catalyst ..:|:.. hip to be civic ..:|:.. birmingham

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2006-03-19T19:30:00.000-06:00

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The Magic Continues - a Future Filled with Promise

2006-03-19T16:20:00.000-06:00

The VULCAN TALKS! Lecture Series is holding a panel discussion, at 6:30pm this coming Tuesday night (3/21). "The Magic Continues - a Future Filled with Promise" panel discussion will feature Gail A. Treschsel, director, Birmingham Museum of Art; Lawrence J. Pijeaux, president and CEO, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Kathy Yarbrough, executive director, Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham; and William Foster, chief operating officer, Birmingham Zoo.

Details, call 933.1409 x26 or visit the Vulcan Park website at www.vulcanpark.org.

Join other Catalyzers after the discussion for drinks at a drinking hole in Southside under the watchful eye of Vulcan himself. If you want to propose a location in advance, comment to this post. Otherwise, we'll decide where to go by majority vote .

Drop Dead Gorgeous

2006-03-09T11:27:00.000-06:00

Wow! Certainly I view the ladies on the Catalyst Steering Committee as women of great capacity. But when I opened this week's Birmingham Weekly's special section titled WOMEN'S ISSUE '06 this morning, my jaw dropped at the photos. I will admit, readily, that virtually all of the photographs in the entire pullout section were very well done, but I was impressed to see how gorgeous these six women were in print. The following photograph of the advertisement doesn't do them justice - go out today and get your copy of the paper while it's still on the newstands!

"The women of the Catalyst steering committee. We love 'em. Come to one of our events to see the guys. Catalyst is a group of socially diverse, progressive minded people who join together in fun and purpose in order to make Birmingham a better place to live. With social events, think tank discussions and public forums. Catalyst stimulates dialogue and motivates solutions between people with ideas and leaders who can make those ideas a reality. As a conduit for progressive change in Birmingham, Catalyst is making it hip to be civic. Check out our blog and join our mailing list at www.catalyst4birmingham.org"

Featured in the photos were:

Cherie Fields - our new Director
Elizabeth Dotts
Kelly Marshall
Alice R. Williams
Elizabeth Sims
Jestina Howard

They represent a great cross-section of our community including working in a variety of professions, they run the gamut from single to married to motherhood, and these ladies are driven leaders in their own right inside or outside of major corporations and non-profits.

I'm honored to work on the Steering Committee with these ladies. And, I'm glad to see them get the recognition they deserve so prominently in the paper!

curtis

Foundation grant enables Catalyst to hire part-time director

2006-02-28T22:21:00.000-06:00

a story as featured today on the Birmingham Business Journal website...

Cherie Fields, a public relations and communications specialist from Birmingham, has been named director of Catalyst, a volunteer-led organization of metro area businesspeople focused on bringing positive change to the area through its own activities as well as by encouraging further civic participation by its members.

Fields' hiring was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Her position with Catalyst will be part time, at least initially. She will work from her home in addition to Catalyst's office at Region 2020's headquarters, 1731 First Ave. North.

"The Community Foundation is proud to be the first foundation to make a grant to Catalyst," says Kate Nielson, president of the foundation. "We are confident this organization will be as great a success as KidOne Transport, Space One Eleven and Childcare Resources -- all organizations that credit us with providing pivotal funding in their early years."

John Stone, chairman of the Catalyst steering committee, says the organization's new director "is eager to become an integral part of our future."

Catalyst has organized social events and a variety of public forums for discussion on issues of particular importance to Birmingham. "As a conduit for progressive change in Birmingham," the group says in its news release on Fields' hiring, "Catalyst is making it hip to be civic."

ALL ABOARD! Next Stop: Railroad Reservation Park

2006-02-01T08:48:00.000-06:00

Come hear the latest about the Railroad Reservation Park. BirminghamCREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) has opened up their February 16th lunch meeting to the public:

Guest Speakers:

Renee Kemp-Rotan, Director of Capital Projects, Mayor's Office - City of Birmingham
Meredith Ray, Corporate Realty, Project: Standard Condo

Topics:

Will the Railroad Reservation Park be to Birmingham what Central Park is to New York?
Hear from Renee Kemp-Rotan from the Mayor's Office about the latest plans and developments for the Railroad Reservation Park district
Meredith Ray with Corporate Realty will share about the Standard Condo project and others in the area around the park and address how this area is becoming a real hot spot

Date/Time:

Thursday, February 16, 2006
11:30am until 1:00pm

Location:

The Event Center at McWane Center, 200 19th Street North, downtown Birmingham

Cost:

$20 for members of BirminghamCREW
$25 for non-members
PRICE INCLUDES LUNCH

RSVP:

Please make your reservations by noon, Monday, February 13, 2005
Call 205.298.1273
Email info@birminghamCREW.org

Parking:

Free parking is provided in the McWane Center parking deck accessible from 2nd Avenue North
Direct access to the Event Center is available from Level C of the parking deck

BirminghamCREW is focused on advancing the success of women in commercial real estate. Thanks to this organization for hosting the discussion and opening their meeting to the public!

Get Civic, Get a New Constitution

2006-01-22T22:14:00.000-06:00

ACCR and other groups in the Constitution Reform Movement have now collected over 62,000 signatures on petitions asking the legislature to allow the citizens to vote on holding a convention to write a new constitution! As you may know, these petitions will be delivered to state legislators at 11:15am on Wednesday, January 25th during the “Let the People Vote” Rally on the steps of the Capitol Building facing Dexter Avenue. Click on the following link and consider signing this online petition.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/4334.html

You are also invited to the following activities for Wednesday, January 25:

The House Constitution and Election Committee Public Hearing on HB109, the Citizens Convention Bill, from 8:00am until 11:00am in the Capitol Auditorium. If you plan to speak at hearing, please email Cary Page (Cpa323@aol.com).
College students from throughout the state will be wearing their school colors and reading sections of the 1901 Constitution aloud from 8:30am until 11:15am. College students may contact Matthew Lewis (lewis132@bama.ua.edu) to be a part of this effort.
After the “Let the People Vote” Rally which will be around Noon, you are invited by Greater Birmingham Ministries to walk a block and a half down Dexter Avenue to the King Memorial Baptist Church. In the downstairs meeting room, you can break bread together eating lunches that you have brought or you can pre-order and buy a lunch that will be waiting for you. If you are interested, please go to the following web page for the details: http://www.gbm.org/al_constitution_reform.htm.
In that same meeting space from 1:15pm until 2:30, there will be a meeting of the Constitution Convention Coalition which connects non-profits throughout Alabama in the common interest of drafting a new constitution through a representative, citizen-led constitutional convention. Please contact Hill Carmichael (Hill@GBM.org) for more information.

As you can see, there is much planned and still more work to do. Working together, we will get a new Alabama Constitution! If you attend the effort in Montgomery, be sure to wear your Catalyst t-shirt!

Boston Globe Takes Note of Catalyst

2006-01-17T16:28:00.000-06:00

Story from THE BOSTON GLOBE, Tuesday January 17, 2006

TAKING OFF
An ugly past fading in

By Irin Carmon, Globe Correspondent January 15, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The past is jumbled on the lot like the yard sale time forgot: rusted iron works, chipped lawn sculpture, old gas pumps, and chrome bath fixtures, sheltered by trees and invaded by creeping vines.

The neglect is essentially an act. Everything at the resto-bar The Garage, collected by owner Fritz Woehle, is for sale. Too crowded to be bucolic, the patch comes alive at night. In the daytime, the lunch crowd shares it with stray cats the staff has nicknamed.

Built on railroads and iron and scarred by racial violence, Birmingham is seeking to rise out of the ashes of its past and draw young people. Already a haven for recent college grads in tech jobs who are drawn by the residential bang for their buck, Birmingham seems to have decided that the best way forward is by building on what came before. For one, the railroad district is being redeveloped as lofts and art spaces.

''That railroad has always divided the town," says Hugh Hunter, who, with his three brothers, founded the city's artspace called WorkPlay. ''Now the goal of the railroad district redevelopment is to bring people together."

The jarringly ugly sepia towers of Sloss Furnaces, on the railroad tracks that birthed the city, host live music and parties. The place draws on its iron-producing past to be a center for metal arts instruction.

Many Birmingham residents are defensive about the city's tarring as a capital of racial hatred.

''We suffer so much from our past," says Jeff Tenner, 36, who owns Soca, a boho-glitter clothing store in the Five Points South neighborhood. But for better or worse, young people may be only dimly aware of that past.

''When people my age thought of Birmingham, we thought of the worst troubles of the civil rights movement," says Alan Hunter, 48, a film and music impresario at WorkPlay. ''While it was the ground zero for dogs and hoses, it was also the ground zero for civil rights successes. But there's a new generation that doesn't have a memory of all that."

The stunning Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is across the street from the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the site of the 1963 bombing that killed four black girls, and it serves as a potent reminder of everything that happened here. But the city's younger generation, says Alan Hunter, is able to get past the city's ''low self-esteem" to forge something creative.

A Birmingham native who became one of the original MTV VJs, Hunter abandoned New York and Los Angeles to try to introduce artistic revitalization to his hometown. He dreams of making it a ''smaller Austin" -- a center for indie entertainment, especially film, partially buttressed by technology dollars. WorkPlay seeks to be the mother lode of that dream; it is the product of the Hunter brothers' pooling resources to convert a warehouse into a music stage, a bar, several studios, and offices for media and entertainment companies.

The brothers say that technology and increased mobility have allowed for the decentralization of arts and entertainment, giving young creative people the opportunity to live wherever they want. ''A creative class isn't necessarily looking for a big city as much as a great living experience," says Hugh Hunter.

The city's urge to attract and keep a younger crowd is palpable. The Chamber of Commerce convened a ''Cool Community Task Force," hiring a consultant who specializes in helping cities become friendlier to the so-called Generation Y. Catalyst for Birmingham has more than 600 members dedicated to the motto ''hip to be civic."

