Alabama
2024 Elevate Conference unites Alabama nonprofits and the Alabama Power Foundation to spark positive change across the state – Alabama News Center
2024 Elevate Conference unites Alabama nonprofits and the Alabama Power Foundation to spark positive change across the state
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. This annual event is a chance for nonprofit trailblazers to connect, exchange ideas and get reenergized as they work toward making a bigger impact in communities across the state.
“We share the incredible gift and the challenge of building up Alabama and her people – that’s the mission that keeps all of us going,” said Staci Brown Brooks, Alabama Power vice president of Charitable Giving, president of the Alabama Power Foundation and executive director of Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund, in her opening remarks during the conference kickoff dinner at Protective Stadium.
Staci Brown Brooks, Alabama Power vice president of Charitable Giving, president of the Alabama Power Foundation and executive director of Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund, said the foundation and its partners celebrate 35 years of “building up Alabama and her people.” (contributed)
Alabama Power Foundation marked its 35th anniversary with a celebration that included cupcakes, confetti cannons and a giant birthday card. (contributed)
This year’s conference was also a time of celebration – complete with cupcakes, confetti cannons and a giant birthday card – as the Alabama Power Foundation marked its 35th anniversary. The foundation was established on Oct. 31, 1989, with five focus areas: educational advancement, civic and community development, arts and cultural enrichment, environmental stewardship, and health and human services.
“Our five focus areas really have remained unchanged for the past 35 years,” Brooks said during her State of the Foundation address. “We’ve chosen to be consistent. We’ve chosen to provide what the state of Alabama needs.”
Brooks went on to explain that instead of deemphasizing any focus area, the foundation decided to ramp up efforts in particular subcategories. For example, within educational advancement, the foundation has increased its support of two-year colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in recent years.
In 2023, the foundation awarded 1,063 grants for a total of $15,247,130 of giving across the foundation’s five focus areas:
- $737,550 for Arts and Cultural Enrichment.
- $5,326,606 for Civic and Community Development.
- $6,165,255 for Educational Advancement.
- $813,040 for Environmental Stewardship.
- $2,231,679 for Health and Human Services.
Additionally, Brooks highlighted the continuing partnership between many nonprofits at the conference and the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO), comprising more than 6,700 Alabama Power and Southern Company employees in Alabama who gave more than 21,000 volunteer hours in 2023. Brooks also applauded the ongoing work of the Energizers, made up of Alabama Power and Southern Company retirees and spouses who gave more than 39,000 volunteer hours in 2023.
But this year’s Elevate served as a birthday party where the guests were the center of attention. The conference was designed to give nonprofit leaders the practical tools they need to continue their meaningful work.
Day two of the conference included a panel discussion on strategic fundraising and grant writing featuring Rusha Smith, executive director of Freshwater Land Trust; Chad McEachren, president and CEO of Edmundite Missions; and Pamela Reed Phipps, executive director of Grace House Ministries. (contributed)
Day two of the conference included a panel discussion on strategic fundraising and grant writing featuring Rusha Smith, executive director of Freshwater Land Trust; Chad McEachren, president and CEO of Edmundite Missions; and Pamela Reed Phipps, executive director of Grace House Ministries. (contributed)
During her State of the Foundation address, Foundation President Staci Brown Brooks said the foundation provides what the state of Alabama needs. (contributed)
During her State of the Foundation address, Foundation President Staci Brown Brooks said the foundation provides what the state of Alabama needs. (contributed)
Day two of the conference included a panel discussion on strategic fundraising and grant writing featuring Rusha Smith, executive director of Freshwater Land Trust; Chad McEachren, president and CEO of Edmundite Missions; and Pamela Reed Phipps, executive director of Grace House Ministries.
Brooks said she curated the panel, selecting leaders who have shown the ability to “turn straw into gold – or a little bit into a lot.”
Jeff Ware, director of philanthropy for the Nature Conservancy in Alabama, has attended several Elevate conferences and said the panel discussion was a great example of why he keeps coming back.
