FEBRUARY 2024
Helena’s Tucker Bremer aces the ACT and heads toward future success
PAGE 22
Fun Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Rainbow Omega’s 30+ Years of Service Mi Pueblo Stays in the Family
Breaking THEICE Doctor, author, and figure skater Anita Saxena balances her career and creative pursuits
PAGE 24
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2 Bham Family February 2024
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EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, I hope you all are settling into 2024! January always feels gray and long to me, but once we hit February and the pink, red, and hearts begin to appear, I feel reenergized. We made it! To celebrate this month, there’s a fun feature on ways to share the love with your family this Valentine’s Day (page 20). Be sure to check it out, and let me know how y’all mark the holiday. We also have a profile on nonprofit Rainbow Omega (page 14), an organization that has been sharing the love with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities for more than 30 years. Their work is incredible. Our features this month highlight some
incredible people, too. On page 22, read about Helena senior Tucker Bremer, whose perfect ACT score is just one of the reasons his future looks so bright. On page 24, you can learn how optometrist Anita Saxena makes time for creative pursuits outside her busy career, and on page 27, I am thrilled to profile Dulce Rivera, a first-generation college graduate who is taking the helm of her family’s business. Spring is on the horizon, friends. Enjoy this short month!
Stephanie Gibson Lepore, Content Director and Mom, stephanie@jbmcmedia.com
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ON THE COVER Photograph courtesy of Tara Bremer Tucker Bremer, a high school senior from Helena, scored a perfect 36 on the ACT, but it’s his character and leadership that shines even brighter. Read more about this exceptional teen on page 22.
To view this and previous issues in a digital flip version, scan the QR code with your phone’s camera.
OUR PEOPLE Matthew Allen Publisher (205) 617-9609 matthew@jbmcmedia.com
Stephanie Gibson Lepore Content Director stephanie@jbmcmedia.com
Michelle Salem Haynes Marketing Consultant (205) 381-1311 michelle@jbmcmedia.com
Tony and Shweta Bratina Graphic Designers
ABOUT US Bham Family is published monthly by JBMC Media, LLC, P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham AL 35260. 10,000 copies are printed and distributed at more than 650 locations throughout Jefferson and Shelby Counties. DISTRIBUTION If your business would like to make copies available to customers, please email matthew@jbmcmedia.com with your business name, address, point of contact, and number of copies you would like. ADVERTISING To reach the largest audience of parents in Birmingham each month, partner with us. Email michelle@jbmcmedia.com to get started with a partnership that will be a key part of your plan.
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O U R A DV E RT I S I N G PA RT N E R S These folks are the ones to thank for our magazine’s success — spend your money with them, and tell them you saw them in Bham Family!
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FEBRUARY 14TH - 28TH BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S T H E A T R E
6 Bham Family February 2024
FOR AGES 6 AND OLDER
WWW.BCT123.ORG
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
27
24 Just for Dads
Ward Williams gives advice p. 8 Holy Moly Motherhood
22 Education
News from local schools and college students p. 29
Taking laps p. 10
Kids Who Shine
Sean of the South
Jalen Kirkman p. 30
Birthday Boy p. 12 Nonprofit
FEATURE STORIES
Rainbow Omega p. 14
Celebrating Valentine’s Day
Schoolhouse
Ideas to fete your family p. 20
Update from the Hoover School District p. 16
Perfect Score
Travel with Kids
Helena student works hard for his successes p. 22
Take a road trip to the Sloomoo Institute p. 17 Families in Business
Mi Pueblo p. 27
From Eyes to Ice
Doctor, author, and skater uses her talents well p. 24 Bham Family February 2024 7
JUST FOR DADS
Bruce PHOTOGRAPH BY PETE KARICI ON ISTOCK
What’s in a Name? At a recent men’s retreat, I met a man named “Bruce.” His real name was not Bruce; he used a fake name on his name tag because “Bruce” reminded him of someone who made him laugh. Men’s weekends are always a fascinating adventure in unique personalities and interactions. During a Ward retreat of mainly cleanWilliams cut, middle-class men, Bruce stood out because of his revelations of addiction, incarceration, and his commitment to 12-step programs. He started to share that, in a life of bad choices and heaviness, he learned that good people and good relationships are light and that we should be eager to receive life from both. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says we should come to Him when we are weary and heavy, and He will give us rest. In my life, when I am weary and feel heavily burdened, I immediately want to isolate myself to avoid adding on more stress and also hoping to relieve a few of the burdens on my shoulders. In isolation where I seek to avoid people, I 8 Bham Family February 2024
never receive a feeling of freedom or relief. There was so much wisdom in Bruce’s statement that good people are light and good relations are light and that it is not a burden to receive or to give into those relationships. We are designed to be relational people, and from the beginning of creation, we are told that it is not good for us to be alone. We are uniquely and wonderfully made, and our unique gifts and experiences add to a family, job, church, or other organization. In a world where we have technology as a resource to be connected to anyone in any corner of the world, we seem to struggle to connect to people closest to us and potential life-givers in our daily lives. As you take your next steps, whether it is your first, your twelfth, or even farther along on your journey, take the hand of someone who is further down the road, and reach a hand back to one behind you. As we help others lighten their loads, our burdens will be lightened as well as cause good people and good relationships to be light and life-giving. If you don’t have your group of life-givers, continue to search. They might look different and offer wisdom you didn’t know you were searching for. Ward Williams is the founder and executive director of Vineyard Family Services. Contact him at ward@ vfsdads.com.
