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Realizing the Dream Committee Announces 2022 Events and Activities

January 5th, 2022
in Realizing the Dream

by Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator, Division of Community Affairs

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Realizing the Dream planning committee, consisting of representatives from Shelton State Community College, Stillman College, the Tuscaloosa chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and The University of Alabama are excited to announce the 2022 Realizing the Dream events and activities. “Realizing the Dream Through Kindness and Respect for Others” is the theme for 2022 events celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Friday, Jan. 14, at 6:30 p.m., the 13^th Legacy Awards Banquet will take place in the Sellers Auditorium of the Bryant Conference Center. At the banquet, The Hon. U.W. Clemon will receive the Mountaintop Award, Dr. Nahree Doh will receive the Call to Conscience Award and Carina Villarreal will receive the Horizon Award.

Attorney, journalist and television personality Star Jones will be the Legacy Awards Banquet speaker. Perhaps best known as one of the original co-hosts on the ABC morning talk show, “The View,” Jones is the author of “You Have to Stand for Something, or You’ll Fall for Anything,” “Shine: A Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journey to Finding Love” and “Satan’s Sisters.”

Clemon is an Alabama attorney in private practice and a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He was among the first 10 African-American lawyers admitted to the Alabama bar, was one of the first two African Americans elected to the Alabama Senate since Reconstruction and was appointed by Jimmy Carter in 1980 as the first African American federal judge in Alabama. He has devoted decades to breaking down barriers in education, government and the economy.

Doh is the associate director of clinical and outreach services at UA’s Division of Student Life Counseling Center. A licensed psychologist, she also provides individual counseling for students experiencing developmental and psychological concerns and has facilitated a workshop for international students to enhance their success and growth in the U.S. academic environment. She is known for her compassion for people and her commitment to equality, as well as her willingness to take the moral high road regardless of personal and professional consequences.

Villarreal is a 2020 UA graduate and is currently pursuing a master of social work degree at the Capstone. During her time at UA, she has served in a variety of leadership roles, including director of multicultural affairs in the Student Government Association and president of the Hispanic Latino Association. A student assistant in the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, she is passionate about social justice, activism and promoting cultural awareness.

Gospel singer, songwriter, actress and activist Kierra Sheard will be the featured performer for the 2022 Realizing the Dream Concert on Sunday, Jan. 16. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at The University of Alabama’s (UA) Moody Music Concert Hall. At age nine Sheard earned a Stellar Award for Best Children’s Performance for “The Will of God.” She honed her skills as a next-generation member of the multi-Grammy Award winning Clark Sisters and launched her professional solo career in 2004, gaining notoriety out of the box with her debut album, “I Owe You,” followed by the 2006 “This is Me.” Two years later came “Bold Right Life” and then 2011’s “Free.” Her latest single, “Something Has to Break,” a duet with her mother, gospel icon Karen Clark Sheard, hit No. 1 on two gospel radio charts, topping Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart and the MediaBase Gospel chart.

Realizing the Dream partner the Tuscaloosa SCLC will sponsor Unity Day activities on Monday, Jan. 17. The Unity Day march will begin at noon from the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The annual Mass Rally will begin at 6 p.m. at First African Baptist Church. All Unity Day activities are free and open to the public.

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

In response to concerns surrounding the rising number of COVID cases as a result of the Omicron variant, seating for the Legacy Banquet and Concert will be limited to 50% of capacity for each event, allowing the celebration of the remarkable legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while also addressing the need for social distancing. Concert tickets are $20. Legacy Banquet tickets are $30 for individuals or $125 for a table of 5. Dress is semiformal. Tickets will be available online at http://realizingthedream.ua.edu, beginning Thursday, Jan. 6, at 8 a.m.

Please note that UA COVID protocols in place at the time of the events will be followed at the Legacy Banquet and Concert. Additionally, those wishing to have their picture made with Ms. Star Jones will be subject to additional requirements of Ms. Jones: wear a mask covering the mouth and nose, as well as provide proof of complete COVID vaccination (one shot for Johnson & Johnson; two shots for Moderna and Pfizer). Proof of vaccination options include a completed vaccination card or a scan of said card.