“I always find something useful,” Ware said. “I was just thinking as the grant panel was speaking that I’ve been in development for more than 30 years, fundraising for different organizations, and I know about grant writing, but they reminded me of some things that maybe had slipped my memory, and their passion for what they were doing inspired me to think in new ways about what I want to do.”
Jake McKenzie, CEO of Intermark Group, led a workshop on psychology-based marketing, stressing the importance of brand building and offering ways to leverage artificial intelligence.
Paul Kennedy, president of the Walker Area Community Foundation, said he appreciated that McKenzie’s talk gave him a lot to think about.
“I’m a lifetime learner, and I’m always coming to hone my craft and to be better at what I’m doing,” Kennedy said. “I’m wondering when I meet with somebody for the first time how am I setting my brand up to be in their permanent memory as the subconscious default, so that when they think of charity, philanthropy, they think of us.”
But opportunities to network at the conference are equally important to Kennedy.
“It’s smart to come every year so that I stay connected to the people that are on the Alabama Power Foundation team that I need to know,” he said. “And all my peers are coming, too – organizations that we’re currently funding, ones that we don’t know about that we might want to fund and ones that might want to know about us. So, it’s a great opportunity to get to see your classmates. It’s a little bit of a reunion.”
Whether over a meal or during designated networking time, connections are made and collaborations are born at Elevate.
Catherine Goudreau, executive director of Better Basics, discussed potential partnerships with Adrienne Marshall and Danielle Tipton of The Literacy Council of Central Alabama. Stephanie Shorter of Hope Inspired Ministries scheduled a meeting with McEachren, president and CEO of Edmundite Missions.
For Susan Sellers, CEO of United Ability, the Elevate Conference was key to opening doors for major collaborations with the Life Is Good apparel company.
“They had never done any kind of T-shirt or anything that was centered on individuals with disabilities,” Sellers said. But a conversation at a past conference led to a partnership with the brand and a line of “Inclusion Is Good” T-shirts.
This event aims for attendees to leave both informed and inspired.
Opening night featured a keynote address by life coach and motivational speaker Timothy Alexander, who was in a horrific car accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. (contributed)
Opening night featured a keynote address by life coach and motivational speaker Timothy Alexander, who was in a horrific car accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. (contributed)
Opening night featured a keynote address by life coach and motivational speaker Timothy Alexander, who was in a horrific car accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. (contributed)
Opening night featured a keynote address by life coach and motivational speaker Timothy Alexander. After a horrific car accident in 2006, during the fall of his senior year in high school when he was fast becoming one of the best football players in Alabama, Alexander was paralyzed from the waist down. Refusing to take no for an answer, Alexander went on to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham – on a football scholarship – and was instrumental in bringing back UAB’s football, bowling and rifling teams after they were cut in 2014.
Alexander’s talk centered on the importance of “keeping the main thing the main thing” or staying focused on one’s vision. He also stressed the importance of having a growth mindset, the kind of mindset that allows a person to turn adversity into opportunity.
The conference closed with a keynote address by Leland Melvin, the only person in history to catch a pass in the National Football League and in space. (contributed)
The conference closed with a keynote address by Leland Melvin, the only person in history to catch a pass in the National Football League and in space. (contributed)
The conference closed with a keynote address by Leland Melvin, the only person in history to catch a pass in the National Football League and in space. A former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, Melvin is an engineer and NASA astronaut whose journey from the gridiron to the heavens was riddled with setbacks and injuries. By sharing his story of “grit, grace and second chances,” Melvin illustrated the power of community and commitment.
Learning about all the different ways the Alabama Power Foundation works with local communities was a highlight of the conference for Jamie Brown, director of development for Heart of Alabama Food Bank – so much so that she began to tear up as she reflected on the foundation’s impact. But her favorite part of this year’s Elevate conference were the talks by Alexander and Melvin.
“The keynotes were so inspiring,” Brown said. “It really filled my cup.”
After attending last year’s conference, which was held in Montgomery, Patricia Butts of the Lee County Literacy Coalition became a fast fan of the event’s atmosphere and the thoughtful preparation that she said she felt went into bringing the event to life.
“Working in nonprofits and being in a leadership role, we’re usually caring for others,” Butts said. “When I came last year, I really felt cared for.”
