Bham Family - May 2021

MAY 2021

Gym offers classes for all ages PAGE 12

Preparing students & adults for digital workforce PAGE 8

GOD’S Timing Family’s journey to adopt daughter PAGE 22

This June, grab a blanket, your family and friends and join us at Veterans Park in Hoover every Friday night for a free, family-friendly film!

(July 9 held as a rain date)

This June, grab a blanket, your family and friends and join opens us at Veterans Hoover every Park at 6:30Park pm in each week.

Friday night for a free, film!

Movies startfamily-friendly at dusk.

(July 9 held as a rain date)

FREE!

Park opens at 6:30 pm each week.

For coomplete movie listing, pleasestart like usatindusk.

Facebook at@FreeFridayFlicks.

Movies

FREE! Free Friday Flicks will respect all social distancing measures in place by the CDC. Please DO NOT come to the park if you or someone in your family group is not feeling well.

For coomplete movie listing, please like us in Facebook at@FreeFridayFlicks.

Free Friday Flicks will respect all social distancing measures in place by the CDC. Please DO NOT come to the park if you or someone in your family group is not feeling well.

2 Bham Family May 2021

NOW OPEN IN OUR NEW LOCATION 2719 19th Place South in downtown Homewood

www.sikesshoes.com Sikes - (205) 879-3433

Jack N Jill - (205) 879-7681

Bham Family May 2021 3

EDITOR’S NOTE There’s truly something for everyone in the month of May. From Mother’s Day to school graduations and the first vacations of the summer — or in a year for my family — there are plenty of special occasions and events to look forward to. As vaccines become more widespread and stores begin opening back up, May feels like the perfect time to enjoy all of the exciting things around town.

One place that offers children of all ages a place to stay active during the summer and beyond is Head Over Heels. This facility offers gymnastics, ninja, and aerial/circus arts skills (something adults can enjoy too) in a fun, welcoming environment. Looking for a place where my 2-year-old daughter could improve her strength, coordination, and try out new activities, I knew we had to check it out after I interviewed owner, Ann Williams, for this article. I’m not sure if my daughter is a gymnast in the making, but we both had a great time at her first class. You can read more about the classes, camps, parties, and events on page 12.

It only makes sense that after working off all of that energy that you’d want to take the family for a sweet treat. And for that, you’ll want to head straight to The Heavenly Donut Co. With dozens of delicious flavors — I’ll personally vouch for strawberry, Reese’s cup, and anything else with sprinkles — you can’t go wrong. Check out their story and more of their popular flavors on page 15.

Or, maybe you need to use the summer months to fill your little one’s closest with shoes and outfits, since they’ve outgrown what’s there now.

If that’s the case, check out Sikes Children’s Shoes and Jack n’ Jill Shop on page 20. The sister brands recently opened their new location, giving this month, giving customers a more open floor plan to shop their wide variety of clothing and shoes.

For anyone looking to read a story about family, faith, and love, read a couple’s inspirational adoption story on page 22. The adorable photos of their three children are reason enough to check it out.

You can also read about how community members, pastors, parents, and other leaders are coming together to support their local students and give them a place where they can grow in their faith. Check out the nonprofit, First Priority, on page 28.

Those are only a few of the amazing people and places you’ll find in this issue. There’s also an educational coding program, a Q&A with a cardiologist on COVID, an insanely talented teenage musician, and more!

Lauren H. Dowdle Content Director and Mom 4 Bham Family May 2021

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O U R A DV E RT I S I N G PA RT N E R S ABOUT US Bham Family is published monthly by JBMC Media, LLC, P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham AL 35260.

14,000 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.

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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Backyard Adventures

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Pediatric Smiles Sike’s Children’s Shoes / Jack n Jill Single Barrel Barber Shop

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Urgent Care for Children

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Aldridge Gardens

Brookwood Baptist Health

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Children’s of Alabama

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Compact2020

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Free Friday Flicks

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ADVERTISING To reach the largest audience of parents in Birmingham each month, partner with us. Email matthew@jbmcmedia.com to get started with a partnership that will be a key part of your plan.

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RECYCLE RECYCLE ME! ME!

Entering 5K – 5th Grades All camps start May 31st. and each lasts 1 week. 9 a.m. – N00N

Complete summer camp descriptions, details and All teachers are Alabama Educators. fees are available at

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6 Bham Family May 2021

INSIDE THIS ISSUE FEATURE STORIES

More than Gymnastics All ages enjoy classes at Head Over Heels. p. 12

God’s Perfect Timing Following one family’s adoption journey. p. 22

8

12

26

28

INSIDE EVERY ISSUE

Education Ed Farm inspires students and adults to discover and explore technology. p. 8

Families in Business Sikes Children’s Shoes and Jack n’ Jill move to new location. p. 20

Just for Dads Ward Williams encourages us all to be careful who we turn to for advice. p. 14

Active Living Summer sports and activities to watch and participate in for the whole family. p. 26

Food Review Heavenly Donut serves homemade treats. p. 15

Faith First Priority celebrates 30th year giving hope to students across Birmingham schools. p. 28

Schoolhouse Updates from the Hoover School District. p. 16 Medical Spotlight What to know about COVID and the heart. p. 18

Kids Who Shine Senior clarinetist recognized for his musical talent on the local and national levels. p. 30 Bham Family May 2021 7

EDUCATION

Jobs of the Future Ed Farm prepares all ages for success in the workforce

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED FARM

A teacher fellow instructs her student during Oxmoor’s STEAM Day.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE

Students take driver’s education in school to learn how to drive. Others may take classes at the trade school to learn specialized skills. Anything students can do to prepare for the workforce is a good opportunity.

