admin – Page 3 – Community Affairs | The University of Alabama

Honoré Stresses Importance of Leadership During Banquet Honoring Legacy Award Recipients

January 20th, 2023
in Realizing the Dream

Group of four men standing in line for a picture. Three of them are holding awards in their hands

2023 Realizing the Dream Legacy Award recipients include Christopher Gill, right, recipient of the Horizon Award; Lt. General Willie J. Williams (Ret), second from left, recipient of the Call to Conscience Award; and Lt. Colonel George Hardy (Ret), not pictured, recipient of the Mountaintop Award. Accepting the award on behalf of Lt. Colonel Hardy are Palmer Sullins, left, Chairman of the Friends of Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Inc., and Jerry "Hawk" Burton, second from right, national president of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated.

Two men shaking hands one of them holding an award

Three people are sitting at a table with flowers in the middle. All are smiling

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communication Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

In remarks at the Bryant Conference Center during which three individuals received Realizing the Dream Legacy awards, Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré urged his audience to be leaders in their own lives.

Connecting the theme of “Realizing the Dream Through Commitment and Sacrifice,” Honoré spoke about sacrifices made during the “three great wars,” which he said were the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement.

Legacy Awards recipients were Chris Gill, the Horizon Award; Retired Lt. Gen. Willie J. Williams, the Call to Conscience Award; and Retired Lt. Col. George Hardy, the Mountaintop Award. Winners shared their stories through a video titled “In Their Own Words,” produced by Gray Lloyd at UA’s Center for Public Television, and were then recognized with crystal commemoratives to mark the occasion.

Gill, a United States Marine Corps veteran, is a doctoral candidate in educational psychology in UA’s College of Education. He was recognized for his research on military transition initiatives that help veterans prevent crises that could lead to suicide.

One of the first three African Americans appointed to the rank of three-star general in the U.S. Marine Corps, Williams was commissioned into the Corps in 1974. Throughout his career he has held a commitment to equality and has worked to inspire social change in the Corps. In 2021, he was honored by Stillman College, his alma mater, with the Institute for Leadership, Education Equity, and Race Relations in America. In the video played at the Legacy Banquet, Williams shared how he collaborated with the State of Alabama and other entities to produce a more equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout underserved areas.

Hardy served with the legendary Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He graduated from Tuskegee Army Airfield in December 1943 during a time of racial segregation in the U.S. Army. He received his pilot’s wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant in September 1944. He flew 21 combat missions in World War II, 45 in the Korean War, and 70 in Vietnam.

During his 37 years of service in the U.S. Army, Honoré directed the training of half a million soldiers, sailors and airmen all over the world. He became a household name in 2005 when he commanded the task force that responded to Hurricane Katrina. In 2021, at the request of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, he led the investigation into security failures during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Honoré is known for his “tell it like he sees it” approach to leadership, which echoed throughout his remarks as he talked about the sacrifices made by veterans subjected to racial injustice.

“We’re not asking the students in this university that are here today to do that to preserve freedom,” he said. “All we want you to do is to get off your a-- and vote.”

Honoré reminded the audience that King “won the third war in America, the civil rights war.” In its aftermath, young Americans have the duty to continue King’s legacy through voting. While they are not required to serve overseas, Honoré said they still need to serve by making their voices heard at the ballot box.

“I ask you to remind the young people that they’ve got an obligation to live up to the sacrifice that those who came before us made,” Honoré said. “This generation, you don’t have to get on a bus to go to Vietnam or World War I or World War II.” Voting, he said, “is all we’re asking you to do.”

Toward the end of his comments, he advised all to “save your best leadership for when you get home,” noting the importance of leading by example.

Prior to the start of the banquet, Honoré met with students from the host institutions — Stillman College, Shelton State Community College, and The University of Alabama — calling on them to address the challenges facing their generation.

“We’re still a work in progress, but your challenge in your generation is going to be how do you preserve this democracy for your grandchildren,” he told students.

Realizing the Dream Committee Announces 2023 Events and Activities

December 19th, 2022
in Realizing the Dream

by Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator

The Realizing the Dream planning committee has announced the 2023 Realizing the Dream theme and activities.