Karlos Finley, executive director of the Africatown Redevelopment Corporation, said what he appreciated most about Elevate was the intentionality of each day’s agenda as well as the intentionality of each person attending the event.
“We all know why we’re here – to work toward a common goal because we’re all a community,” Finley said. “It’s this kind of initiative that I think really breeds an environment for us to succeed. It’s about all boats being raised by that rising tide, but we must be in the water in order to be effective. This is one of those events that puts everybody in the water.”
To learn more about the Alabama Power Foundation, APSO, Energizers and the ABC Trust, visit powerofgood.com.
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. (contributed)
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. (contributed)
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. (contributed)
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. (contributed)
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. (contributed)
More than 250 nonprofit leaders from all corners of Alabama came together in Birmingham recently to attend the 2024 Elevate Conference, hosted by the Alabama Power Foundation. (contributed)
Alabama
Lawmaker stalls dozens of contracts in Alabama liquor board dispute: ‘Classic bureaucrat double speak’
An Alabama lawmaker on Thursday temporarily put on hold dozens of state agency contracts because of what he said were delays by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to implement a law passed in 2023.
Sen. Chris Elliott, a Republican from Baldwin County, said the bill, which he sponsored, was intended to allow employees at businesses that serve liquor to complete the ABC Board’s Responsible Vendor Program online.
Elliott said the ABC Board has not adopted the rules to allow the online training.
A spokesman for the ABC Board said online training is already taking place.
But Elliott disputed that and said the ABC Board’s rules contradict the 2023 law.
“It’s very frustrating for the Legislature, an entire branch of government, to be ignored by the bureaucracy,” Elliott said.
“We’ve passed this piece of legislation. We have communicated with the ABC Board about what the legislative intent was, communicated by phone call or in person, in writing what the intent was.
“And some 18 months later, we still have no rules promulgated by the bureaucracy that is charged with doing it,” Elliott said.
Elliott released a copy of a letter he wrote to the ABC Board in September. The letter said the 2023 law was intended to remove barriers for businesses to participate in the Responsible Vendor Program.
Elliott‘s comments came at Thursday’s meeting of the Legislature’s contract review committee. The committee, which meets monthly, reviews state agency contracts and asks representatives of the agencies questions.
Any member of the committee can delay contracts for up to 45 days. But the committee cannot permanently block or kill a contract.
The ABC Board did not have any contracts on the committee’s agenda on Thursday. Elliott said he put a hold on all the other agencies’ contracts to put pressure on the ABC Board to implement the law.
Dean Argo, manager of government relations and communications for the ABC Board, issued a statement in response to Elliott’s comments.
Argo said online training for the Responsible Vendor Program is allowed and has been taking place for some time.
“The 2023 law by Sen. Chris Elliott did not require the ABC Board to promulgate rules or change any existing rules,” Argo said.
“A private association approached the ABC Board three months ago and requested that several rules regarding the online training presentation be clarified to benefit its members.
“The ABC Board agreed to do (so) because the clarifications did not impact whether or not online training was offered. However, there was disagreement over how incorrect answers offered online were processed.”
Argo said the ABC Board plans to consider the rule change at its meeting next week.
“During its regularly scheduled meeting on October 17, 2024, the Board asked staff for some additional research on what other states are doing regarding online RVP Training,” Argo said. “The proposed rule modification is on next week’s (November 14, 2024) agenda.”
Elliott said Argo’s statement was misleading.
“The statement from the ABC Board is the type of classic bureaucrat double speak that frustrates small business owners and their representatives alike,” Elliott said in an email.
Elliott cited an ABC rule that says: “The format of the course of instruction shall include face-to-face training and question and answer opportunities.”
“This is obviously not conducive to online training,” Elliott said. “To say otherwise is just wrong.”
Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, a member of the Contract Review Committee, opposed Elliott’s decision to hold up all the contracts.
“I think it’s unfair to the agencies that come here and present their case and have a blanket objection to any of the contracts being approved,” Beasley said.
