All for progress: Blount County Education Foundation keeps Alabama students connected to learning
The Alabama Power Foundation recently released its annual report for 2022, highlighting the good works of its nonprofit partners. Alabama News Center is sharing the stories of four foundation partners that are featured in the new report, titled All Forward. Today’s feature is about the Blount County Education Foundation. Every summer, Mitchie Neel witnesses the power of progress. Students participating in Blount County Education Foundation (BCEF) summer camps addressing learning loss are assessed at the program’s beginning and its conclusion. The results show that students don’t just hold onto knowledge from the previous school year; many of them make gains. While this is exciting news for the foundation – proof of these programs’ value and success – no one is more thrilled than the students. “They just beam,” said Neel, BCEF executive director. “They walk down the hall, gripping that piece of paper that shows what they have accomplished, and they actually glow. It’s a special thing to watch; it touches your heart.” Since it started in 1998, flipping on a light for area students has been BCEF’s goal. And for 25 years, it has pursued one mission: to promote academic excellence in Blount County schools. Powerful programming BCEF has provided more than $7 million in support of school system educators, students, and their families, including two primary initiatives: classroom grants and its summer programs. The grants help teachers access needed resources and purchase supplies and equipment for their classrooms. In 2022 alone, BCEF awarded more than $225,000 to more than 250 teachers. And, thanks in part to an Alabama Power Foundation grant, BCEF’s free summer programs in 2022 served more than 1,051 students in its Sign-Up camps, which develop students’ talents and passions, and its summer literacy camps, which focus on preventing learning loss (often dubbed the “summer slide”) in elementary students. Neel stresses the value of these efforts. “Research clearly shows that students who stay connected to learning when school is out each summer experience less learning loss than students who don’t, and sometimes make gains,” she said. Keeping kids plugged into education during summer break is easier in large cities, where parents can pick from a wealth of scholastic-development options to stimulate young minds, including day camps at museums and zoos, art and music classes, and more. But in rural Blount County, the choices are few and far between. So, BCEF stepped up. “Our board realized early on it was not achievement issues at the root of our achievement gaps but opportunity issues,” Neel says. “We wondered, what can we provide for our students that would impact them positively from an academic perspective but also benefit the whole child?” The BCEF board answered the question by creating summer programs that check both boxes, balancing reading and math instruction with a blend of activities to engage students for maximum retention. The programs broaden students’ nonacademic development by integrating leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills plus character-building into the curricula. “The enrichment aspects are a large part of our program’s success,” Neel said. “We expose them to visual arts, music, drama, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) activities and more. We bring in speakers and other interesting people for interactive learning. And we help them hone other traits that will allow them to increase their capacity to learn for the rest of their lives.” Summer success The programs, which deploy small teacher-to-pupil ratios and other research-proven methods, are working, surpassing the original goal of stopping learning loss and pushing kids ahead. Last year, students participating in two BCEF summer camps averaged eight months of learning gains in math and seven months of learning gains in reading. “That’s why we do this,” Neel said. “It proves that when you follow the research and do these programs correctly, you can impact a child in a powerful way: It’s an impact that lasts a lifetime.” One of the summer programs, the Dreamcatchers Camp at Susan Moore Elementary, served 146 students in 2022, but BCEF outreach doesn’t stop with kids. “We interact with the families to find out what their needs are and see what gaps we can fill,” Neel said, which includes addressing food insecurity. “This community has a high reduced meal rate, and we know nutrition is key to learning, so we send students home with shelf-stable meals for the weekends, as well as snacks.” The organization stays connected in other ways, such as holding a family celebration night. Field trips play a role in the camps, too. BCEF partners with the Friends of the Locust Fork River to give students a day of play and discovery on the water. “They do lessons on creepy crawlers, woodland creatures, and get to kayak on the river and soak in the fresh air,” Neel said. “You have not lived until you are the one meeting the bus when they come back; they are so alive, just smiling and laughing.” The key to making summer programs stick is making them enjoyable, Neel said. “Kids love these programs; even the reading and math interventions are structured to be high-impact and high-engagement. At all our camps, fun is the critical component. They don’t care that everything they are doing is tied to curriculum standards. All they care about is that they’re having a ball.” Making a meaningful difference Summertime is fun, but BCEF’s work never stops. Its efforts during the school year include a STEAM lab in every community, updates to career tech departments, and continued investment in the High School Ambassadors program, focused on growing leadership and talent for Blount County’s future. “We believed this would translate into a commitment to lead our county forward, and it has,” Neel said. “We now have teachers and administrators in our school system who were ambassadors, so that’s our program coming to fruition.” Neel pointed to the vital part the Alabama Power Foundation has played in the organization’s work. “We would not be here without the Alabama Power Foundation,” which encouraged school districts around the state to create local education foundations. The Alabama Power Foundation provided seed
