Category Archives: Guest blogger

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham a hotbed for startups and young professionals

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Maggie Belshe
Maggie Belshe

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Maggie Belshe.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I’ve lived in Birmingham about four months now, and people still ask me where I’m from. I grew up in San Francisco, and went to school in New York.

The next question is inevitably some variation of “what brought you to Birmingham?” The short answer is Venture for America– a two-year fellowship in which recent graduates gain hands-on experience building a company under the guidance of an entrepreneur.

Continue reading Birmingham a hotbed for startups and young professionals →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham Crossplex–$100 million impact—gets a bad rap

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Faye Oates, Birmingham Crossplex, Director
Faye Oates, Birmingham Crossplex, Director

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Faye Oates.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

The news media consistently reports the west side of Birmingham as a haven of crime and mayhem.

The news media very rarely reports on the west side residents who go to work every day, maintain their homes impeccably, and are committed to having a great neighborhood. Continue reading Birmingham Crossplex–$100 million impact—gets a bad rap →

Corporate community, Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Leading the parade of professionals back downtown

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John Shank, Barfield, Murphy, Shank and Smith
John Shank–Barfield, Murphy, Shank and Smith

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is John Shank.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

This wouldn’t have happened five years ago.

It wouldn’t have happened two years ago—or even last year.

But now’s the time…

Some people may view CPA’s as dull and boring, but we’ve always viewed ourselves as creative and visionary.

We want to lead the parade—not wait and get left behind.

That’s why we want to move people in Riverchase to downtown Birmingham. Continue reading Leading the parade of professionals back downtown →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Massive trail system planned for Birmingham

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Wendy Jackson, Executive Director Freshwater Land Trust
Wendy Jackson, Executive Director, Freshwater Land Trust

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Wendy Jackson.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

When it comes to great walking, jogging, and cycling—Birmingham doesn’t usually come to mind.

EV World selected Birmingham as one America’s five least bike-friendly cities…

“Growth has led to sprawl, but city planning has lagged behind in growth when it comes to bicycle and pedestrian safety…a lack of bike lanes and useful paths across the city make it one of the least bike-friendly cities in the United States.”

Well, we’ve had enough and we’re going to change the landscape of Birmingham forever.

Continue reading Massive trail system planned for Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

World-class adventure park being built in Birmingham

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David Dionne, Executive Director, Red Mountain Park
David Dionne, Executive Director, Red Mountain Park

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is David Dionne.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

We are in the process of building Red Mountain Park into one of the finest adventure parks in America.

If you have never heard of the Park or still think we are near Vulcan’s statue then you need to stop and take a look around.  You will find an urban signature Park developing right beneath your nose and it will change your life and reshape your understanding of Birmingham.
Continue reading World-class adventure park being built in Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Unleashing the power of a Birmingham neighborhood

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David Fleming,, President &CEO of REV Birmingham
David Fleming, President & CEO of REV Birmingham

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is David Fleming.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

You may not have noticed but the city of Birmingham’s reinventing itself—one neighborhood at a time.

Neighborhoods such as Norwood, Woodlawn, and Avondale are all being transformed—and that’s only the beginning.

Great urban neighborhoods are born in different ways.

Some spring up naturally as neighbors become friends; some are catalyzed by a big development; and some are planned.

But there’s one Birmingham neighborhood that’s taking reinvention to new level. Continue reading Unleashing the power of a Birmingham neighborhood →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

How Birmingham cut homelessness by 53%

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Teresa Thorne, Executive Direct or City Action Partnership (CAP)
Teresa Thorne, Executive Director, City Action Partnership (CAP)

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Teresa Thorne.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

We in Birmingham are doing a lot of things right.

If you don’t believe me, jump in your car and drive all over downtown and midtown.

There’s construction everywhere.  In fact it’s difficult to get around because orange plastic barrels are blocking lanes, and fences are blocking sidewalks.

This is exciting—and you can see it with your own eyes.

But there is less of one thing–and I bet you didn’t notice. Continue reading How Birmingham cut homelessness by 53% →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

I challenge our children to make Birmingham great

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Giles Perkins
Giles Perkins

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Giles Perkins.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Editor’s note:  Railroad Park transformed Birmingham. Against  great  odds and overwhelming skepticism, Giles Perkins and a group of committed community volunteers persevered.  I asked Giles to write this piece to give insight to those of you who would like to make a difference.

I think it was in 2002 when I made my first visit to the lot that became Railroad Park.

My sons were younger then–their sister was not born yet–but they came with me and brought their bicycles.  There was a burnt out railcar in the corner.  In the middle of the lot there was an old trailer with someone living in it.  A sign on the door said DON’T KNOCK UNLESS YOU ARE THE POLICE OR I WILL SHOOT.

We packed up the bicycles.  On the ground I found a rusted railroad spike.  I took that spike and put it on my desk as a reminder of the task I had taken on and the distance we needed to travel to have success. Continue reading I challenge our children to make Birmingham great →

Government structure, Guest blogger

Why Nashville is whipping Birmingham’s butt

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Stephen MaloneComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Skip Malone.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Please excuse the above title, but I’m writing in response to your article, Nashville whipping Birmingham’s butt.

I’ve lived in Nashville since 1978, but I grew up in Birmingham and still consider Birmingham my home.

I only want the best for my hometown and thought I could add some insight since I’ve lived in both cities.

I’m aware of Birmingham’s recent renaissance, but Nashville has a huge advantage over Birmingham. Continue reading Why Nashville is whipping Birmingham’s butt →

Guest blogger, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham’s astonishing renaissance

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Merrill Stewart, President Stewart Perry Company
Merrill Stewart, President Stewart Perry Company

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Merrill Stewart.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Birmingham is in the middle of a renaissance—and I want the world to know.

It is rewarding to watch the transformation of the city I call home and then share this energy with friends and neighbors who, quite frankly, never saw it coming.

Why I’m proud:

Continue reading Birmingham’s astonishing renaissance →