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Goals and results discussed during United Way’s annual meeting

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — The Jefferson County District Attorney’s office last year launched a professional learning initiative and a program to prevent chronic absenteeism in schools,

Published

7 years ago

January 19, 2019

Oakland Post

By Erica Wright

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s office last year launched a professional learning initiative and a program to prevent chronic absenteeism in schools, said DA Danny Carr during a panel discussion held Thursday by The United Way of Central Alabama.

The discussion came during the United Way of Central Alabama’s annual meeting held at The Florentine Building in downtown Birmingham.

Carr talked about how his office works with the United Way in areas few would expect.

“A lot of people don’t think of the District Attorney’s office as being involved in prevention or being a part of the community because we prosecute individuals who have been accused of committing a criminal act,” Carr said, “… but I think it’s important that everyone knows some of the things that’s been going on through the Bold Goals Coalition as it relates to our partnership with helping families initiative.”

The Bold Goals Coalition of Central Alabama (BGCCA) was founded on collaboration — the theory that social change can happen more quickly when groups from different sectors come together around a common agenda to solve a specific social problem.

The panel consisted of Carr; Jon Barnacastle, program coordinator for Community Food Bank of Central Alabama; Dr. Lisa Herring, superintendent of Birmingham City Schools; Drew Langloh, president and CEO of United Way; and Joan Wright, executive director of Childcare Resources. Art Franklin, CBS 42 News anchor was the moderator.

Carr said initiatives from his office involved a deeper look into the daily school practices and training to prevent absenteeism.

“We want to make sure the professionals . . . have the resources, the knowledge and the skills they need . . . take the best approach toward dealing with that chronic absenteeism,” he said.

Herring spoke on BCS’s literacy efforts, which are an essential part on student success, she said.

“We have to start early literacy . . . we don’t wait until first, second or third grade,” she said, “we start as early as our four-year-olds, which is Pre-K, but all of that is important because embedded in our pillars really is the work that is highlighted in terms of the Bold Goals initiative,” she said.

BCS has expanded its Pre-K classrooms and early literacy programs, she said.

“Our children must read and they must read well and it is our responsibility to help parents have them read early and we thank United Way for these efforts that are allowing us together to make sure this happens,” she said.

Wright also talked about the importance of Pre-K programs.

“Research says that those positive, quality, early learning, nurturing relationships, nurturing caregivers in a high quality stimulating learning environment truly do make the difference,” she said.

Langloh said he is glad to see how well the coalition has worked.

“In five years, we’ve seen how it has grown from an aspirational idea and some very aspirational goals to some 200 partners working across some 25 different metrics in an aligned and measured way,” he said.

Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power Company, President and CEO and outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors for United Way, said more are being helped now than ever before through various United Way programs.The annual meeting is traditionally a time to thank the outgoing chairman of the board and welcome the chairman for the upcoming year.

“Almost 14,000 students received literacy support. More than 100,000 students participated in community based programs outside of school hours,” he said. “United Way’s Meals on Wheels program provided more than 196,000 meals to 825 households and 82,000 meals were served to over 1,100 children during the summer months.”

Crosswhite also announced that Mallie Ireland, who was the 2018 board vice-chair and a community volunteer, would be the new board chair.

“I’m really looking forward to working with this leadership team, staff and this incredible amount of volunteers that make United Way such a successful organization,” Ireland said. “I’m excited because these people recognize and know so much can be done to better our community through the efforts of United Way.”

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

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Oakland Mayor Pushes Charter Overhaul to Clarify Roles in City Government, Increase Accountability and Improve Service Delivery

Under the proposal, the mayor would serve as Oakland’s chief executive, overseeing city departments, implementing policy, proposing the annual budget, and managing day-to-day operations. The measure would also give the mayor veto power over legislation and the budget, though the City Council could override a veto with a two-thirds vote.

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Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is backing a sweeping proposal to restructure Oakland’s government, arguing the changes would make City Hall more accountable and improve the delivery of basic services like public safety, homelessness response, and infrastructure repairs.

The charter reform measure, introduced April 7 and co-sponsored by Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, would ask voters in November to approve a “strong mayor, strong council” system designed to create clearer lines of authority inside city government.

The City Council, meanwhile, would maintain legislative authority by adopting ordinances, approving budgets, conducting oversight hearings, and confirming key mayoral appointments. The proposal would also create an Independent Budget and Legislative Analyst Office to provide nonpartisan fiscal and policy analysis for councilmembers.

