Rod Clark, announced the formation of a charitable fund — Megan’s Fund — to fulfill Megan’s vision to stop domestic violence before it happens. They didn’t realize interest in the cause would grow so fast. “When we first gave the seed funding, we hoped others would join our fight to prevent
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domestic violence, so we went out speaking to Rotaries, civic clubs and nonprofits in Birmingham, Trussville, Shelby County, Vestavia, Gadsden, Florence and Montgomery,” Rod Clark said. “Now, we are seeing the results of those countless meetings and presentations. Nonprofits are learning that Megan’s Fund exists solely to help them deliver prevention services, and they are contacting us to discuss how we can help them with funding.” Megan’s sister, Meredith Montgomery, serves as an adviser with the couple on Megan’s Fund. She said Megan’s Fund grants will help educate young people on the warning signs of potentially dangerous relationships. “We are thrilled to provide our first grants to The Crisis Center and Restoration Academy, with more nonprofits in the works,”
DISCOVER
Meredith Montgomery said. “We are determined to overcome evil with good.” The Crisis Center received a grant for its Bystander Intervention Program. Hosted by manager John Fife at Cahaba Brewing Company in November, counselors Lauree Blair and Jeanna Gregory trained bar staff on how to recognize signs of potential drug-facilitated sexual assault and become empowered to intervene. Five more sessions sponsored by Megan’s Fund are scheduled in 2022. The Crisis Center staff also provides training for a variety of audiences throughout the year,
including colleges and universities. Restoration Academy, a private Christian school, received a grant for its Healthy U Program, which will teach students to resolve conflicts and identify unhealthy relationships. For information on how to give to Megan’s Fund or to apply for a grant for your school or nonprofit, contact cfbham.org/megans-fund. For more about Megan Montgomery’s story, read the article about her in the October issue of our sister publication 280 Living at 280living.com/people/ honoring-megans-memory.
Student microloans, honors for UAB Hospital, $6M for researcher
By JESSE CHAMBERS The UAB Hospital Woman and Infants Center. UAB recently received nine 2022 Women’s Choice Awards from an independent health care referral source for women. Photo Steve Wood, UAB University Relations.
UAB students with temporary money worries can now find help on campus. UAB Hospital was recognized recently for the quality of care the facility provides to women. And a young professor on campus has received national attention, as well as a big financial boost for her research project.
DON’T PANIC
Any UAB student in a tough financial spot — perhaps lacking the money to fix a tire or make rent — can apply for a microloan from the Regions Institute for Financial Education (RIFE) at UAB. They can get the money in as little as 24 hours, and no interest is charged on loans repaid within 90 days. “We try very hard to make it as quick and painless as possible,” Stephanie Yates, RIFE director and creator of the microloan program, told UAB News. More and more students are having financial difficulties, she said. Yates said Dean Eric Jack of the Collat School of Business suggested she launch the fund using $25,000 originally put aside to help students affected by the deadly
tornadoes of April 2011. Yates’ students helped create the program’s rules, such as maintaining a reserve so emergency needs can always be met. Students can apply for loans at uab.campuslabs.com/engage.
AWARDS FOR UAB
UAB Hospital was recently named the
winner of nine 2022 Women’s Choice Awards. UAB received the America’s Best Hospital designation in the following areas: Bariatric surgery, comprehensive breast care, cancer care, minimally invasive surgery, obstetrics, stroke care and women’s services. UAB was also named one of the 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experiences.
The Women’s Choice Award is an independent health care referral source for women.
EMERGING PROFESSOR
Marguerite “Ryan” Irvin, a professor of epidemiology at UAB, recently received an Emerging Investigator Award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, according to UAB News. She is the first investigator from the UAB School of Public Health and the third at UAB to receive this award. Irvin will receive more than Irvin $6 million over a period of seven years to evaluate genetic risk scores that can help predict personal risk for cardiovascular and renal diseases, as well as treatment responses by African Americans to common antihypertensive therapies. The project seeks to help move genomic medicine forward, especially in African Americans, who are underrepresented in genomics research.