The theme for the events will be “Realizing the Dream Through Commitment and Sacrifice.” Each year’s theme is selected by the Realizing the Dream Committee, which includes representatives from Shelton State Community College, Stillman College, the Tuscaloosa chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and The University of Alabama.

On Friday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m., the 14th Legacy Awards Banquet will take place in Sellers Auditorium at the Bryant Conference Center.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Russel L. Honoré will be the Legacy Awards Banquet speaker. Honoré received international recognition in 2005 when he led 22,000 troops in the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. Then in 2022, Honoré was praised by House speaker Nancy Pelosi for his investigation into the security failures in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

At the banquet, Lt. Col. (ret.) George Hardy, one of few living Tuskegee Airmen, will receive the Mountaintop Award. He received his pilot’s wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in September 1944. Throughout his career, he flew 21 combat missions in World War II, 45 in the Korean War, and 70 in Vietnam. Retired from the military since 1971, he continues to share the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Willie J. Williams, for whom the Stillman College Institute for Leadership, Education Equity and Race Relations is named, will receive the Call to Conscience Award. Williams is a 1974 graduate of Stillman who served in the Marine Corps for 40 years, rising to the position of Marine Corps Chief of Staff.

Christopher Gill will receive the Horizon Award. Gill has dedicated his life to helping military men and women and his research on those who have transitioned into civilian life is credited with preventing countless suicides.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard will be the featured artist for the 2023 Realizing the Dream Concert on Sunday, Jan. 15. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at The University of Alabama’s Moody Music Concert Hall.

Leonard is a Georgia-based gospel singer, songwriter and minister who broke out in 2013 with the Grammy Award-winning single “Break Every Chain.” Growing up in Jesup, Georgia, she began her career leading worship at the church founded by her father, Rev. Fritz Cobbs.

Realizing the Dream partner Tuscaloosa SCLC will sponsor Unity Day activities beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, with the Unity Breakfast at Beulah Baptist Church. The Unity Day march will begin at noon from the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The annual Mass Rally will begin at 5 p.m. at First African Baptist Church. The Mass Rally speaker will be Dr. Vernon Swift, of Elizabeth Baptist Church. All Unity Day activities are free and open to the public.

Additional Realizing the Dream events will take place throughout the year.

Concert tickets are $20. Legacy Banquet tickets are $30 for individuals or $200 for a table of 8. Dress is semiformal. Tickets for both events will be available online at https://ua.universitytickets.com beginning Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 8 a.m.

For ticketing information, call 205-348-7111 or email community.affairs@ua.edu. For more information about Realizing the Dream activities and events, visit the website at http://realizingthedream.ua.edu, or call 205-348-7405.

Vision Days Legacy Supports Students’ Success

December 12th, 2022
in CCBP

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

College is a time of transition for high school students, and the Vision Days Legacy program aids that transition by connecting students with resources and programs to support their success once they arrive at The University of Alabama.

Established in October 2020, the Legacy program is a branch of Vision Days that supports and helps develop opportunities at UA for students who completed the Vision Days four-year program in high school and chose to attend UA. Student ambassadors within the Legacy program provide academic and social support for underrepresented undergraduate students and Alabama high school students.

Malika Freeman, a senior majoring in biology and a Legacy ambassador, described the experience of working with the Vision Days program as seeing a “light switch [on] in their eyes” when interacting with the high schoolers who participate in Vision Days.

“It makes me want to help more, bring more people to campus with backgrounds like me,” said Freeman.

Ambassadors, like senior biology major LeAnna Roberts, are typically chosen from former Vision Days participants.

“I went to Central High School [in Tuscaloosa], so I remember going on tours with Vision Days,” she said. “I started volunteering [with Vision Days] once I got to UA and enjoyed it and then applied to be an ambassador.”

The Vision Days Legacy program is led by undergraduate Legacy ambassadors like Freeman and Roberts. Ambassadors are responsible for developing and coordinating the Legacy program, its mentorship initiative, and the student groups’ short- and long-term goals.