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 contact Carol Agomo at 205-348-7405 or via email at community.affairs@ua.edu.

UA Announces Success for Annual UA United Way Campaign

November 5th, 2021
in United Way

by Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator, Division of Community Affairs

University faculty and staff, as well as United Way of West Alabama (UWWA) and partner agency representatives, gathered on the Gorgas Quad October 14 — a picture perfect day — to learn the giving total for the annual UA United Way Campaign.

The Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) served as the host college for the 2021 campaign, and they wanted to put a spotlight on their dedicated nursing students and the hard work they have done alongside their faculty and staff mentors throughout the pandemic. And so it was only fitting that the students, along with Big Al, revealed the total — $406,720.84 — a figure that exceeded the $400,000 campaign goal!

Dr. Nicole Prewitt, campaign champion, gave the opening remarks and introduced Dr. Suzanne Prevost, dean of CCN, who welcomed those present and thanked all — from campaign co-chairs Dr. Michelle Cheshire and Dr. Michele Montgomery, to unit coordinators, UA President Stuart R. Bell, and all who contributed — for their roles in once again making this annual campaign a success.

“For everyone on campus and everyone here today who has made a personal contribution or a pledge to support the United Way, I just want to thank you for your teamwork and support,” said Prevost. “And I want to thank our University president for his long-standing commitment and role modeling to support the campaign every year.”

Dr. Bell reflected on the caring spirit of UA faculty and staff. “What another great year to come together and to celebrate what our campus has done,” he said. “I thank our faculty and staff on this campus every year that I have had the pleasure of serving as president, that I am able to come out and have so much gratitude for what this campus does and the heart that they (the faculty and staff) have to care for those who are in need. Once again, our faculty and staff have demonstrated that.”

President Bell thanked CCN for its role in this year’s campaign, expressing that when he thinks of those who serve, he thinks of nurses. He thanked the Division of Community Affairs for its leadership in this annual campaign, as well as the campaign coordinators, noting that it’s those department-level leaders who serve the essential role of making sure that faculty and staff remember to make their pledges and donations. “Thank you all for taking on that leadership role and making every year such a success for us,” he said.

Dr. Bell also thanked United Way of West Alabama CEO Jackie Wuska and her staff for ensuring that seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year, people are working to ensure that the resources made available by our fundraising efforts reach those in need.

Longtime campaign treasurer Caroline Railsback acknowledged those from her office whose support and assistance allows her to take time away from her job to work on this annual campaign, as well as Prathima Gilliam, who in a very short period in 2020 created the online giving platform now used for the campaign.

“I’d like to call out some specific divisions this year,” said Railsback, “which I typically don’t do, but I think that they need to be recognized. We have three divisions that have a higher than 90% contribution rate. That’s Advancement, Community Affairs and Strategic Communications. I also want to call out the retirees from The University of Alabama. We quite simply could not make our goal without their contributions. They gave over $50,000 this year.”

Campaign co-chair Cheshire shared, “We at the Capstone College of Nursing have been honored to be a part of this campaign. We have always had a strong relationship with many of the United Way agencies, and this campaign has allowed us to advocate for them. The theme we chose — Committed to Caring for those in Need — resonated with us, as we hope it did for all of you.

“For years, faculty and staff at the Capstone College of Nursing have had the opportunity to introduce our students, many of whom are not from the West Alabama area, to the amazing services provided by United Way agencies. We have been able to use these agencies as clinical placements for nursing students to learn to provide patient care outside of the hospital setting. We have been able to expose them to the great work of the United Way agencies and given them a front-row seat to witness the impact of the services these agencies provide. We can lecture in the classroom about the need for nurses to be servant leaders in their communities, but the United Way agencies have allowed them to see firsthand what servant leadership looks like, through the volunteers and the staff who are the boots on the ground in these agencies.

