Birmingham’s 150th birthday, Woodfin appointments, Bards & Brews grant
This month in City Beat, we take a moment to honor the city of Birmingham, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary this month after years of innovation, reform and sacrifice.
Birmingham officially became a city Dec. 19, 1871, and since then, it’s been known for its music, civil rights contributions and the medical-research powerhouse that is UAB.
The city has been celebrating its birthday since June of this year with several events, including fireworks on the Fourth of July and the Legion Field Kickball Classic in June and July.
The city is also celebrating by reminding us of our history and recognizing the hundreds of people who make our city special through Milestone Mondays, which celebrates personal milestones for people in Birmingham and posts historical facts on social media.
For more, go to birminghamal.gov/milestonemonday.
Find out more at the city’s website with updates regarding events and activities at birminghamal.gov/150.
Time for appointments
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin won reelection to a second term in August by a wide margin.
The mayor recently announced numerous appointments for his new term, which began Nov. 23.
Woodfin reappointed Patrick D. Smith as chief of the Birmingham Police Department. He first appointed Smith to the post in 2018.
“Under his leadership, Chief Smith has placed an emphasis on accountability and professionalism,” Woodfin said Oct. 27. “Chief Smith has overseen efforts to reduce overall crime in the city and led in the launch of the Real Time Crime Center.”
Woodfin also announced the appointment of LaQuaylin Parhm-Mack, a 13-year BPD veteran, as assistant chief.
Chaz Mitchell, a Birmingham native who has worked at City Hall for 15 years, will serve as the city’s new chief of operations. He formerly served as deputy chief of operations. Mitchell will oversee the city’s daily operations and make sure it is operating efficiently and effectively.
Woodfin has appointed Melissa Smiley, who previously served as chief assistant city attorney, as the city’s chief accountability officer.
She will monitor, evaluate and assess the city’s policies and processes, as well as its contracts with service providers.
“This position represents our commitment to the core values of customer service, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability,” Woodfin said.
Woodfin also appointed Jennifer Egbe to the Birmingham Airport Authority Board of Directors.
Egbe is a partner with the law firm of Huie Fernambucq & Stewart LLP and was named to the Birmingham Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 in 2017.
Her appointment took place in late October, and she will place and she will complete the six-year term of previous board member Robert Earl Kelly, which expires July 29, 2026.
The Promise
The Birmingham Promise announced Oct. 28 that its first executive director, Rachel Harmon, will step down in early 2022.
The job was posted Nov. 1 and — at press time — officials hoped to identify a new director in a national search by early in the new year.
Harmon, who is leaving to attend Yale Law School, will remain on the job until a new director has been hired and has time to transition into the role.
“Helping to create and lead Birmingham Promise has been an immense honor and a privilege,” she said in a news release.
Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attend public colleges and universities in Alabama.
It also manages an internship and apprenticeship program for high school seniors in the city.
For more information, go to birminghampromise.org.
Word
The Birmingham Public Library recently received a $3,900 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts to help fund its long-running Bards & Brews spoken word program.
The announcement came just before Bards & Brews hosted a live event Nov. 5, its first in-person show in nearly two years, according to a BPL news release.
“As a 2022 grant recipient, the future of Bards & Brews is bright with endless possibilities,” said Candice Hardy, Bards & Brews creative director.
The grant will allow BPL to continue its showcase for spoken word performers in the Birmingham area and to spotlight the city’s craft breweries.
Bards & Brews is now entering its second decade, the release states.
A brick in the plaza
The World Games is offering people an opportunity to purchase a commemorative, customized brick that will be installed across from Protective Stadium, one of the venues for the Games in July 2022.
The bricks will be placed at The World Games Plaza, located across from the stadium and near the Uptown District.
“The World Games 2022 commemorative brick program provides another powerful way for individuals and businesses to show their civic pride and leave a permanent mark in our city’s rich sports history,” World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers said.
The bricks can be purchased online and cost $250 for the 4-by-8-inch brick and $500 for the 8-by-8-inch model. Each brick can be customized with three lines of text or a company logo.
The last day to order a brick is Dec. 31.