“What I have learned most is how to get a program started, the logistics of it, how much time it takes [and] having to be more detail oriented,” Freeman said.

As Freeman explained, ambassadors work behind the scenes with the Legacy program to support Vision Days. Specifically, Freeman designs presentations for meetings or program activities, such as for Vision Days’ most recent event, its first FAFSA (Federal Student Aid) night on Oct. 27.

Ambassadors assist high school students with the admissions process, scholarship applications and keeping up with important deadlines. FAFSA night was just one example of how ambassadors support the needs of high school students that are part of Vision Days.

Amelia Poolos, a sophomore majoring in psychology and biology, also a Legacy ambassador, said these activities also support recruitment initiatives, such as leading campus tours for the 9th–12th grade students who visit UA for Vision Days.

“We get to lead the groups and talk to the high schoolers and see if they’re interested in coming here and what they want to do here, and just talk to them about future plans,” said Poolos.

Getting to share insight into college life is something that Vision Days Legacy ambassadors say is most rewarding.

“I would say I’ve enjoyed the appreciativeness,” Roberts said. “Every high school, especially when you have a small group of eight or seven and [are] able to talk to each of them, they’re very interested and curious to know your experience and what you’re doing.”

“I just like giving back to people because somebody did it for me, and I just think it’s really cool,” Poolos added.

UA Reaches 95 Percent of United Way Campaign Goal; Campaign Continues Through End of Year

December 6th, 2022
in United Way

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communication Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

With the holiday season approaching, the UA United Way Campaign leadership announced giving to the 2022 campaign has reached 95% of the $405,000 goal.

Dr. Colleen Geary and Dr. James Hardin, campaign co-chairs, shared during the UA United Way Campaign celebration on the Autherine Lucy Hall lawn on Thursday, Dec. 1, that while the journey to goal is ongoing, the finish line is in sight.

This year’s theme, United in Lifting Lives, mirrors the mission of the 2022 host college, the College of Education (COE), by capturing the importance of working together to support individuals and families in need throughout the community and the West Alabama area.

“We know that when we make one life better everyone around that person gets lifted as well, and in a way, we all get a rise,” said Dr. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of the COE.

UA President Dr. Stuart R. Bell thanked the COE for its role in this year’s campaign, as well as the Division of Community Affairs and campaign coordinators for their leadership, and faculty and staff for their generosity. He also recognized 12 units that reached or exceeded their unit goal, as well as the impact of the UA United Way Campaign in inspiring UA students to become involved in their communities.

“Lifting others through the United Way this year, I think, is the way that we’re all exhibiting that for our students,” Bell said. “Students learn how to be philanthropic when they’re on our campus. When that thermometer goes to the top, they see that. That’s this university that’s giving back in so many ways.”

Jackie Wuska, CEO of the United Way of West Alabama (UWWA), and Jheovanny Gomez, 2022 UWWA campaign chair, also noted the impact of UA’s support for United Way by lifting lives in West Alabama.

“This community changed my life, and with your contribution and what you do, you’re making a huge impact on the West Alabama community,” Gomez said.

“Because of the generosity of the employees at The University of Alabama, we are traditionally the largest contributor to the United Way of West Alabama’s campaign,” said Dr. Samory Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs. “We are almost there but will need more employees in the UA family to contribute, so that we can meet our goal and fulfill our commitment to our community.”

The campaign will continue through the end of the calendar year. Donations can be made through the secure online giving portal through that time. Those who prefer to give via pledge card may do so through Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The Division of Community Affairs leads the annual UA United Way Campaign with a structure that provides opportunities for UA colleges and administrative units to host the campaign each year. The United Way of West Alabama has 26 partner agencies and plays a vital role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Partner agencies from Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama.

High School Seniors Experience College Life During Vision Days

November 29th, 2022
in CCBP

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

High School seniors from across Alabama visited The University of Alabama for a firsthand experience of college life and the application process during fall Vision Days from September–October.

“It’s a good experience,” said Samya Jones, senior from Hamilton High School. “I’m learning new things, and I get to learn more information about the campus.”