“Being committed to caring for those in need is exactly what employees of the University are passionate about. We are thankful that the College of Nursing has been able to be a part of this campaign. Since 2020, life has changed dramatically, and the needs of many in our community have increased exponentially. What the dean and Michele (Montgomery) and I have witnessed and monitored weekly, is that the generous spirit of UA employees is alive and well. Thank you for letting us be a small part of the huge impact that your generosity will have on West Alabama.”

Wuska and Sandra Hall Ray, 2021 Campaign chair for UWWA, thanked the University for consistently rising to the challenge, whatever that might be, by bringing together the talents, skills, enthusiasm and generous hearts of its employees to support the community each year through this annual campaign, which is the largest for employee gifts in West Alabama.

The campaign will continue through the end of the semester, and donations can be made through the secure, online giving portal at http://communityaffairs.ua.edu/2021-united-way-headquarters/ through Friday, Dec. 3. Those who prefer to give via pledge card should contact Elizabeth Hartley at ehartley@ua.edu. Donations of at least $60 will qualify for a Donor Rewards Card containing offers from a variety of West Alabama businesses.

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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.

UA Students Win Fulbright Awards

May 12th, 2021
in Fulbright

by Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator, Division of Community Affairs

Note: This story was updated Oct. 27, 2021 to reflect the addition of Matthew “Drake” Southern as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award recipient.

Tuscaloosa, Ala. – A University of Alabama student has received a Fulbright Student Research Award and five students have won Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Awards for the 2021–2022 academic year. Additionally, two UA students were awarded alternate status in this year’s national Fulbright competition. In addition to this year’s winners, five UA Fulbright Student Award recipients from last year who had their awards delayed as a result of COVID-19 conditions in their host countries are expected to have an opportunity to serve in 2021–2022 as health conditions improve and travel restrictions ease.

Fulbright is the most prestigious U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals. The Fulbright Award of the U.S. Department of State offers one-year grants for independent study and research and for English teaching assistantships overseas.

The highly competitive program selects approximately 1,500 award recipients from more than 11,000 applicants each year. The University of Alabama has received national recognition as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Students for five of the last six years.

“During a year of extraordinary challenges, every Fulbright student applicant and their faculty and staff advisors rose to those challenges by demonstrating a commitment to the vital work of advancing intercultural understanding throughout the world,” said Dr. Teresa Wise, associate provost of international education and global outreach. “No matter the circumstances, UA remains steadfast in providing such global learning opportunities to all of our students. We congratulate our 2021–2022 awardees and alternates, as well as those from last year who will now begin their Fulbright experience after a delay due to the ongoing pandemic.”

Fulbright Student Research Award recipient:

Malik Seals, of Columbus, Mississippi, received a Fulbright Award to research “Pregnancy and Multiple Sclerosis: Investigating Nature’s Immunosuppressant” at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Berlin, Germany. A 2020 UA Honors College graduate in biological sciences, he has been honored with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the Anderson Society, the Jasons Senior Men’s Honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta and the Black Student Union Hall of Fame, and he served as president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. He is currently a graduate student in immunology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he is an Albert Schweitzer Fellow.

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Awards offer U.S. students the opportunity to serve in an English classroom overseas assisting the teacher and exchanging culture with the people of the host country.

The 2021–2022 recipients are:

Lindsey Drost, of Holland, Michigan, an experienced English Language tutor and Spanish educator in the Tuscaloosa City Schools and a UA English Language Institute conversation partner, who graduated summa cum laude with a BA in German and Spanish and received awards for excellence in German and the best essay in Spanish. Currently enrolled in UA’s master’s program in education, she was selected to teach in Germany.
Logan Fenhouse, of Lombard, Illinois, a Blount Interdisciplinary Scholar in the liberal arts, former leader of Beyond Bama Alternative Breaks, Spanish interpreter at Maude Whatley Health Center and mentor with experience tutoring all ages. A 2020 summa cum laude Honors College graduate with degrees in Spanish and interdisciplinary studies and fluency in Spanish, she was chosen to teach in the Canary Islands of Spain.
Michael Fisher, of Auburn, a 2020 UA graduate in international relations and German, brings teaching experience in programs that engage communities with special needs (Easter Seals, Best Buddies, Miracle League of Tuscaloosa and Night to Shine Prom) and international experience in Nicaragua. During his Fulbright year of service, he plans to share his American culture through his guitar presentations and music exchanges and build community through service in the classroom and civic organizations. He was chosen to teach in Germany.
Matthew “Drake” Southern, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a 2019 UA Honors College graduate in Spanish and Religious Studies and a 2021 MA graduate in Spanish Literature with superior/distinguished fluency in Spanish. He brings experience as a graduate teacher in the Spanish department, a teacher at The Capitol School, assistant children’s director at Forest Lake UMC, preschool teacher with American Christian Academy, a tutor in English, History, and Algebra at Central High School, a mentor with Proyecto Peru in Cusco, Peru, and a peer tutor in Spanish and Math, completing his TESOL certificate in October 2021. A guitar teacher, he plans to engage with his host community and language students by learning and sharing folk music. He was chosen to teach in the Canary Islands of Spain.
Natasha Stevanovich, of Washington, Michigan, a Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society member, UA German Club President, Outstanding Service in German award recipient, Model United Nations Club member, Tuscaloosa County Schools ESL Tutor and UA English Language Institute conversation partner. A 2021 Honors College graduate in German and psychology with a minor in creative media with study experience at Humboldt University in Germany and advanced fluency in German, she was selected to teach in Germany.

The two students who were awarded alternate status for 2021–2022 are Chynna Swann (Thailand) and Katie Tindol (Malaysia). They will be invited to serve should more openings become available.

Recipients of 2020–2021 ETA Awards whose travel was delayed are:

Camille Constance Nealey Carr, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, a Blackburn Institute Fellow, a Blount Interdisciplinary Scholar in the liberal arts and a 2019 summa cum laude Honors College graduate in Spanish and political science with fluency in the Spanish language. Currently a secondary education math teacher, she was selected to teach in Colombia.
Isabella Rose DeSheplo,of Washington, D.C., a Blackburn Institute Fellow, a member of the Carl A. Elliott Community Service Honor Society and a 2020 UA Honors College graduate with a BA and MA in political science and a minor in public policy studies. She was selected to teach in Bulgaria.
Robert “Chad” Hankins, of Mobile, a Blount Interdisciplinary Scholar in the liberal arts, member of The Mallet Assembly and The White Rose Society, certified teacher of English as a Foreign Language and a 2018 graduate in political science with a minor in German, advanced German language competency and the Global Studies Certificate Hankins served as a campaign staff manager for a political action committee for the 2020 U.S. presidential election and is currently enrolled in American University’s School of International Service for the MA in International Affairs: Comparative and Regional Studies. He was selected to teach in Germany.
Katherine Lightfoot, of Northport, a discussion facilitator with the UA English Language Institute, an active leader in Model United Nations and German Club, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society member, a 2019 Honors College graduate in international studies and foreign languages and a Critical Language Scholarship recipient. She is enrolled in graduate studies in German at UA and was selected to teach in Germany.
Ian Samlowski,of Madison, an instructor of German in the department of modern languages and classics, a translator for the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and a fluent German speaker. He holds BA and MA degrees in German from UA with membership in Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society and was selected to teach in Germany.

“Our campus is proud of these exceptional student leaders in international engagement,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, director of global and community engagement at the Center for Community-Based Partnerships, “and we appreciate the dedicated faculty, staff and administrators who worked with our students in application for these awards.”

UA Fulbright advisers Megan Wagner Legerski, Dr. Matthew Feminella, and Dr. Beverly Hawk help students polish applications for success in the national Fulbright competition each year. Students with an interest in applying for next year’s Fulbright program can learn more at http://international.ua.edu and https://us.fulbrightonline.org, or email fulbright@ua.edu.