Tim McDermond, 24, and Josh Billue, 26, University of Georgia graduates, looked all over the Southeast before choosing Birmingham. They now own Zydeco, Birmingham's second-oldest music club, which hosts performers of ''the type of music ignored by arenas -- Americana, bluegrass," says Billue. (The city's oldest venue, The Nick Rocks, resembles nothing so much as an abandoned country shack, studded with thousands of staples and broken hubcaps.)

Calling Birmingham ''a big small town," Billue says its youthful contingent is growing. It has also retained some of its old-school quaintness, he adds: ''Unlike a lot of cities, we haven't gone totally corporate yet."

The Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, held annually in September, has helped generate interest in an arts scene. There are plenty of local films, but Alan Hunter, who is active in the festival, says the goal is to ''extend beyond the shoeless poor image of the South."

The restaurant scene here is hailed as the best in Alabama. Driven by the vision of star chef Frank Stitts, most of the forward-thinking restaurants are ''Southern Progressive," or as Todd LaPort, 36, puts it, ''Eighteen-dollar fried chicken with fancy mashed potatoes." LaPort manages Los Angeles, a pan-Latin spot on a Lakeside block of upscale south-of-the-border restaurants. Another standout, Chez Lulu, in semi-suburban Mountain Brook, is an amazingly cozy restaurant-bakery with fresh, high-quality Mediterranean food.

The bars that fill with young people are mostly concentrated in the Lakeside and Five Points South neighborhoods. In the former, Innisfree Pub draws recent University of Alabama graduates who remember frequenting its Tuscaloosa branch near their alma mater.

The nearby Barking Kudu bar is in a converted dry cleaning building decorated with stuffed antelopes and Zimbabwean hippopotamus skeletons from co-owner Crawford Williams's safaris. The bar is named after an African antelope: Male kudus bark at night in search of mates. The nocturnal sounds at this bar are usually of the musical sort, though mate-seeking isn't off limits.

Contact Irin Carmon, who writes about student travel for the Globe, at irin@irincarmon.com.

CATALYST "Top 10" List for 2005

2006-01-04T08:50:00.000-06:00

Whew. What a year 2005 has been. To keep with the "Best of" spirit found in every form of media from TV, print, Web and beyond, Catalyst offers OUR "Best Of 2005" list, in no particular order:

Mixing Pleasures - Catalyst hosted a mixer a month, increasing networking opportunities and introducing fellow Catalyzers to each other. Each mixer had a different focus and allowed each attendee to gain a new understanding of the topic at hand.
Lofty Living - Catalyst partnered with The Birmingham View and hosted a "Downtown Revival" to show Catalyzers what loft living can mean to YOU. The event was a tremendous success and introduced our members to the downtown living area in a unique setting.
All Grown Up - In 2005, the main goal of Catalyst was to be seen as the viable entity that we are. A major component of this was to gain the respect and recognition of Region 2020. With our vision in mind, Region 2020 adopted our mantra and helped catapult Catalyst to the next level by allowing us to seek non-profit status, accept tax-deductible donations, establish office space and gain the much needed credibility among the city's premiere leaders.
Red Mountain Bank Recognition - The incredible start of one of Birmingham's newest and most hip banks helped Catalyst get its feet on the ground in 2005. Thanks to a generous corporate donation from Red Mountain Bank, Catalyst has been able to produce a second edition of the Catalytic Drive CD (scheduled to debut in early 2006). Look out for an early '06 party to thank Red Mountain Bank and be sure to check them out on the website at www.redmountainbank.com.
Catalyst Corner - With the tremendous support of Birmingham Weekly, Catalyst was able to spread our message to the masses through a semi-regular "Catalyst Corner" column, outlining important issues (along with ways to get involved) for our membership. Look for a more regular listing of these columns in '06. Thanks to Birmingham Weekly, Catalyst can reach more and more of the community with the message of our membership and prove it really is "hip to be civic."
Swarming Sensation - With the Catalyst blog, our community was made aware of various opportunities to really get their hands dirty, dig in and make Birmingham a better place to live, work and play. Catalyzers swarmed events ranging from the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, Ensley Clean Up, brown bag "lunch and learn" discussions, City Council meetings, Chamber meetings, etc. Bookmark our blog NOW so you, too, can be aware of the opportunities throughout our community.
Do you have your "members only" jacket? - Catalyst finally unveiled a true membership structure for those Catalyzers wishing to make a difference and support the notion "hip to be civic." Read all about the membership details here. 2006 will be chock full of members only advantages, so join today!
Calling all Candidates - Prior to the City Council elections, Catalyst, in partnership with Region 2020 and Leadership Birmingham, hosted a Candidates Forum to provide an opportunity for the candidates to voice their opinions and plans on issues near and dear to the hearts of Catalyst members. The event was recorded and made available as a podcast. Look for our Gubernatorial and County Commission forums in 2006!
"Live First, Work Second" - Our partnership with the Chamber in supporting and promoting Rebecca Ryan's study of our community led to a packed house at Workplay mid-year. More than 175 Catalyst members turned out to learn about what truly makes a "cool community." Even more folks turned out for her release of her findings at the Chamber's annual meeting, where Catalyst was named many times and referred to as "THE premiere organization with which to be involved" in Birmingham.
Strategy is the Key - Behind the scenes, the Catalyst Steering Committee held a series of brainstorming and planning sessions to outline a complete and massive plan for 2006. Realizing what is important to our membership (because of our annual survey results), we devised a strategic plan for 2006 that will allow us to focus on the concerns and make our membership aware, educated and involved in the issues that will help make Birmingham a better place to live, work and play.

2006 is sure to be an incredible year - with your help. Please be sure to show your support by joining Catalyst today! Questions? Please email us at info@catalyst4birmingham.org.

Mo Fun in the New Year

2006-01-03T22:13:00.000-06:00

"I am a kamikaze gadfly." - Mo Rocca

It's time to start thinking about your social plans for after the Holidays. Catalyst has arranged something special just for its members.

The Alys Stephens Center and Catalyst present America's funniest news reporter MO ROCCA on Saturday, January 21 @ 8pm. And of course, since Mo is the hippest and Catalyst members are pretty darned hip as well, all Catalyst members get a special deal! All you have to do is call the ASC Box Office (975-ARTS) and mention the code word: MO'FUN (don't tell anyone else the secret). For $25 you will get a ticket to the show and a ticket to the After Party that features great food, cash bar, and fun people who also like Mo' Fun.

And, rumor has it that Mo loves a good party, so he's likely to stop by. The offer is limited to the first 250 people, so call right now and don't wait until January! Who is this Mo we're talking about? Keep reading...

For pundit-weary viewers, seeing Mo Rocca disturb the usual partisan debate of the last election with insights into presidential history and pets is a welcome relief. Rocca, former reporter for Comedy Central's The Daily Show and contributor to NBC's Today is known for his wacky, tongue-in-cheek news commentary. He can also be seen on VH1's Best Week Ever and is the author of All the Presidents' Pets, a satirical look at the secrets of White House pets. And, for NPR-lovers, he can be heard on Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. Need more info? Visit www.allthepresidentspets.com.

Give them BIRMINGHAM for the New Year!

2006-01-03T22:10:00.000-06:00

Birmingham Magazine is offering a sweet deal for all Catalyzers this New Year. Renew your subscription to the magazine - or order a brand new one as a gift or for yourself - NOW and you will receive Birmingham magazine at a discounted rate of only $15. Best part is - $7.50 of EACH subscription you purchase goes to CATALYST!

Email Joe O'Donnell at jodonnell@bhammag.com and put "Catalyst" in the subject line with your order and he will make it happen.

Regift Your Old Computers on December 28th @ Vulcan Park

2005-12-24T10:27:00.000-06:00

Why keep an old computer laying around if a new one is received for Christmas? On Wednesday, December 28 from noon – 6 pm, the public is encouraged to drop off any used computers, laptops, cell phones and a number of other accepted items to Vulcan Park to be “ecycled.” Volunteers will be on site to assist in the unloading of donated equipment and provide each consumer with a tax receipt. Co-sponsored by TechBirmingham and Vulcan Park Foundation (VPF), this “ecycling” drive is to encourage local residents to recycle their used electronic equipment for the benefit of local non-profits within the greater Birmingham community.

Accepted items include: Desktop computers, Laptop computers, Computer monitors, Keyboards and input devices, Printers, Scanners, Digital cameras, PDAs and handheld devices, Game systems, Printer cartridges (laser and inkjet), and Cell phones.

While most of the items received will be recycled and demanufactured, many will be refurbished. All usable desktop computers will be refurbished and redistributed to select community-based computer learning centers whose programs would benefit from an additional supply of computers. All laptops will be considered for use by Vulcan Park Foundation for educational use in conjunction with Vulcan Park’s wireless Internet service. Such laptops, along with the park’s wireless Internet capability, will allow VPF the opportunity to integrate Internet use in existing children’s workshops, create new educational opportunities designed specifically for learning about “WiFi,” and offer the community access to a valuable resource.

For more information about ecycling, see www.EcyclingDay.org.

Live blogging "Live First, Work Second"

2005-12-15T13:13:00.000-06:00

Sitting in the audience, using a free WiFi connection at the Sheraton.

Click here for the "Birmingham Handprint Summary" in PDF format.

Rebecca Ryan speaks to the Chamber's Annual Meeting

Catalyst Leadership with Rebecca Ryan

Click here for more pictures from the event

Here are some running items from today's presentation "Live First, Work Second" at the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting:

When asked how the audience broke out by a show of hands...

10% -- Life-long Birminghamians
20% -- Boomerangs
70% -- Transplants
Only 50% of the study set was in the transplant category

Young professionals in Rebecca Ryan's study in Birmingham asked for things like...