“I’ve spent months listening to Oaklanders across every neighborhood about what they expect from their city government,” Lee said. “The Charter Reform Working Group’s engagement made clear that residents want a system where there are no questions about who is responsible for delivering results on public safety, homelessness, infrastructure, and basic services.”

Jenkins said the proposal would strengthen both executive leadership and council oversight.

“I’ve long believed Oakland works best when residents have clear lines of accountability and a government structure that aligns responsibility with results,” Jenkins said.

The proposal follows recommendations from the Mayor’s Charter Reform Working Group, co-facilitated by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and SPUR.

Over five months, the group conducted more than 60 interviews, held 14 public meetings across Oakland, and engaged more than 750 residents while reviewing governance models used in other cities.

“The process of engaging residents across Oakland surfaced the governance clarity Oakland needs,” said Sujata Srivastava of SPUR. “The Charter Reform Working Group has produced a thoughtful set of recommendations that if adopted could strengthen accountability and improve service delivery across city government.”

Polling cited by the mayor’s office suggests voters may be open to the changes. A February 2026 poll by the East Bay Polling Institute found 64% of voters support adopting a strong-mayor system. Separate polling conducted by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and David Binder Research found support ranging from 61% to 63% among likely voters.

The measure is scheduled to be heard by the City Council Rules Committee on May 21. If approved by the council, it would appear on the November 2026 ballot, where Oakland voters would have the final say.

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The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Hold Day of Advocacy at the Capitol in Sacramento

A member of the “Divine Nine,” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was founded on Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The organization was established by 22 women who sought to shift the group’s focus from social activities to public service, academic excellence, and social activism.

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Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) presents a Senate resolution to the Delta Theta Sigma Sorority Farwest Region at the State Capitol on May 4. Photo courtesy of the Senate Rules Committee.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

On May 4, members of the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., convened at the California State Capitol for the organization’s 23rd annual Delta Days in Sacramento.

The two-day advocacy event brings together chapters from across California to engage directly in the legislative process, connect with lawmakers, and advocate for policies impacting Black communities.

Members of the sorority were honored on the Senate floor by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro), who is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta.

Richardson welcomed the Farwest Region during the presentation of a Senate resolution recognizing outgoing Regional Director Kimberly Usher for her leadership and service.

“In addition to the Far West Region, we are led by a fearless leader, regional director Kimberly Usher. She has now served her full term of what’s allowed,” Richardson said. “We are going to be having our regional conference, but we wanted to give it to her here, officially recognizing her service.”

The resolution was co-authored by Richardson and fellow members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and Delta Sigma Theta, Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

Usher has served in the leadership role since 2022.

“We are founded on sisterhood that is deeply rooted in scholarship, service, and social action,” said Weber Pierson, a member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

“Today, we continue a legacy of empowering communities and upholding the high cultural, intellectual, and moral standards established by our founders over a century ago,” she added.

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Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Protect Women in Custody After Reports Detailing Miscarriages and Neglect

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

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Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) on May 7, reintroduced updated legislation aimed at strengthening protections and healthcare standards for pregnant and postpartum women held in federal custody, including in immigration detention facilities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

The legislation builds on a bipartisan version previously passed by the House during the 117th Congress. The updated bill includes new standards for healthcare access, mental health and substance use treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, family unity protections and increased federal oversight.

“Proper pregnancy care is a human right, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody.”

The bill would also limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for pregnant women, improve data collection on maternal health in custody and require additional staff training and enforcement measures.

Supporters of the measure said the legislation is intended to address long-standing concerns about maternal healthcare and safety in detention settings, particularly for Black women and low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and health disparities.

“Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment that threatens their health, dignity, or the well-being of their babies,” said Patrice Willoughby, chief of policy and legislative affairs for the NAACP and a longtime public policy and government affairs strategist, in a statement.

A 2021 report estimated there are about 58,000 admissions of pregnant women into U.S. jails and prisons each year. Kamlager’s statement also cited a recent investigation by NBC News and Bloomberg Law that identified allegations of severe mistreatment or medical neglect involving at least 54 pregnant women or families in county jails between 2017 and 2024.

Federal policy under the Department of Homeland Security restricts the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants except in extreme cases. However, the agency reported that ICE deported 363 pregnant, postpartum or nursing women between January 2025 and February 2026, including 16 recorded miscarriages during that period.

The bill is cosponsored by several House Democrats and backed by organizations including the NAACP and the Vera Institute of Justice.