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HOLY MOLY MOTHERHOOD
Laps Around the House It’s 7:35 a.m. My children are off to school, and the house has been left in its usual state of disarray. If someone were to describe the scene on any given morning, they might say: “It appears they all left in quite a hurry.” Muffin wrappers and half-full glasses of milk, throw pillows up-ended, and bathroom lights left on—all evidence of a house full of boys and a rushed exit. I happen to have the day off today, and I envision all that I would love to be doing. Relaxing, finishing a project, actually watching a whole movie, reading a few Alana Smith chapters of a book—but none of those things can begin until I straighten this house up. I start in the living room and put the pillows in their place, open the blinds, and gather rogue shoes. I pass through the kitchen and empty the cups and see that the dishwasher is clean and will have to be unloaded, again. I pick up two juice box wrappers and curse them both as I take them to the trash. I feed our dog and then glance at the clothes on the dining room table, waiting to be put away. I make several more laps and reset the house for the day. Bending and picking up, sweeping and gathering. This routine isn’t even considered cleaning, it’s just daily maintenance. I feel my house is like a shaken up snow globe, and I can’t relax until all the little bits settle where they belong. Like every mom, I need to maintain our home, but I also need to deep clean, purge, and organize. I need to ready our house for better weather and longer days. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the tasks at hand. If I were to express this to my husband, he would say, “Well, just don’t do it today.” His brain works differently than mine. I know all of these things can actually wait. I know there is no company that will see the mess today, so maybe I should just let it go. But I don’t. It seems my mind will not settle when there is chaos all around. I also know that the moment my boys return, the house will ease back into its natural state of disorder, and I will start this routine over again. But for the moment, when I get things finally in their place, and the counters smell nice and the sink is shiny, I feel a sense of peace and rightness come over me. My brain has space to work properly again. This probably means I need to spend some time with a therapist, or maybe it just means that I like a clean house. Tidy house, tidy mind, right? I did a little research to see if I was an obsessive crazy lady, or if a clean house really did have some impact on mental well-being. And apparently it does. Having a clean home has a direct impact on mental health—visual clutter is shown to leave individuals with a feeling of unfinished business and anxiety. Ah ha! Well, that explains it. I have friends who are not this way. I sometimes wish I was more like them—chill and carefree. Just know that you aren’t alone if you feel like I do about your space at home. Embrace whatever brings you peace, whether it’s picking everything up or letting it be. Whether it’s clean, messy, or somewhere in between, as long as it’s filled with love, your home is exactly what it’s meant to be. Alana Smith is a boy mom (ages 9 and 4), nurse anesthetist, and writer in Birmingham. She shares her writing at Holy Moly Motherhood (on Facebook and Instagram), where she tackles all things motherhood and marriage.
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SEAN OF THE SOUTH
Birthday Boy There’s something about boys. When your old man dies young, it does something to your brain. It changes your perception of your mortality. You don’t expect to live as long as he lived. It’s just something that happens to you. You can’t explain it. Too hard to articulate. He died young. Why not you? So this is a big day. It’s the biggest birthday of your life. It is the occasion that officially makes you the same age as he was when it all ended. That fateful age. When he departed. That number. That year. It really means something to you. You don’t know why. But it does. You expected to have died in a car crash by now. Or a bad fall. Or a freak accident. Or you expected to go like your uncle Eustis, a house painter who died in a climbing accident, although it was likely the falling that killed him. You can remember how very old your dad
seemed to you when you were a boy, just before his end. In your childhood mind he was ancient. He had a few traces of white in his red whiskers. His chest hair had patches of gray. He complained about his back a lot. He made noises when he bent over. Fishing was too much work. You remember how he was your hero. How he could do anything. He knew everything. You remember how neighborhood dogs always followed him around. And how you wanted to be him. You wanted your shoulders to be as broad as his. And your jaw to be as square. And as of today you’re his age. The same age he was when he passed. How is this possible? You never thought this age would happen. Not to you. Because this is the age of dying. This is the age of expiration. This is the age when good men kick the oxygen habit. This is the age when
ILLUSTRATION BY SEAN DIETRICH
12 Bham Family February 2024
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SEAN OF THE SOUTH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
fate finally catches up with you. It’s weird. You don’t expect to be alive on this particular year. You don’t expect to wake up and have your wife cook you a breakfast of soy bacon and heartsmart eggs, and ask if you paid the health insurance. But today is a first day of firsts. A day when you realize that you have been taking naps after lunch regularly. A day when you were flattered because the guy at Publix asked to see your ID when you bought beer. A day when you told your five-year-old niece that it’s perfectly normal to poop one’s pants, and now she won’t quit making fun of you. A day when family members keep telling you how good you look, but they never told you this when you actually looked good.