Politicians who work together
An invitation to the "big kids table" (boards of directors, politics, etc.)
Catalyst -- Rebecca told the crowd about the funding for Catalyst from the Community Foundation of Birmingham and noted that only the YP organizations that have full-time funding grow to the largest of numbers in active members
Permission to build on Birmingham's painful past.. she described the concept of "two Birminghams": the city that suffered the scars of the 1950's and 1960's; and, the city for the generation whose past is written in history books only... the idea she proferred was "Birmingham's past should be the floor on which the city is built, not the ceiling through which no one can pass."

In exchange the region's young professionals will offer...

Exciting ideas... well, maybe not "exciting" to others, but innovative nonetheless
Boundless enthusiasm (like that found in the Catalyst effort)
Viral marketing... they'll tell their friends about how great Birmingham really is

Don't waste another year!

"The wasted years that come from lack of sensitivity ot industry trends, and the propensity to deny uncomfortable truths, so often imperil a community's infrastructure that by the time the need to change is inescapable, the cash, people and intellectual energy needed to regenerate to community's core strategies have been largely dissipitated."

My only complaint about her presentation was that she (perhaps unwittingly) lumped several progressive "older" folks in the audience into an anti-YP mindset. It is absolutely required that Birmingham's young professionals find allies in the older workforce who will help open the doors for this shift. It can't be done solely by one generation.

Two prior blog entries about this subject can be found at Attracting Young, Creative Professionals to Birmingham and Rebecca Ryan visit to Birmingham.

Giving Makes Change

2005-12-13T14:16:00.000-06:00

This film isn't at a festival, but it is one that might warm your heart at this holiday season. Alabama Giving and Alabama Public Television have teamed up to create "Giving Makes Change," a 30-minute program that airs Thursday, December 15, at 9 p.m. (repeated on Sunday, January 8 at 3:30 p.m.)

You can hear Birmingham's Willie Grant, a sharecropper's son now a retired engineer, talk about how he provides scholarships for science students. Or learn from Cristy Moody about what a group of young adults do -- together -- to support the needs of Walker County through their time, talent and treasure. Alabama Giving is a statewide initiative supported by foundations and by a grant from New Ventures in Philanthropy.

As Kathryn Tucker Windham says so eloquently in the program, "being able to do something for somebody else is the greatest gift we have." Watch "Giving Makes Change," and inspire yourself and your family this season.

ACTION ALERT Railroad Park Agreement

2005-12-09T11:19:00.000-06:00

It is now time for each of us, and all supporters of the Railroad Reservation Park project, to reach out to the Mayor and the City Council, in an effort to get the Railroad Park Agreement signed. The telephone number of the Mayor's office is 254-2277. The number for the Council is 254-2294. When you call the office of the City Council, you can leave a message with the receptionist that will reach all Councilors. It is important that the City's elected leaders know that we are committed to getting the park built, and that the time is now to execute the Railroad Park Agreement.

Here's the message to convey to the Mayor and Council members:

"The Railroad Park is a major project in the City of Birmingham, and it is now time to move forward with the project through the signing of the Railroad Park Agreement."

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Railroad Park office at 205.226.5217.

In the coming weeks we will post notice once this item gets on the Council's agenda for a regular Tuesday morning City Council Meeting. We'd like the Catalyst faithful to "swarm" the meeting, so keep an eye on this blog and your email inbox!

Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters

2005-12-06T15:28:00.000-06:00

Looking for a way to make a difference right here right now? Come to
the Big Party!

It's a chance to meet new people and have fun. It's also a chance to
find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham.
Make a difference in the lives of children across the area. Many
kinds of opportunities are available through the program to fit with
your schedule and availability.

We'll have hors d'oeuvres, music, cash bar and door prizes.

Come by Zydeco from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Zydeco is located at
2001 15th Ave. S.

For more information, email Wade Kwon at wadekwon@earthlink.net.
Or call the Big Brothers Big Sisters office at 942-8007.

What makes us the Magic City?

2005-11-07T08:15:00.000-06:00

Recently, some of our region's leadership proposed building on the moniker "Magic City" for the Birmingham region. A few articles have been written about it... please take the time to read them to understand the context of the discussion:

A brand new branding strategy - November 5
Officials seek image makeover for city - November 3
Don't like city's image? Change it - November 2

We'd like to know what the Catalyst faithful feel about it. Please fill out the short survey and enter your comments.

Clean Up Ensley!

2005-11-04T14:40:00.000-06:00

Main Street Birmingham (MSB) and the City of Birmingham are organizing a clean up effort in the Ensley Commercial District on Saturday, November 5 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 am.

Come and help area merchants prepare for the upcoming holiday season by making the district a more inviting place to visit and shop.

Meet at the municipal parking lot located at the corner of 20th Street Ensley and Avenue D.

Keep Birmingham Beautiful will provide bags and other necessary supplies.

If you are interested in participating in this effort please contact André Natta, MSB Main Street Coordinator, at (205) 595.0562 or via e-mail at anatta@mainstreetbham.org or we'll see you on Saturday!

Some supplies will be made available to volunteers. We recommend bringing additional rakes and brooms as well as garden or work gloves.

Murderball -- see Quad Rugby live in Birmingham!

2005-11-04T08:18:00.000-06:00

You've heard about the award-winning documentary Murderball, now come see wheelchair rugby live and in person!

Forty of the nation’s top rugby players will be vying for spots on the 2006 National Wheelchair Rugby Team on the road to regain gold.

Open training sessions will be held at the following times:

Friday, November 4th
6:00-9:00pm

Saturday November 5th
1:00-5:00pm and 7:00-10:00pm

Sunday November 6th
1:30pm Team Selection Announcement / Press Conference

All training sessions are free and open to the public and will be held at Lakeshore Foundation's U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, located at 4000 Ridgeway Dr., Birmingham, AL 35209.

For directions please visit their website at www.lakeshore.org or call 205.313.7400.

Podcast of Birmingham City Council Runoff Forum available

2005-10-27T09:20:00.000-05:00

Want to relive the Candidate Forum? Didn't make it and want to hear what the candidates did or didn't say? Well, one of our Catalyst faithful, Daniel Walters, made a podcast recording of the event. It was so much information that it took two files to make it happen. Click on each of the files below (one at a time obviously) to listen:

Catalyst Cadidate Forum Podcast - Part 1 of 1 (39.5Mb)
Catalyst Cadidate Forum Podcast - Part 2 of 2 (27.2Mb)

We'll soon add an RSS feed and begin posting the files on iTunes, Podcast Pickle, Podcast Alley, etc.

TONIGHT: Birmingham Future Forum Event Explores City's Development, Potential

2005-10-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

U.S. Representative Artur Davis, Birmingham civic organization Catalyst, and the African American Business Council will host a community forum discussing the future development of the city of Birmingham tonight from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Birmingham YWCA, 309 23rd Street, North.

Scheduled panelists for the "Future Forum" include:

State Representative Linda Coleman
Bob Dickerson, executive director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center
Ed Fields, vice president of business services for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
Jeremy Erdreich, president of Erdreich Architecture
Elaine Witt, former editor and columnist with the Birmingham Post-Herald
Special invited guests include Mayor Bernard Kincaid as well as runoff candidates in the city's council elections

This Future Forum comes at a critical time for the City of Birmingham just one week before critical runoff elections for the Birmingham City Council. This event will focus on where we are in our current development as a city and how we should work together as a community to achieve the success realized in other midsized southeastern including Jacksonville, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina.

"This is a chance for us to examine where we are as a community and candidly discuss what we can do to reach our fullest potential," Davis said. "I am pleased that Catalyst and the African American Business Council will be participating in this event, and I look forward to a rewarding discussion about the future of this great city."

The council candidates will have a chance to hear from their future constituents about their expectations for the city during the question and answer segment, and Mayor Kincaid will offer remarks on his vision to close out the session.

Emerging Arts Leaders Creative Conversation

2005-10-22T15:03:00.000-05:00

The Alys Stephens Center and Americans for the Arts invites you to attend Emerging Arts Leaders Creative Conversation.

Tuesday, October 25

Alys Stephens Center

1200 Tenth Avenue South

Creative Conversations bring together emerging leaders in the Arts & Entertainment fields to discuss issues specific to our community. The CC will begin with a talk back from two of Birmingham's arts leaders, Erik Jambor, Executive Director of Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, and Keith Cromwell, Executive Director of Summerfest Musical Theatre. The conversation will then open to group discussion.

It's free and open to the public, so feel free to pass this invite along to colleagues.

City Center Master Plan... review meeting tonight!

2005-10-19T14:19:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the last minute notice, but this just crossed our desks. TONIGHT from 7pm to 9pm, the City of Birmingham will conduct a public meeting to review the major elements of the City Center Master Plan, focusing on the proposed land-use revision. This is an important opportunity for the public to review and comment on the land-use proposals, which will go before neighborhood associations, Planning Commission and City Council.

The presentation will take place at the Center for Regional Planning and Design, 1731 First Avenue North and will include a PowerPoint presentation followed by ample time for comments and questions. If you can spare the time, please attend this event to see how the effort is sticking to the plan in which Catalyst members first heard about last October.

Click HERE to view a PDF file containing the original ULI report from 2002. We're still looking for an online version of what UDA (the current design team) is currently recommending.

Article about Catalyst Forum last night

2005-10-19T08:31:00.000-05:00

Candidates focus on crime, economic development

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
JOSEPH D. BRYANT
News staff writer

Nine of 12 candidates in the Nov. 1 Birmingham City Council runoff made their case for election Tuesday in a forum at WorkPlay Theater. The candidates talked about urban revitalization during the event sponsored by Catalyst, a civic action and social group.