After seeing the findings from a local market report, city leaders began realizing the growing need for more students and adults to learn technical skills if Birmingham was to be successful in the future. And that led to the creation of Ed Farm.

Short for Education Farm, Ed Farm offers opportunities for children, college students, and adults to learn new skills that will help them now and in the future. Waymond Jackson came on as CEO last spring, which is when the nonprofit officially got its start.

He says the idea for Ed Farm grew from the Birmingham community and leaders. A local group then travelled to Chicago to meet with Apple to explain the need the city had, including the types of jobs and training Birmingham would need in the next decade.

8 Bham Family May 2021

Leaders had recently completed a market report, so they knew the exact types of jobs and training the city needed — mainly ones focused on people having a higher level of digital skills, like coding.

“We wanted to be in control of how we shaped the new generation of leaders for the workforce.

For the economy to grow, we have to teach those skills at an early level,” Jackson says. “The goal was to provide the traditionally underserved the training and tools they needed to get high-quality, high-paying jobs.”

A small group continued to have conversations with Apple about creating a deeper level of involvement for work in Birmingham, which is how the vision for Ed Farm came to light.

“The ability to learn to code or to acquire digital skills is 21st Century learning,” Jackson says. “It’s the entry-level learning of what you need to get your foot in the door. It’s critical with talking about jobs of the future. We want everyone to have access to those skills — not just those in affluent positions.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Your Headaches Can’t Wait Headaches and migraines can be life-altering at any stage of life.

At best, they go away with a little medication. At worst, you’re out of action for the day. Dr. Jitendra Sharma and the team of providers at Brookwood Baptist Health Specialty Care Network Neurology specialize in headache and migraine treatments. Talk with us to find out how care – and hope – may be just around the corner.

To make an appointment, call 205-802-6595 or visit BBHCareNetwork.com 513 Brookwood Blvd., Ste. 372 • Birmingham, AL 35209

Bham Family May 2021 9

Ed Farm works to give students, teachers, and other community members the digital tools they need to thrive in today’s market.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Similar programs can cost anywhere from $9,000 to $18,000 for a 16-week course. But, Ed Farm is able to offer this training to the community at no cost. For those who already work several part-time jobs, for example, Ed Farm has a stipend program that allows them to position themselves in a better place so they aren’t working multiple jobs.

They partnered with Birmingham City Schools to teach those skills to K-12 students, as well as instructing them on how they can make a sustainable impact in the workforce one day. The student fellows program for middle schoolers has its own state-approved elective now.

“We want to create an inventive world where all people have access to the resources they need to fill or create the jobs of the future,” Jackson says.

Ed Farm also offers resources and training for educators through their teacher fellows program, which allows them to learn code and infuse that into their own curriculum. Their pathways program teaches coding to adults, and they also offer a coding boot camp to the community based off of Apple’s Swift programming language.

“It introduces coding to people who might not have been before through a language that’s meant 10 Bham Family May 2021

for everyone to be able to use,” Jackson says.

“Digital skills are what we’re trying to equip the community with.”

Jackson say they realized the need to focus on higher education, as well, which is why the Propel Center was created. This is the centralized hub they use to teach, train, and provide access to historically black college students. They teach everything from coding and entrepreneurship to artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR).

For Jackson, his favorite part about working with Ed Farm is seeing and hearing the stories of the people they’re able to impact. There’s the parent of one of their eighth graders who went through the boot camp and is now a developer for a start-up company. Or, it’s the stories of families who are all participating in the program.

“We’re providing a powerful opportunity for families to learn together,” he says. “It’s completely accessible to everyone in the community.”

By the end of the year, they hope to be in about 10 school districts across the state.

“It’s been exciting to see how the community has accepted what we’re doing, especially in a time like this,” he says.

For more information or to apply for one of their programs, visit Edfarm.org.

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FEATURE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEAD OVER HEELS

Head Over Heels offers gymnastics, ninja, and aerial silks classes for a range of ages.

Gymnastics MORE THAN

Children and adults find fun, friends, and fitness at Head Over Heels

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE

From forward rolls and cartwheels to ninja moves and aerial silks, Head Over Heels offers classes for all ages.

The gym first opened in Birmingham in 1979, and Ann Williams and her husband, Craig, purchased it back in 2001. They also had business partners, C.J. and Mary Grace Laird, join several years ago In addition to gymnastics classes, Head Over Heels also offer cheer tumbling, ninja classes, and aerial silks/circus arts classes. There’s something for preschoolers all of the way up to adults.

