By David Sher
How can the City of Birmingham grow population and prosper when parents feel compelled to flee the city when their children reach school age?
I have a question for parents with school age children who live/work in the Birmingham area. Continue reading Can Birmingham City Schools save Birmingham? →
Melissa Young
Today’s guest columnist is Melissa Young.
Elyton —once Jefferson County’s seat and a springboard of possibility—is now just a tiny blip on Birmingham’s historic radar.
Located in the Arlington-West End neighborhood, it’s the current home of Princeton Baptist Medical Center and local landmarks like Elmwood Cemetery and Arlington Historic Home and Gardens .
Few people know, however, that in 1870, Elyton was predicted to be the site of the state’s next economic miracle. Continue reading Birmingham overcomes giant mud hole in middle of city to beat out Elyton →
Birmingham Skyline viewed from Railroad Park: Watercolor by Jane Reed Ross, janereedrossart.com
By David Sher
I’m dumbfounded.
Dumbfounded ‘good’.
Not dumbfounded ‘bad’.
Our Birmingham region has struggled for growth and economic progress for decades, but a recent poll clearly screams that our influential community leaders have had enough and are ready for change. Continue reading Our leaders are ready to make Birmingham great again →
Ed Fields
Today’s guest columnist is Ed Fields.
Let’s be honest — Birmingham is not the first place most people think of when envisioning a thriving entrepreneurial metropolis.
But, they should. Continue reading Birmingham–a hotbed for business acceleration →
Mike Royer
Today’s guest columnist is Mike Royer.
I could tell you all about interviewing Jimmy Carter when he was running for President in 1976.
Or, the 20 minutes I spent interviewing President Bill Clinton right after he was first elected.
I think they’re pretty good stories and I’d be happy to tell you about the interviews sometime. Continue reading The TV interview with a Birmingham doctor that changed my life →
Beth Shelburne
Today’s guest columnist is Beth Shelburne .
Birmingham has more than enough stories about injustice. I know it’s exhausting.
But I’ve got a doozy you may not know about.
Why do you need to know about this one? Continue reading JeffCo sheriff deputy murdered: A doozy, you may not know about →
Jen Dent & Walton Foster
Today’s guest columnists are Jen Dent and Walton Foster.
People ask…
How do you consistently recruit the very best talent to Birmingham?
Our answer is that secret is hiding in plain sight. Continue reading The secret to recruiting great talent to Birmingham →
Amos Townsend
Today’s guest columnist is Amos Townsend.
As a Black child growing up in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960s, the information about the times I lived in were shaped around messaging from ministers, particularly those associated with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Black radio, and feedback from family members who lived outside the South.
I never had reason to wonder what was being reported, or more importantly not reported, in the dominant media of the times such as The Birmingham News or The Birmingham Post-Herald. Continue reading White folks, no need for shame when shielded from truth as kids →
“Let’s meet under the clock at Loveman’s” (Now McWane Science Center) where people used to meet when downtown
By David Sher
I grew up in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s and the number of contemporaries I can share my memories with is shrinking.
I feel compelled to tell my story of growing up in Birmingham—specifically downtown—because it was a unique time that young people today will find difficult to comprehend. Continue reading Downtown Birmingham was really cool when I was growing up →
Ron Blatman
Today’s guest columnist is Ron Blatman.
I know cities.
I write about cities.
I produce documented series about making cities better places.
I’ve always been fascinated with Birmingham, Alabama and… Continue reading What a fragmented Birmingham can learn from the most fragmented city in the U.S. →
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