“I’d like to move that we rescind the senator from Baldwin County’s request. If he wants to object and hold ABC, that’s his prerogative. But I don’t think we need to hold everybody else.”
Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, said he understood Beasley’s point. But Pringle said the committee has always operated under the rules that one lawmaker could hold contracts without consent from other members.
“One member does have a right to hold every contract,” Pringle said. “And that’s just kind of the way this committee works.”
Elliott said his purpose is to put pressure on the ABC Board to implement the 2023 law. He said he would lift his hold on contracts when the board adopts the rules for the law.
“I’m hoping that this fairly dramatic step here will get their attention,” Elliott said. “And I’m hoping to provide a little bit more incentive to them and pressure all the people in this room to deal with this issue as they should.
“This has been something that’s been going on for months and months. We pass laws and the governor signs them, and we expect them to be enacted by the executive branch.”
The Alabama Responsible Vendor Program is a voluntary program for licensees that sell and serve alcohol. To be certified, businesses must train all employees who sell and serve alcoholic beverages on topics such as Alabama liquor laws, legal age determination, civil and criminal penalties, and risk reducing techniques.
“Obviously, I represent an area that‘s very heavy in the restaurant and hospitality world, they want to have more people responsibly trained to be servers,” said Elliott, whose district includes Baldwin County’s Gulf Coast beaches. “That’s a good thing for them. It’s a good thing for their insurance.
“And so why the ABC board is not moving forward on this, I don’t know. I’m thinking they’re going to get the message after today.”
The contract review agenda included 60 contracts with a total cost of about $80 million.
Alabama
AAA Alabama advises on what to expect with seasonal gas prices
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Right now, gas prices are up by 3 cents since last month, but 20 cents less than what they were this time last year.
As for the rest of the year, Clay Ingram with AAA Alabama says it will continue to go down.
“When we get to the fall, that’s when we typically see our gas prices in a declining, downward trend because our demand is declining,” said Ingram.
Despite people traveling for the holidays, Ingram says less people travel when it gets colder outside, hence why prices are at their lowest in January and February.
If you see a price uptick during the holiday, find another gas station.
“Some stations try to bump their prices up a little higher than they need to to kind if make some extra money. We need to be sure we’re price-shopping during those times and not rewarding those stations for trying to take advantage of us,” said Ingram.
Ingram says prices can go up during the hurricane season if a refinery or pipeline is damaged in a storm. None were in the path of impact this season.
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Alabama
LSU to reportedly have a live tiger on the sideline for game vs. Alabama on Saturday
This weekend, No. 14 LSU will take on No. 11 Alabama in a massive SEC matchup. LSU will reportedly have an unexpected presence on the sideline Saturday: a live tiger.
Per multiple media reports, the Tigers will have a live mascot for the first time in nearly a decade, with state Sen. Bill Wheat confirming the news to the Louisiana Illuminator. The school has not had a tiger in the stadium since 2015, following the death of mascot Mike VI from cancer in 2016.
The return of the tiger is seemingly in response to Gov. Jeff Landry, who said earlier this fall that he wanted to bring a live mascot back to LSU. Surgeon general Ralph Abraham, who is a veterinarian, has also been instrumental in the operation. Per the Illuminator, Landry set up an unofficial committee to lobby LSU on the issue, involving Wheat, who is also a veterinarian.
Wheat told the Illuminator that the live mascot will not be Mike VII, the 8-year-old tiger who became the school’s mascot in 2017. Mike VII lives in an enclosure across from the stadium, and has never attended an LSU football game.
Abraham had reportedly suggested bringing in a second tiger to address concerns about bringing Mike VII to a game. The origin of the second tiger and whether it will be taken care of by the school is currently unclear.
Mike VI, the previous mascot, was the final tiger to grace the sideline at Tigers games. As with previous Mikes, Mike VI was placed in a trailer cage and brought to the stadium, and was occasionally provoked to roar.
Mike VII, the current mascot, was donated from a sanctuary in Florida as a cub in 2017, according to a website run by the school, at which point the school decided to stop the gameday tradition. Per the school, LSU has not bought a tiger since Mike III, and has only adopted cubs from rescue facilities.
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