“People come to gymnastics for so many reasons,” Williams says. “We want them to have a great experience whether it’s for their first class or one of our other ninja skills or aerials classes.”

12 Bham Family May 2021

Gymnastics isn’t only a fun activity, but it can also help support child development with coordination, agility, balance, locomotor skills, strength, and more.

“It’s amazing how much it helps them,” Williams says. “There are little movements that they’re working on that we don’t’ even see them working on, but gymnastics helps them develop those skills faster.”

For the younger students, parents assist their children during the class, helping them get used to the gym and program. The parent/child tumbler class, for example, is for children ages 2 to 3 years old. Their instructors guide parents and children through fun warm-up games and stretching.

Then, the children can try activities on mats, CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

balance beams, bars, trampolines and the vault.

Moving up in age from there, the gym offers classes for preschool 3 and young 3s, preschool 4 and 5, advanced preschool 4 and 5, preschool 4 and 5 for boys only, and starlets (similar to Silver Starz but for younger children). Classes for girls and boys elementary aged and above are also taught. Children receive a free trial class before they sign up, giving both them and their parents the chance to see if it’s a good fit for them.

Though, judging by all of the smiles seen there every day, chances are they will have a blast.

Head Over Heels will also bring the excitement from the gymnastics classes to local preschools and daycare centers. Using portable, preschool-sized equipment, they teach the basics of tumbling, balance beam, bars, and vault.

Williams’s love for gymnastics began decades ago, performing on the gymnastics team at Auburn University and later coaching. Now, she and the other coaches at the Head Over Heels share their passion with all of their students. Her favorite part about the gym is watching the children grow up and progress through the program.

“I like seeing the joy and excitement when a child or adult masters a skill,” she says.

Adults can also get in on the fun at Head Over Heels. They offer aerial silks classes for beginners and more advanced students, and Williams encourages people not to feel intimidated if they’ve never attempted these techniques before.

“You don’t come to class because you’re strong,” she says. “You come to become strong.”

Head Over Heels also hosts birthday parties, as well as Parents Night Out. They will have summer camps in June and July, in addition to holiday camps, which are open to anyone.

Head Over Heels is located at 500 Caldwell Trace in Birmingham.

For more information, visit Headoverheelsgyms.com.

Gymnastics offers students a variety of benefits, including building their coordination and strength.

HEAD OVER HEELS CAMP SCHEDULE Keep kids active while they have a blast at one of Head Over Heels’ summer camps. Family and friends can watch what they learned during the “Show Off Camp Finale Performance” at the end of the camps.

June 1-3: Mity Mites Camp; Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 3-6 June 7-11: Gymnastics Camp; Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 5-12 June 14-18: Ninja Camp; Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 6-12 June 21-25: Combo Camp (circus, gymnastics and ninja); Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 6-14 June 28-30: Skills Camp; Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for ages 5-12 July 6-8: Mity Mites Camp; Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 3-6 July 12-16: Gymnastics Camp; Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 5-12 July 19-23: Combo Camp; (circus, gymnastics and ninja); Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 5-12 July 26-28: Skills Camp; Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for ages 5-12 Note: Children must be 3 years old one week prior to camp and fully potty trained to participate in the camps designated for children 3 and older.

Bham Family May 2021 13

JUST FOR DADS What do you think of when you think of the Great Smoky Mountains State Park and Gatlinburg area? If you say beautiful scenery, I agree. If you say lots of tourist attractions, I agree. A great place for Ward families? Yes! Just don’t tell Williams me there are bears in the Smoky Mountains.

The idea that there are bears in the Smoky Mountains is part of a propaganda program between Tennessee tourism and the National park system. I feel like I am an expert on the Smoky Mountains. I have been there for 10 vacations and have hiked miles and miles at the National Park.

I have looked and looked hard, but I have never seen a bear.

This is my truth, and my truth matters. My truth matters, and if you tell my truth is not true or it doesn’t matter, then you are a simpleton, softhead, and a nincompoop.

I write stuff on social media. You should trust me: I have had a social media space since Myspace, and I write this article, which means

I should be trusted. We take social media posts as the truth based on a whole lot less than 10 experiences.

Who do you take advice from? We look to Google reviews for guidance, even though many Google posts are often paid for. We often take advice from others with motives that are not in our best interest. We should be careful who we are really listening to.

In Proverbs 18:6-7, it warns that, “The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.”

When you take on bad advice or adopt bad truths, the results can be catastrophic for you and your family. In two different sermons in the same week, I heard the Bible verse Jeremiah 6:16, which says, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your soul.’”

There is rest in following wise counsel and weariness chasing new paths without wisdom.

May you find the truth that brings you rest from weariness and heavy burden.

The Great Smoky Mountains provide beautiful, scenic views, but there’s one thing Ward Williams questions about this popular destination.

14 Bham Family May 2021

Fluffy Treats

FOOD REVIEW

Heavenly Donut serves homemade treats for any occasion

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HEAVENLY DONUT CO.

The Heavenly Donut Co. offer dozens of flavors each day in their shop and food truck, including strawberry with sprinkles.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE

The name says it all for The Heavenly Donut Co. Their fresh, melt-in-your mouth donuts are made my hand every day and truly are divine treats. It’s no wonder this donut shop has garnered both local and national attention for their iced desserts.

