[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6487672,"mediaKeyId","5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf","parentId",5563686,"title","Vox Academy seeks community enrichment funding after national success with students","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",3420000,"endMs",3805000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf&start=3420&end=3805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf/thumbnail_3420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6487672/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Vox-Academy-seeks-community-enrichment-funding-after-national-success-with-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487672-2537bff7ce594601ae3837381faba404/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485772&Signature=U3wf-VQdgXEAklr3dV9tTd4K7GoX2auKmT8UU3sOOQi852q5tp43A86Ay4Pk~7I-a3D04p-YT7hp6iO5~mLr-WXKgy6i6hVr8J1oyuWHVWNVW1Iu8mLzm3bpKQstI~Y-BwmvgE5CX4Q23pY3laytw3mxoywfPA~O3a5P88B9Z-g3YvEqIO9BHwNFoYdNLxangSoIP1QRdrSCTpiMbM5hwum0NJXPv5-wYokVeTOw72bImInMlnNkklgWi9tU-kgYyBYJTysYc-9bg5a8U5HS~Ur2sEr~86QNywYRbLs-Ut1VoFZB-ocsTCZtXigpavJziXWdBfU9ZDl4CAkqecEu1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Birmingham","date","2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","article","Elias Hendricks, founder of Vox Academy, told the Birmingham City Council on Aug. 12 that the program’s music‑based financial literacy curriculum has produced measurable student success and returned with a fundraising request.

Hendricks said Vox Academy works with middle‑ and high‑school students in six of eight district schools and uses a “music, money and movement” model to teach financial literacy and leadership. He described a success story: a student, Jordan Craig of Phillips, won a full scholarship to college after participating in the program and music competitions.

Hendricks said Vox Academy plans a fundraising concert in October featuring Vox Futura and other performers; proceeds would support expansion into additional Birmingham City School middle schools and buy tickets for students and parents to attend. He asked the council to consider community enrichment dollars similar to past support for a Lyric Opera concert.

Council members praised the program. Council President Pro Tem Bertie Alexander said she loved “the idea of marrying music with financial literacy.” Councilor Clark noted the program’s similarity to a family legacy program and encouraged the city’s support. Several councilors offered to connect Hendricks with district schools and voiced support for the concert and program expansion.

Hendricks said Vox Academy will provide a financial literacy certificate to participating students and committed to giving back at least $500 to each school’s music program for cohorts of 25 or more students. He said private sponsors are already interested in supporting those school‑level match payments.

The council did not take a vote on funding at the meeting; Hendricks said he had discussed the plan with school board staff and the mayor’s office and was seeking council support for community enrichment assistance and ticket subsidies for students and families.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Birmingham - Regular City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Elias Hendricks of Vox Academy presented results from the program that blends music, movement and financial literacy and requested city community enrichment support for a fundraising concert and expanded school programming.","taxTitle","Birmingham City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",3652,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6487677,"Council updates animal control salary schedule to match market",201,9350000,9551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf&start=9350&end=9551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf/thumbnail_9350000.jpg","/articles/6487677/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-updates-animal-control-salary-schedule-to-match-market","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487677-851bda9014cf5a7e4d3675f571d7a061/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485772&Signature=BK~zERkEI77xxRuUhUw2Xo06q~1xP90Wlr2-JEqVjPxJl2hD0WO-lkPKexollz3xYcAvhPJmvQB5virMb0rmLyifaEt6~-H8f40giv5kozDYRg51LFqRtvJZncoMouuzzs7Y7bC-rXzapXNIEFFv19dGJloWLk2812JnlEXB1G~1~u~BXyXwgBFdl6vJ7hVDp3iHOopboNYUacIuEylNMvFbutlpAdqG~kORgYfuse7CZNMEJpX-UoSMADDDoUa1pokYEJzvURJrhrFaSr0kgRKGnremxLTn0QvpsI07lwQGOjdTWM2mDr1N8vchZjfCdUCe2WPuNSztpIlMYayLvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Birmingham City Council on Aug. 12 approved a resolution to amend the city’s public safety salary schedule to add and reclassify the positions of animal control officer and animal services supervisor and adjust their pay to be competitive with peer municipalities.