Alabama Power Foundation supports educators this new school year with classroom grants
As school gets underway across the state, the Alabama Power Foundation is offering teachers a second round of Classroom Grants this year, supporting their efforts to strengthen the learning experience for students. The Classroom Grant program provides up to $1,000 to teachers to help cover the cost of materials, technology or supplies. Nonprofits that support teachers are also eligible to apply. Grants can be used to help teachers with pandemic-related challenges, such as improving virtual learning, paying for cleaning and sanitation supplies for the classroom, or to support the mental health needs of students and educators. “Teaching is a challenge any day, but the past few years have been especially tough,” said Margaret White, manager of Community Initiatives for the Alabama Power Foundation. “Teacher grants are one way we are trying to help make that job just a little easier while providing a direct benefit to students, as well.” The Classroom Grant program supports schools in Alabama where the financial needs are greatest. Elementary, middle and high schools with 50% or more of their students receiving free or reduced-price lunches are eligible for support. Grants can be directed to bolster classroom learning, to support school libraries, to enhance classroom Wi-Fi access, and multiple other uses. Click here for more details about the grant criteria and requirements. Applications will be accepted starting Aug. 26. The deadline to apply is Sept. 16. For more information about the Classroom Grant program or to apply, click here. The Alabama Power Foundation is committed to empowering communities, bridging gaps of inequity, and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. Funded by shareholder dollars, the foundation provides philanthropic support to Alabama communities, nonprofits, and educational institutions. To learn more about the foundation and its charitable initiatives, please visit powerofgood.com. Republished with the permission of The Alabama NewsCenter.
Urban Impact puts vision into action for Birmingham’s historic 4th Avenue Business District
Alabama has no rival when it comes to the number of meaningful civil rights sites in the state, and Birmingham boasts multiple locations where world-changing events took place. The borders of the city’s Civil Rights District, now the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, contain the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church, and Kelly Ingram Park, to name a few. Each represents a pivotal point in the movement’s fight for equality. The district also includes the Historic 4th Avenue Business District, one of the few remaining Black commercial corridors in the Southeast. “Back in the 1980s, the mayor at the time wanted to make sure we preserved African-American downtown infrastructure and the historical African-American business district,” says Ivan Holloway, Urban Impact’s executive director. “He gathered a few local businessmen and some city councilmen and formed Urban Impact.” Holloway spotlights the importance of the organization’s preservation efforts. “In addition to the more famous civil rights sites, there are many important buildings here,” he says. “The Masonic Temple here was developed and designed by the first accredited African-American architect in the country, Robert Roberson Taylor.” It also housed offices of the NAACP and the Booker T. Washington Library, the first in the city to loan books to Black residents. The district showcases the work of the second accredited Black architect in America, too. “There are very few buildings by these men left standing anywhere, but they are here in Birmingham. One of the first African-American banks is here as well,” Holloway says. Saving more than spaces It may have begun with a push to save actual doors, windows, and walls – protecting places. But Urban Impact is conserving the community’s culture, too. “It allows us to show our place in history in relation to other parts of the city and Birmingham’s overall economy,” Holloway says. “We’re also preserving the memories associated with these spots.” In recent years, Urban Impact’s programming has evolved and expanded to remove barriers and provide increased economic opportunities for burgeoning Black businesses and startups. Its “Become” program is a 12-week training session that teaches basic business concepts and skills to aspiring Black business owners. Additionally, Urban Impact offers help with lease agreements, marketing assistance, and individual counseling for both existing businesses in the district and merchants hoping to locate there. Urban Impact is also a member of the Kiva Hub, a national micro-lending program that provides zero-interest, crowdsourced loans for small businesses. “We’re really proud to be a part of this,” Holloway says. The money flowing from this program – $25,000 total so far – has helped a coffee roaster buy the equipment needed to fill cups and allowed a kids’ shoe company to increase production and outfit more little feet. Urban Impact’s internal lending arm, the Birmingham Community IMPACT Fund, empowers women and minorities – those often underserved by traditional financial institutions – thanks to money raised from partners across the city and the country. Holloway notes the fund is the beginning of Urban Impact’s journey to becoming a certified community development