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All you can remember is your old man. The guy who never made it this far. The guy who painted your life with trouble when he pulled the trigger, although he didn’t mean to. An age when you’ve finally started to understand why he did what he did, and you don’t blame him for it. It wasn’t the best option, no. There were other, better options staring him in the face. Therapy. Meds. Life changes. Anything but what he did. But you respect his decision. After all these years, you respect the way he wanted to leave this world. On his own terms. You don’t support the decision. You don’t agree with it. But you accept it. You know he didn’t mean it personally. That’s your take on things now. That’s your attitude. Which is an attitude, I suppose, that only age can give you.
How Chamber membership works for me. “I made a decision to invest in the Shelby County Chamber a few years ago because of the networking and business services for small businesses. As a new business owner, the Chamber was a vital part in my growth as a leader. I felt fortunate when KATs Delivery was nominated to be Small Business of the Year in 2018 by my peers and then successful in clinching the award in 2019. I have continued to stay involved and support other small businesses as well.”
Maurice Mercer, owner, KATs Delivery (205) 624-0777 • katsdelivery.com
To learn how your business can benefit as a member, call Jordan Powell at (205) 6634542, or email jordan@shelbychamber.org. Bham Family February 2024 13
NONPROFIT
A Place of Love
Rainbow Omega aims to unlock independence and potential in adults with challenges. Founded more than 30 years ago in 1991 by Dianne and Stentson Carpenter, Rainbow Omega is a faith-based nonprofit providing programs to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Carpenters desired to give these individuals a sheltered community where they can receive care and community. They’ve come a long way since the first two group homes opened for 16 people in 1995; Rainbow Omega now serves 88 individuals with a $10 million-plus operating budget. The organization’s mission is “to glorify God by ensuring that adults with developmental disabilities have a safe home where their abilities and potentials are respected and nurtured in a Christian environment.” Says Governor Kay Ivey, “For the last three decades, Rainbow Omega has worked tirelessly to unlock the full potential of some of our most remarkable Alabamians. To be recognized by a globally renowned company like Honda shows that this organization is accomplishing its mission day in and day out.” Rainbow Omega offers a variety of programs to suit the various needs of participants. The Day Habilitation Program provides a safe, supportive environment for learning new skills and socializing with peers. Activities include arts and crafts, music therapy, cooking classes, fitness programs, and more, promoting physical, social, and cognitive development. Rainbow Omega has the only two Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs) in the state. The ICFs are staffed around the clock with a trained professional team that counts licensed
14 Bham Family February 2024
nurses, resident aides/nursing assistants, QIDPs, a dietician, dietary aides, an activities coordinator, and healthcare professionals among them. The facilities offer comfortable spaces that promote independence and enhance participants’ quality of life. Personalized care plans address specific needs, goals, and preferences, and services include personal care, medication management, behavioral support, therapy services, access to medical care, and transportation to medical appointments and community events. A separate Residential Care Program offers eight group homes with live-in house managers. Like the ICFs, residents receive personalized care plans and recreational and social activity options like music, sports, and gardening, along with outings including church and social gatherings. A Vocational Program provides employment training and employment opportunities. The program operates weekdays and offers options and support to help participants reach their full potential. Staff works closely with each individual CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
NONPROFIT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
to identify unique strengths and interests and then helps them find employment that matches best. Training includes resume writing, interviewing, workplace communication, and job search strategies. Rainbow Omega also offers employment through its carpentry workshop, commercial kitchen, and garden center. The Vocational Program’s Workshop is located in Rainbow Omega’s Carpenter Work Center, which is certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. The Alabama Department of Labor regulates the Vocational Program. Through a contract with Honda Manufacturing, participants assemble vehicle owner manual kits for several vehicles manufactured at the Lincoln plant. The Commercial Kitchen at the Carpenter Work Center also provides work opportunities for those interested in the food service industry.
Another option is employment within 11 greenhouses and the shop at the Rainbow Omega Garden Center for participants interested in horticulture and gardening. The garden center sells blackberries and blueberries each summer, mums in the fall, and poinsettias during the holidays, as well as a variety of plants, shrubs, garden supplies, and gifts. Through these programs and care, Rainbow Omega is committed to the well-being of their participants and support of their families and living out their vision: Rainbow Omega will be a non-institutional environment that instills both a family and a community atmosphere where individuals experience quality standards of care while enabling them to grow spiritually and to have productive, joy-filled, and independent lives. For more information and to learn about the 2024 Rainbow Omega Fundraising Evening, with special guest Tim Tebow, on April 26, visit rainbowomega.org.
