I have been volunteering with Desert Island Supply Co. since the organization was founded in August 2009. Inspired by programs such as 826 Valencia and the Austin Bat Cave, the Desert Island Supply Co. is run by passionate volunteers who believe in the power of storytelling and are dedicated to providing Birmingham students with more opportunities to write. I help spread the word about DISCO’s work and reach out to people who might want to partner with the organization, volunteer at writing booths, donate money or enroll their children in DISCO workshops. If you live in Birmingham and would like to join in the fun, let me know. And feel free to share information about DISCO with others who might be interested in participating in our workshops and projects.

The Birmingham Art Collective’s The Show at Woodlawn attracted many people from all over the  Birmingham metropolitan area to this historic neighborhood for a night of art, music, and poetry.  I am pleased to have partnered with The Collective, Main Street Birmingham, and several other members of our community to increase awareness of the revitalization efforts underway in Woodlawn, highlight the work of several incredible artists, and bring attention to upcoming cultural and economic development opportunities.

Historically, arts and culture have played a key role in rebuilding cities, and many in Woodlawn are honing in on this trend. In “Cultivating ‘Natural’ Cultural Districts,” Mark J. Stern and Susan C. Seifert state:

Their social impact on neighborhoods is the arts’ critical link to economic revitalization. Empirical research suggests that culture–like other forms of civic engagement–strengthens relationships among local neighborhood members as well as their determination to be involved in community life. At the same time, because of the participation patterns it generates; culture, more than other activities,  fosters connections across neighborhoods and social groups. This dual role–strengthening communities and building bridges between them–best explain’s culture’s effectiveness.

There is definitely some momentum in Woodlawn and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with others who have common hopes for this place and its people. If the local residents, business owners,  and organizations like The Birmingham Art Collective continue to move forward with a spirit of collaboration and a shared vision, those of us who wish to see Woodlawn become a vibrant cultural district might get exactly what we want.

Print by Jill Marlar, one of The Show at Woodlawn’s featured artists.

Below are some thoughts I wrote shortly after the Woodlawn United Methodist Church sanctuary was destroyed by fire.  Over the last few months I have crossed paths with others who desire to see restoration in our place.  There are many many people who share this vision and I look forward to seeing the fruit of our labor.

I am passionate about the city of Birmingham for many reasons. I long for redemption, restoration, and revitalization, but my love for this place is not dependent on those things. Loving my neighborhood requires the ability to see beauty in the midst of brokenness.   Many can’t bear the thought of moving into the Woodlawn area because they don’t want to be around the empty buildings, decay, steel plant, train tracks, pawn shops, and poverty. There is so much here that testifies to the fact that everything is not always pleasing to the sight, and we don’t have the money and power that is necessary to build a facade.

Even though I embrace my place and am able to see my surroundings in ways others can’t, I still long for and appreciate that which is inherently beautiful. Woodlawn Methodist Church was a symbol of history, life, and hope. Being able to see this magnificent building from our home and driving past it each day while out and about in the course of our ordinary lives was comforting. Because it takes energy and effort to see the beauty in things that most people think are ugly, it is refreshing to have opportunities to see beauty in a restful way. And so my heart breaks. In this sense, my sorrow is very selfish. My heart also breaks for those who have more of a connection to the building and for those who are a part of Woodlawn Methodist’s worshiping community. Some of our neighbors are members of the church, and it was so hard for them to watch their beloved building become a pile of wood, stone, and ashes. We talked, remembered, and attempted to hope. Because that’s what we do. We see the destruction and brokenness, but we also long to see some beauty from the ruins.