April Newsletter - Division of Youth Services

April 5th
Fresh Air Family Wellness Walk
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
5:30pm—6:30pm
All Ages
MORE INFO: www.freshairfamily.org
April 9th
Healthy Kids Day
YMCA Youth Center
9am—1pm
MORE INFO: 205-324-1643
April 15th
Jefferson County DHR Child Abuse
Prevention Walk
YMCA Youth Center
10 am—1 pm
All Ages
MORE INFO: 205-324-1643
April 17th
Neo Jazz Collective presents
A Tribute to Bob Marley
Highland Conference Center
5pm
MORE INFO: 205-783-9880
April 20th
Auntie Litter’s 20 th Earth Day
Parade and Celebration
Kelly Ingram Park
9am-2pm (Call for reservations)
MORE INFO: 205-879-3009
William A. Bell, Sr., Mayor
Cedric D. Sparks, Sr., Executive Director
City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office
Division of Youth Services
808 North 18th Street
Birmingham, AL 35203
(P) 205‐320‐0879 (F) 205‐322‐7713
www.bhamyouthfirst.org
www.birminghamal.gov
City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office
Division of Youth Services presents:
WEE Read, A Journey Through Reading Land
In an effort to
encourage a
love of reading
among
Birmingham’s
youngest citizens,
the City
of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of
Youth Services (DYS) hosted its WEE
Read: A Journey through Reading
Land. This FREE event for K4 to 5 th graders
took place Saturday, March 26, 2011
from 10am - 1pm at the Boutwell Auditorium.
The first 100 youth that attended received
FREE autographed books from the 2011
WEE Read Authors which included:
⇒ Altheia Abdullah
⇒ Twana Bond-Jones
⇒ Michael & Tammie Coleman
⇒ Jessie Crawford, Jr.
⇒ Judith Glenn
⇒ Leah Holder Wiggins
⇒ Linda H. Jones
⇒ Jo Kittinger
⇒ C.L. Threatt
The “Journey through Reading Land”
included an assortment of fun activities
and rewards for those youth completing
the reading journey!
DYS would like to thank all of our partners
and volunteers who helped make
this event a huge success including: Purpose
to Read Book Club, Lego Store,
Birmingham Public Library, Real Life
Poets, and Vestavia Hills High School
Junior Honor Society.
April 2011

Be a part of Auntie Litter’s
20th Annual Earth Day Parade
and Celebration!
⇒ Wednesday, April 20, 2011
⇒ Birmingham, Alabama
⇒ Kelly Ingram Park on the corner of 17th
St. N and 5th Ave N
⇒ Enjoy live entertainment, science shows,
costume contests, educational exhibits,
and refreshments
⇒ The highlight of the day is the nation’s
largest Earth Day parade for children at
NOON
⇒ Space is limited
⇒ $1 registration fee per person
⇒ Financial aid available for schools
For more info, contact Auntie Litter at (205) 879-3009
AFTER SCHOOL
SNACK
Blueberry Smoothie
Recipe
1 cup frozen
blueberries
1 banana
1 container vanilla
yogurt (6 ounces)
1/2 cup milk
⇒ Place all ingredients
in blender.
⇒ Blend until
smooth.
Makes 2 servings
EARTH DAY HISTORY
On April 22, 1970, Gaylord Nelson, a
United States Senator, founded the first
Earth Day in an attempt to bring about a
better understanding of the affect we
have on our planet, and calling us to take
action to make positive environmental
changes in our community. The first
Earth Day was attended by 20 million
Americans nationwide, from college cam‐
puses to town halls, and giant teach‐ins
were organized in New York City and
Philadelphia, the latter event turning into
a seven‐day event known as Earth Week.
This small attempt to start something of
this scale on the national level brought
millions of people to band together in
their neighborhoods, starting grassroots
campaigns to help revolutionize the way
we handled waste, recycling, power con‐
sumption, and conservation in general.
That event set a powerful precedent for
the rest of the world, eventually inspiring
more than 140 nations all around the
globe to have their own Earth Days.
By the year 1990, over 200 million people
on Earth were participating in the event,
making it one of the most‐attended or‐
ganizational activities ever created, even
being called “the largest secular holiday
in the world” by the Earth Day Network,
the nonprofit organization that is in
charge of the event on an annual basis
since its inception in 1990.