financial institution in the coming years. Full speed ahead Urban Impact is preserving the district’s heritage but also looking squarely ahead for new and better ways to share the story of Birmingham’s Black community. Holloway and his team recognize that telling this story – and telling it well – can be a powerful tool as it seeks to safeguard essential elements of the community’s history while also providing the resources and support needed to foster and sustain success for the current and next generations. This mission is perhaps most evident in the organization’s revitalization initiatives for the district. “We are working with the national Main Street organization’s Urban Main program, which serves small sections of large cities, those with their own distinct characters and identities,” Holloway says. “It’s a major part of our work right now.” The focus is on the creation of a development plan to not just protect the Civil Rights District’s past, but to better communicate its significance and attract new businesses. “When folks visit Birmingham, what impression do we want them to leave with? What is the experience we want them to have in this part of Birmingham?” Holloway says. Urban Impact is answering these questions right now. “We are forming a comprehensive strategy centered on design, promotion, and organization to create a truly dynamic district,” he says. Some of the steps include giving the area a more cohesive feel, adding signage to illuminate the district’s distinct historical details, and using the built environment to share a richer perspective. “We want people to get what happened here, but what is happening here, too,” Holloway says. “And this is where our relationship with the Alabama Power Foundation began and where its support is proving so valuable.” With the Foundation’s assistance, Urban Impact is hiring a firm with the expertise to put its development vision into action. The plan puts a priority on paying tribute to the district by saving the structures of yesterday, as well as nurturing the businesses up and running today. One example is Green Acres, a popular restaurant that has been drawing throngs of hungry wing-seekers for more than 60 years. But there is equal emphasis on bringing dormant spots back to life. A crucial component calls for offering creative spaces that will entice Black entrepreneurs to open restaurants, shops, galleries, entertainment options, and more in the district, boosting the district’s vitality, prosperity, and quality of life for area residents. “We want more small business here,” Holloway says. “We want younger people looking to start something to come do that here and to be excited about growing here and helping the entire area grow.” He pointed to Urban Impact’s partnership with the Foundation, which he believes will allow the organization to make an even more profound mark. “It is so exciting to have the Foundation as a part of this,” he says. “It really is far-reaching and has a dual purpose: We’re preserving history but bringing the new to this old place, too – filling it with fresh energy,” Holloway says. “When people
Alabama NewsCenter: Alabama Power Foundation releases annual report: ‘At the Point of Change’
Alabama NewsCenter By Michael Sznajderman The Alabama Power Foundation on Monday released its 2020 Annual Report, highlighting the important work of nonprofits statewide during that extraordinary year. Titled “At the Point of Change,” the report examines moments during the last year when challenges turned into opportunities for positive change and how Alabama nonprofits took on those challenges to address critical needs across the state. “During a year that included a devastating pandemic, economic hardship, and a national reckoning around issues of racial and social justice and equity, Alabama’s philanthropic community answered the call,” said Tequila Smith, Alabama Power vice president of Charitable Giving and president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “The foundation’s annual report explores some of the many important projects and initiatives of our nonprofit partners – work that continues every day and is bringing real, positive change for Alabamians, Alabama communities, and for our state,” Smith said. The report features eight nonprofit organizations, from the Boys & Girls Club of Abbeville to The King’s Canvas in Montgomery, to Red Door Kitchen in Talladega. The report also provides an update on Alabama Power Foundation activities during 2020 and its priorities in 2021. Like others in Alabama’s philanthropic community, the Alabama Power Foundation pivoted in 2020 to meet critical needs while intensifying its focus on issues such as education, economic empowerment, and racial equity. Those efforts are ongoing, with the foundation also looking at new and innovative programs in these focus areas in coordination with other nonprofits and charitable organizations. The release of the 2020 Annual Report coincides with the foundation’s annual Elevate Conference, which brings together nonprofits from across Alabama for training sessions, seminars, and networking designed to help foster collaboration and increase their positive impact. Because of the pandemic, for the second year in a row, the conference is being held virtually. The conference concludes Tuesday. “We hope the annual report and the Elevate Conference provide valuable and useful information and resources to our nonprofit partners, to further their missions,” Smith said. The Alabama Power Foundation is committed to empowering communities, bridging the gaps of inequity, and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. Funded by shareholder dollars, the foundation provides philanthropic support to Alabama communities, nonprofits, and educational institutions. To learn more about the Alabama Power Foundation and its charitable initiatives, please visit www.powerofgood.com.