Chief (public safety representative) explained that city human resources worked with the Jefferson County personnel board to conduct a salary surveillance and recommended changes to address pay discrepancies. The council approved the change by voice vote.

Council members said related ordinance changes on pet ownership, microchipping and other animal‑control rules remain under discussion and could be brought to the council for public consideration in coming months.","Council approved an amendment to the public safety salary schedule to add classifications and raise pay for animal control officers and an animal services supervisor following a salary survey by Jefferson County personnel board standards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6487682,"Council OKs extending airport lease to 2070 to unlock $72 million in private investment",128,2677000,2805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf&start=2677&end=2805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf/thumbnail_2677000.jpg","/articles/6487682/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-OKs-extending-airport-lease-to-2070-to-unlock-72-million-in-private-investment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487682-21763ff49c6f9fcea5dbf63e92a50f92/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485772&Signature=ac4xG-ScK3w3EP4bMthWNPC8o~U-7V6vOYx95vDpUju2HsBg-k2JoFuyH1h1eQQop1CaWQHPoDZwci06mtXTCLUQul5TC-QyFl1nzilO3D5jtrxOTrb2EpkBf0ndygXQaiU3xAzl0bcuLSZwLSlW6ZXMg7iFCxR9n6sxwdkGFcA~nf~dxsp8u2mhq28g0qnGeoc2ewcE9oVDsgcwqVnHgt~yiUMysdc5ODjCwRrym-lzjvRi9E0CB5fyKqRFVKHmpqaplnlPvhE8D3fWgYMHMCxhuxSb-XWlDgrJav~k3rELzI98JUEit2~Au~O71nqtwvaQBDY1IhVxDcvBKIdaqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Birmingham City Council voted Aug. 12 to approve a second amendment extending the lease assignment and operating agreement with the Birmingham Airport Authority by 25 years, moving the lease’s expiration from Sept. 15, 2045 to Sept. 15, 2070.

Ron Matthew, chief executive of the Airport Authority, told the council that the extension is necessary to secure two pending private investments into the airport: Atlantic Aviation (about $42 million in improvements) and another tenant planning roughly $30 million. “They need 30 years to do that, and we only have 20 years left on our lease,” Matthew said, explaining the urgency of the extension.

Council members asked for better information flow between the authority and the council and requested a cleaned‑up agreement that removes obsolete language. Councilor Williams questioned why the extension was needed when the current lease runs through 2045; Matthew replied that the longer lease term enables large capital projects and negotiations with third‑party operators.

City staff and authority leaders said the airport has returned to stronger performance and the authority expects further opportunities, including reimagining a warehouse area with the current tenant whose lease expires in 2029. Matthew said a reimagined arrangement for that facility would require longer term commitments from any prospective investor.

Councilor Moore praised the airport authority leadership for improvements to the terminal and for community outreach. City attorneys confirmed the city received a prior payment in 2010 covering multiple lease years for an earlier term; airport officials said any new extension would similarly be addressed under the amendment terms once executed.

The council approved the measure; the city clerk announced the item was approved after an aye/voice vote.","Council approved a 25‑year extension of the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport lease to 2070 to allow private operators to make multimillion‑dollar facility investments. Airport authority leaders said the extension was needed to secure $42M and $30M improvements from two tenants.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6487687,"Council approves $1.22 million for Faith Chapel micro‑shelters after added one‑year extension option",1280,5110000,6390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf&start=5110&end=6390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5563686-4f4ea18950046917a277d7f765f22bcf/thumbnail_5110000.jpg","/articles/6487687/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-approves-122-million-for-Faith-Chapel-microshelters-after-added-oneyear-extension-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487687-db3612f9a1e54f114350c0f00c5318ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485772&Signature=DOUGBi5bQ98de5LGc-D-1A3~zQyXCEq5Cu20b6Rla6K7tTfUfWw3QS0iB7kD0lyTL8YcJ26ytRHXj5ahMcFRl24PjdjOg9uFJhMrbw~2NytLxfX8rbkMlPkeI9oZcMujRFG7lfyCsMwc4kc9AB1dRpCEDhPhv4659bhgvR~x26gdnwLSxdGaJAQy45EfRuhrS5f4~NN5pMc6Ct8nnhxY95Z2vHF7LQpsYYdHtDdUi-ZdfXYofe-78hugRgwp~HhSgLmPRDIPGgqePoZWwNYOlabpDnPCIwQamV68fXjR3u8NYfrKFYZcHdyA-Xv5vzVo2nP2j0CboEqdMi45OiJ2Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Birmingham City Council on Aug. 12 approved a $1,224,125.77 city construction allocation to support Faith Chapel Cares LLC’s development of up to 15 micro‑shelters as part of the city’s Home for All pilot program.