BROTHERS OF 1 VOICE
T
he Brothers of 1 Voice represent
a brotherhood that came together
with a shared objective aimed at
shedding light upon experiences that
were evident upon the campus of Samford
University. After observation of
these grievances, they felt compelled to
take the initiative to enact change not
only on their campus but also within the
community. The members include:
Jeremy Towns, Junior
Leader in RANSOM, Student Athlete
Advisory Committee, Dean’s Excellence
Council, Samford Ambassador, Football
Team
Joshua Smith, Junior
Major: Exercise Science (Pre-Physical
Therapy)
Marching and Symphonic Band
Jay Malone, Sophomore
Beeson Scholar, President of Black Student
Union, Student Recruitment Team,
Howard College Ambassador
Marquis Bell-Ard, Freshman
Major: Sociology, Minor(s): Political Sci-
ence, Philosophy
Samford University
Debate team member,
BSU Chair of
the Fundraising
Committee, Samford
Democrats
member, Gay/
Straight Alliance
member
Sidney Jordan,
Freshman
Major: English with
a Concentration in
Film and Religion
RANSOM, The
Bridge(Bible study),
Resident Assistant,
Football Team
My name is
LeVar Williams.
I am
10 years old
and in the
Fifth Grade
(Ms. Higgins
Class) at
Epic Elementary
School. After finding out that I missed the opportunity to run
for SGA office, I decided that I would run for King. Being King
would give me the opportunity to experience leadership that will
help others.
As I began to prepare for this journey, I asked my mother for
help. Many of my schoolmate’s parents and grandparents are
in the political arena. In my mind I knew that it would be tough
running against my school mates. Therefore, my mother and I
developed a strategic plan that would better my chances in becoming
the King.
Cameron Thomas, Freshman
Major: Religion
SGA Senator, Black Student Union
Parliamentarian, Samford University
Ambassador, Youth Pastor at St. Mary
MBC, Lincoln, AL
Brother’s of 1 Voice
Devyn Keith , Junior
Major: Family Studies
Staff Member at YMCA
Jamael Lett, Senior
Major: Sports Medicine
Dean’s Excellence Council, RANSOM,
Football Team
KING LEVAR WILLIAMS
With encouragement and support from my mother, I set off on a
journey. Along this journey I meet with following State, Government
and City Officials: The Honorable Mayor William A. Bell,
Sr., Mr. Jarvis Patton (Chief of Operations, City of Birmingham),
and Mr. Cedric Sparks (Executive Director, City of Birmingham
Division of Youth Services), Mr. David Merrida, Jr. (Associate
Director, Birmingham Construction Industry Authority), Mr.
Michael H. Bell, (Executive Director, Birmingham Construction
Industry Authority), Ms. Mary Moore (Alabama State Representative),
and Ms. Patricia Todd (Alabama State Representative),
to name a few. All of which made the journey smoother each
day. For that I am truly grateful.
Having won the title of King is very important to me. As an intelligent
young man, I am honored with the privilege of representing
my school to the best of my abilities. I feel it would be
my responsibility to represent my fellow students as well as myself
in any responsibility that I am given. I will take this responsibility
seriously and do everything within my power to uphold
the standards of EPIC Elementary School.
KING LeVar Williams

Here's a list of stuff you can
reduce:
⇒ Turn off lights you're not using.
Better yet, encourage
your parents to switch to
compact fluorescent light
bulbs. They last longer and
use less energy. They do
need to be disposed of properly,
though, so make sure
your mom or dad helps if one
breaks.
⇒ Turn off the water when
you're brushing your teeth.
⇒ Unplug the chargers for your
phone and MP3 player when
you're not using them.
⇒ Put your computer to "sleep"
instead of leaving it on with
the screensaver running.
Here are some ways to reuse
the stuff you have:
⇒ Use rechargeable batteries
for your handheld computer
games, MP3 players, cell
phones, and digital cameras.
⇒ Choose reusable travel cups
instead of disposable paper
or plastic cups.
⇒ Drink tap water instead of
buying bottled water. Get a
reusable water bottle so you
can take it with you.
⇒ Organize a swap among your
friends. What can you swap?
Books, toys, even clothes.
It's a way for everyone to
get something new without
spending any money. Set
aside some items for your
swap when you're cleaning
your room!
⇒ Take paper from your computer
printouts and use the
other side for more computer
printing or just to draw
or doodle on.
Recycling has never been easier.
Many communities will pick it up
right in front of your house and
some towns even require it. Tell
your mom or dad you want to
become "Chief of Recycling" for
your household. That means
you'll organize the recyclable
items in bins, remember to put
them on the curb on recycling
day, and help remind others
which items can be rinsed and
recycled.
What Can Be Recycled?
⇒ Plastic Bottles
⇒ Cans
⇒ Glass Bottles
⇒ And more
Recycled goods go to a recycling
center, where they can be
crushed, broken down, and later
turned into new cans, bottles,
and paper.
What else can be recycled?
Sometimes water can be. For instance,
some communities take
used water — like from the washing
machine and shower — and
clean it up so it's safe to use for
watering the grass and flowers.
Info provided by www.kidshealth.org

