Spotlight on Youth - November 2019

Page 2…………………...….Harvest Festival Page 3……………………….Spotlight on Youth Page 5……………….………F.A.C.E. Poster Contest

November 2019

Page 6……………………….Birmingham Promise

Randall L. Woodfin, Mayor

Galvin Billups, Executive Director

1608 7TH AVENUE N | BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 | PH: (205) 320-0879 | FAX: (205) 297-8139 | www.bhamyouthfirst.org

UPCOMING EVENTS November 6 –8, 2019

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT: DARE TO BE BRAVE Alabama Symphony Orchestra @Thompson High School 9:30 a.m.

For more info:

205-975-2787

November 9, 2019 LUCINDA Y LAS FLORES DE LA NOCHEBUENA Children’s Opera Avondale Library 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.

For more info: 205-322-6737

Birmingham Division of Youth Services, Feed the Children and PepsiCo join Forces to Fight Hunger On October 17th, the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS), in partnership with Feed the Children, Frito-Lay and PepsiCo, participated in the FEED CARAVAN. FEED CARAVAN is a food and essentials distribution event serving 800 families in the Birmingham community.

November 11, 2019

November 23-24, 2019

November 29, 2019

VETERANS DAY PARADE

SESAME STREET LIVE

THE MUTT-CRACKER

Railroad Park 1:30 p.m.

BJCC Legacy Arena 6:00 p.m.

Alabama Theatre 7:30 p.m.

For more info: http:// nationalveteransday.org/

For more info: https://www.bjcc.org/

For more info: http:// birminghamballet.com/ Performances/Muttcracker/

Each registered family received a 25-pound box of food; and a 10-pound box of essentials like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and personal-care items as well as books.

Volunteers from Frito-Lay, PepsiCo, Feed the Children and DYS helped to distribute the items to families at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Through Feed the Children, the FEED CARAVAN is able to ensure that thousands of children don’t go hungry. The program also works to build confidence in the children who receive its services throughout the school year and summer months.

Pictures cont’d on page 5

City of Birmingham Provides Safe Halloween Fun for Families The City of Birmingham provided a safe space for hundreds of Birmingham families to enjoy Halloween this season. On October 31st the city held its annual Harvest Festival. Due to the threat of inclement weather the event was moved inside the Boutwell Auditorium.

FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY November 23, 2019

This annual day of service, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, is designed to demonstrate the power of families who choose to volunteer together to support the communities in which they live and serve.

Volunteering as a family provides quality time for busy families and strengthens communication and family bonds that positively impacts local communities across the nation.

Family Volunteer Day will be on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

To find a service project for your family visit: https://

uwca.givepulse.com/ group/264160-FamilyVolunteer-Day

Thousands of children and their parents enjoyed the festivities that included free popcorn, hot dogs, inflatables, video games and an upstairs candy village. City of Birmingham employees got in on the action, dressing as characters from the Toy Story movie series. Boutwell Auditorium’s stage was transformed into a fun house where families walked through several scenarios featuring the characters who performed skits to teach children how to be good friends.

Food Truck vendors were also on hand outside for food purchases. In addition a main stage featured several local dance acts and performers.

Birmingham City School Students Sprint $1 Million Dollar Project Source: Birmingham City Schools Birmingham City Schools (BCS) high school students may be eligible to receive a free wireless device and free high-speed mobile internet service for up to four years while in high school. That’s because the district is participating in the Sprint 1Million Dollar Project.

To be eligible, you must not have reliable internet access at home; or have multiple students in the same household all working from a single computer; or have a slow Internet connection (i.e. dial up speeds) that is not adequate for completing homework assignments.

To learn more about this program visit: https://www.bhamcityschools.org/Page/38374

Above: Participants look on as city employees perform a skit in the fun house

Building a Bright Future J’Eron Pruitt is already on his way to designing a bright future for himself. The Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School Senior is racking in the scholarship dollars.

This fall, J’Eron was awarded the Academic Excellence Scholarship at the Magic City Classic Counselor's Scholarship Luncheon. The Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and fees for four years at Alabama State University. Mr. Pruitt is still weighing his options and considering Tuskegee University or Auburn University. He’s also been awarded a $20,000 scholarship to Miles College.

Mr. Pruitt also serves as a school ambassador at Holy Family where he gives perspective families tours of the school.

J’Eron tell us he hopes to major in Architecture, “architecture is something that, once I got in high school, I really started to like it more and more because of the ability to build and shape the future.”

He also says he hopes to “modernize the modern.” As for his advice to other students, “Never accept no and never belittle your goals!”

As you can imagine by his scholarship offers, J’Eron is an excellent student, ranked number two in his class right now. He is also member of a number of clubs and organizations including: Mu Alpha Theta National Honor Society National Society of High School Scholars Spanish Honor Society and English Honor Society.

