Miles College embarks on $25 million fundraising campaign to celebrate 125th anniversary
In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Miles College has kicked off phase two of a $125 million fundraising campaign. Over the past five years, President Bobbie Knight has secured $100 million for the campaign during a “silent” phase. The $25 million “public” phase of the comprehensive fundraising campaign and community development was announced today (Sept. 12) at the Clyde Williams Welcome Center on campus. The theme is “Come Grow with Us.” Mike Suco, president of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, and Leroy Abraham, executive vice president and head of Community Affairs for Regions Bank, will serve as co-chairs. “It is our moral and spiritual responsibility to provide guidance and funding that will ensure the next 125 years of Miles College,” said Bishop Clarence Kelby Heath, chair of the board of trustees for Miles College. “We understand the pivotal role that our graduates have played in the social, economic, and business undertakings across our region and our country.” Miles was founded in 1898 by members of the Colored (now Christian) Methodist Episcopalian (CME) Church. In recognition of the anniversary, the campaign will seek investments in scholarships, buildings renovations, academic programs and community development, Knight said. “We are laser-focused on improving the student experience and executing an efficient growth strategy that positions Miles College for the future … and how we impact the growth of the region,” said Knight, a former executive at Alabama Power. Bobbie Knight is president of Miles College. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. / The Birmingham Times) Knight said the “Come Grow with Us” theme has multiple meanings. “Grow our student enrollment; grow our scholarship funds; grow our endowment; grow offerings that we’re providing, not just to students, but to the community. We want to grow Fairfield.” The growth goes beyond the immediate campus, she said. “We have 40-plus acres where Lloyd Noland Hospital used to be that we want to develop,” Knight said. “And one of the things I want to do is ensure that I kickstart that, because in my mind, developing that property helps the city of Fairfield. I need some type of public-private partnerships over there. “I’ve talked to a charter school that is interested in building up there. We’re not taking anything off the table. We’re just looking for what makes the best sense for Miles College and for Fairfield.” Knight said the same kind of focus has been on the institution’s educational offerings. “I look to see what we’re teaching, what we’re offering and … what we should be offering,” she said, with an eye toward “increasing some areas where we know it makes sense for our students. For instance, we had insurance companies present us with an opportunity because they were having trouble finding African American students who majored in actuarial science. “Well, it’s hard to find people, period, who major in actuarial science, but what we said to them is, ‘we will find students, but you’ve got to help us. You teach our faculty, and then come in and teach our students. And then we’ll find the best students, because they’re already probably math or accounting majors,’ and now we’ve had our first actuarial science graduate.” Those kinds of partnerships help with workforce development, Knight said. “We want the business world; we want other entities to tell us what their needs are. So we’re looking at developing a certificate program. We applied for and received a sizable grant to pay someone to go out in the workforce and tell us what’s cutting edge. “The governor has been talking about … workforce development initiatives; she’s been talking about certifications. …One of those certificate programs is going to be a certificate in social justice, and it is framed around (former Birmingham Mayor) Richard Arrington and (retired federal Judge) U.W. Clemon.” The leadership at Miles College is eying growth plans. (Miles College) Knight said the school remains “relentless, looking for and examining what makes sense for Miles and what makes sense for our students.” The mission of 125 years ago hasn’t changed, she said. “We’re (looking to) give our students a top-notch experience here at Miles College. I am always committed to Miles College, our students and the historical mission bestowed upon this institution … to motivate and prepare students to seek knowledge that leads to intellectual and civic empowerment.” This story originally was published by The Birmingham Times. Republished with the permission of The Alabama NewsCenter.