"The future means a comprehensive plan, listening to you, not telling you what is going to be done," said District 5 Councilman Elias Hendricks, who faces former Councilman William Bell in the runoff. "Together we can move forward and together we are moving forward."

Bell said many of the issues important to the Catalyst members had initially been addressed during his terms at City Hall. "For over 23 years, I have been a catalyst in the Birmingham area," Bell said. "My shared vision gave us the McWane Center; the current councilor's vision gave you the Furnace strip club. We're better than that and the council needs to be better than that."

The two men also responded differently to a question comparing Birmingham to other cities, including Nashville, Charlotte and Jacksonville, that have forms of metropolitan government. "We've spent so much time comparing ourselves to other cities that we've got to figure out what Birmingham is," Bell said. Bell said he's visited several Southern cities, but Birmingham must form its own plan tailored to its own needs.

Hendricks said there are lessons to be learned from other areas, particularly when it comes to regional transportation cooperation. "It's not us against Hoover, it's us against Atlanta, and we've got to start coming together to solve some of these issues."

Council incumbents and challengers said they have worked to improve the city culturally and economically. "I have been about the business of making sure you don't have to live outside Birmingham to live in a better neighborhood," said District 9 incumbent Roderick Royal, who faces former Councilman Leroy Bandy in a runoff. "I'm leading a team that's cleaning up our neighborhoods."

Bandy did not attend. District 4 challengers Hezekiah Jackson IV and Maxine Parker also were absent.

Range of topics:

Moderator Odessa Woolfolk asked questions covering parks and recreation, arts and culture, regional cooperation and economic development.

As chairman of the council's public safety committee, District 1 incumbent Joel Montgomery said he helped law enforcement get the tools needed to fight crime, including new equipment and limited use of assault weapons. However, he said the issue of crime prevention isn't something any councilor can solve. Attitudes must change and economic and educational opportunities must be expanded, Montgomery said.

Challenger Lashunda Scales agreed with Montgomery's crime assessment. But she questioned development in her district under the current administration and Montgomery's ability to relate to other city leaders. "Do your homework," she told the crowd. "We need to have someone in government who knows how to get along with their other colleagues. You deserve better, we're going to give you better." Montgomery countered, inviting anyone to City Hall to examine the record and see the millions in public improvements he's directed toward District 1.

Business and blight:

District 2 contenders, incumbent Carol Reynolds and Frank Matthews, said they were the best leaders to revitalize a district with both established and blighted properties. "This is a business and we need to conduct this city as a business as much as possible," Reynolds said, listing the new businesses in the district. Matthews called for tougher state laws to give the city more authority in demolishing abandoned properties. In addition, he said residents are disgusted with local government as evidenced by less than 25 percent turnout in the general election. "We have a city that's sick. I'm Frank Matthews. I'm a builder of a greater Birmingham." District 8 contender Gerri Robinson cited her 25 years of experience in various city administrative posts. Challenger Steven Hoyt touted his experience in economic recruitment.

The forum was taped and [will be] available as a podcast at www.catalyst4birmingham.org.

On Your Mark, Get Set...RUNOFF!

2005-10-12T17:23:00.000-05:00

Catalyst announces an open candidate’s forum for all the Birmingham City Council runoff candidates on October 18 at 6 pm at Workplay (500 23^rd Street South).

The Forum will feature opening and closing statements from the candidates coupled with a question and answer format addressing Catalyst issues including arts and cultural growth, regional and city center growth, parks/greenway development and mass transit/public transportation. The Forum will be moderated by Birmingham’s Urban Affairs Consultant Odessa Woolfolk. The timekeeper will be Birmingham View Editor-In-Chief Vickii Howell.

“Having an open discussion coupled with questions from the community is a key way to help increase the voter turn out that was missing on Voting Day this year,” John Stone, Catalyst Steering Committee chairman said. “Catalyst wants to make sure that our membership has the opportunity to openly discuss the issues that are important to them – as well as to provide an opportunity for any interested person to have their key concerns addressed as well.”

The open Forum will kick off at 6 pm in the Workplay Theatre. All candidates involved in City Council runoff elections (joined by those candidates who win their seats outright in the general election on October 11th) have been invited to share their thoughts on key Catalyst issues as well as issues of the community at large.

Catalyst’s mission is to motivate a diverse membership to become educated about issues, find solutions, and work to implement those solutions. Catalyst helps make it hip to be civic by swarming important events, alerting its membership to opportunities in the community and educating the public on various ways to get involved and their voices heard.

VIEW THE EVITE HERE

Catalyst Election Night Shebang!

2005-10-04T15:18:00.000-05:00

Join your fellow Catalyzers on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11 at 5:30 pm at WorkPlay (500 23rd Street South) for the results of the Birmingham City Council election. Several of the candidates and run off hopefuls will be in attendance as we view the results of the important election of our officials that will lead us into the future. Mix, mingle and be merry!

Food and drink specials will be available as well as a DJ for those that need to feel the music.

And stay for the 8:00 Sidewalk Cinematheque viewing of STREET FIGHT, a film New York Times calls “engrossing”. There's a saying that democracy is a contact sport, and STREET FIGHT gives you a ringside seat. Even if you know the outcome from national reports, or lived in Newark at the time, this insider's chronicle of the 2002 race for mayor in Newark, New Jersey is riveting, delivering a dramatic account of youthful energy and ideals running headlong into old-guard machine politics and racial demagoguery. STREET FIGHT covers the turbulent campaign of Cory Booker, a 32-year old Rhodes Scholar/Yale Law graduate running for mayor of Newark, N.J. against Sharpe James, the four-term incumbent twice his age. Fresh from winning awards at the SilverDocs, HotDocs and Tribeca film festivals, STREET FIGHT is this year's political thriller.

Catalyst
Hip to Be Civic

Under the Vulcan Cheeks

2005-10-04T15:14:00.000-05:00

Everyone mark your calendars now for Sunday, October 23 for "Vulcan AfterTunes", a concert series at our beloved Vulcan Park. Red Mountain Bank is sponsoring the up and coming singer/songwriter Shannon McNalley (http://www.shannonmcnally.com) as she serenades Birmingham beneath the Vulcan cheeks.

Shows begin at 2 pm. Gates open 1 pm. All shows RAIN OR SHINE.
Admission $6 (Vulcan Park Foundation members FREE). Cash Bar.
Lawn chairs and blankets strongly encouraged. And the park is entirely wireless! Bring your laptop!

Catalyst
"Hip to be Civic"

B&A Warehouse Open House ~ October 4

2005-10-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

You Are Invited to an Open House To Celebrate B&A's 6th Anniversary Tuesday, October 4, 2005

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Cocktails, Entertainment, & Hors d’oeuvres

1531 First Avenue South

Catalyst Cares

2005-09-29T09:16:00.000-05:00

When financial contributions are not always possible, what can you do? When you don't know which relief agency needs your help the most? When you don't know what how your skills can be used...

www.HandsOnBirmingham.org

Did you miss the large-scale urban game on Saturday?

2005-09-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

In the midst of the Sidewalk festival, 27 people played in Birmingham's first large-scale urban game. If you asked any of them they'd tell you that it was a great time and they want to play it again soon. Be sure to check out the details on the TechWalk blog about the game. Maybe next time Catalyst can field a team!

CTS Geek Week Warriors score an intersection with a photo of "Yellow, deny, frail"

Auburn Architecture students win the "MOST OUTRAGIOUS" award for this challenge photo: sanctuary, forgive, horrible

A successful challenge photo taken with the T-Mobile Sidekick: Parisian, dislike, many -- UAB GameDev gives their fearless leader the finger

A picture of this scene being staged by the Oompaloompas appeared in the Birmingham News on the Sunday after the event

Each instersection on the game grid had a unique code to prove that the team was at a particular location

3 Teams got together afterwards and staged "Crazy, Pyramid, Flee" at the request of a media photographer from UAB

Reminder! Catalyst event on Wednesday night

2005-09-20T12:05:00.000-05:00

Remember to join your fellow Catalyst members for fun and frivolity and FILM on Wednesday, September 21 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm at First and 23

Summer-ending Sidewalk Slammer!

2005-09-15T09:35:00.000-05:00

Catalyst on the Sidewalk!

Join your fellow Catalyst members for fun and frivolity and FILM on Wednesday, September 21 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm at First and 23^rd (The U). Not only will you be able to mix and mingle and catch up to Catalyst, but you will also get a glimpse of some of the films that will be shown at the 7^th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival (September 23 – 25). First and 23^rd (the U) is located on the corner of 1^st Avenue North and 23^rd Street North.

The festival features more than 150 films – comedy, drama, adventure, documentaries, animations, short films, student films, OH MY! – all in walking distance in downtown Birmingham. Check out the site and all the films here: www.sidewalkfest.com and kick off the weekend of fun with Catalyst at the U.

Their will be appetizers and drink specials, including anything from the Classic Menu of martinis and mixed drinks for only $5. See the menu online at www.firstand23rd.com.

Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, September 21 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm, but expect a reminder email as well. You know we love our email.

Catalyst

“Hip to be Civic”

***The Sidewalk program, including entire line up and screening times, is now available in this week's Birmingham Weekly. ***

Birmingham's Sidewalks Become Digital Playground

2005-09-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

London, New York, San Francisco, and now Birmingham. On Sep. 24, the historic sidewalks of Birmingham's theatre district will be transformed into a large-scale urban game like those previously staged in several other cities worldwide. The 7th Annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival has partnered with TechBirmingham for the TechWalk event, a location-based game blending a wireless Internet network, other technology systems, and performance art. Teams will traverse the urban grid of downtown Birmingham, improvising scenes suggested by an online random phrase generator. Digital images of the staged scenes will be uploaded to a server to win street intersections in a game modeled after the popular board game Othello.

Catalyst members are invited to field TEAMS of 4-6 persons to compete in TechWalk on Saturday, September 24th, during the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. Of course, you are first encouraged to attend the film festival screenings... but if you're looking to be part of something totally different, check it out.

