Birmingham Promise gets a $1.8 million grant to boost students’ careers
Outgoing executive director of Birmingham Promise Rachel Harmon shares her excitement for the grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Birmingham Promise, a college scholarship and apprenticeship program launched by Mayor Randall Woodfin, received a financial boost of $1.8 million this week.
Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded the organization a grant specifically to support internships and apprenticeships for Birmingham City Schools seniors. Outgoing executive director Rachel Harmon said those experiences will put students on a solid path.
“It’s going to allow us to directly invest in young people’s career trajectories,” Harmon said. “It’s going to allow us to help them create prosperous careers and futures and be a part of that journey. And we’re so excited to do that with more students across our city.”
The grant will fund a total of 450 apprenticeships over the next three years and is a part of a $25 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies for educational programs in at least 10 other cities. Birmingham students can get paid internships in industries such as finance and insurance, healthcare and life science, energy and engineering and digital technology.
“Our goal is to ensure that all of our scholars, all of our graduates, are college and career ready,” said Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Mark Sullivan. “And this helps. This is a vehicle that helps our students have a pathway for career successes. There is no other school district in the state of Alabama that has a program like this.”
Since 2020, Birmingham Promise has helped to promote economic mobility for students through scholarships and opportunities after graduation through partnerships with local businesses and investors.
Mayor Woodfin said he hopes the initiative continues to grow.
“This program, in my opinion, has the capability to be a model for any American city for how they should engage their young people and offer opportunity,” Woodfin said.
Recently, executive director Harmon announced she would be leaving the program to attend law school. The program is currently partnering with local stakeholders to search for her replacement.
Kyra Miles is a Report for America Corps Member reporting on education for WBHM.
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers
While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home?
Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting
The litigation announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser asks a federal judge to block the move as unconstitutional.
Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act
It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.