Rep. Terri Sewell, Chairman Steven Horsford, and Congressional Black Caucus issue statement on Amicus Brief objecting to Alabama Congressional Map
Last week, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04), and members of the Congressional Black Caucus commented on their amicus brief filed by the CBC in the Northern District of Alabama. The CBC is upset that the Alabama Legislature failed to submit a new congressional map with two majority Black districts in July’s special session, so they have filed the amicus brief supporting Milligan and the other parties challenging the state’s congressional redistricting. “In defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Allen v. Milligan, the Republican-controlled Alabama State Legislature has yet to redraw its congressional district map to include a second majority Black district—falling far beneath the goal set by the highest court in the land,” the CBC members said in a statement. “Instead of creating a second district where Black voters would have an opportunity to elect a Black-preferred candidate in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the Alabama State Legislature chose to again put forth a map that robs Black voters of their fundamental rights at the ballot box.” “Therefore, the Congressional Black Caucus filed an amicus brief in the United States District Court in the Northern District of Alabama objecting to the newly enacted congressional district map because we will not stand by and allow improper, racially discriminatory maps to stand without challenge,” the CBC Congressmembers concluded. Horsford came to Birmingham on Friday for a Congressional Black Caucus Institute (CBCI) event, the same day that former President Donald Trump came to Alabama. The CBCI hosted a mobilizer training session to educate participants on effective community mobilization, grassroots efforts, and impactful communication techniques to drive social change. Following the training, Sewell and Horsford hosted a panel discussion with Miles College President Bobbie Knight, Lawson State Community College President Cynthia Anthony, Interim Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning and Initiatives at Alabama A&M University Jackie Robinson, III, Community Activist Dee Reed, and Birmingham Urban League President and CEO William Barnes. The conversation was moderated by journalist Roland Martin and focused on pressing issues of democracy and racial equity, including attacks on Black history, the erosion of affirmative action, the state of voting rights, and the critical role of HBCUs in shaping our path forward. The Congressional Black Caucus claims that having only one majority Black district in Alabama – where 27% of the voting population is Black – violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The three-judge panel in Atlanta will hear both party’s cases later this month. It is likely that whichever side loses at the Eleventh Court of Appeals will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the case. Many national pundits and legal scholars have to this point, questioned the Republican-controlled State Legislature’s congressional map. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Congressional Black Caucus Institute coming to Birmingham for “Democracy For the People” Tour
The Congressional Black Caucus Institute (CBCI) is hosting a series of town halls and mobilizer trainings across the nation on the most pressing matters of democracy and racial equity in America. The CBCI tour will be in Birmingham on Friday. There they will be welcomed by Congresswoman Rep Terri Sewell (D-AL07). The CBCI’s Democracy For The People nationwide tour will visit over ten cities. Each two-part event offers a vital town hall with CBC Members and a comprehensive organizer training on pressing matters of democracy and racial equality in America. This program ensures that the voices and concerns of marginalized communities are not only heard but also heeded by decision-makers at the pinnacle of policymaking. Each leg of the tour will also facilitate voter registration and connect the community to newly trained personnel. Visiting Birmingham will be Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Steven Horsford (D-Nevada) for the continuation of the CBCI’s “Democracy For The People” nationwide tour. Rep. Sewell will join the CBCI for a comprehensive organizer training and town hall on the most pressing matters of democracy and racial equity in America. The CBCI will host a mobilizer training session Friday morning with community organizers to educate participants on effective community mobilization, grassroots efforts, and impactful communication techniques to drive social change. This is a closed event by invitation only. From 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CDT, Rep. Sewell and Chairman Horsford will lead a town hall at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute with civic leaders and advocacy groups. Members of the community are encouraged to join the town hall event. Joining Sewell and Horsford at the town hall will be Award-winning journalist Roland Martin, Miles College President Bobbie Knight, President of Lawson State Community College President Cynthia Anthony, President of Alabama A&M University Daniel Wims, Community Organizer Deer Reed, and President and CEO of the Birmingham Urban League William Barnes. “We know that these challenges didn’t begin last year, a generation ago, or even a century past,” said CBCI Executive Director Vanessa Griddine Jones. “2022’s threats to our democracy, our health, our bodies, and our resources are rooted in slavery, colonialism, and racism that were tools of a system designed to stunt our growth and paralyze our progress. And, sadly, that system still works like a well-oiled machine.” “CBCI has partnered with corporations, faith-based and civil rights organizations, NGOs, and other like-minded individuals to identify the issues and seek viable, actionable solutions that are transparent and accountable,” said Executive Director Griddine-Jones. “To this end, CBCI has organized high-level non-partisan, political education training, conducted webinars to address disparities in health, education, financial wealth and as always systemic racism.” The CBCI describes itself as a resolute and transformative force dedicated to empowering and uplifting African Americans and communities of color across the United States. As the 501(c)(4) educational and research arm of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the CBCI embraces the mission of advancing social, economic, and political equality through innovative programs, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Terri Sewell to commemorate 10th anniversary of landmark Shelby County versus Holder ruling