Personnel Note: Alabama Power’s John Hudson, Jeff Peoples taking leadership roles at Southern Company Gas
Two long-standing Alabama Power executives have been named to new roles of increased responsibility within the Southern Company system. John Hudson [Photo Credit: Alabama Newscenter] John Hudson has been named executive vice president and chief external and public affairs officer at Southern Company Gas. In his new role, Hudson will be responsible for External Affairs, Corporate Communication, Marketing, Community Relations, Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. He also will serve as president of the Southern Company Gas Foundation and will be responsible for the company’s and its subsidiaries’ philanthropy and volunteerism efforts. Jeff Peoples [Photo Credit: Alabama Newscenter] In addition to leading Alabama Power’s Human Resources organization, Jeff Peoples has been named executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Southern Company Gas. In his expanded role, Peoples will be responsible for Human Resources, Labor Relations, Environmental Health and Safety, Technical Training and Corporate Services for all Southern Company Gas businesses. He also will serve as president of AGL Services Company, providing a single point of contact for the organizations that are directed by Southern Company Services – specifically the Technology Organization, Supply Chain, Fleet, Facilities and Compensation and Benefits. He will retain responsibilities for Human Resources, Labor and Safety at Alabama Power, as well as his recently announced system HR role in which he has responsibility for external labor. Hudson and Peoples will begin their new roles Sept. 1. “John has made great contributions to not only Alabama Power, but throughout the entire state, and I am certain he will have continued success at Southern Company Gas,” said Mark Crosswhite. “Jeff is recognized nationally as a leader in building and sustaining positive external labor relations and this expanded role will allow him to bring his expertise to additional business units within Southern Company. The leadership they will provide in these roles is a positive move forward for the entire system.” Southern Company Gas is based in Atlanta. [Photo Credit: file/Alabama Newscenter) Hudson currently serves as senior vice president of Marketing and Business Development at Alabama Power. He joined Alabama Power in 1996 and was elected vice president of Public Relations in 2010 and later took on additional responsibilities over Charitable Giving. He also served as president of the Alabama Power Foundation. Hudson previously served as senior vice president of Corporate Diversity and Public Affairs for Regions Financial Corporation. A licensed attorney, Hudson practiced law at the Hudson Law Firm. Prior to practicing law, he served Alabama Power as an area manager in the Birmingham Division and as assistant to the president. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alabama A&M University and is a cum laude graduate of Miles College School of Law. He completed the Executive Accounting and Finance program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Business School. Peoples currently serves as senior vice president of Employee Services and Labor Relations for Alabama Power and as vice president for Operation Services for Southern Company. He began his career with Southern Company in 1984 as a chemical technician at Alabama Power’s Plant Miller. Over the years Peoples has progressed through positions of increasing responsibility in Human Resources, Training and Workforce Development. Peoples holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biological Science from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. He serves on the board of directors of the Alabama Power Foundation, Southeast LAMPAC, the National Utility Industry Training Fund and the Center for Construction Research and Training. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
Alabama Power Foundation awards $150,000 grant to HudsonAlpha
The Alabama Power Foundation has awarded a $150,000 grant to the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology to help expand gene research education to students across Alabama. HundsonAlpha plans to grow its new program, Characterizing Our DNA Exceptions (CODE), by engaging small groups of college students with authentic genomic research. The students will computationally analyze DNA variants – a practice known as bioinformatics – from real-world, anonymous clinical samples. Current sequencing technologies make it possible to obtain the entire genetic code of an individual in a matter of days. Often, the process detects DNA variants, or genetic changes, that are not well understood because they have not been studied. These changes are known as variants of uncertain significance, or a VUS. The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will use a $150,000 Alabama Power Foundation grant to expand bioinformatics to colleges throughout the state. (Getty Images) “A VUS undergoes extensive analysis and testing to determine whether it has a role in the development of a trait or disease, a process that is very time-consuming,” said Michele Morris, Workforce Development lead at HudsonAlpha. “Because of this, VUS interpretation has historically been conducted in larger universities. Through CODE, we want to lower those access barriers.” In doing so, HudsonAlpha is collaborating with five Alabama colleges and universities across a broader scope of academia. Schools range from nonprofit, to large community colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and liberal arts: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Alabama State University Birmingham-Southern College Lawson State Community College Wallace State Community College Each school will select a faculty member to serve as program adviser who will then select five to 10 students to participate in CODE. HudsonAlpha researchers and educators are hosting a two-day workshop for advisers May 14-15. Dr. Jeremy Prokop presents at a workshop at HudsonAlpha to prepare advisers in the Characterizing Our DNA Exceptions (CODE) program. (HudsonAlpha) “It has always been the mission of the Alabama Power Foundation to support advances in our state. As technology continues to evolve and innovation is more vital than ever, it is important that we continue to expose Alabama’s students to cutting-edge initiatives to ensure their success,” said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. Since its creation in 1989 with funds donated by shareholders, the foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits with nonratepayer dollars through more than 20,000 grant and scholarship awards. “Programs like this one can be real game changers for these students, and we are proud to provide support,” Calhoun said. Pilot schools will participate in CODE for the 2018-2019 academic year. Students will present their work at a pilot group symposium in March 2019. Following the initial experience, pilot schools will be eligible to continue participation for a second year. This fall, HudsonAlpha will begin recruiting 25 more schools. “Enormous amounts of genomic data are being generated on a daily basis, so CODE participants will have access to that data and work to characterize newly identified DNA variants,” said Neil Lamb, Ph.D., vice president for Educational Outreach at HudsonAlpha. “We hope this experience will inspire more Alabama students to pursue a career in the STEM fields such as genomics and bioinformatics.” Republished with permission from the Alabama News Center.