AN ENCHANTING NIGHT IN THE MAGIC CITY

November 9, 2019 Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center Join the Indian Cultural Association (ICA) for "An Enchanting Night in the Magic City" full of Indian culture and entertainment during the 21st annual Diwali Program. Doors open at 5 pm.

For More Info: CLICK HERE

You may also recognize J’Eron from the Fox 6 Kids and Jobs Draft Internship Show. He was drafted by the McWane Science Center whose leadership is eager to have him back this summer to help further their programs.

Mayor Woodfin congratulates J’Eron Pruitt on being awarded the J’Eron is truly a class act and we wish him Academic Excellence Scholarship well on his future endeavors!

NATIONAL HIKE DAY November 17, 2019

With over 60,000 miles of trails in the National Trail System across the 50 states, there is no lack of opportunity to take a hike. Events around the country are scheduled to celebrate Take a Hike Day. For More Info: CLICK HERE

BLACK VIOLIN

November 16, 2019 Lyric Theatre 7:00 p.m.

The Birmingham Chapter of The Links, Incorporated present Black Violin at The Historic Lyric Theatre. The event promises to be fresh, exciting and fun!

For More Info: 205-527-2618

Veterans Day

Birmingham Parade

Monday, November 11th Downtown Birmingham 1:30 p.m.

01 Disney on Ice: Dream Big

November 8th—10th @BJCC Legacy Arena Believing is just the beginning for your favorite Disney heroes at Disney On Ice presents Dream Big! Miguel aspires to be a musician and journeys through the Land of the Dead to unlock his family’s history. Moana and Maui bravely restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti. Anna and Elsa save their kingdom while the Disney Princesses inspire with stories of strength, determination and kindness!

02 North Pole Express

Veterans Day started in Birmingham, Alabama seven years before it became a federal holiday. This is the nation's oldest Veterans Day Parade. This year the parade will be held on November 11th in Downtown Birmingham beginning near Railroad Park.

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday that honors military veterans, that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

New Parade Route Due to downtown construction, the parade will follow a new route this year.  Parade Start: Richard Arrington Blvd.

& 1st Ave S.  Turn Right on 3rd Ave S.  Turn Right on 14th St. S.  Turn Right on 1st Ave S.  Parade End: 1st Ave S. & 20th St. S.

For More Information visit: http://nationalveteransday.org/

November 15th, 22nd & 29th @ Heart of Dixie Railroad All aboard! Take your family on a magical trip to the North Pole! Through the dark night, the North Pole Express makes its way by starlight to the top of the world. On the way, you'll listen to a whimsical Christmas story, sing your favorite holiday carols, and watch out the windows for the bright lights of the North Pole to appear.

03 The Mutt-Cracker

November 29th @ Alabama Theatre The Mutt-cracker, a new twist on a “classic tail”, is essentially Birmingham Ballet’s Nutcracker with the addition of dogs performing along side the dancers. The holiday favorite is brought to life with masterful story-telling and exciting dancing, beautiful costumes, magical surprises, and of course... the DOGS, make this production delightfully fun!

Application Fees Waived during College Application Week November 4-8, 2019

College Application Week is Monday, November 4th to Friday, November 8, 2019. Thanks to College Application Week, high school students in Alabama can apply to public state colleges for free! College Application Week is a part of Alabama Possible and the Alabama State Department of Education’s Alabama College Campaign, which encourages students across Alabama to pursue their education after high school.

Alabama high school seniors can apply to colleges for free during College Application Week. To apply to participating schools, visit the school’s website and locate their “Apply” page.

Please note that some schools require a promo code to waive the application fee. CLICK HERE to see the promo codes of those colleges.

Feed Caravan 2019 Volunteers fill bags to distribute to families.

F.A.C.E. 2019 POSTER CONTEST "THE POWER OF FAMILY�

Source: Birmingham City Schools

Birmingham City Schools (BCS) revealed the winners of the F.A.C.E family poster contest. The contest is an awareness campaign to get families and educators thinking about the importance of parent and family engagement in helping children to be successful in school and life. All families with a child enrolled in BCS were invited to participate. There was one grand winner and 11 other winners. Posters were judged based on how well they communicated the importance of Family Engagement using the theme "The Power of Family."

F.A.C.E. 2019 Poster Contest winning artwork

Interviews Next for Birmingham Promise Apprenticeship Program More than 250 Birmingham Seniors applied for the Birmingham Promise Apprenticeship Program. Birmingham is dedicated to promoting 21st Century Workforce Development systems for the youth in the city. DYS is now sifting through applications to make sure each student is qualified for the next phase, which is the interview process. Students will be notified and interviewed in the coming weeks to begin work in high-paying apprenticeships beginning in January.

The Birmingham Promise Apprenticeship Program aims to help students develop high-demand skills through paid work experience in four industries: finance and insurance, healthcare and life sciences, energy and engineering and digital technology. The goal of the program is to develop pathways to quality jobs through hands-on learning in the workplace.

For more information about the Birmingham Promise Apprenticeship program, contact DYS at (205) 320-0879.

November 28, 2019