Council Hosts 15th Annual Excellence in Community Engagement Awards

May 6th, 2021
in CCBP

UA Recognized as Student Fulbright Awards Top Producer; Sets University Record

February 22nd, 2021
in Fulbright

TUSCALOOSA — For the fifth time in six years, The University of Alabama was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards. Additionally, the 2020–2021 cohort sets a new University record with 17 students receiving Fulbright Award offers.

“We are immensely proud of our student Fulbright scholars, all of whom have earned a priceless opportunity to teach and conduct research in other countries,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “Not only will they grow personally and intellectually by building relationships with likeminded peers across cultures, they are also furthering UA’s mission of transforming lives throughout the world through distinctive academic and research projects.”

Now in its 75th year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the premier educational exchange program of the United States Department of State. The Fulbright Award offers grants for independent study and research and for English teaching assistantships overseas. The highly competitive program selects about 2,200 award recipients from more than 10,000 applicants each year.

“UA’s repeated recognition as a Top Producer of Student Fulbright Awards reflects the quality of our applicants and the dedication of our faculty and staff to providing all students with a global perspective during their time at the Capstone,” said Dr. Teresa Wise, associate provost for International Education & Global Outreach. “The challenges of the pandemic have altered our delivery methods but not our devotion to offering a world-class and world-focused education.”

The UA students who received Fulbright Award offers in this year’s national competition are: Christine Allen (Spain), Austin Blair (Germany), Mason Olivia Blanke (Poland), Camille Carr (Colombia), Julia Coursey (Hungary), Caroline Smith Dean (Spain), Isabella Rose DeSheplo (Bulgaria), Lota Erinne (Spain), Logan Fenhouse (Spain), Amelia Wyant Gaither (Taiwan), Robert “Chad” Hankins (Germany), Asia Hayes (Spain), Joshua Kirks (Germany), Katherine Lightfoot (Germany), Ashley Tickle Odebiyi (Italy), Rebecca Paholski (Spain) and Ian Samlowski (Germany).

“These brilliant students deserve admiration for their dedication to their studies, and our university takes pride in their Fulbright honors,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, director of global and community engagement in the Division of Community Affairs’ Center for Community-Based Partnerships. “We wish them all success as international travel resumes, educational institutions reopen, and winners have the opportunity to go abroad and serve.”

UA Announces 2021 Virtual Realizing the Dream Events

January 15th, 2021
in Realizing the Dream

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “The show must go on” is one of the most familiar expressions in showbiz, and despite COVID-19, that is exactly what will be happening during the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Realizing the Dream celebration.

While the two most familiar components — the annual concert and legacy banquet — will not occur this year, other important aspects of this annual celebration will take place.

The theme for the 2021 activities is Realizing the Dream Through Justice for All.

Among the activities planned is the premier of a documentary that will chronicle the vision and aspirations of those who founded the event in 1990, as well as its impact on individuals and the community. It will feature founders and key officials from Stillman College, Shelton State Community College, The University of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa Southern Christian Leadership Conference, who will recount their experiences.

Through the use of current and archival interviews, the documentary will feature those who have been recognized over the years, such as Reverend Thomas Linton, former Tuscaloosa police chief Ken Swindle, attorney Cleo Thomas Jr., and our youngest award recipients, including former students Kendra Key, Fan Yang, Melanie Gotz, Quin Kelly and Emma Mansberg.

The Center for Public Television is partnering with the Realizing the Dream Committee to produce the documentary.

In addition, a new Realizing the Dream website will be launched featuring photographic images captured over the years, not only from The University of Alabama archives but also from individuals who have participated in the annual events. To upload photos, visit http://communityaffairs.ua.edu/realizing-the-dream-photo-submission/.