Volunteers are also needed to help stage the games, so please email techbirmingham if you are interested in helping plan and run the games. The most pressing need if for eyes/ears out on the game board as "marshalls" during the game.

Full details about the event can be found at http://www.techwalk.org/. Sign up now on the website.

How to Run for Public Office and Why!

2005-08-28T20:06:00.000-05:00

Speakers Corner Birmingham presents a forum discussion on "How to Run for Public Office & Why!" on Tuesday, August 30th from 6:30-8:30pm at Highland Coffee Company, 2255 Highland Ave. South -- featuring:

Congressman Artur Davis
Rep. Paul DeMarco
City Council President Lee Loder
Jefferson County Commissioner Shelia Smoot
and others

The Forum Mission Statement as provided by Speakers Corner Birmingham:

Our goal is to promote activism and heightened political awareness among the public at large with an emphasis on energizing and empowering the youth. We endeavor to accomplish this through open discussion in a respectful atmosphere of diverse political viewpoints. All opinions are to be accepted and valued. Only in a forum of open and respectful discussion can understanding and change emerge. The cure for apathy is involvement, stand up and let your voice be heard!

This discussion is not affiliated with any party or specific political ideology. This group has been put together and is being run by recent graduates and students. This is intended to be an open discussion group which will address a variety of political and social topics. We ask that you put forth topics that you would like to see addressed by our group. We ask that you involve yourself in the discussion if you wish, all voices need to be heard including yours!

For more information please email the folks at Speakers Corner Birmingham at speakerscornerbhm@yahoo.com.

Live Murderball Action in Birmingham this Weekend!

2005-08-26T15:20:00.000-05:00

SEE QUAD RUGBY LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM!

You've heard about the award-winning documentary Murderball, now come see wheelchair rugby live and in person!

The 2005 US Wheelchair Rugby team will be in Birmingham for its last training camp in preparation for the upcoming World Wheelchair Games!

Open training sessions will be held at the following times:

All training sessions will be held at Lakeshore Foundation's U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, located at 4000 Ridgeway Dr., Birmingham, AL 35209. For directions please visit http://www.lakeshore.org/index.php?cid=6785&forward=1 or call (205) 313-7400.

Tonight! -- Lofty Ideas Complete With Mingling Pleasures

2005-08-25T15:11:00.000-05:00

Remember to join Catalyst on Thursday, August 25 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm at Adams and Reese LLP (located in the Concord Center at 2100 Third Avenue North, Suite 1100) as we partner with The Birmingham View magazine to bring you a “Downtown Revival!”

Check out what loft living can mean to you as well as network and mix and mingle with fellow Catalyzers. This location provides the perfect vista from which to see the downtown buildings that are being converted into upscale condo units for sale. Birmingham View’s forthcoming summer issue focuses on these developments and their impact on the entire city.

The catered event will also feature special martinis for your drinking pleasure. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Fill out your Catalyst survey

2005-08-22T09:42:00.000-05:00

Hey Catalyzers... the survey was sent out this morning (8/22) a bit after 8am to around 850 of you all. Be sure to look for the email titled August 2005 Catalyst Survey. Please answer the 10 short survey questions (all one page) and two fun questions (on page 2). If you aren't on the e-newsletter mailing list you won't have received this blast, so be sure to sign up today!

BTW, in the first 90 minutes since the survey went out, ninety-four people have already responded. We'll announce the results in a "Catalyst Corner" article in an upcoming issue of the Birmingham Weekly.

Red Mountain Bank supports Catalyst

2005-08-17T08:53:00.000-05:00

Catalyst welcome Red Mountain Bank as its newest financial supporter. Look for the 2nd edition of the Catalytic Drive CD, sponsored by Red Mountain Bank, later this fall.

More details about the original effort from September 2004 can be found HERE.

TONIGHT! - Town hall Meeting with Congressman Davis @ Birmingham City Hall

2005-08-16T10:36:00.000-05:00

Join U.S. Representative Artur Davis for his annual Jefferson County Town Hall Meeting assembled especially for you, the constituents of Jefferson County. This meeting has been arranged to hear your views and suggestions relating to Jefferson County, the State of Alabama and our nation. Congressman Davis is looking forward to seeing each of you there!

Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Birmingham City Hall // Birmingham City Council Chambers
710 20th Street North // 3rd Floor
Birmingham, Alabama 35203

For more information contact 205-254-1960

Lofty Ideas Complete With Mingling Pleasures

2005-08-10T09:05:00.000-05:00

Everyone has heard about the amazing leaps and bounds our downtown loft district is making. Join us on Thursday, August 25 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm at Adams and Reese LLP (located in the Concord Center at 2100 Third Avenue North, Suite 1100) as we partner with The Birmingham View magazine to bring you a “Downtown Revival!”

Check out what loft living can mean to you as well as network and mix and mingle with fellow Catalyzers. This location provides the perfect vista from which to see the downtown buildings that will soon be converted into upscale condo units for sale in the next few years. Birmingham View’s forthcoming summer issue focuses on these developments and their impact on the entire city.

The catered event will also feature special martinis for your drinking pleasure. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. Mark your calendars now, but expect a reminder email as well. You know we love our email.

Survey Says!

2005-08-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

Remember when we were just a wee group of a few hundred and we conducted a survey of our membership to determine our focus for the year? Well, we have grown and are almost approaching 900 Catalyzers strong and it is survey time once again! Expect a very brief survey to come your way soon. Please take a moment to answer the questions so that we can better serve you – our Catalyst faithful.

Since our last survey, we:

created an audio CD tour of Birmingham
helped with the promotion of the arts and culture scene
swarmed a fundraiser for the 16th Street Baptist Church revitalization project
hosted a kick off party for the Alabama Food Festival
are in the process of developing a Candidates Forum this fall

You can help us determine where to go from here!

Sidewalk Sneak!

2005-08-08T11:47:00.000-05:00

Catch a sneak peak at what the 7th Annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival will have in store this year!

The Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, recognized as one of the “Top Ten Film Festival Vacations” by Chris Gore’s Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, announces the 3rd annual Sidewalk Sneak, a sneak peak preview of short films on Friday, August 26 at 7 pm at the Alys Stephens Center located at 1200 Tenth Avenue South.

Presented in collaboration with the Alys Stephens Center, the Sidewalk Sneak will feature a collection of short films that will screen at the 7th annual film festival, set for September 23-25 in downtown Birmingham’s historic theatre district.

Tickets for the Sneak are $10 for general admission and $7 for students and Sidewalk members, and can be purchased from the Alys Stephens Center Box Office by calling 975-ARTS. The entire lineup of the 2005 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, including Opening Night and special celebrity appearances, will be announced on August 25.

The sneak preview of short films will include:

THE ACT (9 min / drama)
Pi Ware, director
Rosy Marconi is a stand-up comedian with a secret. Starring Debra Jo Rupp (“That 70’s Show”).
BROADCAST 23 (7 min / comedy, horror)
Tom Putnam, director
Russell Morgan thinks he’s on to the scientific break-through of the century. He couldn’t be more right... or more wrong. “May God have mercy on our souls; Broadcast 23 wasn’t a greeting at all...”
ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET (13 min / drama / Spanish)
Lorenzo Vigas Castes, director
An amiable fish peddler chats up two teenagers in a truck as if they were strangers. But they know him only too well…
JOYRIDE (5 min / animation)
John Cernak, director
What “THE MAN” wants, “THE MAN” gets . . . and if you don’t pay attention it will all go by in the blink of a sound bite!
QUEST FOR THE ORB (5 min - animation)
Sam McDavid, director
Winner of the “Best in Show” and “Audience Choice” awards at the July 2005 Sidewalk Scramble — Sidewalk’s weekend filmmaking competition. Dude, it’s the quest for the orb!
SPAM KU (5 min / comedy)
Steven Tsuchida, director
A young man wins a haiku contest about spam. From the creator of Sidewalk award-winner, A NINJA PAYS HALF MY RENT.

The 2005 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival is set for September 23-25 in downtown Birmingham’s historic Theatre District. Opening Night tickets ($10 in advance / $13 at the door) and Weekend Passes ($25 / $20 for Sidewalk Members and Students with valid ID) are available through Opening Night, Sept. 23, at the Alys Stephens Center Box Office at 1200 Tenth Avenue South or charge-by-phone by calling 975-ARTS or 1-877-ART-TIKS. Single Film Tickets will be available for $7 each (or three for $15) during the festival weekend. Additional information is available online at the festival website at www.sidewalkfest.com.

Emissions Test Your Vehicle & You Could Win a Car!

2005-08-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

FREE EMISSIONS TESTING, AUGUST 12, UAB CAMPUS, 10 AM UNTIL 2 PM
Turning the tables on the traditional tailpipe pollution clouding parking lots, voluntary auto emissions testing will be offered August 12th on UAB’s Campus just across the street from the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts.

The free and quick procedure will be available from 10 AM until 2 PM in Parking Lot 15D (SW corner of the intersection of 13th Street and 10th Avenue South) and is open to the general public. Participants will also have the opportunity to enter their name in a contest to possibly win a 2005 Toyota Prius.

Automobiles, trucks, SUVs and other motor vehicles are significant contributors to the air quality problem facing Jefferson and Shelby Counties. The region has been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a nonattainment area for a pair of air pollutants – ground level ozone and particulate matter – which prevents certain kinds of industries from locating in either county. More importantly, research has suggested that prolonged exposure to both ozone and particulate matter, or PM, can lead to serious health impacts, including reduced lung function.

Auto emissions testing can help owners better understand the amount of pollution their vehicles produce. Certain test results can also point to problems with the car or truck itself, and lets participants know they might need to follow-up on the findings with their family mechanic.