MARCH 2022
IRON CITY INK
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NECK OF THE WOODS
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Red Mountain Makers moves to ‘amazing’ location at Hardware Park
By JESSE CHAMBERS Until recently, nonprofit makerspace Red Mountain Makers had operated at Woodrow Hall in Woodlawn since it began in 2013. The volunteer-based RMM offers its members a workshop, a laboratory, equipment and other resources, including classes, to help support their creative and research projects, primarily on the tech side. Members can even get advice on taking their inventions to the next level. However, the nonprofit needed more space than the 4,000 square feet it had in Woodlawn. In February, RMM moved into a new 8,000-square-foot space in Hardware Park, a business campus downtown that blends engineering, innovation and manufacturing with education and workforce development. Hardware Park, measuring 100,000 square feet, anchors the west end of the Innovation District at 811 Fifth Ave. N. in Smithfield. The move is “incredibly exciting” for RMM, the group’s vice chair, Carlo Rezzonico, told Iron City Ink. It allows the facility to offer more classes,
Renovations underway in January at the new home of Red Mountain Makers at Hardware Park. Photo courtesy of Carlo Rezzonico.
workspace and studio rentals for small businesses and entrepreneurs, Rezzonico said. And the new facility’s location — near UAB and the Innovation Depot — “is just amazing,” Rezzonico said. “The proximity to this new community — Hardware Park, the other tenants, and the
Innovation District — will foster additional growth and collaboration for Birmingham’s maker community,” he said. RMM currently has 50 members, but that number is expected to grow in the new space. “We want to get to 100 in a year,” Rezzonico said.
RMM members can take advantage of lots of gear, some of it big, expensive and specialized, he said. That includes 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC (computer numerical control) machines, professional sewing machines and anvils and forges for blacksmithing. The facility also offers a wood shop with table saws and other power tools, a metal shop, machining tools such as lathes and all kinds of welding gear. In addition, RMM and Hardware Park are “a perfect match,” Rezzonico said. Hardware Park brings together startups and creatives on the for-profit side, while RMM does something similar on the nonprofit side, Rezzonico said. “People get to do their product development, their manufacturing, at Hardware Park, and then they have a creative outlet by joining RMM,” he said. Rezzonico said he takes pride in being part of RMM. “We’ll be able to say we provided this to other people, something we love and are passionate about, and other people can do it with us,” he said.
3 Ways Sellers Squander Their Advantages in a Seller’s Market With housing inventory at historic lows in Birmingham, and buyers out in droves - by all accounts, it’s a Seller’s Market. In most cases, when a home goes on the market today, it goes under contract very quickly, usually receiving multiple offers. Sellers are selling their homes faster and for more money than they ever expected. Hard to mess that up, right? Not so fast! There are still several mistakes a home seller can make that squander their advantages in Birmingham’s Seller’s Market.
#1 Seller doesn’t get their property cleaned and ready for sale. Today’s buyers are willing to pay top dollar to get their dream home, but they expect the house to live up to the hype. A seller may not need to renovate or update their home, but they absolutely must clean it - preferably with a professional cleaning service and carpet cleaner. Now is not the time to try and save a nickel doing it yourself. Get the job done properly by professionals. De-clutter. You’re moving anyway, right?
Start the process now by packing up all those extra souvenir cups, shoes and coats, unused linens, and ALL your knick-knacks. Go ahead and put away the family pictures and personal décor items sitting out, too. If anything is broken or leaking – Yes – you must fix it. Buyers either won’t make an offer or they’ll offer less if they see major mechanicals like heating and air systems not working properly or observe a leaky roof. Send your pets on a mini vacation while your home is on the market. Nothing turns off a would-be buyer like stepping over a pet mess while they are touring your home. You may not notice the smell of your pets anymore but trust me, anyone new to your home certainly will.
#2 Seller gets greedy and prices their home too high. If you price your home right in today’s market you are very likely to get multiple offers, and ultimately have your home price driven up past your asking price. Listing higher
Photo Courtesy of Willow Homes, Birmingham Based Homebuilder and Tommy Dapsit, Photographer than the market data suggests just to “see what the market says” is a great way to get your home ignored and drag out the time it spends on the market. Once a home has been on the market too long - brace yourself for low-ball offers. It’s ok to try to make everything you can on your investment, but just be mindful, buyers are very sensitive to overpricing. Once you get offers, take time to review the terms of each one and not just focus on the price. Terms can make all the difference.
#3 Seller doesn’t have a proper marketing plan. To get the offers pouring in, you need a strong marketing plan. Choose a real estate professional that knows how to leverage the power of “coming soon” listings and social media to create pent-up demand and excitement for your home. Your listing should have crisp, gorgeous pictures taken by a professional photographer, too!
Bottom Line? It’s a Seller’s Real Estate Market. With these simple strategies, you’ll do well! Looking to buy or sell? Find us at www.soldbyarthouse.com or call 205-352-7742
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