Sponsored by the Division of Community Affairs, Vision Days is a campus-wide effort focusing on the college readiness of high school students from rural and underrepresented areas in Alabama.

Led by Dr. Daniela Susnara, director of planning and assessment for community engagement, the four-year program is designed to prepare high schoolers for the college experience through curated tours and information sessions that vary according to grade level.

Students began the day with a scavenger hunt, a walking tour across campus that introduced students to UA resources through visiting campus sites, such as the Gorgas Library and Honors College.

“Honestly, I’m probably leaning towards just coming here … because I was thinking about going to Bevill State … but it looks like I’m probably going to just go here for my first college years and just go for my full four years,” said David Madison, senior at Hubbertville High School. “It’s just the people, the community, the food, everything, just everything just looks nice.”

After the walking tour, students heard presentations from University admissions and financial aid staff, which many high school participants said was their most important takeaway from Vision Days.

“They’re all fun and nice, and then it honestly does just really help because the college application process is super complicated and getting to know the school and seeing if I really want to go here and then learning more about how to apply and all the different aspects of it is really helpful,” said Zoe Shore, senior from Central High School.

Vision Days’ campus visits for seniors are also designed to prepare high schoolers for life beyond college. Therefore, students ended the day with discussion panels that addressed opportunities within the Honors College, graduate and law school, and scholarships.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Seigfried Williams, choir director for Greene County High School and one of the advisors present. “It just gives them exposure. It kind of gives them an idea about what they want to do after high school.”

“A lot of them haven’t seen like an actual college campus … so I think it’s good for them to see overall the experience of it,” added Ashley Holman, school counselor at Sulligent High School.

For fall 2022, 579 seniors from 19 high schools across Alabama participated in Vision Days.

Vision Days Hosts Inaugural FAFSA Night

November 12th, 2022
in CCBP

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs
Sophia Xiong
CCBP Graduate Assistant

High school seniors are one step closer to graduation, thanks to Vision Days’ inaugural Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Night held in the Math and Science Education Building at The University of Alabama on Oct. 27.

Hosted by Vision Days to support its anchor schools, the event provided high school students, families and staff an opportunity to come and go during a three-hour window that allowed for reliable Internet access and direct help from UA students and staff with completing the FAFSA.

The event was created to assist high school seniors with FAFSA completion, a requirement for high school graduation in Alabama, and to provide additional support beyond standard Vision Days programming.

Amanda Dockery and Khalilah Harris, advisors in the department of financial aid at UA, helped students and families complete the FAFSA during the event.

“I can see that she [Dr. Daniela Susnara] has a passion for getting the word out to students and their families about opportunities at the University, and so, specifically, we try to plug in and breakdown the FAFSA, take something that’s really complicated and complex and try to make it manageable for students and parents,” Dockery said.

That first step comes with helping students and their parents create a Federal Student Aid ID. After that, students can start filling out the application.

Lilly Ingram, a senior at Sipsey Valley High School, came by to complete her FAFSA after hearing about the event from her school’s counselor.

“I think what I get from it the most is learning the process and learning how to do everything correctly instead of just going in blindsided,” she said.

“Everybody has been very knowledgeable and helpful in showing us how to do it,” said Caleb Ingram, who found out about the event through his daughter’s [Lilly’s] school. “It makes it easy on the parents and the students, and I think it’s great for kids and for parents like us, especially people who are first-time parents and this is our first [kid to] go through college.”

UA undergraduates that are members of the Vision Days Legacy program were also available to answer any questions that attendees had about the FAFSA and college application process.

“I like coming out and helping students [at events like this],” said Malika Freeman, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and ambassador with the Vision Days Legacy program. “I also like the Vision Days portion, getting to talk to students. It’s really cool to see that part.”

By getting the word out, UA staff members, like Harris, hope these events will encourage more high school students to apply for funding.

“I think that getting the students out here and letting them know all the free funding that’s out here for them to get their education and obtain their degree is really important,” Harris said. “I feel like it’s kind of underrepresented, so by getting that word out there and letting everybody know that we’re here to help, here to walk them through the process is really helpful.”

