What do you imagine?

Imagine a brighter future for Greater Birmingham.
Give what you can to provide the resources needed.
Together we can build a brighter future for this place we call home.

A bunch of creative, young (and not so young) professionals did their own imagining on August 20 at WorkPlay, and we promised to post the results (below).  We tried to divide these great “Imagine statements” into categories but plenty ofideas overlapped.

Keep reading and respond.  We want to hear what you imagine, too. Because together we can do so much more.

I imagine…progress

…a new Birmingham that attracts residents & businesses from around the country as a progressive and liveable community.

…a city that no longer uses its abundance of natural resources as an excuse for negligent planning for the future of those resources.  A city that, if nothing else, becomes a beacon for the state…shining so brightly that there is little choice but forced awakening.
…a liveable city with transportation infrastructure, recreational, cultural and employment opportunities that make Birmingham a draw.  People should want to be here instead of good people feeling like they need to leave to have those opportunities.

…a color-blind community that is progressive, with great leadership. (e.g. new mayor & council).

…a city recognized for Progress.

…world-class healthcare research, world-class technology-driven economy; world-class education (private & public), world-class recreation.

…Birmingham will catch up to its peers (e.g. Atlanta, Nashville, etc.) and be a “career destination” city in the Southeast.

…a Birmingham that people in Ensley, Andalusia and Manhattan see as an exciting place to live and work.

I imagine…equity & justice

…a city that is the leader in supporting social justice & reconciliation causes in Birmingham & around the world. A city that truly is…a city on a hill.

…better schools, more responsible & transparent spending of taxpayer dollars, less segregation in communities, better & less regressive tax system.

…applied commercial diversity promoting social equality and spiritual growth.

…massive racial reconciliation & revitalization of areas such as Woodlawn, Avondale and North Birmingham.

I imagine…leadership

…a Birmingham whose best people represent its leaders in civic roles. A Birmingham whose leaders reflect the potential represented by its citizens.  A Birmingham whose leaders are honest, trustworthy & good stewards of their responsibility for the city’s future.

I imagine…parks & recreation

…dog-friendly park; mayor that has vision…; improve literacy in B’ham.

…dog park.

I would love to see the Barons play in Birmingham. Chattanooga & Memphis have great downtown ballparks that attract fans and development to their downtown areas.

…water – canal/pond – whatever.

…”Cultural Diversity Park”…A park w/a central hub which has a museum facility & amphitheatre. Many cultures get a plot of land & with approval of the park board get to mobilize their communities to come up w/the best way to showcase their culture. We can have each culture highlighter per month in sync with the schools’ curriculum & music and exhibits featured, too.  I believe every living President & head of state around the world would come to the ribbon-cutting. It’s the basic premise of America! It celebrates what makes B’ham & America great.  The Park might have a Washington, D.C., feel or Epcot feel with space & each celebrated culture (e.g. Native American, Hispanic, Greek, Italian, etc.), open, inspiring and inspired.

I imagine…cooperation

…a city where people are wiling to work together, regardless of differences, to achieve growth, progress, and a greater standard of living for everyone in the city of Birmingham.

…a unified metropolitan area with truly diverse neighborhoods & schools (racially, socio-economically, agewise, etc.)

…an area whose municipalities cooperate to further improvement of quality of living in the area. I also imagine transportation infrastructure, including a rail system, that allows people to get around in the area.

I imagine…health

…equal access to education and health care for all of Birmingham’s children.

…a city more focused on their health.  A group that understands how lifestyle choices affect their well-being. Birmingham is a staple on lists highlighting the overweight and unhealthy. I would like to educate to improve health.

I imagine…transportation

…fully funded, adequate public transportation, and a city government that works with and for its citizens.

…high-speed public transit that goes over the mountain, a safe environment for our children, being recognized for something positive in a national ranking.

…public transportation

…effective, attractive, well-used regional mass transit.

