NEWS
6 • Thursday, May 20, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Photo courtesy ASO
Getting Better
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Unless U Celebrates the Final Stages of Construction on its First Free-Standing Facility
Celebrating the almost completely finished new home of Unless U last Friday were, from left, Lindy Cleveland, Mo Oliver and Lisa McAlpin Williams.
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
O
ver six years ago, Vestavia Hills resident Lindy Cleveland was volunteering with a summer camp at United Ability and was asked to go on a field trip with some of the students to see the movie “The Lorax.” One simple quote packing a whole lot of meaning stuck with her and lit a fire in her heart: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” The words are at the heart of the nonprofit she founded days later in her parent’s house with her brother Jordan, who has Down Syndrome, and his close friends. The nonprofit, Unless U, seeks to provide faith-based continuing education and teach development and life skills to adults with disabilities. It now has its own facility where students like her brother can achieve a collegestyle experience. “My story and my connection started in 2003 with some special Hoover Bucs behind me,” said board President Ammie Akin. A clinical professor for the University of Alabama’s Center for the Study of Ethical Development, Akin’s career in education began at Hoover High School, where she served as an exceptional education teacher. “It really is a remarkable story, but the most important storyline today is
Above, Jamie Brown with Susan, Pete and Jody Peddy. Right, Peter and Leah Guarisco.
the story of a brother with a disability, a sister with a vision and a God with a plan,” Akin said. Though the facility isn’t completely finished, community members, Unless U students and families gathered for a celebration May 14, entering the building to be greeted by the inspirational Dr. Seuss quote. When Unless U first outgrew Cleveland’s parents’ house, she reached out to her church, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and the Rev. Danny Wood, who leased her space for Unless U in 2014. “I told Danny, we’re only going to
be here for a year or two,” Cleveland said to the crowd. After finding the space at 737 Chestnut Street in Vestavia Hills,
donated by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and Karen and Jerry Duncan, considerable work had to be done to create a campus. The organization broke ground on the site on its fourth anniversary, in 2018, not knowing that the work to be done would be met with obstacles as great as a pandemic. When she hired her contractor, Cleveland said she told him, “You need to armor up, because Satan is going to attack us in every way possible. “He recently said, I’ve seen Satan attack before, but I’ve never seen him pitch a tent.” Despite the struggles, visitors who toured the facility were greeted by high-tech classrooms, a library, a teaching kitchen, space for fine arts practices and other offerings. After another few weeks of work, the facility’s ice cream shop, Unless U Scoops, will be complete. The shop will be a vocational opportunity for students as they sell ice cream provided by Big Spoon Creamery to the public. Within the walls, Cleveland and her staff will be able to double the amount of students they serve and will continue to offer continuing education in academics, intramural sports and other areas. Cleveland’s father, Doug Williamson, applauded the day and his daughter and thanked the many people who helped make the building a reality. “Standing in this building today is a testament to our heart and our community as hundreds of you have financially supported this program,” said Williamson, who added that there is no debt on the facility. “The funding for this building began with our students and families and it quickly became a communitywide effort. To all of you, we express our gratitude.” Through teary eyes, he addressed his daughter, stating that words could not express his pride or her mother’s pride. “We have watched your love for Jordan and his friends grow in your heart from the time you were a very little girl,” Williamson said. “It brings to mind Esther 4:14, ‘For perhaps you were born for such a time as this.’” As Unless U looks forward to the future, leaders there have scheduled the 2021 Unless U Got Talent for Aug. 20 at The Lyric Theatre. Funds raised at the event will support the completion of any remaining projects on the new campus building. For more information, visit unlessu.org.
Mark Patrick
ASO Taps New Executive Director The Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s interim executive director, Mark Patrick, has been formally named to take over as the next executive director of the ASO. Patrick began his tenure with the organization in 2004 as stage manager and since has served in several roles, from director of operations to general manager and now executive director. During that time, he has cultivated relationships with members of the orchestra, staff and community and corporate partners. Patrick’s experience in artistic leadership, budgetary management and arts advocacy have prepared him to lead the institution, ASO leaders said in a statement. “Over the years, we have been proud to have Mark Patrick as a member of the ASO administration. It has been a pleasure to work with him on various ASO programs and initiatives, especially as the orchestra expanded its online programing this year,” the outgoing chairman of the Alabama Symphonic Association, Dixon Brooke, said in the statement. Danny McKinney, incoming chairman of the association added, “I welcome Mark Patrick in his new role as executive director of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He has brought fresh ideas to our organization and has guided us throughout this time of transition. I look forward to our partnership in the coming years as we work to expand access to orchestral music across Alabama.” The ASO also formally named Kimberly King director of development. King has 20 years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising, membership development and community awareness generation. Before joining the ASO in 2019 as corporate development and events manager, she spent time as the development officer for the Birmingham Museum of Art and then member of the museum’s board. Her ability to organize a volunteer workforce, execute large-scale special events and grow an organization’s membership base were cited as reasons for naming her to her new position. Other officers in the association are Carol Phillips, treasurer, and Karen Piassick, secretary.