With dozens of flavors to sweeten your palette, you really can’t go wrong with any of them.

Flavors include Oreo, M&M, coconut, caramel, chocolate-covered Bismark, vanilla and chocolate with sprinkles, key lime, cookie butter, and regular glazed. They also have cake donuts like blueberry and red velvet, along with apple fritters, beignets, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon twists, and donut holes.

The top flavors in my household include strawberry (one of the best donuts I’ve ever eaten), French toast, Reese’s cup, Nutella and anything with sprinkles. You can also request custom orders so the assortment perfectly matches your next event or special occasion.

They have seasonal and holiday donuts, like ones decorated like hearts, unicorns, bunnies, flowers, Christmas trees, and much more.

Some items are only available on specific days and times, and they sell out quite often. So, get there early to make sure you find your favorite flavors, not that you can go wrong with any of them.

To wash down these fluffy creations, they offer specialty drinks like cappuccino, apple cider, chai latte, white chocolate mocha, peppermint mocha, turtle deluxe, mocha, and hot cocoa — in addition to milk, juice, O’Henry’s coffee, and cold brew.

Not only has Heavenly Donut caught the attention of locals across Birmingham, but they also had a visit from Food Network star Alton Brown — from “Good Eats” — for his “Eat Your Science Tour” in 2017.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect breakfast dish or a dessert to enjoy during the day, you’re sure to find donuts that will keep you coming back again and again. They have an indoor area and drive-through, which are open 24 hours a day Wednesday through Saturday. They’re closed on Mondays, open 4 a.m. to midnight Tuesdays, and from midnight to 2 p.m. Sundays.

Before the pandemic, they also hosted regular trivia nights.

Since opening the shop in 2013, Heavenly Donut now also has a food truck that can be found delivering their sweet treats all around town. To see where their truck is headed next, check out their Facebook page for the weekly schedule.

The Heavenly Donut shop is located at 4911 Cahaba River Road, Suite 105, in Birmingham.

For more information on this tasty donut shop, visit Theheavenlydonutco.com.

Bham Family May 2021 15

S C H O O L H O U S E NEWS FROM HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS

HCS STEM teams dominate state competitions Recently, STEM Teams from around the district competed in TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science), an annual, theme-based competition that gives middle school and high school students the chance to learn more about engineering and see their potential to make a difference in the world.

The top-three middle school teams from the state were all Hoover City Schools.

• Berry Engineering and Science (B)- Coached by Kevin Pughsley •

Berry Engineering and Science (A)- Coached by Kevin Pughsley

•

Bumpus Middle (A)- Coached by Shanna Hays

At the ninth and 10th grade level in the state, the top four were all Hoover City Schools.

• Hoover High School (A)- Coached by Janet Ort •

Spain Park High School (A) Coached by Scottie Wilson

•

Hoover High School (B) Coached by Janet Ort

•

Spain Park High School (B) Coached by Scottie Wilson

At the 11th and 12th grade level in the state, the top five were all Hoover City Schools.

• Hoover High School (C)- Coached by Janet Ort •

Hoover High School (A)- Coached by Janet Ort

•

3 Hoover High School (B)- Coached by Janet Ort

•

4 Hoover High School (D)- Coached by Janet Ort

•

5 Spain Park High School (A)- Coached by Scottie Wilson

In the overall national rankings at the 11th- and 12th-grade level, two Hoover High School teams placed in the top-10 (seventh and ninth overall).

Fowler hired as new superintendent Dee Fowler, a retired deputy superintendent for the Alabama Department of Education and former superintendent for Madison City Schools, has been appointed as the new superintendent for Hoover City Schools. He spent 41 years with Madison City Schools (including 10 as the system’s superintendent) before joining the Alabama Department of Education as a deputy state superintendent and retiring in 2018.

16 Bham Family May 2021

S C H O O L H O U S E NEWS FROM HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS

RC3 holds first-ever “Signing Day” The Riverchase Career Connection Center held its first-ever “Signing Day” on April 20. The students signed on with various companies in the construction, HVAC, and electrical fields, and they include students from Hoover, Spain Park, and Homewood High Schools: •

Dillon Heatherly (Spain Park) Myrick Gurosky & Associates

•

Brodie Garner (Hoover) Hardy Construction

•

Luis Sanchez (Hoover) Myrick Gurosky & Associates

•

Stephen Deuel (Hoover) Hardy Construction

•

Anthony Gomez (Hoover) Hardy Construction

•

Miguel Ramirez (Hoover) Marathon Electrical Contractors

•

Elijah K Lewis (Hoover) Marathon Electrical Contractors

•

Cole A Hill (Hoover) Hardy Construction

•

Taylor Williams (Hoover) Marathon Electrical Contractors

•

Maya Sullens (Hoover) Hardy Construction

•

Micah Ayala (Homewood) Standard Air, Plumbing & Insulation

Bham Family May 2021 17

MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT

ASK A PHYSICIAN COVID-19 AND THE HEART Focusing on heart health is important, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Many are weary of going to the doctor during this time, which can lead to further complications. For those who contract COVID, the virus can pose additional problems if they already have health conditions. Though whether someone has COVID or not, a cardiac event must be dealt with quickly. We talked with Dr. John T. Eagan Jr. of Cardiovascular Associates to talk about heart conditions during the time of COVID. Q: How can COVID affect your heart, both short and long term?

