As part of its comprehensive violence reduction strategy, the City of Birmingham is launching three community-based initiatives designed to empower youth, adults and community leaders in helping to make our communities safer. In a partnership with Miles College and the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action, the City says these programs will provide the tools and support needed to drive lasting change.
- Rise Up Birmingham will engage 50 teens and young adults in leadership and violence prevention roles. Participants will earn $12/hour for their work in this five-week paid program, running from June 30 through August 1.
- Flipping the Game: From Hustle to Enterprise is a dynamic entrepreneurship program designed for adults. Participants will receive hands-on training, mentorship, and $2,000 in startup capital to transform informal hustles into viable, legal businesses. This program also runs June 30–August 1.
- The Community Practitioner in Residence Program offers adult residents and grassroots leaders a unique opportunity to deepen their civic impact through intensive training and field-based learning. The goal is to cultivate a citywide network of community practitioners committed to peace, equity, and transformation.
“These are not just programs — they are pathways to purpose,” said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “We are investing in people who have the power to transform their communities from the inside out. From our youth leaders to our grassroots visionaries, Birmingham is saying loud and clear: your ideas, your hustle, your leadership matters. Together, we are building a city where hope wins and violence loses.”
Each of these initiatives is rooted in education, empowerment and economic opportunity — key pillars in the City’s broader Community Safety Initiative. The programs are hosted at Miles College, a historically Black college and university, HBCU, with a long legacy of civic leadership and social change.
“Miles College has always been more than a college. We are a launchpad for leaders. A home for hope. And a place where transformation begins,” said Dr. Bobbie Knight, president of Miles College. “It is our honor to open our campus to these impactful summer programs. Together with the City and our partners, we are building bridges from potential to purpose — and preparing the next generation of changemakers.”
Co-founded by Dr. Jamila T. Davis and Angelo Pinto, IRSJA brings a long-standing track record of bridging higher education and community leadership. The organization has launched similar programs across the country in partnership with Yale University, Seton Hall, and Kent State University — providing returning citizens, credible messengers, and grassroots leaders with training that turns lived experience into leadership. One of its most notable graduates, Jacobie Williams, CEO of Everybody WENS — represents what’s possible when individuals are given the tools, support and opportunities to lead solutions in their own communities.
“This partnership shows what’s possible when the government, higher education and community come together with one goal — to build from the inside out,” said Dr. Jamila T. Davis, co-founder of IRSJA. “We’re proud to bring this work to Miles College, a Historically Black College that’s always opened doors for people who’ve been systematically locked out. Together, we’re turning pain into purpose, and lived experience into leadership.”
These three initiatives are among several programs under the City’s Community Safety Initiative umbrella. Most recently, the City announced the Birmingham Youth Sports League Initiative, designed to increase access to youth athletics as a strategy for community engagement and violence prevention.
For more information on these programs or to apply, visit: birminghamal.gov/csi.