Realizing the Dream activities will continue throughout the year on a quarterly basis and may include guest lecturers and performing artists. Events will be hosted in a virtual setting early in the year, with hopes for in-person activities later. Event details will be announced as they become available.

Among those events is an essay and art contest focused on the 2021 theme, Realizing the Dream Through Justice for All. The contest, which will involve middle and high school students from Tuscaloosa and the surrounding area, is sponsored by the Realizing the Dream Committee, which seeks to educate and keep the Dream relevant to the next generation. Selected students will be asked to share insights about their work in an online setting on Thursday, April 8, at 6 p.m. Those students featured will receive special recognition, as well as earn funding to support this important work at their respective schools.

This year’s event date was selected for its close proximity to the time Dr. King, a brilliant writer and orator, wrote his April 16, 1963 Letter from the Birmingham Jail. His message that day, “… Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere …,” was both timely and timeless.

Information about contest criteria and submission is available at http://realizingthedream.ua.edu. The submission deadline is Monday, March 15.

The Realizing the Dream Committee is comprised of representatives from The University of Alabama, Stillman College, Shelton State Community College and the Tuscaloosa Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

The Tuscaloosa SCLC has recently announced its Unity Day events, scheduled to take place on a virtual platform on Monday, Jan. 18. The Unity Day Breakfast will begin the day’s activities at 7:45 a.m. Reverend David Gay will be the speaker. A car parade will begin at 11 a.m. Those planning to participate should place signs on their cars and line up at the Beulah Baptist Church and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School parking lots. Concluding the day’s activities will be a rally program at 6 p.m., featuring Reverend Clarence Sutton Jr. as the speaker.

For more information on how to view the Unity Day virtual programs and participate in the car parade, please contact Reginald Kennedy at rlkkennedy@yahoo.com.

Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, vice president of the Division of Community Affairs at UA and a member of the Realizing the Dream Committee, said, “We look forward to sharing these important annual events with the public, even if we are unable to do so face-to-face at this time. Dr. King’s legacy is too important for us to let something like COVID-19 prevent us from continuing to recognize what Dr. King means to our campus, community and state. The show WILL go on.”

For additional information, contact the UA Division of Community Affairs at community.affairs@ua.edu or 205-348-8376.

The University of Alabama, the state’s oldest and largest public institution of higher education, is a student-centered research university that draws the best and brightest to an academic community committed to providing a premier undergraduate and graduate education. UA is dedicated to achieving excellence in scholarship, collaboration and intellectual engagement; providing public outreach and service to the state of Alabama and the nation; and nurturing a campus environment that fosters collegiality, respect and inclusivity

Giving at Ninety Percent of Goal as United Way Campaign Continues

November 20th, 2020
in United Way

Missed the celebration?

Watch the 2020 UA United Way Campaign celebration on the CCIS facebook page!

Watch here.

By Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator, Division of Community Affairs

As the campus community prepared for the rapidly approaching Thanksgiving holiday, UA United Way Campaign leadership shared an update on the 2020 campaign giving total to date. On Thursday, Nov. 19, Big Al joined Dr. Adam Brooks, campaign co-chair, in the WVUA studios to announce that this annual campaign, which supports those in need throughout our area through donations to the United Way of West Alabama (UWWA), had reached a giving total of $360,045.41, or 90% of this year’s $400,000 goal. The announcement was made from the WVUA studios via the College of Communication and Information Sciences’ Facebook page.

Joining the celebration virtually were Dr. Mark Nelson, dean of this year’s host college, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, as well as Campaign Champion Dr. Nicole Prewitt, UA President Stuart R. Bell, Campaign Treasurer Caroline Railsback, 2020 UWWA Campaign Chair Shelley Jones and Jackie Wuska, chief executive officer of UWWA.

Their unified message was to send a heartfelt thank you to every member of the University community who has given or will give to this ongoing effort, and to everyone involved in running the campaign.