A: COVID-19 causes flu-like symptoms and eventually has a severe effect on the respiratory system. COVID-19 presents unique challenges when patients have underlying heart issues because it makes treating those patients much more complicated. Postponing necessary cardiovascular care due to fear of COVID-19 is a massive risk and arguably one of the largest problems of the pandemic. Patients are choosing to stay home instead of seeking out the treatment they need due to being afraid of the virus. We are finding that when some patients eventually present for care, their disease has progressed to a later stage and is much more serious than it would have been otherwise.

Q: What are signs or symptoms someone might be having a heart event or damage due to COVID? A: Signs and symptoms remain the same for a heart event with or without the presence of COVID-19.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

18 Bham Family May 2021

Dr. John T. Eagan Jr. Dr. John T. Eagan Jr. joined the private practice of Cardiovascular Associates in 1993. His current focus is on treating venous disease by performing procedures such as state of the art venous ablation and other therapeutic and cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance and function of lower extremity venous abnormalities.

Dr. Eagan is a Fellow of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Angiology, and the American College of Physicians. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, internal medicine, hypertension, phlebology, echocardiology, and cardiac CT. Dr. Eagan sees patients at the Colonnade office of CVA in Birmingham, where is specializes in the treatment of venous disease.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Q: What should they do if they suspect they are having those signs or symptoms?

A: If you suspect you are having a heart event, please call 911 or seek emergency medical help immediately.

Q: Are certain people more at risk for having heart complications with COVID? A: Underlying medical conditions make the risk greater for heart complications with COVID-19.

These conditions make it more difficult for your body to fight the COVID-19 virus and more difficult for your heart to function properly. For a full list of underlying medical conditions, please consult the CDC website.

Q: If someone tests positive for COVID, is there anything they can do to help prevent heart damage or issues?

A: If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow the advice of your physician to prevent heart damage and further complications.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

For those who had COVID-19, lingering heart problems can complicate their recovery, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Common symptoms can include palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath — which can be due to heart problems or from being ill with the virus.

One reason for this is because the cells in the heart have ACE-2 receptors where the virus attaches before it enters the cells. Damage to the heart can also be due to high levels of inflammation circulating in the body.

So, as the immune system fights the virus, the inflammatory process can damage some healthy tissues, like the heart. COVID can also affect the inner surfaces of veins and arteries, which can cause blood vessel inflammation. Generally, children who contract COVID do not have serious problems as often as adults do.

Any heart event should be taken seriously, so it’s important for people to contact their doctor if they are having any symptoms. For more information, visit Hopkinsmedicine.org.

Bham Family May 2021 19

Moving

FAMILY BUSINESS

Down the Street Iconic children’s store heads to a new location

Sikes Children’s Shoes and Jack n’ Jill relocated to 2719 19th Place South in downtown Homewood.

BY MATTHEW ALLEN More than six decades ago, Sikes Children’s Shoes opened its door on Valentine’s Day in the quaint Birmingham suburb of Homewood.

Though back then, the store went by another name: Sikes & Peters’ Shoes. They sold footwear for men, women, and children.

When the business fell under the sole direction 20 Bham Family May 2021

of Mr. Sikes a few years later, he began selling children’s shoes exclusively, which is a trend the store has continued. Parents brought their children to have their feet sized and fitted and walked out with a brand-new pair of shoes.

He also made another major business decision all of those years ago, partnering with Jack n’ Jill Shop, which offered children’s clothing and baby CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

“We had to adapt to challenges none of us had ever faced. But, again, our fantastic customer base kept us going, and I’m so excited about this new chapter of our 66-year-old business.” ­­— Laura Player, owner of Sikes and Jack n’ Jill

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

gift items. Now, families had a one-stop shop where they could find everything to dress their little ones in adorable, stylish outfits from head to toe.

The store, which would become one of Birmingham’s retail icons, even had four locations in all at one point — Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and Roebuck, although today the Homewood location is the one that remains.

Sikes Children’s Shoes and its sister store, Jack n’ Jill, recently moved locations for the first time since its inception, opening it in May. “We had a 20-year lease that was expiring at the end of 2020,” says Laura Player, owner of Sikes and Jack n’ Jill. “As 18th Street has become more of a shopping destination, it’s become tougher for our customers to find parking and get into the store. The time was right to take advantage of the opportunity to move to a brand-new building.”

Player started working at Sikes as a high schooler, obtaining the job through the DECA program at Homewood High School. While she worked on her degree at UAB, she continued to work at the store.

Then-owner Frank Youngs promoted her to be manager of their Hoover location after she graduated from college. When he decided to retire in 2014, Player bought the two stores from him.

That new building is located at 2719 19th Place South in downtown Homewood. While it was under construction, they opened a pop-up location at 2707 18th Place South.

