What an interesting question. I have lived in Birmingham since the 7th grade. I moved here from Northern California. Prior to that time, we had visited our grandparents several summers. My Oasis was Five Points South. I don’t recall anyone referring to it as downtown at that time. It was the closet thing I could find to my beloved San Francisco. I was fortunate enough to attend Ramsay and John Carroll, both located on the Southside. I couldn’t wait to leave for college.

I came back to Birmingham for a break after college. At that time, City Stages was in May. That event made me feel that I was in another place. For the exception of a few places such as Ramsay High School, I had not experienced a number of people of diverse backgrounds converging in the same place in Birmingham. I had to be part of this transformation taking place. I turned down all job offers in the Mid-West and Mid-Atlantic states. Of course my Grandfather Weaver’s comment that places like Atlanta wouldn’t be what they are if people had not committed to its growth. He convinced me that if my peers and I would make a commitment to Birmingham, it would progress too.

Once I landed a job at UAB, I was once again a Southsider. The number of diverse communities began to grow. At John Carroll, many of my friends were of Greek, Italian, Irish, Palestinian, Lebanese descent. Like my family, many African Americans and whites moved from rural Alabama to Birmingham to work in the steel industry. UAB’s health sciences attracted large numbers of individuals from India and China . The Birmingham that was considered black and white had to define and acknowledge a group we used to refer to as “other.”

At the time, ONB had wonderful committees committed to events for young professionals that encouraged us to explore downtown. One of the major events was the opening of the 24th Street bridge. We had a major Halloween party in celebration. Today, there are several groups dedicated to a similar cause.

As part of a young and progressive university, I felt I was in the midst of a revolution. Under Dr. Charles McCallum, innovation and a pioneer spirit were requirements to survive at UAB. He was focused on internationalizing UAB. This was right down my alley.

My Birmingham has a rich history in racial turmoil resulting in laws, policies and practices that influenced the world. Just visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. My Birmingham provided the world with the necessary cast iron and steel to keep an industrial, manufacturing society alive. My Birmingham is home to one of the best medical and health sciences research entities in the country. My Birmingham consists of families and individuals who know the meaning of struggle, strife, love and life. My Birmingham places an emphasis on religion, especially Christianity. My Birmingham is home to Muslims, Jews, Unitarians, Christian Scientists, Scientologists, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains….My city is aging and suffering from the syndrome that many cities face at this stage in its development. My Birmingham is home to southern English, mainstream English, Black English, Spanglish, Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese…My Birmingham is a place of beauty and culture. My city is yet to realize its potential. My city is abused by outsiders and insiders who may not realize that it could be much worse. My city has lost of municipalities that sometimes won’t cooperate. My city still suffers from racism, ageism, sexism, heterosexism, and apathy. My city has a bunch of people trying to overcome its weaknesses. My city is serving as the central city to more and more industries. My city is a work in progress. My city is our home.

What an interesting question. I have lived in Birmingham since the 7th grade. I moved here from Northern California. Prior to that time, we had visited our grandparents several summers. My Oasis was Five Points South. I don’t recall anyone referring to it as downtown at that time. It was the closet thing I could find to my beloved San Francisco. I was fortunate enough to attend Ramsay and John Carroll, both located on the Southside. I couldn’t wait to leave for college.

I came back to Birmingham for a break after college. At that time, City Stages was in May. That event made me feel that I was in another place. For the exception of a few places such as Ramsay High School, I had not experienced a number of people of diverse backgrounds converging in the same place in Birmingham. I had to be part of this transformation taking place. I turned down all job offers in the Mid-West and Mid-Atlantic states. Of course my Grandfather Weaver’s comment that places like Atlanta wouldn’t be what they are if people had not committed to its growth. He convinced me that if my peers and I would make a commitment to Birmingham, it would progress too.

Once I landed a job at UAB, I was once again a Southsider. The number of diverse communities began to grow. At John Carroll, many of my friends were of Greek, Italian, Irish, Palestinian, Lebanese descent. Like my family, many African Americans and whites moved from rural Alabama to Birmingham to work in the steel industry. UAB’s health sciences attracted large numbers of individuals from India and China . The Birmingham that was considered black and white had to define and acknowledge a group we used to refer to as “other.”

At the time, ONB had wonderful committees committed to events for young professionals that encouraged us to explore downtown. One of the major events was the opening of the 24th Street bridge. We had a major Halloween party in celebration. Today, there are several groups dedicated to a similar cause.

As part of a young and progressive university, I felt I was in the midst of a revolution. Under Dr. Charles McCallum, innovation and a pioneer spirit were requirements to survive at UAB. He was focused on internationalizing UAB. This was right down my alley.

My Birmingham has a rich history in racial turmoil resulting in laws, policies and practices that influenced the world. Just visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. My Birmingham provided the world with the necessary cast iron and steel to keep an industrial, manufacturing society alive. My Birmingham is home to one of the best medical and health sciences research entities in the country. My Birmingham consists of families and individuals who know the meaning of struggle, strife, love and life. My Birmingham places an emphasis on religion, especially Christianity. My Birmingham is home to Muslims, Jews, Unitarians, Christian Scientists, Scientologists, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains….My city is aging and suffering from the syndrome that many cities face at this stage in its development. My Birmingham is home to southern English, mainstream English, Black English, Spanglish, Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese…My Birmingham is a place of beauty and culture. My city is yet to realize its potential. My city is abused by outsiders and insiders who may not realize that it could be much worse. My city has lost of municipalities that sometimes won’t cooperate. My city still suffers from racism, ageism, sexism, heterosexism, and apathy. My city has a bunch of people trying to overcome its weaknesses. My city is serving as the central city to more and more industries. My city is a work in progress. My city is our home.