Nelson thanked Adam Brooks and Lynn Brooks for serving as campaign co-chairs, as well as Dr. Samory Pruitt and his staff in the Division of Community Affairs for their behind-the-scenes role in this annual campaign. He also thanked Dr. Bell for the opportunity to host the 2020 campaign. “And to each of you, our faculty and staff, who shared your kindness with our community, thank you,” said Nelson

Bell thanked Dean Nelson and CCIS for leading the campaign this year, noting that the last time this college hosted the campaign was in 2011 following the spring tornadoes that year. “I promise that we will do our best to make the next time you host a year like any other, rather than a year like no other,” said Bel, who went on to thank the United Way of West Alabama, both for the work they are doing and for allowing the University the opportunity to be a partner in service to the community. “And to all who have donated or are still planning to, I thank you,” said Bell. “This year more than ever, our community is counting on us.”

Wuska spoke to the importance of the University’s role in this annual campaign, saying “Thank you so much to those of you who have paid your blessings forward by making a gift to the United Way of West Alabama. The need for our partner agencies’ services has never been greater, and we could not come close to making an impact in the community without the support of The University of Alabama. During this challenging time, we are grateful that you have faith in us to allow us to make a difference.”

Railsback thanked all donors for their generosity, as well as the UA facilities department for quickly setting up the drop box behind Rose Administration to accommodate those who wished to drop off pledge cards. She gave a special nod to Prathima Gilliam and her team in OIT who built the online giving platform, which was new this year. “We quite literally could not have had this year’s campaign without her,” said Railsback.

Prewitt noted that when she was asked to serve in this role this year, she welcomed the opportunity, in part because she knew she would have a great campus coordinating team, but also because she knew the generosity and kindness of the UA family.

“Since the COVID-19 outbreak in March, more people have sought assistance from the United Way of West Alabama than ever before — many of them for the first time,” said Prewitt. “I want to thank every member of the UA family who has already made or will make a contribution to the 2020 campaign. Your generosity and kindness are certain to have a lasting impact on our community.”

In a year that has brought unique challenges for us all, the global pandemic has shone a spotlight on the importance of sharing what we have with those in need, and in letting kindness be our story.

The campaign will continue through the end of the semester, and donations can be made through a secure, online giving portal at http://communityaffairs.ua.edu/2020-ua-united-way-headquarters/. Those who prefer to give via pledge card should contact Elizabeth Hartley at ehartley@ua.edu. Donations of at least $60 will qualify for a Donor Rewards Card containing offers from 34 West Alabama businesses.

Dr. Raphael Bostic Addresses the Challenge and Opportunities of Rural Communities

October 16th, 2020
in Community Affairs Board of Advisors

Dr. Raphael W. Bostick, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, addressed how the Federal Reserve is responding to the needs of rural communities on Sept. 23 in a presentation titled “Toward a More Perfect Economy: The Challenge and Opportunity of Rural Communities.” This virtual conversation was held in partnership with the Hale County Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, Stillman College and The University of Alabama Division of Community Affairs.

Community representatives joining the conversation included Felecia Lucky, president of the Black Belt Community Foundation; Dr. Josh Pierce, the Robert Hunt Cochrane/Alabama Banker’s Endowed Chair of Banking in the Culverhouse College of Business; and Alex Flachsbart, CEO and founder of Opportunity Alabama.

Bostic’s responsibilities involve maintaining stable prices and monitoring financial risks to support the economy. With the Federal Reserve, Bostic helps regulate monetary policy through the setting of interest rates. The Atlanta Fed serves as a pipeline for financial lending, investments and small business partnerships.

Bostic said the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a significant drop in spending and a rise in unemployment, as well as concerns about eviction, has drastically changed how the Federal Reserve provides resources for local businesses and families. He said the Federal Reserve has responded with assistance to families and small businesses by creating the Main Street Lending Program to support businesses that didn’t qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program.

Rural areas are especially challenged, he said, to find solutions in gaining access to broadband connections, affordable housing and delivery of healthcare. With the increase of virtual meetings to ensure social distancing, access to the Internet is more important than ever for individuals and small businesses to complete daily tasks.