The Toyota Prius, one of an increasing number of hybrid vehicles being manufactured worldwide, has been shown to produce far less air pollution than other midsize cars and has been judged by the EPA as having a fuel economy rating of 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 miles per gallon on the highway.

August 12th is the last day to enter the Prius giveaway.

Please feel free to share this information with friends, family, and coworkers. For more information, call 325-8712.

Hope to see you there,
Mike Higginbotham
Jefferson County - Environmental Protection Division

Attracting Young, Creative Professionals to Birmingham

2005-07-28T08:24:00.000-05:00

Live blogging from ONB's Breakfast Briefing...

Deborah Vance, VP of Community Development, from the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce is speaking about the "Cool Communities" initiative.

Understanding "brain drain" and the need to attract young talent. She quotes someone in the Nashville Chamber who said "my job in the coming years will not be to attract companies. 100 percent of my job will be to attract talent." The innovation economy is driven by knowledge workers. She reported that Birmingham had a net in-migration of 1,839 young professionals bettween 1995 and 2000.

According to Next Generation Consulting, young talent want to live in Cool Communities as measured by: Earning, Learning, Vitality, After Hours, Around Town, Cost of Lifestyle, and Social Capital.

Emergence of the Knowledge Worker... by 2008, there will be a shortage of 10 million workers across all employment categories. During the same time period, 78 million baby boomers will be exiting the workforce but only 40 million non-boomers are entering the workforce right now. The workforce of the future will be ethnically, age, and gender-diverse. Knowledge workers have "Live First / Work Second" ethic. Talent arrives in town to find a job and now companies follow talent.

What can we do?

Think Regionally
Partner with groups of "like interest" --- here she mentioned Catalyst, telling the audience that we are a "social club hoping to be a public policy think tank"
Hire a professional to help develop strategy = Rebecca Ryan

Birmingham Plan that Rebecca Ryan is leading on behalf of the Chamber:

Assemble focus groups (100 Young Professional will be invited to participate in about 2 hour sessions during a 3 day period in September)
Develop Birmingham "handprint" during November
Present Birmingham "handprint" on December 15 at the Chamber's annual meeting
Develop a strategy for implementation during the first quarter of 2006

She also talked about the Chamber's former "Birmingham 101" class for newly arrived business executives and perhaps reinstating it in the form of a "Cool Schools" program enacted by Nashville's Chamber.

The Cool Community Task Force meets once a month. To be considered for the Young Professional focus groups contact Alyson Cantrell at 241.8120 or email acantrell@birminghamchamber.com.

TONIGHT!

2005-07-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Meet up at The Garage Cafe TONIGHT... 5:30pm until... be sure to stick around past 7pm when the guests from Huntsville are due to arrive.

Garaging it: July 28 event // 5:30pm until...

2005-07-25T15:45:00.000-05:00

Join us on Thursday, July 28 as we welcome and host a group of young professionals from Huntsville. They will be in the middle of their leadership retreat and what better place to have a nightcap than our very own Garage, GQ Magazine’s “One of Top 10 Bars Worth Flying To” in the world!

Members of the Leadership Huntsville "Connect" program arrive at 7pm, so first mingle with your fellow Catalyzers and be prepared to connect later with our guests from Huntsville.

Remember - the great folks at The Garage Cafe are providing fruit and cheese appetizers and some drink specials for the cash bar. Located at 2304 10th Terrace South, the party starts at 5:30pm and will wrap up when the last Catalyzer leaves late in the night. Wanna place bets on who it is?

See you Thursday as we welcome Huntsville to the ‘Ham!

Railroad Reservation Park

2005-07-08T07:46:00.000-05:00

I spent most of the day yesterday with consultants Tom Leader and Tom Martin as they outlined their preliminary concepts of the proposed Railroad Reservation Park master plan.

Without doubt, this promises to be a civic project of immense potential for Birmingham, our chance to create a regional, even world-class attraction so uniquely Birmingham that it could finally end our endless self-comparisons with other cities.

I have been following for months the planning process -- scores of meetings, discussions and cherettes where nearly every segment of the community had their say in what should be in the park.

I must say, the consultants and the city officials leading the project have been extremely adept at incorporating nearly everything people said they wanted: water, elevations, walking/bike tracks (some right along the RR trax), sports fields, a dog park, pavillions, food areas, a play area for children, a multi-use amphitheater, art and cultural amenities, and most importantly, green spaces with trees. They even threw in a few other things that I'll go into in a later blog. All of this is connected to a 14-acre patch of dirt along First Avenue South (home of the Schaeffer Crawfish Boil) that is the heart of the park, which ultimately will stretch from Sloss Furnace in the east to Alice Furnace in the west.

This plan will all come out in the coming months and you'll see what I'm talking about (I can't do it justice in this blog).

I encourage all Catalyst members to encourage everyone they know to enthusiastically support this project. I truly feel this is the opportunity of our lifetime, to finally stop talking about what needs to happen in Birmingham and play active roles in shaping something that will leave a positive, lasting legacy for our City. Isn't that what Catalyst is about?

Steering Committee meeting

2005-06-30T23:08:00.000-05:00

The Catalyst all-volunteer steering committee met this evening to discuss what comes next for our organization. With nearly 800 members we have lots to do and the capability to get a lot done. We'll post information about what gets accomplished here, so keep checking back. Got a comment for the steering committee to consider? Please post your comments here!

What's On Your Plate June 27th?

2005-06-22T10:24:00.000-05:00

Ever dreamed of opening your own restaurant? Is there a gourmet chef in you just waiting to whip up the next culinary masterpiece? If so, take a break on June 27th and join Frank Stitt, Alagasco and others in welcoming New Orleans sensations Ti Martin and Melvin Rodrigue to the 'ham. Never heard of 'em? No problem because you've no doubt heard of their restaurants in the Big Easy - Commander's Palace and Galatorie's.

Bring a notebook (to learn the secrets of the trade) and your appetite (because the food will be great) and join us on June 27th at the Harbert Center downtown. Take advantage of special Catalyst ticket prices - $25 for the lunch or $35 for the luncheon and workshop.

Hey, you don't have to trek down to the French Quarter to be a restauranteur - your City Center is the place to be. Call 324-8797 or visit www.yourcitycenter.com to register. Don't miss it. Your stomach won't forgive you.

Main Street Trussville Charrettes in Full Swing!

2005-06-22T10:22:00.000-05:00

It's not too late to join world-renowned designer and architect Andres Duany in Trussville's weeklong forum focusing on the development of a new, 160 acre main street redevelopment plan. Ever been to Seaside? Visited Birmingham's own Mount Laurel? Andres is the vision behind both. Check out www.mainstreettrussville.com for the week's schedule and make plans to attend the closing session on Monday evening, June 27th. Help Trussville take it to the street - Main Street that is.

Rockin' and Rollin' and Surfin'!

2005-06-17T17:28:00.000-05:00

Catalyzers get ready to rock and roll and SURF your way through downtown this weekend. Brighthouse Networks is offering FREE WIRELESS in Lynn Park and down 20th Street in celebration of Vines & Waldrep City Stages.

More than 170 Catalyst faithful turned out earlier this week at WorkPlay as we kicked-off the summer with consultant Rebecca Ryan. In celebration of a great Catalyst week, grab your

Catalyst t-shirts, wear them this weekend and help us spread the good word at our city’s amazing musical event. Show the ‘Ham that it's HIP TO BE CIVIC!

For more information on the Vines & Waldrep City Stages, visit www.citystages.org.

Keepin' Cool BackstaGe!

2005-06-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

If you’re itching for even MORE of a good time, consider buying a BackstaGe pass from Birmingham Weekly. Take a break from the heat and crowds of City Stages with a VIP pass to restaurant G – only steps away from the festival where you can find scrumptious free food, complimentary & discounted adult beverages throughout the weekend.

The party begins Friday afternoon with a kick-off event starting at 5PM with free snacks, beer and wine and continues all weekend long, including a private concert at G on Saturday.
For only $50, these could be your City Stages days:

FRIDAY

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine at the fabulous Friday Kick Off Party

SATURDAY

Exclusive Admission to see Johnny B. and the Lucky Dogs live at G

All WEEKEND

Full bar with City Stages drink specials
Great cheap eats
Exclusive access to G (no one without pass will be admitted)
Clean restrooms, friendly servers, oh yeah did we mention air conditioning?

Birmingham Weekly’s BackstaGes passes available at Restaurant G.

Rebecca Ryan visit to Birmingham

2005-06-15T01:45:00.000-05:00

Catalyst and the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce jointly hosted Rebecca Ryan at WorkPlay on June 14th to discuss what makes Birmingham a "Cool Community." While Catalyst received accolades for its growth during the presentation, there's still more to do. Two days later, the Chamber reconvened its task force with several Catalyst members included.

In addition to a front-page article in the prior Sunday's Birmingham News, two local television channels featured stories on this event. Click on the links below to view the streaming video of the television coverage:

DIVE IN HEAD FIRST AT OCEAN !!!

2005-05-23T17:29:00.000-05:00

Learn what’s going on in our region and with Catalyst

Alright Catalyzers. It’s that time of the month again when we get together, meet, greet and hear about Catalytic goodness. Join us at Ocean on Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm. This is a not to be missed event where newly elected member of the Alabama House of Representatives, Paul DeMarco, tells us WHY being involved in our region’s next electoral process is of major importance to us all. You will also learn how you can be a part of the Catalyst Candidate’s Forum this fall. And, as always, food, fun, spirits and shameless networking will be in full swing.

So, swing on by!

4 exciting upcoming events for Birmingham's Catalyzers!

2005-05-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

Hey Catalyzers!

Take a look at these four exciting upcoming events! Add them to your calendar, turn out in support and get hip to be civic!