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Bham Family February 2024 15
NEWS FROM HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS
Dolan, Kimble named HCS Teachers of the Year
Dolan
Kimble
Allison Dolan, a librarian at Bluff Park Elementary, and Gerri Kimble, a teacher of IB business management, digital marketing, and marketing principles at Hoover High, were named the HCS elementary and secondary teachers of the year, respectively. As district winners, Dolan and Kimble will proceed to the state level for 2024-2025 Alabama Teacher of the Year consideration.
Gilmer named Hoover football head coach Drew Gilmer, formerly the head football coach at ClayChalkville High School, was named Hoover’s next head football coach on January 5. Coach Gilmer’s Clay-Chalkville teams experienced success at the highest level, winning state championships two out of the last three years. Gilmer said, “It’s a dream come true. Hoover High is the standard—no doubt about it. We’re going to continue that, and we’re going to build it. We will do everything that we can and everything in my power to make everyone proud. Winning is important, don’t get me wrong. We’re going to win. But we’re here to build young men. It’s a passion of mine and why I got into it.”
16 Bham Family February 2024
TRAVEL WITH KIDS
A Sticky Situation
Kids—and kids at heart—can get their hands messy and indulge their senses at the Sloomoo Institute in Atlanta. BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE We’re fortunate in Birmingham to be within a couple hours of other great cities—Atlanta, Nashville, Huntsville—and sometimes it’s fun to get out of town for a day or weekend and explore what they have to offer. During a recent school holiday, my family decided to scoot over to Atlanta to visit the Sloomoo Institute for an afternoon of ooey-gooey slime fun. In the words of my 7-year-old: “This place is a 10 out of 10!” “Institute” sounds serious, but the second you walk through the doors of the Buckhead location and catch a glimpse of the dripping floor-to-ceiling slime wall behind the ticket desk, you know you’re in for some serious fun. Our visit began with a short video before we were ushered into the slime wall space and encouraged to fill out name tags with our slime names. (The name “Sloomoo” came from a viral Instagram moment where you replace every vowel in your name with “oo.” I became “Stoophoonoooo.” Nice to meet CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Guests get to add their own blob to the slime wall at the Sloomoo Institute in Atlanta. Bham Family February 2024 17
TRAVEL WITH KIDS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
you.) From there, we added our own slime stamp to the big wall—and that’s where the guided tour ends and we were left to play our way through the rest of the immersive magic. First up: Slime slinging. We took turn shooting balls of slime at each other (protected by a see-through wall!) before feeling the vats of different types of slime: butter, cloud, floam, icee, jelly. Sloomoo Institute “celebrates joy through sensory play,” and squeezing and kneading vivid colors of various slimes is more satisfying than I imagined. Sloomoo’s mission is to “embrace the power of #satisfying through vivid color, the sense of scent, tactile compounds, and captivating visuals and sounds.” There’s an educational component, CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
18 Bham Family February 2024
TRAVEL WITH KIDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
too, with signs around the play areas detailing the sticky science behind autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), as well as the compounds (mostly Elmer’s Glue and Borax) and properties that make up each type of slime—more than 25 vats of different textures and scents are on display. Did you know adults tend to prefer cloud slime? This super-stretchy fluffy slime feels soft and feathery, like a cloud, thanks to its inflatable snow ingredient. It’s also the least sticky of all types, earning the grown-up stamp of approval. We took a short break from sensory play to sit in on a “slime school” lesson, where our “instructor” demonstrated different types of slime, how to reactivate slime, and showed us how to get slime out of clothes (vinegar+water, and yes, it really works!). Lesson concluded, we stepped into the slime factory room, where my daughter
suited up in layers of plastic ponchos and two shower caps before getting “slimed” at Sloomoo Falls. The experience ends at Sloomoo’s DIY Bar, where each ticket holder gets to choose their favorite slime texture, then customize an 8-ounce container with color, fragrance, and charms. There’s nothing kids love more than playing with blobs and gobs of stretchy slime—except when they’re playing with blobs and gobs of slime they get to take home! Three containers—icee, butter, and thick & glossy for us!— and a slew of slime memories later, we hit the road back to Birmingham. The Sloomoo Institute is a giant, science-y, sensory experience, kidand—armed with the vinegar-water cleaning hack—parent-approved, and we can’t wait to go back. With the President’s Day holiday coming up this month, maybe it’s the perfect time to take road trip with your family. For more information, ticket details, and directions, visit sloomooinstitute.com.
JAN. 2023
Face No Fear The
of
Trussville’s Logan McCool is named Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion 2023 as she shows the world how to live life to the fullest.
Page 23
Biscuit Love Rises in Birmingham Serbian Exchange Student Experiences the Magic City
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ALL PROFITS SUPPORT MISSIONS Bham Family February 2024 19
FEATURE
Make it a Valentine’s Day to Remember Whether you’re all in on this “Hallmark Holiday” or not, here are some ways to embrace the love and celebrate with your family.
PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURI PATTERSON
Love it or hate it, February 14 is quickly approaching, and this year brings an opportunity to embrace the day of the heart. Whether you’re looking for a family celebration, something to impress your preteen, or you are one of the lucky parents who scored a babysitter, we’ve rounded up an assortment of ideas to make Valentine’s Day 2024 a memorable one. FANCY FAMILY DINNER
We love this idea from a reader, who says that every year, her family of
20 Bham Family February 2024
six treats themselves to a formal(ish) night at home. Her husband and son “arrive” to the house and ring the bell, greeting the gals (wife and three daughters) with flowers and an official invite to dinner. They all dress up, set a pretty tablescape, and sit down to a steak dinner before going around the table naming things they love about each person. “It’s a really sweet evening. Even my collegeage daughter still comes home to participate,” she says. No grillmaster CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
at home? No problem. Choose your family’s favorite meal instead (breakfast for dinner heart-shaped pancakes), or order takeout. Make dessert as decadent as you want, whether it’s break-and-bake cookies or an entire chocolate fondue setup. Cap off the evening snuggled up on the couch with a family-friendly movie. Some of our favorite picks include Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie, Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You, True: Happy Hearts Day, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, You’ve Got Mail, Lady and the Tramp, Sleepless in Seattle, and My Girl. For older families, may we cheekily suggest Jim and Pam’s wedding on The Office (“Niagra: Part 1 and Part 2”)? (A family dance “down the aisle” would be so fun!) GALENTINE’S GATHERING
A fun event we stumbled upon gave us all the heart eyes! Blooms & Bubbly, hosted at Emmy Squared Pizza at The Summit is billed as a “galentine’s bouquet bash.” Participants will gather on February 9 for a floral workshop with Dimples Flowers. Miley Cyrus tells us we can buy our own flowers, and for $65 per person, you can make your own, too! The crew from Dimples will guide you through the step-by-steps of building your own bouquet. Emmy Squared is providing refreshments, and a permanent jewelry vendor will be on-site with baubles and bling. (Matching bracelets are giving 90s BFF necklace vibes!) This is such a fun mom-daughter date night option. For more information and to register, visit thesummitbirmingham.com/play. ADULT DATE NIGHT
Once again, Alabama Theatre is showing the classic film Casablanca on the big screen for Valentine’s Day. (Full disclosure: My husband and I have done this for several years, ending our evening with our traditional Waffle House dinner, complete with DIY heart-shaped shared waffle. Highly recommend!) Get there early for good seats and a singalong with the iconic Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Tickets are available
PHOTOGRAPH BY PA BRADY PHOTO
through Ticketmaster; visit alabamatheatre.com for more information. Another original event, The Birmingham Musuem of Art hosts Candlelight: Valentine’s Day featuring Romeo and Juliet and More. At this concert, guests will experience a live, multisensory musical event in a glowing romantic setting. Enjoy compositions such as “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Henry Mancini); “Love Theme” from Romeo and Juliet (Nino Rota); “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic (James Horner and Céline Dion); and more performed by the Listeso String Quartet. There are two performances to choose from, 6:30 or 8:45 p.m. Grab an early dinner beforehand, or a late-night dessert for two after the last show. Tickets are available through feverup.com. Of course, you still want to do something special for the kiddos, so set the sitter up for success with a heart-shaped pizza from Papa John’s or Papa Murphy’s and stock the freezer with their favorite ice cream and sundae fixin’s. Before you head out for the evening, flip the order and read a bedtime story together. On our shelves: Love, Escargot, When PB Met J, How to Catch a Loveosaurus, and Heart String. Check them out, along with other recs, at our local library branch. GET CRAFTY
Keep your celebrations simple with a cardmaking event at the Titusville Library (2 6th Avenue SW). The library will provide all necessary supplies to DIY Valentine’s Day cards. Adults may join February 14 at 11 a.m. and youth at 3:30 p.m. (Registration required.) Visit cobpl.org for more information. Bham Family February 2024 21
FEATURE
In addition to academics, Tucker Bremer participates in the Helena High School Marching Band. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TARA BREMER
Bright Future Ahead Helena student excels in school and Scouts, but his character outshines it all
BY DREW ROBERTS When Helena High School senior Tucker Bremer joined his family for dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse, he felt that things were a little off. His family had never eaten there, so the change in scenery caught him off guard, but more importantly, his mother plopped a half-gallon of “limited-edition” ice cream on the table. He studied the M&Ms scattered on top of it, wondering what was so special about it. Then, it clicked. The M&Ms formed the number 36. He had gotten a perfect score on the ACT. Tucker was relieved, excited, and certainly surprised, but if anyone took a cursory look at his accomplishments or had a chat with the man himself, the result would seem inevitable. Tucker had taken the ACT a total of five times before his perfect score. Starting in seventh grade, he improved little by little with each test. His preparation involved combing through countless practice problems, finding his weaknesses, and making the necessary improvements. Regarding his 22 Bham Family February 2024