“We have the blessing of a loyal customer base, so they’ve rolled with us while waiting for construction to wrap up,” she says.

The new store has a combined showroom for both shoes and children’s clothing, with a central

checkout area for both stores. Player thinks customers will like the open floor plan and ease of shopping and checking out.

On the clothing side, they have items like children’s swimsuits, dresses, T-shirts, bubbles, dress shirts and shorts, rompers, and much more.

Whether a child needs an outfit to take pictures in or simply play outside, the store has something for every occasion and style.

They have baby’s, boy’s, and girl’s sizes in shoes and include Keds, sandals, sneakers, Mary Janes, Velcro, slip-ons, boots, and more. While they are more than happy to measure children’s shoes in the store — making the shopping trip even more special — they also have a measurement chart on their website parents can print to see what size shoe their child should be wearing.

Past owner Frank Youngs even served as a shoe fitter in the shop for more than 50 years, telling riddles or spinning his yo-yo for his young customers — something many now-parents can share when they bring in their little ones to shop.

Families will be able to find everything their children need for school, play, and everything in between. The shopping experience is also welcoming and comfortable for families, taking away the stress of bringing little ones to the store.

Operating small, locally owned businesses during the pandemic of 2020 posed significant challenges for all owners, and it was no different for Sikes and Jack n’ Jill.

“We had to adapt to challenges none of us had ever faced,” Player says. “But, again, our fantastic customer base kept us going, and I’m so excited about this new chapter of our 66-year-old business.”

Follow Sikes Children’s Store and Jack n’ Jill Shop on Facebook and Instagram. For more information or to purchase items from either shop online, visit Sikesshoes.com.

Bham Family May 2021 21

GOD’S

FEATURE

PERFECT TIMING Family’s adoption journey came with hurdles and unconditional love

The Thomas Family brought home their daughter, Merit, at the end of last year.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE The first time parents lay eyes on their child is a moment they’ll never forget. For Payton and Ashleigh Thomas, that moment came when they saw a photo of their daughter, who was in a Bulgarian orphanage.

Payton and Ashleigh met when she was a freshman at the University of Montevallo on a blind date — having a discussion not normally had when first meeting someone.

22 Bham Family May 2021

“Our first conversation was about our desire to one day be parents,” she says. “We had both traveled overseas and seen firsthand the need for loving and nurturing homes. We both said from that conversation that we wanted to adopt.”

They obviously hit it off, getting engaged a year later and married seven months after that. A year into their marriage, the couple was told they wouldn’t be able to have children, which was fine CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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with them since they knew they wanted to adopt to help vulnerable children.

They began the adoption process, but things fell through. The day they decided they wouldn’t continue pursuing adoption is the day they found out they were pregnant.

“We were told we would miscarry, and even if he was born, he would never make it,” Ashleigh recalls. “He was born perfectly healthy, and nine months later, we got pregnant again.”

With two boys — Turner, now 5, and Griffin, 3½ — they decided to keep their plans of adoption on hold. However, when they came across a photo of a child with Down syndrome, they said they felt the Lord tugging on their hearts.

“We prayed about it and called, but she had been matched,” Ashleigh says. “We knew the Lord was still pushing us in that direction of international adoption.”

They began looking at children from Bulgaria, which has a high need for special needs adoptions. The majority of children born there with special needs are put in orphanages.

“We saw the need, and I had recently taken a position as a preschool special education teacher,” says Ashleigh, who teaches at Trace Crossings Elementary School. “I felt that was preparing me to mother a child with physical needs.”

That’s when they found their daughter, Merit.

They were set to travel to Bulgaria in March 2020 to adopt her, but COVID brought those plans to a halt. Then in July, they were able to do a video call with their daughter, though the connection was blurry at best. During their court meeting in November of last year, they found out they needed to be there in 12 days to bring her home.

“We bought plane tickets and flew across the world during the middle of a global pandemic to pick up our daughter,” she says.

Up to that point, they had only been given a single photo of her, which they held onto through the whole process. They didn’t have updates, which they say was gut-wrenching. But, then came the moment they met Merit.

“It was exactly like them laying my two boys on my chest after I gave birth. She was mine. It was love at first sight,” she said. “To finally have her in my arms was indescribable.”

As with bringing home a new family member, 24 Bham Family May 2021

It’s easy to see Merit’s two brothers love her.

there can be some adjustments. Their oldest son struggled at first to understand how she could be so small but not a baby. But those feelings quickly turned into ones of a strong bond for both of their boys.

“I think they would climb mountains to help her,” Ashleigh says. “They love her. It’s crazy how much they love her.”

Merit, who is 3½, has Down syndrome, institutional autism, and other cognitive delays.

“She’s very much like an infant or 1-year-old,” Ashleigh says.

Merit goes with Ashleigh to her school two days a week, along with participating in different therapy services.

“We knew we were welcoming a child with medical special needs,” she says. “We cast our fears to the Lord. That was his plan for us and our family. It really opened our eyes to growing our family in this way. The more we leaned on him, the easier it would be.”