Roll the Vote Encourages Voter Registration Ahead of Midterm Elections

October 26th, 2022
in Crossroads

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

Encouraging UA students, faculty and staff to cast their ballots on Nov. 8, UA Vote Everywhere and the Crossroads Civic Engagement Center collaborated with campus partners located in the Student Center to host Roll the Vote, a multi-day voter registration and absentee ballot information drive held Sept. 26–29.

“UA actually has a very high registration rate, but we have below average turnout rates,” said Sam Robson, president of UA Vote Everywhere. “We think that students are just really busy around election time, and we think that students have other priorities, and that the campus needs to be doing more to create a culture around civic engagement ... so it’s really about getting information out there early and trying to convince students that it’s actually worth it.”

During Roll the Vote, UA Vote Everywhere and the Crossroads Civic Engagement Center partnered with the Intercultural Diversity Center (IDC), Student Government Association (SGA), Black Student Union (BSU), and Blackburn Institute, with each organization serving as a host site on a different day.

“BSU was honored to be able to collaborate in the event,” said Anthony Williams, president of BSU. “Voting is a civil right many historical Black figures fought for students such as us to get. It was imperative that we took this opportunity to give students easy access to register and exercise their right to vote.”

“This program provided an opportunity for the IDC to assist our diverse and minority students with a time and space to come in and learn about how to vote and the process,” added Shemaiah Kenon, assistant director of IDC. “Voting is more important than ever nowadays, and I’m happy the IDC could be a part of the charge to inform students that registering to vote is easy, convenient and a pivotal right of our democracy.”

Emma Kenny, a member of the Blackburn Institute and a Vote Everywhere ambassador, said she thought the reason the Blackburn Institute was eager to participate in Roll the Vote was that it was committed to developing ethical leaders and politically active citizens. “Encouraging all of our students to vote and create a voting plan helps the institute and its students get closer to those goals,” Kenny said.

Volunteers set up tables outside each organization’s office, welcoming students with coffee, doughnuts and handouts for voter registration and absentee ballot information.

Frances Buntain, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, stopped by the site in front of the SGA office. She said setting up tables helps to catch students “who aren’t aware that they can vote or should vote or how to register.”

Shelby Johnson and Nila Segobin, students who attended other Roll the Vote sites in the Student Center, said the multi-site setup made voter registration more accessible.

“I definitely do think that [they] are doing a really great job by just going around some different office spaces and making sure [they’re] targeting people who would really like to register, but not sure how to go about the process,” said Johnson.

Segobin added: “I think [this setup] is more effective, and I like how it’s in an office or in different places, so you can ask those questions … because, obviously, being an out-of-state student or even sometimes being an in-state student, you don’t know what to do.”

Over the summer months, student interns with UA Vote Everywhere worked with Crossroads and the Division of Community Affairs to launch a new website: vote.ua.edu. The site is intended to be a one-stop shop of voting resources for participating in local, state-wide, national, and UA’s SGA elections.

Collier Dobbs, SGA’s vice president for External Affairs, said the decision to co-partner on the initiative was in keeping with “our mission statement [which] is ‘to train ourselves in democratic government and promote citizenship on campus’ … so SGA was excited to have the opportunity to co-sponsor not only on the Roll the Vote event, but also to co-sponsor on the past, present, and future efforts to give students the resources to register to vote.”

For voter information and registration, visit vote.ua.edu

Satcher Delivers Fall 2022 Realizing the Dream Distinguished Lecture

October 11th, 2022
in Realizing the Dream

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

Former United States Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher encouraged audience members to consider the role of science in health equity as the fall 2022 Realizing the Dream Distinguished Lecturer, emphasizing that it is never too early to make a difference.

Realizing the Dream partner Stillman College hosted the lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Stillman Stinson Auditorium. Satcher was the 16th Surgeon General of the United States and former Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. He is only the second person in history to hold both posts simultaneously.

As Realizing the Dream is a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Satcher recalled his memories of hearing Dr. King speak while studying at Morehouse College.