strategy, Tucker said, “While a lot of other people will probably focus on a more comprehensive picture, I decided to try and identify and focus on very specific areas that I [needed] to improve on, and it turns out that was the ticket.” At school, Tucker doesn’t shy away from a challenge. He takes seven AP courses and is also a member of the Math Team. When it comes to staying motivated with this hefty course load, Tucker likes to focus on what he can gain from it, saying, “I learn to love the content because I wouldn’t be able tao do all this work without at least enjoying some of it, so what I do is over the first few weeks at school I kind of delve into the topic and learn more about it and usually from that I learn how it could be applied in my life and I start liking it.” Mathematics and Science are Tucker’s strong suits. He cited AP Chemistry as one of his favorite classes and said that if he weren’t going into aerospace engineering, he’d be pursuing a career CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
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in a chemistry-related field. He also recounted going over mathematical concepts with his calculus professor Dr. Mark McDonald who assists with not only the Math Team, but the Helena High School Marching Band, another addition to Tucker’s schedule. To add even more to Tucker’s resumé, he recently became an Eagle Scout. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Tucker took on the ambitious project of building five benches in Helena’s Buck Creek Park. Since the park is in a flood zone, he had to ensure the strength and durability of the benches and anchor them in concrete. The whole endeavor took about three months, the majority of which being paperwork. Tucker had to draft proposals and plans, acquire signatures, and talk with the head of Parks and Recreation. The installment of the benches themselves took two weekends. The first weekend involved building the benches, and the second, with the help of a rented hydraulic auger, saw Tucker, his friends, and their fathers, drilling holes and setting the benches. Despite the sweltering Alabamian heat, Tucker looks back fondly on the experience, saying, “In retrospect, the project was great. It really was the largest project I brought from start to finish, and I think that’s going to be a very valuable experience as I go into college and my career. As graduation looms, Tucker has narrowed down his college search to two schools: Purdue and Auburn. Most of his family has gone to
Purdue, including his parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and plenty of other relatives. He would also hope to continue his band career there, noting the prestige and traditions of their program. With plans to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering, Tucker hopes to fly high at either school. Before getting to college, however, Tucker wants to savor his final semester at Helena. He noted the difficulties brought about by his junior year of high school, and how he’s known what to expect from a heavier course load his senior year. He appreciated the newfound freedom and ease of pace, saying, “I actually have some time to do other projects, or hang out with family.” This does not mean, however, that the infamous “senioritis” has set in. Tucker joked that he has a “little bit” of the condition that causes seniors to coast through the last few months of school, but emphasized his intention to keep his grades up. This won’t stop him, however, from enjoying time with those close to him. Noting how far one of his college choices would take him away from home, Tucker wants to ensure he makes the most of his last few months, saying, “No one [else] is going to Purdue, if I go to Purdue, I’m gonna miss a bunch of my friends, so I want to hang out with them a lot.” With an already impressive resumé to fall back on, the future looks bright for Tucker, bright enough to warrant even more of that “limitededition” ice cream.
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FEATURE
Breaking the Ice Doctor, figure skater, and author Anita Saxena balances her career and creativity BY DREW ROBERTS
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ANITA SAXENA
Figure skating is not for the faint of heart. The sport requires great technical skill and countless hours of practice. Birmingham resident Anita Saxena is no stranger to this reality, for after thirty years of competition, a career in optometry, two published novels, and a newborn child, the discipline inherent to the sport bleeds into every aspect of her life. Her love for the sport began when she was young. After watching legends like Kristi Yamaguchi and being enamored by the physics-defying technique of the backward crossover, Anita knew she’d found a vocation. She then began skating lessons when her family moved from Cincinnati to Huntsville. Ever since then, she’s been on the ice. If her status as an author is anything to go off of, Anita isn’t your typical figure skater. In fact, her passion lies in a marriage between arts and athletics: theater on ice. As a director of Magic City Theater on Ice, Anita CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
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finds the collaboration inherent to theater blends perfectly with the more solitary act of skating, saying, “It’s like this big labor of love that takes a long time, and it also takes a lot of different people coming together to make it happen. Figure skating [is] an individual sport, but theater is a team sport, and I just love that: skating with other people on the ice.” The Theater on Ice program Anita is a part of has won several national championships. Since football is the de facto sport of the south, she said that she and her fellow skaters are somewhat isolated from competitors in other parts of the country. She joked, however, that they have received plenty of help from competitors in the more ice-