“What we have first and foremost is a public health crisis, and the thing that will determine the trajectory of the economy is the trajectory of the virus and the nature of that crisis,” Bostic said.

Bostic also addressed the importance of providing financial literacy for rural citizens, saying that every American must know where to find information and receive answers to their questions. For specific resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, he recommended this website: https://www.frbatlanta.org/news/covid-19.aspx.

Lucky, president of the Black Belt Community Foundation, said the “challenges in the Black Belt are real when it comes to technology.” Outside of the pandemic, rural communities are also widely affected by differences in technological resources. While some areas are in abundance of information and materials, some families and businesses are challenged with finding access to certain assets. To meet these needs, she said, individuals and organizations throughout Alabama, including the Black Belt, are collaborating to evaluate opportunities in rural communities. Flachsbart reported that Opportunity Alabama, a 501c3 organization, is working on an initiative with the Delta Regional Authority to ensure people of the Black Belt have access to technical assistance to support more local projects.

University of Alabama to Launch 2020 United Way Campaign

October 6th, 2020
in United Way

Tide United: Let kindness be your story.

Each autumn, The University of Alabama conducts its annual UA United Way Campaign in support of the United Way of West Alabama (UWWA). The campaign, like so many things in 2020, will look a little different this year, but the goal — to support UWWA and, by extension, its 26 partner agencies — remains the same.

This year’s host college, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, will utilize the WVUA studio to share the 2020 UA United Way Campaign Kickoff via the College’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UACCIS) on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m.

All are invited to join WVUA news director and anchor Lynn Brooks and director of the Communication Studies speaking studio Dr. Adam Brooks, who are serving as campaign co-chairs, as well as University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell, Dr. Mark Nelson, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, other members of the campaign leadership, and Big Al.

We look forward to connecting with you on Facebook as together we launch another exciting United Way Campaign at The University of Alabama.

Contact: Nicole Prewitt, nbprewitt@ua.edu, 205-348-9819

Community Affairs Partners With Hale County Chamber to Present ‘Toward a More Perfect Economy: The Challenge and Opportunity of Rural Communities‘

September 18th, 2020
in BOA In the News, News

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By Ashley Cunigan and Diane Kennedy-Jackson

The University of Alabama Division of Community Affairs will partner with the Hale County Chamber of Commerce to present Toward a More Perfect Economy: The Challenge and Opportunity of Rural Communities, a conversation with Dr. Raphael W. Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

The event will be presented via Zoom webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from noon–1:00 p.m. CT. Interested individuals are encouraged to register in advance at http://tinyurl.com/HaleCoBostic to receive Zoom login information, as well as to share questions for the panelists. The event will also be available via Facebook Live on the Hale County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/halecountychamber).

Bostic is the 15th president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In this role he is responsible for all of the bank’s activities, including bank supervision and regulation and payment services. He also serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, the monetary policymaking body of the Federal Reserve System. Prior to joining the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Bostic served as the Judith and John Bedrosian Chair in Governance and the Public Enterprise at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. He graduated from Harvard University in 1987 with a combined major in economics and psychology, and earned his doctorate in economics from Stanford University in 1995.

Additional presenters include Alex Flachsbart, founder and CEO of Opportunity Alabama and a University of Alabama (UA) alumnus; Felecia Lucky, president of the Black Belt Community Foundation, who earned the MBA from UA; and Dr. Josh Pierce, chair of banking and finance at UA’s Culverhouse College of Business. Each will speak briefly about their organizations and how they serve Alabamians.

Those who are unable to join during the live presentations will have the opportunity to tune in at a time that is convenient for them via the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s website (https://www.frbatlanta.org) and Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/AtlantaFed).

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which covers Alabama, Florida and Georgia, and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The bank has branches in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville and New Orleans.

Contact: Llevelyn Rhone, Hale County Chamber of Commerce, llevelyn.rhone@gmail.com

Author: admin

Author: admin

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