PHOTO OF THE PEOPLE to promote FILM FOR THE PEOPLE
Join some of Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival’s most creative talents on May 13th and become a part of film history! Check out sidewalkfilm.org for more information, but think Sgt. Pepper’s glorious album cover and go one step further by throwing in one of Birmingham’s most dynamic faces – yours! (Okay, we’ll help you out. It’s a photo shoot for a really cool new Sidewalk 2005 advertisement.) Turn out May 13th at 4:30 p.m. to the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Steiner Auditorium. Wear dark clothing and become a part of history. Stick around after the photo shoot for the second edition of Art on the Rocks!
VULCAN UNPLUGGED!
Our beloved Vulcan is about to become a wireless hotspot! Grab your laptop and join TechBirmingham and Vulcan at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13th as we transform Vulcan Park into an “outdoor office.” Help TechBirmingham flood the park grounds with hip professionals (and their trusty laptops) and be one of the first to get “unplugged” at Vulcan Park!
Catalyst Monthly Mixer
Join us at Ocean Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for fun and frivolity. This will also be your first chance to hear about Catalyst’s plans to host a Candidate’s Forum this fall. We’ll have a few special guest speakers and, as always, great food, networking and spirits!
Survey Says!
Go ahead and mark your calendars for a June 14th joint meeting with the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce as Catalyst joins in announcing plans for a dynamic new study conducted by nationally-recognized consultant Rebecca Ryan. The upcoming study will map out Birmingham’s cultural landscape. Don’t miss the kick-off party at WorkPlay June 14th and stick around for the Sidewalk Cinemateque screening of the acclaimed Sundance documentary “In the Realms of the Unreal” later that evening! Stay tuned!

April Events for Catalyzers

2005-04-06T11:32:00.000-05:00

April is here and it’s time to give yourself a big round of applause for supporting the many Catalyst events that took place in March – all of which were successful because of your involvement.

Our next big event is coming up next week so mark your calendars for the CATALYST BIRMINGHAM EARTHFEST PARTY which will take place on Thursday, April 14th from 6-8 pm at the McWane Center. Catalyst and the Birmingham Earthfest are hosting Chief Oren Lyons, who will be talking about the community of nature. Come for some good music, food, and beverage and stick around to catalyze. To RSVP, send an email to info@Catalyst4Birmingham.org OR call the McWane Center at 714-8303.
Also, don’t forget to go to these other great events:

ART ON THE ROCKS This Friday, April 8th, the Birmingham Museum of Art will host the first of many “Art on the Rocks” where you can enjoy good food, music and, of course, art. This evening will feature Holly Williams, granddaughter of Hank Williams Sr., and will run from 5-10pm. For more info on this event go to www.artsbma.org/artrocks

1040 FEST The Central City Neighborhood Association is throwing a huge party to ease the pain of the tax-filing deadline day on Friday, April 15th. Everyone should swing by the party, which starts at 4:00pm and goes until 10:40pm at the YWCA parking lot at Third Avenue North and 24th Street, for great entertainment, food, and prizes. For more information, call 322-2861 or 937-2232

Saturday's Railroad Reservation Park Tour and Tonight's Happy Hour

2005-03-29T23:33:00.000-06:00

There has been a lot of talk lately about the Railroad Reservation Park that the City of Birmingham and the Friends of the Railroad District are partnering to bring into reality. Come see and experience what all the talk is about this Saturday, April 2 at 2:00 when you can take a tour of the proposed park area.

The Railroad Park project is at a particularly exciting time in that the master planners for the project are coming to the City for several gatherings with citizens (see details below). Participating in this tour will not only give you hands-on and feet-on experience with one of the most exciting new developments in Birmingham, but also it will enable you to contribute your creative, visionary, logistical, practical insights about what this park can and should be for Birmingham. Remember, great cities have great parks and it is up to citizens to help make them that way.

The tour will be led by Cheryl Morgan, Director of the Center for Regional Planning and Design, and will begin at the Young and Vann Building which is located at 1st Avenue North and 18th Street (diagonal across the block from the downtown police headquarters). If you think you might join us, send a quick message to info@Catalyst4Birmingham.org to help us plan for how many will take the tour.

You should also attend one of the Design Workshops and the Town Hall Meeting that the City of Birmingham and the Friends of the Railroad District are sponsoring to give citizens access to the master planning process. Come share your ideas for the park at one of the following events:
Design Workshops @ Young and Vann Building—(pick one)
Wednesday, April 6, 6:00-8:30 pm
Thursday, April 7, 1:30-4:30 pm
Town Hall Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers: Thursday, April 7, 6:00-8:00 pm
Catalyst is organizing this tour because the Railroad project is one that our membership has expressed a strong interest in and it certainly aligns with our mission. Make sure to send this email to others to let them know about the tour.

We hope to see you on Saturday!
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Also, remember that tonight’s happy hour begins at 5:30 pm at John's City Diner! Here's a last minute incentive you won't want to miss. Our host, Birmingham Weekly, will be offering $10 for use toward drinks and dinner at John's tonight to the first 50 people who sign up for a Birmingham Weekly Diners Club Card! Get there early!

Three Great Catalyst Events! Show Up!

2005-03-16T11:34:00.000-06:00

Spring’s almost here and we’re jam-packed with great events occurring throughout the City during the next few weeks. From after-work drinks to Railroad District tours and leadership training, there’s a little something for everyone happening over the next few weeks. So tune in, turn out and help us share Catalyst’s message with all of Birmingham!
Don’t Miss:

Catalyst’s first Emerging Leaders meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 24th at Safari Cup Coffee (located on the corner of Richard Arrington Boulevard and Third Avenue North). Catalyst members Will Johnson and Darius Kemp will lead us in discussions about how Catalyst will take the lead in encouraging emerging leaders throughout the region to join us in making critical decisions about Birmingham’s future. E-mail darius415@email.com to RSVP today!
It’s Happy Hour Time! Catalyst is getting back to its roots and hosting 2005’s first Catalyst happy-hour at John’s City Diner on March 30th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Birmingham Weekly. Drop by after work, network with fellow Catalyst members and see what we have planned for this year. Bring cash though – we’re still a non-profit, after all!
Take a walk on the tracks Saturday morning, April 2nd! Join Catalyst and the Friends of the Railroad District for a walking tour of the City Center’s historic Railroad Reservation District. Hear about future development plans and join FORRD in their efforts to bring this great part of the city back to life! Email info@catalyst4birmingham.org for more information or watch the website in coming days for more information... for now, just save the date in your social calendar and we'll get back to you with time and place!

So Get Out There! We’re looking forward to seeing you several times in the next few weeks. Email info@catalyst4birmingham.org with any questions or for more information. Hope to hear from you!

Catalyst 16th Street Event - February 27th

2005-02-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

Time for a totally different kind of Catalyst event...

How about showing support for a landmark in our city that marked a turning point in the Civil Right's struggle as the country and world began to understand the profound affect of hate and bigotry.

We are inviting all Catalyst members and the general public to attend a service at the 16th Street Baptist Church on Sunday, February 27th.

You've driven past it, maybe even been to a meeting at the Fellowship Hall, but how many of us have been invited to attend a Sunday Church Service at 16th Street Baptist Church? This is your chance!

At Catalyst we respect your right to worship or not -- we aren't "endorsing" any particular religion -- but we do want to provide an opportunity for our members to participate in a piece of our shared history. The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is indeed a special place to Birmingham and no doubt a priceless symbol of human suffering that took place here more than 40 years ago.

You may have heard that the Church is in need of a major renovation. The Sixteenth Street Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) was developed to raise the funds needed to restore this national symbol and ensure access to future generations.

One way you can help change Birmingham's image is by showing your support for the Church by donating to the Stabilization Campaign.

On February 27th attend the 11am service and make a donation to the Stabilization Campaign. Make a statement that you believe Birmingham to be a city of promise and hope.

Envelopes marked “Stabilization Campaign will be available on Sunday the 27th. If you would like to make a contribution, please make a check payable to “Sixteenth Street Foundation” and include Catalyst in your memo. Any amount will help and cash is welcome too! If you would like to donate, but will be unable to attend the service you can mail a donation to Sixteenth Street Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 2146, Birmingham Alabama 35201.

Happy New Year Catalyzers!

2005-01-20T09:38:00.000-06:00

The calendar is quickly filling up with great opportunities to let our voices be heard throughout the Magic City and beyond. From cultural walks and study groups to monthly salon lunches and tsunami aid, there's a little something for everyone in this month's email blast. Read on and find your niche....

First, thanks to all of you who filled out our year-end survey for volunteer opportunities. Stay tuned next week to what our next steps are.
Thursday, January 20th (tonight!) at 6 p.m., marks the start of yet another season of Birmingham Pledge Study Circles held at the YWCA (309 23rd Street North). Hundreds of people just like you have turned out in recent years to roundtable about race relations in Birmingham. Share your story and make a difference. Visit http://www.birminghampledge.org/ or simply show up this evening to get involved.
We've all opened our hearts and wallets in recent weeks in support of the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Whether you’re giving for causes abroad or at home though, remember to give wisely. One great site for more information is: http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/international/earthquake/tsunami122604.aspx?source=GOOG&cmpgn=EATSU
Are you ready to walk? Grab a coat and step outside for three 10k walking tours in two days on February 5th and 6th. From Five Points and WorkPlay to the Civil Rights District and Morris Avenue, the Capital City Wanderers Club will give you a new view of the Magic City. Call Polly at 477-7976 or visit http://walkalabama.org/ to learn more.

That's all for now folks but remember - share the wealth and pass this email on to everyone you can. Our message becomes stronger with each new member. Sign up today at http://www.catalyst4birmingham.org/ to let your voice be heard.

Committees

2005-01-02T15:00:00.000-06:00

Roles and Responsibilities

Event/Social Planning

Co-Chair - Jestina Howard Jestina_Howard@saksinc.com
Co-Chair - Alice Williams AWilliams@railroadpark.org

Seek out and obtain diverse venues and experiences for Catalyst functions, plan and coordinate events including beverages, food, and directions, and party invitations.