The funding covers site grading, infrastructure, delivery and installation of prefabricated units, footings, utility connections and related construction services. Megan Venable Thomas, director of community development, said the city previously funded operational services and that the current request covers the physical construction and site work needed to put prefabricated shelters already purchased onto the site.

The vote followed extended council discussion about program length, property access and neighborhood safety. Council members raised concerns about the pilot’s initial term—an 18‑month operations period—and the city attorney’s assurances that the shelters remain city property during the pilot. Beverly Scruggs, with the city attorney’s office, said the contract contains “clawbacks” requiring Faith Chapel to return funding if it fails to meet performance obligations and that safeguards exist so another provider can operate the site if necessary.

Pastor Deborah Blaylock, representing Faith Chapel, described operational procedures the site will use to limit weapons and drugs on the premises, saying the project would use metal detectors and bag checks and that “they will know that we will take weapons and drugs and alcohol seriously and those infractions could cause them to lose their home.” She also said unannounced facility checks are planned.

Council debate focused on durability of the city’s investment in site improvements. Council member Woods asked for a commitment that would protect the city’s capital investment if Faith Chapel decided not to continue operating the site after the pilot. City attorneys agreed companion language could be added; the council ultimately amended the resolution on the floor to include an option permitting a one‑year extension at agreement of both parties. Council also directed staff to provide the final, completed development documents (the packet the council had earlier received in partial form).

Council members emphasized operational details discussed earlier in Budget & Finance: the pilot will be staffed with a full‑time social worker and other support; residents will be screened by a core team; wraparound services are funded by previously approved operational allocations (CDBG/ARPA funds). City staff said the prefabricated sleeping units do not include running water and that showers and bathrooms purchased separately will be connected to water lines on site.

The council briefly considered, then rejected, a two‑week delay motion meant to secure additional assurances and neighborhood coordination. After adding amendment language for a one‑year extension option and confirming the incentive amount in the packet, the council voted to approve the amended item. City staff said the shelters will remain city property during the pilot and could be removed or reassigned if Faith Chapel fails to meet contract obligations.

Urban Alchemy remains the second identified implementer for other Home for All sites; city staff said 50 prefabricated shelters remain in city storage and those units are earmarked for additional sites under the program. Community development staff said no general fund dollars are being requested for construction: the project uses funds already designated in the city’s CDBG/ARPA allocations for Home for All work.

The council approved the resolution as amended. The packet will be completed and distributed to council offices to show the $1,224,125.77 city assistance amount and the exhibits referenced in the agreement.

A timeline: the construction/installation phase is expected to proceed first, followed by the 18‑month pilot operations term; at six months staff will check on interest in extending the program. The city attorney’s office and community development staff said they will prepare clearer language showing the city’s rights regarding site access and ownership during and after the pilot.

Councilors urged continued coordination with nearby businesses and neighborhood stakeholders, noting recent violent incidents in the general vicinity and warning that adjacent activity could affect the pilot’s success.

The measure passed after amendment and voice vote.","The Birmingham City Council approved construction funding for a pilot micro‑shelter site operated by Faith Chapel Cares LLC as part of the Home for All program. Council added a one‑year extension option and retained city ownership of the shelters; several members sought stronger long‑term assurances before final adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vox Academy seeks community enrichment funding after national success with students

Council updates animal control salary schedule to match market

Council OKs extending airport lease to 2070 to unlock $72 million in private investment

Council approves $1.22 million for Faith Chapel micro‑shelters after added one‑year extension option