friendly state of Michigan. The day-in and day-out work of theater on ice extends naturally into her life as a writer. Anita has published two novels: Double-Axel or Nothing and The Price of Ice. With both novels focusing on young girls with big dreams in the world of figure skating, Anita has found her own life as a great inspiration. When she was writing Double-Axel or Nothing, Anita drew from her experiences as a coach watching her athletes try to accomplish the intimidating task of completing a doubleaxel jump. To complete the jump is to open the gateway to greater competition and opportunities. Anita details how she saw the pressures that come with this firsthand, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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saying,“Young girls put a lot of stress on themselves trying to get this jump, and I just [watched] over and over again how they would begin to devalue themselves as skaters. It would really knock on their selfconfidence. And they would sometimes miss the perspective on all the great things they can do and the great person they are. It just breaks your heart to see how they would put all their value and everything into just one jump. There’s more to skating than that, and there’s more to life than that.” Though Double-Axel or Nothing and The Price of Ice are classified as middle-grade and young-adult books respectively, Anita hopes to reach readers of all ages. She noted that the father of one of her best friends read Double-Axel or Nothing and was able to relate to it since his daughter used to figure skate. Through her books, Anita wants to create that special connection only literature can provide, saying, “I always hope that my stories bring people joy and takes them out of themselves and their lives for a little bit, but I hope also that there’s something in each story that, regardless of age or experience, [you] can relate to.” Just as literature fosters communication, so does skating itself. As Anita said, skating is an individual sport. Conversely, family is a team sport. After giving birth to her daughter and facing an illness soon afterward, Anita relied on those around her for help. She found that her “second family” in the skating world proved invaluable in her recovery. After receiving plenty of support and morale, Anita reflected on what the sport has given her, saying, “I was always grateful for my life, and the opportunities that I had, and the careers that I get to pursue, but there’s an extra layer of gratitude now these days to be able to do what I do and interact with the people that I get to be around.” The resilience to overcome illness and 26 Bham Family February 2024
injury is exactly what figure skating has provided for Anita. The lessons she’s taken from the sport bleed into other aspects of her life. She formed thick skin as she weathered numerous rejection letters for her novels. In school, she excelled academically through the time management skills her sport required. Her physics classes even gave her insight into the mechanics and forces of the human body. Whether it’s on an ice rink, a doctor’s office, or at her desk, Anita has confidence in her abilities. For that, she can thank not only the sport of figure-skating, but the bonds she’s been able to forge within it. For more information on Anita Saxena, including book releases, be sure to visit anitasaxena.com.
FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
Honoring Family Heritage
First-generation college graduate Dulce Rivera celebrates culture and community through her work BY DAKOTA RICE
What started off as a small family business has turned into a Samford alumna being a voice for her people in the Birmingham area. Dulce Rivera ’17 is the CEO of Mi Pueblo Supermarket and chair for Fiesta BHAM, Alabama’s largest
Hispanic celebration. Dulce is a firstgeneration college graduate who originally chose Samford for the close proximity to her home. Dulce knew throughout high school that she wanted to study business. Business CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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leadership was in her blood. Dulce explained, “I kind of always knew. In high school I was in Future Business Leaders of America. I was very involved and held leadership positions. And all my aptitude tests I took growing up said I would be a good leader, manager, or businessperson. So, it seemed like a natural career path to take.” On a more personal level, though, being a commuter and minority student could feel lonely at times. Dulce was an ambitious social butterfly in high school, so feeling unconnected to campus was a struggle for her. When former Samford professor, Carlos Alemán, started the Latino Student Organization, it opened a door for her to meet students with similar life experiences. “That’s when my Samford journey changed completely,” shared Dulce. “I had found my people. I had a friend from theater appreciation who is still my best friend; her name is Nyeedra. The Latino Student Organization opened us up to socializing and having more friends. I always say the LSO kind of saved me.” After graduation, Dulce was able to transfer what she experienced in Brock School of Business to Mi Pueblo. Dulce was impressed at how concepts learned in economics or for an accounting test prepared her for practical business matters. These skills are essential for this family business that is actually the largest multicultural store in the state of Alabama. Dulce recounted the day her father realized the need for this business in the community. “My dad is very entrepreneurial,” 28 Bham Family February 2024
explained Dulce. “He’s worked in construction and previously owned a Mexican restaurant. One day he was cooking a special dish that called for cactus. He went to the market to buy it, and it was outrageously priced. He was livid, saying that quality products like this should still be offered at affordable prices. On his way home, he saw there was a building for rent. He pulled over, went into the parking lot and got the phone number to call. The next morning, he had a walkthrough.” Dulce takes these family values like filling a community need and translates them into company values. Another value instilled in Dulce by her mom was to never forget her Mexican roots, which is played out by her leadership in helping to put on Fiesta BHAM every September. “We attended the festival for years and loved it,” said Dulce. “My parents love giving back to the community, but they weren’t board people. They had been approached a couple times, but they suggested I do it instead. This will be my fifth year on the board, and I just love it. I love being behind the scenes of the festival and seeing everything come to fruition. And I love meeting all the students who receive the scholarship we give out. I’m always bawling; it’s my favorite part hearing them tell their stories.” When asked what it means for Dulce to be a voice for her people, she shared that it means the world. “It’s just so powerful,” Dulce continued. “I don’t realize that it is until later, sometimes, when I realize I was a part of some change or movement or opportunity. It makes little Dulce proud.”