Policy/Issues

Chair - Elizabeth Dotts edotts@ywcabham.org

Identify, frame and recommend projects and activities for which Catalyst should be involved, establish a democratic system to allow Catalyst members to set the issue priorities, and offer creative ways in which to support an effort.

Legal

Chair - Greg Doody Gregory.Doody@HealthSouth.com

Help the steering committee decide what type of organization Catalyst should be (social club, 501C3 or 501C4), assist with processing the necessary paperwork to make it "official", advise the organization on what it can do and can't do, and review any policies (i.e. privacy of member contact information).

Fundraising

Co-Chair - Ken Glanton kenglanton@mac.com
Co-Chair - John Hudson johudson@southernco.com

Identify potential angel supporters and brainstorm fundraising strategies.

Communications

Chair - Kelly Marshall kellym@kellymarshallpr.com

Develop a communications plan, build relationships with other progressive organizations, work with Technology Committee on obtaining a web address, review material that is posted on the web and sent via email.

Technology

Chair - Curtis Palmer curtis@techbirmingham.com

Support the technical needs of the other committees, create and maintain an organization web page, maintain a secure database of Catalyst information that includes a privacy statement and work with the Legal Committee to develop a privacy policy.

Steering Committee

Chair - John Stone info@catalyst4birmingham.org
Alan Hunter alan@hunterfilms.com

Join Us!

2005-01-01T22:55:00.000-06:00

Catalyst is a loose-knit group; one committed to diversity, enthusiasm and progressive outcomes. So it should come as no surprise that our “membership” policy is just as relaxed.

We’ve looked at other groups similar to ours, held discussions among your steering committee and talked about the pros and cons of having “members.” Bottom line is this: we welcome all and consider anyone willing to invest their time, energy – and hopefully a few bucks – to our cause.

Since its inception nearly 2 years ago, Catalyst has grown into a diverse group of nearly 900 Birmingham area residents motivated by a desire to become educated about issues, find solutions and work to implement those solutions. It's "hip to be civic", as our motto says, only if we make things happen in our City.

We hope you've enjoyed our mixers over the past year and our Candidate's Forum in October was a huge success thanks to your participation. Now it's time for Catalyst to move to the next level. And we need your commitment.

Catalyst is a grassroots organization -- no one owns us, no one can dictate our agenda. We'll move forward as the most diverse and powerful organization built to make Birmingham a better place to live only if we all step up to the plate, chip in with our money and become a full fledged member. Your money will make it possible to continue providing the City with such things as the Red Mountain Bank (www.redmountainbank.com). "Catalytic Drive" CD audio tour of Birmingham, mixers where Catalyst faithful can keep up to date on all progressive issues, a 2006 Gubernatorial Candidate's Forum and many more thoughts and programs that will help catapult Catalyst into 2006 and beyond.

Yep, this is a call for Membership in Catalyst. For the minimum of $25, you will not only help Catalyst become a driving force for positive change in Birmingham but you'll also get some pretty cool stuff too.

With your annual $25 membership, you will receive a LIMITED EDITION Catalyst t-shirt and the first 200 members to sign up will also receive a FREE Birmingham WeeklyCard ( www.bhamweekly.com) with a $20 balance already on it - ready for use as a debit card at supporting restaurants in the downtown Birmingham district, as well as throughout Greater Birmingham. By eating downtown with this debit card you are already supporting one of Catalyst's pillars of focus.

Your Catalyst membership will also get you into "Members Only" parties throughout the year - these are NOT to be missed as our 2006 calendar is looking pretty crazy! Trust us. We know.

Support Catalyst with your $25 membership today! And like every good progressive organization, we accept PayPal, checks, credit cards or cold hard cash.

Click the PayPal button to get your membership now or you can send us a check! Please make checks payable to "Catalyst" and send with your shirt size (M/L/XL) to:

Catalyst c/o Region 2020
1731 First Avenue North
Birmingham, AL
35203

About Us

2005-01-01T16:11:00.000-06:00

In late 2003, a small group of people began getting together regularly over coffee to discuss Birmingham and how they could make it better. The group wanted to figure out how to impact discussed positive, progressive change in our city. The passion that everyone shared for improving the city and its surrounding region led to the creation of Catalyst.

The Catalyst mission is to motivate a diverse membership to become get educated about issues, find solutions, and work to implement those solutions. Since that first meeting over coffee, Catalyst has grown into a diverse group of over 500 more than almost 600 Birmingham area residents that all share the Catalyst vision to "Get civic, get hip, and have fun doing it!"

So where are we in 2005, now that we have our first full year under our belts? We're touching base with more of our ever-growing group of fun-loving, civicly-minded Catalyzers each and every day.

For those of you who weren't able to make it to our end of the year bash in late 2004, you missed a sneak peak at what we've been working on here in 2005. You can read about where we're going in other sections. This part of the site is all about where we've been.

So what did happen during our first full year of work in 2004?

In April 2004, we had a well-attended gathering at the newly renovated Vulcan Park where we endorsed the Greater Birmingham Arts and Culture Masterplan and formed several volunteer committees to create a loose organizational structure for Catalyst.
The various committees met over the summer to strategize about the best ways to bring the mission of Catalyst into reality. We also conducted a survey of all of the Catalyst members to learn about who we are and the areas we wanted to focus our efforts.
Our fall 2004 kickoff party was at Sloss Furnaces, where we unveiled our audio tour of several sites in Birmingham that we wanted to highlight including the future railroad reservation park, the civil rights and theater districts, as well as the downtown residential living spaces. The CD features local music and notable locals like Elias Hendricks, Odessa Wolfolk, Jim Reed and Cheryl Morgan recounting anecdotes and thoughts about historic sites around town.
Based on a suggestion from someone who was at that party, we decided to hold a brown bag lunch salon at the YWCA in November 2004 to talk about downtown food markets. About twenty-five people showed up and have agreed to meet again to help decide where and when a downtown farmer's market will be held during the work week next fall.
Catalyst took a big step forward in December 2004 when Region 2020 agreed to become our umbrella organization for 2005. In addition to partnering with another organization that has a synergistic mission, Region 2020's support affords Catalyst the chance to receive tax-deductible donations and apply for foundation grants.

So what about 2005, you ask? Stay tuned, but we've already raised hundreds of dollars for the 16 th Street Baptist Church Stabalization Campaign, applied for funding through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and are currently planning several "signature" events for later this year.

We're not writing about history here folks. We're making it.

Mission Statement of Catalyst

2005-01-01T14:00:00.000-06:00

Catalyst is a group of citizens that acts as a liaison between good ideas and solutions -- connecting the people who have the vision and enthusiasm for positive change with the people who have the opportunities and influence to affect progressive outcomes in the City of Birmingham and its surrounding region. We are diverse in age, race, gender, physical ability, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, place of residence, and profession.

Catalyst believes that Birmingham has limitless potential, and is committed to exploring and nurturing that potential. Catalyst also believes in the premise that socially and economically dynamic cities are only as strong as their cultural landscape.

A combination of civic action group and social club, Catalyst will:

Stimulate dialogue about civic issues that will benefit Birmingham and the surrounding region;
Identify new and existing ideas and solutions; and,
Motivate action.

As a progressive change agent in our community, Catalyst's values are to:

Improve Birmingham's quality of life by supporting cultural and recreational opportunities;
Celebrate diversity, honor and learn from our history, address injustice, and foster an attitude of optimism, hopefulness, support, and compassion for all;
Encourage sustainable development that is considerate of its impact on social, economic and natural environments, as well as creates spaces that are conducive to pedestrians, bicycles and mass transportation;
Foster neighborhoods that are open and safe and supportive of educational experiences that encourage citizens to be both life-long learners and engaged participants in the life of Birmingham;
Stimulate dialogue and activism in the political and legislative arenas;
and, Encourage all citizens to make good decisions today that sustain a positive impact on future generations to come.

Catalyst hopes to achieve these objectives in the context of our social gatherings where food, fun, companionship, and conversation lead to ever-evolving ideas, purpose, progress, action and change.

Catalyst -- Making it "hip to be civic".

A Ride Of Catalytic Proportions

2004-09-29T08:57:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, September 23, Birmingham Catalyzers gathered for the fall Catalyst kickoff event where we highlighted the following historical landmarks through an audio tour of Birmingham:

Sloss Furnaces/The Railroad District Greenway
The 16th Street Baptist Church/Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
The Alabama Theater/Lyric Theater
Park Place (formerly Hope VI) and other innovative downtown residential housing

As always, food, drink and great conversation was enjoyed and everyone in attendance got their very own CD of the tour and a chance to see Birmingham again for the first time by taking a bus tour through the City. If you missed the event, never fear, you can get your own CD by simply visiting Region 2020 (1731 First Avenue North, Suite 100) and asking for Elizabeth Sims for your own copy.

So what’s next? Based on the survey that was conducted earlier, Catalyst will use the above places as areas of focus over the next year. Each area has its own mission and goals that we can assist in achieving their dreams.

So here is your homework: Grab a friend, use this route map and go exploring. You should pick one of the locations of interest to you and see what stories you hear and what sights and sounds are there. While you are out and about, be thinking of creative ways Catalyst can get involved and help. Send your ideas and suggestions to info@Catalyst4Birmingham.org and we will get back to you over the next couple of weeks on the calls to action.

Also, if you are not yet registered to vote, please go to the following link and send in your form today: http://www.sos.state.al.us/index.cfm. If you are not going to be here on Election Day (which is November 2), then make sure you apply for your absentee ballot from that site too.

Finally, Catalyst is an all-volunteer effort, so check out the committee page and give some of your time to help make Birmingham a great place to live, work and play!