Alabama Power Foundation announces seven Elevate grant recipients
The Alabama Power Foundation has awarded seven Elevate grants to nonprofit organizations across the state. The Elevate grant program empowers organizations by providing funds for community-centered projects, hosting capacity-building workshops and providing networking opportunities within the nonprofit community. The 2017-2018 Elevate grantees are: Anniston Museum League Children of the Village Network – Livingston Dale County Board of Education Family Promise of Montgomery The Literacy Council of Central Alabama – Birmingham Shelby County Arts Council Victory Health Partners – Mobile Each grantee receives a $10,000 grant in 2017 and a $5,000 challenge grant in 2018, and will participate in at least one workshop in 2018 to help them grow and find ways to expand their positive impact in the community. “We seek innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of organizations, and help educate our grantees on how they can do the same for the communities they serve,” said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “That’s one of the most important elements of the Elevate grant program.” “The Alabama Power Foundation not only award funds and provides networking opportunities, we also introduce new tools and resources, which can open the door to previously unknown opportunities,” Calhoun added. “I am always impressed with our grantees and their ability to maximize these opportunities. I have no doubt this year’s recipients will do the same.” Elevate is one of several grant programs funded by the Alabama Power Foundation. To learn more about Elevate, as well as other Alabama Power Foundation and Alabama Power community programs, please visit www.powerofgood.com. Since its creation in 1989 with funds donated by shareholders, the Alabama Power Foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships using nonratepayer dollars. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
UA solar project is teaching tool for future engineers
University of Alabama Athletics and the College of Engineering celebrated a partnership with a bright future last week as new solar panels at the Sewell-Thomas baseball stadium went online. The solar panels, situated behind the outfield, will provide power to the stadium while engineering students will collect and study data from the panels. While the solar panels are new to the university, former Athletic Director Bill Battle and College of Engineering Dean Charles Karr have collaborated before. “Coach Bill Battle and Dean Charles Karr have a history of exploring opportunities for engineering and athletics to work together,” said Allen McClendon, director of external affairs and development for the University of Alabama College of Engineering. “Over time, these conversations have yielded many great successes, innovative ideas and unique educational opportunities. This is one of those opportunities that led to the partnership of a premier athletics program, a premier college of engineering and a premier public utilities company.” Among the project’s supporters were the Alabama Power Foundation and First Solar, a solar panel manufacturing company that donated the 80 solar panels creating four 20-panel, 2.2-kilowatt canopies. “First Solar was eager to work with the University of Alabama to bring solar power to the new ballpark,” said Steve Krum, director of corporate communications for First Solar. “We also were interested in the links between the ballpark project and the school’s engineering program. It was a great way for us to share in both a practical application and the academic program.” A weather station and temperature monitors placed below each solar panel canopy will allow engineering students to study and collect data from the panels. With this data, students studying solar technologies will have the opportunity to see in real time how solar photovoltaic technology works with the integration of lithium-ion battery technology. “Students will have access to actual data to understand system efficiencies related to energy conversion and storage processes,” said McClendon. “Additionally, they will be able to investigate the impact of weather conditions on power production.” This data is not limited to engineering students. Visitors to the stadium will be able to see in real time what is being generated at informational kiosks. The kiosks will display the collected data and how the energy is being used. The same data displayed at the stadium will also be displayed on monitors at the College of Engineering in an innovative area known as “The Cube.” The university is already looking at ways to incorporate this technology and partnership into community outreach in the form of events with schools and community organizations. The solar project is one of several green and sustainable projects at the stadium since it was renovated in 2015. Additional green initiatives include LED lighting, electric vehicle chargers, recycled building materials and high-efficiency HVAC equipment. Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