“A group of us would always get together when we knew that Dr. King was going to be in town and he was going to be speaking, and we’d walk the five miles to hear Dr. King’s speech,” Satcher said. “It was a kind of experience that sort of penetrated you deeply in terms of believing that we shall overcome.”

Satcher then transitioned to his speech, inspired in part by Dr. King’s dream of equity when applied to public health. He discussed the role of science yesterday, today and tomorrow, as well as the government’s role in ensuring health equity.

“When I was director of the CDC … we focused on immunizing children against measles, mumps and rubella, and I think we saved a lot of lives by immunizing children,” Satcher said. “But it’s almost as if you start over again years later when people are questioning whether immunizations are safe, and so there were a lot of questions raised when this pandemic started.”

Satcher discussed the impact of the Tuskegee Study in trusting science and government as it related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s nothing wrong with science. The problem is the way we use it,” Satcher said. “We have to make a commitment to quality science carried out by committed people, so that people will not have to question whether or not the government is still doing the kind of things that were done in Tuskegee when almost 600 Black men were studied, but not treated for syphilis.”

Public health, as Satcher defined, is about “coming together, creating the conditions for people to be healthy.”

He shared the story of former Surgeon General Dr. Luther Terry issuing the Surgeon General’s report on the dangers of smoking and why Terry quit smoking right before the press conference on the report’s findings as an analogy for taking the initiative to create a healthy lifestyle.
“His argument was that it was never too late to quit, but by the same token, it is never too late to begin certain things in your life,” said Satcher.

Satcher concluded his remarks with a call to action, reminding the audience that everyone needs to create a better future for generations to come. Following the lecture, a brief question and answer session was held.

You Make UA Great Celebrates Campus Employees

October 10th, 2022
in News

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

To thank employees for their contributions to The University of Alabama, UA hosted an evening of fun, activities and live entertainment for faculty, staff and their families during the inaugural You Make UA Great event, which took place Monday, Oct. 3 on the Quad.

“We are celebrating you because of an impact that you have every day on this campus and whether that’s in a residence hall, whether that’s in a classroom, whether that’s in a cafeteria, or any place on this campus, the way that you invest in our students and invest in our campus is what makes this university special,” said Dr. Stuart Bell, UA president.

The Division of Community Affairs, along with other campus partners, hosted the event.

“He [Dr. Bell] and I both agree that this institution, we’re often in the headlines for some major accomplishment, but it’s not the brick and mortar that does that, it’s the people who work here,” said Dr. Samory Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs.

The purpose of the event was to show gratitude for all the ways employees contribute to the success of UA and the surrounding community.

“This is a really fun event to celebrate the employees here at the University because everyone here, no matter where you work, works really hard,” said Rebecca Johnson, communications specialist for UA Museums. “Sometimes we are in our own little bubbles, and we don’t know what other departments are out there, what everybody does, so this is a good way to meet other people and get to know everybody else on campus.”

As Johnson emphasized, employees in attendance enjoyed mingling with their colleagues across campus.

“I think it’s very unique for everybody ... to get together and get to know each other in different departments,” said Andrea Thomas, a staff member in facilities and custodial services.

“We are seeing friends and families from all over that we are friends with on campus that we don’t get to see very often,” echoed Lindsey Graham, associate director of operations for Student Account Services.

Attendees were treated to free food from local food truck vendors, games and activities. Local band, Bound and Determined, as well as the Million Dollar Band, provided live music, making for a fun evening for employees to spend with their colleagues and loved ones.
“I’m a remote employee, so it’s time conducive for me to be able to come with my family in the afternoon, get my kids from school and come over and get my husband off work, so I just think it’s great to have a family-friendly event,” said Jackie Harrison, program coordinator for the School of Social Work.

Big Al made a special appearance to pose for photos and mingle with the crowd. In addition to the music and activities, the event featured a resource table fair that showcased on- and off-campus resources available to UA employees and retirees.

“I think it’s a great idea because anytime there’s a large organization like the University, some people get siloed, and they don’t even know everything that’s out there, so having the opportunity to figure out what’s actually on campus, plus the surrounding resources in the community is great,” said Jeff Knox, CEO of YMCA of Tuscaloosa County. The YMCA was also one of the organizations with a table at the resource fair.