In the months since bringing her home, their love for their daughter has only grown. Merit is resilient, sassy, determined, and a fighter, Ashleigh says. She likes everything pink and purple, and they’ve enjoyed all of the girly activities like playing dress-up and fixing hair.

Ashleigh says they’ve also been able to talk with so many other families who have gone through adoption, giving them a special circle of friends who truly understand what they’re going through.

“This process has made us grow closer as a family and spiritually,” says Payton, who is the director of communications and operations at the Shelby County Chamber. “We’ve seen how things work in God’s perfect timing if you allow him to take the lead.”

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Bham Family May 2021 25

HEALTHY LIVING

SUMMER SPORTS

Find activities to play, watch, and enjoy this month

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE After most sports and events were cancelled last summer due to the pandemic, families are ready to hit the field, stadium, and parks for some outdoor fun. Whether they’re looking to watch competitive games or find sports to get involved with, there are several options around town they’ll want to check out.

SEC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT Thousands of college baseball fans will roll into Hoover for the SEC Baseball Tournament May 25-30 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The event features the Top 12 baseball teams in the SEC. Seeds 5-12 meet in a single elimination format on the opening day, followed by doubleelimination games Wednesday through Friday.

Then, it will return to single-elimination games on Saturday, with 17 total games throughout the tournament.

Fans are encouraged not to bring bags, but if they do, the bags must be clear or a small clutch.

Gates open to the stadium an hour prior to the first game on the first five days of play and 90 minutes prior for the championship game. The event will have complimentary parking, along with shuttles for off-site parking.

SOCCER CLUB Tryouts for both of the Hoover Soccer Club’s programs — Competitive Program and Junior Phantoms Academy Program — take place this month. The Competitive Program’s tryouts will be May 17-19 at the Hoover Met Turf for children born between 2003-2009, and Phantoms Academy Program tryouts for children born between 2010-2013 will be May 24-26 at Riverchase Sports Park. The summer camps for these programs start in June and July.

Children can also tryout for the HooverVestavia Soccer Club, with both the boys and girls born between 2003-2010 having tryouts May 26 Bham Family May 2021

Above: The SEC Baseball Tournament returns to the Hoover Met May 25-30. Below: People of all ages and skill levels can play pickleball.

15-16 at the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex (SHAC) and the Hoover Met Turf. For more information, visit Hooversoccerclub.com.

PICKLEBALL Combining the elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, pickleball is a game all ages and skill levels can enjoy. Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation offers a pickleball program, and no experiences is necessary. Instructors will be on-site to teach the game, and players will be matched based on their skill levels. Equipment is also available to be checked out.

The program is held at Vestavia Hills CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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WHY SPORTS MATTER FOR CHILDREN Besides being a fun outlet to burn off some energy with friends, sports also provide many lasting benefits for children who participate, according to The Aspen Institute. Children who play sports have: •

1/3 the rate of disability

•

A reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes

•

Up to 40 percent higher test scores

•

15 percent more likely to go to college

•

Higher self-esteem

•

Lower health costs

•

Lower levels of depression

•

Active parents are associated with active kids, so find something the whole family can get involved with.

DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN, TEENS, AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Elementary-Central Gym at 1289 Montgomery Hwy. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m.-noon. It’s free for Vestavia Hills residents and $10 for non-residents.

REGIONS TRADITION Spectators can watch some of their favorite local celebrities tee off at the Regions Tradition May 5-9 at Greystone Golf & Country Club. Participants include Bo Jackson, Paul Finebaum, Condoleezza Rice, Coach Nate Oats, Coach Bruce Pearl, Mike Mills, Greg McElroy, and more. Families can enjoy an outdoor experience on the greens, including a fan experience zone.

PLAYGROUNDS Not exactly a sport, but the many playgrounds across the Birmingham area are perfect for letting little ones run around. Some popular ones across the city include Rom Bradford Park, Avondale Park, Fultondale Children’s Park, Sertoma Park, Cahaba Lily Park, Oak Mountain State Park, and Veteran’s Park.

Hoover’s inclusive Explore Playground is located next to the Hoover Met and also includes a splash pad.

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FAITH

GIVING HOPE

First Priority celebrates 30th year in Birmingham schools

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FIRST PRIORITY

Club meetings consist of music, prayer, student testimonies, and creating peer accountability.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE School and the people children meet while they are there have major impacts on their lives. That’s why one nonprofit looks to ensure students have positive, godly influences both at school and beyond.

First Priority’s mission is to instill the hope of Christ in every student, uniting local churches and those in the community with a plan of action to influence the schools with the gospel.

Greg Davis, president of First Priority, first started with the nonprofit as a volunteer in the 1990s. At the time, he was working as a local church youth pastor when his students asked him 28 Bham Family May 2021

to get involved with the nonprofit. About a year later, he was asked to come on staff — and 25 years later, he’s still at it.

“I haven’t found anything that works better than First Priority, nothing that has the same impact on students looking for hope,” Davis says.

“It’s an amazing opportunity, and we’re glad we are able to take advantage of the open door to go right into schools where the kids are.”