G
lobal Youth Service Day is an annual campaign
that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children
and youth who improve their communities
each day of the year through service and service-learning.
Established in 1988, Global Youth Service
Day is the largest service event in the world, and the only
day of service dedicated to children and youth. GYSD is
celebrated each year in over 100 countries.
W
hat does it mean to be green?
"Green" is more than just a
color. It also means taking special
steps to protect the environment
— the water, the land, and the air
we breathe. Why green? Plants are green,
and without them the Earth wouldn't be
such a lovely home for us human beings.
GulfSouth Youth Action
Corps Summer Program
Make the most of your summer. Join the
Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps for a one-of-akind
summer service learning experience.
The GYAC Summer corps gives students
and teens in the Greater Birmingham Area
access to valuable and life-changing summer
enrichment programs. If you are between the ages of 17 and
25, apply today to become a mentor and counselor. Corps members
will be eligible for more that $2,500 in stipends and education
awards in recognition of your service.
For more information go to the GYAC website
at www.thegyac.org or contact Monique McKinstry Shorts at
205-705-3273.
Each year, millions of children and youth around the world
work together with schools, youth organizations, nonprofits,
community and faith-based organizations, volunteer
and national service programs, government agencies, faith
communities, and other individuals to address the world’s
most critical issues and change their communities on
Global Youth Service Day.
GYSD IS THE LARGEST SERVICE
EVENT IN THE WORLD.
Interested in planning a project to participate in Global
Youth Service Day? Visit. http://www.gysd.org for tools,
resources, and more information.
BASEBALL SEASON
IS UNDER WAY!
Contact Coach Fred Plump,
Commissioner of the Piper Davis
Baseball League to register with a
team in your area at (205) 616-3309

Magic City Chess U Strikes Gold at
2011 Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship
C
harles A. Smith, Founder and Executive Director
of Magic City Chess U, struck gold last week at
the 2011 Alabama State Scholastic Chess
Championship tournament, held in Daphne, Alabama
on March 25-26, as four of his students – Tyler Anthony,
Zhuowei (Charby) Xu, Logan Mercer, and Samson
Sands – were named State Chess Champions on March
25th. This brings the total number of individual state championships
won by Smith’s students to eleven since 2003.
W. J. Christian School, where he teaches a chess elective,
remained undefeated throughout the team competition on
March 26th to take first place as the State’s Jr. High Team
Champion.
Commenting on his students’ achievements, Smith said, “I
reinvented the way that chess should be taught to today’s
children, grabbing their attention, introducing them to the
art of chess, and giving them the cognitive understanding
to be chess champions.”
⇒ Tyler Anthony, an 8th grader at W. J. Christian
School, tied for 1st place in the Jr. High Section. Tyler
began learning chess two years ago in Smith’s elective
in 6th grade.
⇒ Zhuowei (Charby) Xu, who has been under Smith’s
tutelage since 2006, took home the first place trophy
for the Middle School Section for 2011. He was also
the Alabama State Scholastic Chess Champion for the
Elementary section in 2008, and was one of three who
tied for first place – Elementary in 2009.
⇒ Logan Mercer, who has studied with Smith privately
for approximately four years, earned the Alabama
State Scholastic Chess Champion’s title in the Elementary
section.
⇒ Samson Sands earned the state’s top individual spot
in chess for the Primary school section. He begun receiving
instruction from Smith earlier this year.
Students representing the W. J. Christian chess team at
the tournament were: Sydney Morris, Na’Tan Shipman,
Tyler Anthony, Craig Taylor, Brittany Grady, and Gerardo
Soto.
Magic City Chess U Team
RAIN OR SHINE!
Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Girls Inc.
5130 5th Terrace South, Bham 35212 12pm - 3:00pm
Come join us for our 2nd Annual Crestwood Spring Festival!
We'll have horse rides, bouncy castles, face painting, make your
own bird feeder, mini-golf, and many more activities - including
live music by local musicians. FREE hotdogs, funnel cakes, and
drinks.
Artwork by local artists will be for sale.
Bring a picnic blanket and come hang out with neighbors and
share some good food and good times!

William A. Bell, Sr., Mayor
Cedric D. Sparks, Sr., Executive Director
City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services
808 North 18th Street Birmingham, AL 35203
(P) 205-320-0879 (F) 205-322-7713
www.bhamyouthfirst.org