Community leaders and REV Birmingham are working together this spring to strengthen our collective grant-writing skills, taking advantage of an opportunity to learn best practices from the experts right here in our city. Because, yes, grants equal money – but in the non-profit world money equals IMPACT.
REV works in Birmingham’s historic urban commercial districts, following the Main Street Four-Point Approach to community revitalization: Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Vitality. The Organization phase involves identifying stakeholders in the commercial districts and defining a common set of goals and strategies. As REV builds relationships and works with each community through the Organization phase, we develop strategies and project plans that require funding. Securing that funding, in a community with great need, is a highly competitive process.
Fortunately, Birmingham is a place where expertise is also plentiful, especially with the extra grant-writing brainpower concentrated at UAB. REV, as well as citizen partners from Woodlawn and Five Points West, are participating in The Gulf States Community Research Fellows Program, a 16-week grant-writing program designed to empower citizens to do the research required by some grants to better the communities where they live and work. The classes are led by a new instructor each week. Some lecturers are community members from Birmingham, the majority of which are doctors, professors or employees of UAB Medicine.
The program is free and is open to anyone passionate about a community-based cause. Twenty members are participating in the weekly class, representing several communities across Birmingham. The class is sponsored by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Gulf States Health Policy Center, and the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center.
The classes meet each Tuesday at 6 pm at the Medical Towers building at UAB through May 15. Contact Bianca Hawk at bhawk@uabmc.edu for more information.
Related News
-
12 anchor businesses in Woodlawn's historic commercial district
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Front Page, Small Business, Woodlawn
The historic Woodlawn commercial district has been home to some exciting openings in the last year. These new concepts represent the evolution of Woodlawn businesses, providing us a glimpse at what the future holds for this special place. However, as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither was Woodlawn! That’s why we want to tip our hats and raise a glass to some of the businesses that have paved the way for further development and growth in Woodlawn.
-
10 powerful examples of historic preservation in action
Filed Under: Downtown Birmingham, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Historic Preservation, Potential-Proving, Yaysayers
It’s easy to take for granted the historic gems we have here in Birmingham. Many beautiful, story-filled buildings dot the map of our city, their silhouettes adorning our skylines and their façades serving as the vibrant background to our everyday lives downtown. However, without attention, investment and a commitment by our community to prioritize these treasures, our historic buildings and the authentic character they give our city can disappear.
-
The "why" behind historic preservation + REV's key tools for making it happen
Filed Under: Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Front Page, Get Involved, Historic Preservation, Yaysayers
Happy Historic Preservation Month, Birmingham! Every year in May, this special celebration ushers in an exciting flurry of conversation around one of our favorite topics: Saving places. The Magic City is full of historic treasures (especially our charming City Center), and REV is a longtime advocate for preserving and utilizing these spaces. But if you’re just dipping your toes into the waters of this worthy cause, a crash course might first be in order.