I imagine…cycling

…a city where lots of people bike to work.  So: more bike lanes – all the way to downtown – and more people who live in the city.

…bike path around Birmingham for better health (v. obesity & accidents)/better air (greener)

I imagine…education

…Birmingham being a leader in education & paying teachers $100,000 a year.

…free quality schools in the City of Birmingham.  Explore charter schools, not vouchers. Competition can raise the bar.

…my children getting a world-class education in a world-class Birmingham City School system.

…Birmingham as the beacon of education and health of our children and families.

…a new downtown educational system for K-12 that would be a joint venture between City of Birmingham and UAB and be open to residents of the City of Birmingham. This would help families, increase property values and keep downtown vibrant.

…City of Birmingham public schools will become a source of pride for our city – that families living in the affluent Birmingham communities – Forest Park, Highland Park and the like – will consider Birmingham city schools just as seriously as they consider Over-the-Mountain schools and private schools.  Imagine a city school system that offers what the Over-the-Mountain schools often do not – racial and economic diversity – along with an outstanding education. In a generation, quality public schools could change the climate of the city!

I imagine…downtown

…the streets of Birmingham once again full of people & people talking & communicating w/one another & being vibrant & energized…How often are you downtown & walking the streets?  I live downtown.

…a cultural center in the downtown area where artists can afford to live and work in the same space and/or a more vibrant after-hours scene in downtown.  And a CLEANER CITY!

…a vibrant “Main Street” in Downtown Birmingham with shops, cafes, stores, tram & plazas!

…Downtown nightlife, more low- to mid-income housing within the city limits, better park systems, bike/running trails (safe)

…Downtown independent movie house, neon lights, of old, quality now-blockbusters, 7 nights a week.

…a revitalized downtown (social & cultural) to bring recent college graduates (B’ham natives & newbies) back to B’ham to be the next generation.

…a music/restaurant/entertainment district along 1^st and 2^nd Ave. North. It will attract tourists and businesses to downtown Birmingham.

…a vibrant entertainment district downtown.

I imagine…arts & culture

…a city with so many wonderful city-wide-sponsored music/food/themed festivals that no one will want to leave the city during the entire summer!

…Birmingham Museum of Art acquiring Boutwell, improving education programs of the arts – to become a museum that Birmingham is known for.

…a world-class independent film center.

…a safe, youthful and fun community of businesses, nightlife/bars, art galleries built around UAB.

I imagine…green ideas

…a hub of green business, where young professional are drawn to Birmingham to make a living in a city that has a high quality of life for them and the generations that follow.

…Birmingham not being in the top 10 smoggiest cities in the nation.

…heightened awareness around the environment.

…an educated & accountable lower class AND energy-saving & reducing waste city with emphasis on the environment.

I imagine…safety

…safe neighborhoods through community intervention and cutting-edge music develops, much as the radio station the X did and workplay does.

…a safe Birmingham. Where I can walk to my car (as a young woman) without looking over my shoulder, a city where my NYC friends say, “I heard that is a cool city” – lively downtown: restaurants, bars, events.

…a safe city, with both a vibrant downtown and active neighborhoods.  A place that’s accessible, and in which people take ownership – whether they live in West End, Highlands, Homewood or Helena.

…less crime…educated citizens..a vital, energetic downtown community…the arts – taking advantage of our history in artisan crafts and education in these crafts – an arts & craft school, especially for the inner-city community.  A city where businesses desire to be and can readily establish footing.

…a crime-free and drug-free Birmingham with a functional City Council that brings back Fortune 500 businesses that have long left.

…a safe Birmingham.

Birmingham has old decrepit projects where people live in total and utter poverty by the airport the projects are extremely bad. Can’t we do something about this?

I imagine…growth

…population growth.

I imagine…children

…an organization which provides support and positive spiritual role models for inner-city adolescent males.

I imagine…civic participation

…high school voter registration & better civic education with Empower Alabama.