“It’s great and to be able to thank the employees because they’re our number one employee campaign,” added Monique Scott, campaign director for United Way of West Alabama.

While the event was geared toward employees, it was also an opportunity for students to share their appreciation for the impact faculty and staff have.

“Thank you for always continuing to put students first and know that we are grateful for you and the work that you put in our programs,” said Madeline Martin, SGA president as she addressed the crowd. “We couldn’t do what we do without what you do for us.”

Art of Town and Gown Relationships Reception Highlights Neighborhood Partnerships

September 7th, 2022
in News

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-12

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-42

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-6

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-38

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-29

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-19

AthensToTuscaloosa_ArtofTownAndGownRelationships_KB-2

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

Collegiate athletics rivalries were cast aside when members of the InterCity Leadership Visit group from Athens, Ga., networked with their University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa city counterparts to discuss building town and gown relationships during the Art of Town and Gown Relationships Reception on Aug. 31.

The reception took place at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in historic downtown Tuscaloosa, where visitors were greeted with live music from the Alabama Blues Project and treats themed around the Crimson Tide.

“Successful town and gown relationships require many conversations with partners across a community and having the opportunity to learn from other college towns about their challenges and opportunities provides those partners with ideas to bring home and adapt to fit the needs of their hometown,” said Alison McCullick, director of Community Relations for the University of Georgia.

The University of Alabama (UA) and University of Georgia are member institutions of the International Town and Gown Association, a global nonprofit association dedicated to college campus and community interests.

McCullick said the idea for the intercity visit came about as the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce worked with Georgia Power to identify communities with major universities that have similar challenges and opportunities.

“Tuscaloosa and Athens and a lot of college communities are on the cusp I think of continued expansive growth, but that growth, if it’s not done strategically, you have winners and losers,” said David Bradley, president and CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. “Let’s figure out to do it strategically so more people win.”

During the reception, members of UA’s Neighborhood Partnership Committee (NPC) shared how the group was created in 2003 from a mutual effort to address community concerns with university students moving into the city’s historic district.

“I got involved because our president at the time said we have to figure out how to make this work, and I’m so grateful that we were able to get it to work,” said Dr. Samory Pruitt, UA vice president for Community Affairs.

NPC is composed of students, off-campus neighbors, business owners, community leaders, city officials, University police officers, city police, ABC Board officials and University administrators whose mission is to improve the relationships between students, law enforcement and off-campus neighbors.

“We all know the landscape of law enforcement across our country, the difficulty that we’ve been having over the past few years, so it’s been good for me to be a part of bridging the gap between us and, not just the university community, but Tuscaloosa as a whole,” said Daniel Mosely, community relations officer for the UA Police Department and member of NPC. “I really appreciate this opportunity. We all know that with dialogue, a lot of things can be accomplished.”

As Mosely highlighted, working to improve communication among neighbors, business owners, students and law enforcement officials can proactively address issues that are of mutual concern to sustaining town and gown relationships.

“We have to look at something that provides a benefit and incentive to all the groups to let them rise above their own personal economic interests and look at what is best for the university and community as a whole,” said Robert Reynolds, who was part of the initial formation of NPC.

“Community engagement initiatives such as the UA Neighborhood Partnership Committee are extremely valuable and reflect campus and community commitment,” said Dr. Nicole Prewitt, director of programs and partnerships for Community Engagement and member of the Board of Directors for the ITGA. “It has been wonderful to highlight the art of developing relationships among partners in town and gown shared spaces.”

As Bradley mentioned, the visit to Tuscaloosa provided an opportunity for one college town to learn from another through that dialogue.

“There are so many very close similarities between Athens and Tuscaloosa and the University of Georgia and The University of Alabama, so what better way to try to leverage those connections than to get together to learn,” Bradley said.

“It’s been a great experience as a student to hear from leaders across the city, but also on campus and to hear how we can work as a team,” added Madeline Martin, UA SGA president.

Author: admin

Author: admin