🌱 Freedom Fest Return + Birmingham Express Transit Bus Fee Waived

Hey, neighbors. It's Friday in Birmingham and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the community.

But first, today's weather:

A p.m. t-storm or two. High: 88 Low: 69.

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Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. After three years, Birmingham is welcoming back the Freedom Fest in their civil rights district. This fest offers both workshops and panels covering history, justice, and advocacy, as well as a lineup of performances for music entertainment. This event will take place in Kelly Ingram Park Saturday, Jul. 29, and it will be a great sense of empowerment. (AL.com)
2. City councilor and Transportation Committee Chair Darrell O’Quinn has stated that the Birmingham City Council has waived riders’ Birmingham Xpress transit bus costs by paying $300,000 dollars to the BJCTA. Previously, riders of these buses spoke out about having to pay for both the Max transit system and the Xpress transit bus if they had to hop off of one and onto the other due to route changes. As a result, this free riding will be around for an entire year while BJCTA develops a new mobile payment app to make services more efficient. (WBRC)
3. The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health has recently launched certificate programs covering LGBTQ health and well-being. This curriculum offers both undergraduate and graduate-level certificates and pulls from the Schools of Public Health and Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. Faculty along with staff from the nonprofit organization Birmingham AIDS Outreach will lead a course in the program. (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Always Write, Never Wrong At North Birmingham Regional Branch Library (9:00 AM)
• Creative Arts For Adults: Quilt Block Sewing & Creative Movement At Woodlawn Branch Library (10:00 AM)
• Juneteenth Pop Up Art Exhibit At Studio 2500 (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Birmingham Public Library will be hosting an exhibit of local art by Leon Miller Jr. on Monday, Jun. 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.! For more information check out their website with the link attached. (The Birmingham Public Library)
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens is hosting its last iPhone and smartphone photography class on Thursday, Jun. 22 from 11:000 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here today! (Birmingham Botanical Gardens)
• Birmingham Museum of Art has announced its 2023 season of Art On The Rocks with Durand Bernarr as the headlining musical act and visual artist Amy Pleasant! You can find early bird tickets on their website. (Birmingham Museum of Art via Facebook)

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• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (June 20)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 22)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.