5 tips to pass on your charitable values

We love the fact that Birmingham ranks so high in generosity on a variety of different surveys. The next generation is doing a great job of demonstrating their own support for our community, but we can do more to encourage those efforts.
This holiday season, try at least one of these five tips and let us [...]

Aldridge Gardens reflects power of putting down roots

Once upon a time, the Hoover property that now makes up Aldridge Botanical Gardens was the home of Eddie and Kay Aldridge. On Oct. 27, the house that has become the headquarters for the gardens once again became a place for the Aldridges to greet their guests, as honorary hosts for the Community Builder Legacy [...]

Are you Switzerland? Let’s work together for our community

Andrew Westmoreland, president of Samford University, described the university as Switzerland in a state divided by Alabama and Auburn. In the context of the panel discussion hosted by Brock School of Business on August 19, that phrase could have been a description of neutrality. But it’s really a description of how Samford wants to [...]

Where does change come from?

Lucy Bernholz at Philanthropy 2173 asks the question: Where does positive social change come from?
Her answer? “Anywhere and everywhere.”
Recently, Twitter has had a major impact on knowledge and support of recent upheaval in Iran, she argues, and other social media has potential for who knows what positive effect in the future.
Bernholz also uses an [...]

Are you a Knowledge Worker?

In her book, “Live First, Work Second,” Rebecca Ryan leads the way inside the minds of the next generation, exploring the way emerging leaders think about our world. She talks a lot about the Creative Class and about Knowledge Workers, borrowing from phrases first used by best-selling author Richard Florida.
So how do you know if [...]

Regional economic development organization set to launch

Look for the launch next week of the merged organization that will take on the important roles of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board in regional economic development. Starting July 14, the organization that still is unnamed will be located at the Financial Center, 505 20th Street North in [...]

Can these ideas spark other thoughts for shared future?

Herbert Patterson cares about hills and trees, but wants the arts available too. Mike Harper wants to make sure we continue to care for one another. Richard Crow values the uniqueness of different neighborhoods. No matter what you care about, sharing ideas is a good start as we plan together for our future.
Kelly Sorrells: Wishes [...]

Jones Valley Urban Farm provides food, new view of our city

You know you’re seeing something special when you reach the edge of Park Place in downtown Birmingham and see the green shoots rising out of what once was very unfertile soil. And you know you’re seeing something special when Birmingham’s own Edwin Marty and Jones Valley Urban Farm are widely recognized on the national [...]

Rebecca Ryan optimistic about vitality, possibilities

In the month since Rebecca Ryan came to town for the Community Foundation 50th anniversary celebration and annual meeting, she’s been thinking about what she experienced. On Sunday, June 14, she shared her thoughts on the Viewpoint pages of The Birmingham News.
In the crowd of 850 at the annual meeting, she saw people with a [...]

What do YPs say is the ONE thing we can do for greatest impact?

For more than a year, we’ve been asking people to imagine great things for our next 50 years and capturing the answers here On June 11, we asked a new question of everyone we could talk to at the YP Expo: What one thing can we do, as a community, right now, that will [...]