EDUCATION
UA Students Earn Scholarships University of Alabama seniors Anika Cho and Owen Emerson are two of 12 college students from around the nation to receive the U.S.-Ireland Alliance’s George J. Mitchell Scholarship. The Mitchell Scholarship was named to honor former U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process and aims to introduce and connect future American leaders to Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service. Anika is a UA Honors College student studying electrical engineering. She received the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship in June 2022 and has conducted research at NOAA Ocean Exploration, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and an underwater acoustics lab at UA. Owen is a UA Honors College student studying economics. He is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who fuses Appalachian folk music techniques with modern pop and alt-rock styles. Noting the Ulster Scots influence on Appalachian music, he wants to become a documentarian and educator of Appalachian-Irish musical heritage. Owen will study music and media technologies at Trinity College Dublin.
Schools Seek Subs Mountain Brook Schools are looking for substitute teachers. The schedule is flexible, and subs may select morning or afternoon shifts or all day. Subs are hired through Kelly Education. For more information, visit mtnbrook.k12.al.us or contact Kelly Education Services at (800) 528-0049. Two UA Seniors Awarded Mitchell Scholarships
Alumni Data Project The Samford University Alumni Association is partnering with Publishing Concepts, Inc. to gather updates as well as produce the first alumni directory in two decades. Alumni can update their information by calling (866) 5308367. Any graduates who do not participate will still be listed in the directory with name, graduation year, and degree obtained. “The alumni data project is very PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SAMFORD UNIVERSITY important as it will strengthen the Alumni can participate in the directory project through community of graduates,” says Casey March 31. Ramey, Executive Director of Alumni and Philanthropic Engagement. “Having the most up to date contact information will enable us to keep alumni aware of upcoming activities in their cities, benefits offered to them as alumni, and offer them the opportunity to connect with others who love this university.” The project concludes March 31, and everyone who participates can reserve a digital or print copy of the directory with PCI, (purchase not required to participate). For additional information, email the Samford University Alumni Association at sualumni@samford.edu. Bham Family February 2024 29
KIDS WHO SHINE
JALEN KIRKMAN
BY SHANNON THOMASON Jalen Kirkman, a college student from Florence, Alabama, was named to as a national semifinalist in The American Pops Orchestra “NextGen National: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow” competition. He was among 30 singers chosen for the competition from hundreds of auditioners. NextGen gives collegiate vocalists the opportunity to learn from industry professionals while competing for a chance to win scholarship money and paid performance opportunities with the American Pops Orchestra in New York. The APO brings American popular music to audiences and builds community by preserving, promoting and reimagining it. The APO presents live and virtual performances, educational initiatives, and collaborations to make the highest-quality art accessible to the broadest audiences. The orchestra often performs with such artists as Kristin Chenoweth from Wicked, and each year they host this vocal competition for young adults. Jalen, a UAB junior who is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Theatre, first heard about the competition and entered in late November 2023. Applicants must submit a self-taped performance of a song strictly from before the 1970s, and he sent in a performance of himself singing in class. “That part is really cool to me because it is a next generation vocal competition using older music, whether it be Golden Age or jazz or classical,” says Jalen. He performed the jazz piece “Guess Who I Saw Today.” The timeless classic has been sung by Nancy Wilson and Samara Joy, whose version inspired Jalen. “One of the big things I set for myself and would love to do in this competition is singing jazz throughout because it is something that I have always loved to do,” he says. “I don’t really get to sing jazz often, just being in musical theater. If I can get as far as I can doing that, it will be awesome.” The competition’s semifinals were broadcast virtually January 7. Four judges, along with audience votes, chose 10 finalists to receive an all-expensespaid trip to New York City to compete in the finals at Lincoln Center. Jalen made it. He now advances to the final round, to be held this month. Jalen will
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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UAB
attend master classes and events and work with professional artists, then perform at Lincoln Center at 2 p.m. EST on February 11. At UAB, Jalen is in the UAB Honors College on a Personalized Path. He studies voice with Head of Musical Theatre Valerie Accetta and Emily JaworskiKoriath, DMA, in the college’s Department of Music. For acting and performance, he studies with Department of Theatre professors Accetta, Dennis McClernon, Jack Cannon, and Roy Lightner, artistic director at Red Mountain Theatre and with whom Jalen also trained in dance. Jalen also performs with the Department of Theatre’s student tour group, a company of students who annually travel to schools and community venues to present theater shows. For more information, visit theamericanpops.org/nextgen.
Dajialyn
Heart Transplant Survivor
The path to mending her heart began Dajialyn was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and at 3 months old was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant. When her foster parents got the call to care for her, they never hesitated – and in July 2021, they received the call with the news she would get her new heart. Within hours she was at Children’s of Alabama in surgery. Her transplant was a success, and Dajialyn is walking, talking and doing all the things that keep parents of any toddler on their toes.
ChildrensAL.org/heart 1600 7TH AVE. S.
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BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233
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Bham Family February 2024 31 205-638-9100
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