Congresswoman Terri Sewell will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the landmark Shelby County vs. Holder Supreme Court decision with two events on Tuesday and Wednesday. On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the controversial preclearance section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was archaic and no longer legally enforceable, upsetting many in the civil rights community, including Rep. Sewell. “Exactly 10 years ago, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in its disastrous Shelby County vs. Holder decision, unleashing a wave of voting restrictions across the nation,” Rep. Sewell said Sunday on Facebook. Sewell is the author and lead sponsor of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. If passed, the bill would restore the requirement that southern states receive preclearance from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division before legislatures can pass changes to their voting rules or decennial redistricting. The federal courts have recently found Alabama in violation of the remaining intact provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with its congressional redistricting in the Allen vs. Milligan decision. Congresswoman Sewell will be joined by retired federal Judge U.W. Clemon, State Senator Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), State Senator Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham), Miles College President Bobbie Knight, Fairfield Mayor Eddie Penny, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, and Birmingham Times Executive Editor Barnett Wright for a panel discussion on the Supreme Court’s Allen v. Milligan Decision on Tuesday at Miles College. Sewell will be joined on Wednesday by President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Maya Wiley, former U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Alabama), the President & General Counsel of MALDEF Thomas A. Saenz, the Associate Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Tona Boyd, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Jacqueline De Leon, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute President & CEO DeJuana Thompson, the executive director of Alabama Forward Evan Milligan, the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Black Voters Matter Cliff Albright, the Vice President of Census & Voting Programs for Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) Terry A. Minnis, the Co-Director of the Voting Rights Project for Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Marcia Johnson, and the Alabama Policy Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center Jerome Dees. The group will hold a symposium, “Shelby County a Decade Later: The Path Forward in Our Ongoing Fight for the Right to Vote,” at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham on Wednesday. Sewell is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Administration Subcommittee on Elections. Sewell is in her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Beloved philanthropist Joann Bashinsky passes away
Alabama philanthropist Joann Bashinsky passed away Monday. The heiress to the Golden Flake fortune was 89 years old. Bashinsky, known to many as “Mama B”, was a beloved giver to the community, and even just recently established a new scholarship fund at Miles College. According to the Birmingham Times, the $168,000 scholarship will provide three four-year scholarships to students who don’t have the financial means to attend college. She’s also been a supporter of causes such as Big Oak Ranch. However, Mrs. Bashinsky has been in headlines recently for a legal battle against the Jefferson County probate system. The probate court took control of her assets and affairs after probate court judge Alan King decided she needed a court-appointed guardian for her estate. The Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Bashinsky, freeing her from the court-ordered contested conservatorship. Landon Ash, Bashinsky’s grandson released a statement about his grandmother’s passing. “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my grandmother, Joann Bashinsky yesterday, January 3, 2021. She was best known as Mama B or Mrs. B, a nickname she was given as her legend grew for her generosity through her philanthropic work throughout the state of Alabama,” he stated. “My grandmother was a champion for those in need for decades and her passing will be felt by countless people whose lives were touched by her kindness and incredible compassion for humanity. Most of all, this loss will be felt by my family and me. Nonny was my champion as well, and I loved her dearly for the guidance and direction she gave me throughout my life. While Mrs. B was in excellent health, both physically and mentally, for someone 89 years old, she was brought to the hospital Saturday and passed away there yesterday from complications of a heart attack.” In regards to the recent court battle, Ash commented, “Mrs. B found herself under unfortunate circumstances as she spent the past 18 months battling a court-appointed guardianship that continued up until the moment of her passing. She said she was going to ‘fight them till the bitter end’ and that is exactly what she did. Her compassion for those who find themselves in similar circumstances will be felt long after her passing and her work as an advocate for them is far from over.” “Words can’t describe my sorrow for my grandmother’s passing, though I take comfort in knowing she was one of Alabama’s finest women to ever live and that she is now with the rest of her family in heaven, he concluded. “I feel blessed to have the solemn duty to carry on her legacy and continued service to others as she taught me to do so well.” Miles College President Bobbie Knight stated, “The Miles College community is deeply saddened and mourns the loss of Mrs. Joann Bashinsky. Mrs. Bashinsky and I grew close over the past few months after she established an endowed scholarship fund at Miles College. It was during this time I learned she believed that finances should not be a barrier to any student seeking higher education. Mrs. Bashinsky exemplified a passion for improving young people’s lives in our community, and her legacy will live here through the students she has touched.” The family asks that contributions be made out to Big Oak Ranch and Miles College in lieu of flowers.
