Can a grassroots campaign engage citizens across Birmingham to create a new vision of the future for Birmingham's children and its school system?  Yes We Can! Birmingham is the resounding answer, as well as the name of an initiative of the Community Foundation.

In a series of public meetings in 2007, school officials and community leaders joined hundreds of volunteers to learn more about this work.  Based on a nationally recognized model, Yes We Can! Birmingham is focused on giving citizens a voice in the process and creating a community agreement on what matters and how we can achieve it together.

The first public meetings included an review of education reform issues and acronyms and a look at performance comparisons for Alabama's largest school systems, with data provided by Birmingham school officials and Jim Williams of the Public Affairs Resource Council of Alabama (see below). 

Community Conversations, set to begin in April across Birmingham, are designed to provide a way for every person in every part of Birmingham to have a voice in the future of the city's school system. According to experts who have seen this work in other communities, engaging citizens is key, because everyone has a responsibility and a role. 

Karen Rolen, representing the Community Foundation, and Gary Grooms of Alabama Power are coordinating the overall initiative. Heading a Leadership Team that guides the process are Elaine Jackson of Birmingham Urban League and Ruffner Page of McWane Inc.  Penney Hartline is Campaign Manager for Yes We Can! Birmingham.

The Community Foundation is providing part of the support for Yes We Can! Birmingham as one of its initiatives on education.  We also are part of efforts to mobilize state support for pre-kindergarten opportunities through the Alabama School Readiness Alliance and to create a model Blueprint for School Readiness at the Jefferson County level.

Stay tuned to find out what you can do or contact Karen Rolen at 327-3811 or Penney Hartline at 327-3803.