First Priority works with local churches and parents in the community to establish legal campus clubs in elementary, middle, and high schools. They provide training and support to help them make the clubs successful.

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Moody High School students came together for See You at the Pole.

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“It establishes a Christian platform and peer groups on campus,” Davis says. “It provides the chance for churches, parents, and the community to get involved in their schools.”

Three decades after starting on a few campuses around the city, First Priority can now be found on more than 150 campuses across Central Alabama, as well as in parts of all 50 states and some international locations.

Before the pandemic, they had anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 students involved in the clubs, along with hundreds of volunteers like church pastors, faculty members, teachers, sponsors, and parents.

A typical club meeting consists of music, students sharing, prayer, and creating good accountability among the students. Most met once a week before the pandemic.

Several of the middle and high schools have now begun allowing in-person meetings again, allowing some of the student-led clubs to get together again — while others continue to meet virtually.

They’re still waiting until adults are allowed back on campus to lead the elementary clubs, which are called Priority Kids, though they have sent parents materials for those children to keep them involved.

Davis says his favorite part about being involved with First Priority is seeing the students get involved. “I get to watch them develop as leaders, grow in their faith, and get involved in their local churches, which is our goal,” he says.

Davis has seen students who participated when

they were in school now come back as volunteers.

“They give back and help us get to more schools so other kids can have the same opportunities as them,” he says.

He also sees several past-students who now have children of their own in First Priority.

“Some are also pastors and great leaders in their communities, so to know that in some way, having the club on campus helped develop them is really neat,” he says.

Working with First Priority has become a family affair in Davis’s household. Davis’ senior daughter is a primary leader at her school, his son has been involved, and his wife is also a volunteer.

Their goal is to have a club on every campus across the greater Birmingham area.

“We’re just looking for those community volunteers and local churches to make that happen,” he says. “We never just go to a school to start it. The community has to be involved.”

He encourages parents to ask their children’s schools about First Priority or Priority Kids to see how they can get their children involved.

“They’ll find good, positive peer groups and be around the right kinds of friends and local volunteers in the community,” Davis says.

In addition to working with First Priority, Davis also hosts a Christian talk show called Priority Talk on WXJC 101.1 FM from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. He covers topics like family issues, marriage, children, culture, and more.

The nonprofit always welcome volunteers and donations. For more information on First Priority, visit Firstpriorityal.com.

Bham Family May 2021 29

KIDS WHO SHINE

KAH’LIN JORDAN, 17

“The song of the clarinet is personal since I breathe through it, like it’s my form of singing.”

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE The accolades that follow Kah’lin Jordan’s name seem to be that of someone much older. After someone experiences one of his performances, however, it’s easy to see — and hear — why this young man continues to garner attention from across the country.

Jordan, who hails from Hoover, is a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where he studies clarinet with Dr. Robert Janssen.

A member of the orchestra, choir, jazz, and chamber ensembles, Jordan has also performed with the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra.

He got his start in band when he was 10 years old in middle school, scoring high with the clarinet during his initial instrument evaluation.

Since then, his musical skills and career have flourished.

NPR named him the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award recipient, which gave him $10,000 to pursue clarinet studies. The scholarship money can be applied to instrument purchases, music camps, private lessons, and other expenses associated with the pursuit of music.

Another perk of receiving the scholarship was that it meant he was invited to perform on NPR’s “From the Top,” which is the country’s largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of young, classically trained musicians. It’s broadcast on more than 220 stations and has an audience of more than 500,000 listeners.

“It was amazing,” Jordan says.

Though, the experience also proved to be a bit difficult because he had to play virtually with pianist Peter Dugan. That meant listening to the piano track and recording his part to match, before sending the files back. Even with that hurdle, Jordan says the experience was well worth it.

Jordan was also named a 2021 YoungArts Finalist, which included an invite to participate in YoungArts Week. Though his experience was through Zoom due to the pandemic, Jordan says 30 Bham Family May 2021

Kah’lin Jordan is a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

it was a lot of fun and he met amazing artists.

“They made it seem like we were already professionals,” he says. “I had never been looked at as a professional before.”

He has also been invited twice to join National Youth Orchestra 2 (NY02), which gave him the opportunity to perform at Miami’s New World Center and also at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Not only does he love playing the clarinet, but coming together to perform with other musicians is also one of his passions. “I can really connect with each and every other instrument,” he says.

“The song of the clarinet is personal since I breathe through it, like it’s my form of singing.”

His artistic and creative talents aren’t confined to the band room or stage. Joran also likes to cook, bake, and has recently formed an interest in creative writing.

After graduation, he plans to attend the Manhattan School of Music in New York City to pursue a soloist career in clarinet performance — where he’s sure to continue to impress.

31 Bham Family May 2021

TEEN TALK LINE (205) 605-1830

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TEENS — Have questions? Concerned about things? Just need someone to listen? Talking helps. Whether you are having a great day or a tough day, give us a call. We are here to listen.

PARENTS — Think your teen might be involved with substance abuse?Have questions? Concerned about your teen? Wondering how to handle your teen’s choices? Just need someone to listen to you? Talking helps.

32 Bham Family May 2021