Friends Foundation of BPL Receives $20,000 Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Grant; Will Fund Library Health Education Programs
 |
| Friends Foundation of BPL has received a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to provide health education programs at Inglenook & North Birmingham Libraries. |
The Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (CFGB) to fund a series of events in the North Birmingham and Inglenook Library branches.
The grant was received from the CFGB’s Jefferson County Department of Health Public Health Advised Fund. It aims to address the physical and mental effects of environmental racism on generations of women and children in Birmingham’s North Birmingham and Inglenook neighborhoods.
Over a three month period, BPL will host health events at its North Birmingham and Inglenook library branches, targeting communities who live near the ABC Coke plant, especially Black women and children. The programs will include health-focused learning sessions, on-site interviews and screenings, talks by medical and health experts, and take-home materials to extend these benefits into daily living.
The target launch date is the first quarter of 2022. If successful, these programs will continue beyond their initial three months to extend into the remainder of next year.
After the Jefferson County Board of Health received a settlement from Drummond Co. (owner of the ABC Coke plant) for $387,500 for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson told CBS 42 they wanted to give back to the communities impacted by the environmental health violations.
“I am glad to see these settlement funds being used for the health benefit of the community,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson in a statement to BPL. “On behalf of the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Board of Health, I wish to thank the Birmingham Public Library for their work to empower people with knowledge and tools that can lead to healthier lives.”
At the Inglenook and North Birmingham Branch Library programs, speakers from the health care industry and specialized services will share informational materials on health and wellness available to help them.
In addition to the series of programs, BPL has identified library books and pamphlets that address the prevention and care specific diseases, mental wellness, personal growth, and enjoyment. Many of the materials and books are written by Black women for Black women.
“As members of the community and based on BPL’s historically successful outreach efforts into these neighborhoods, we understand that programs offered after work—and with a meal—have much greater chance of success than those that require attendees to find and pay for childcare and dinner,” BPL said in its grant application.
Public transportation passes will also be offered for those who lack personal transportation.
The mission of the Birmingham Public Library is to provide the highest quality experience to our community for life-long learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. This system—with 18 locations and serving the community for over 130 years—is one of the largest library systems in the southeast. For additional information about the programs and services of the Birmingham Public Library, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BPL.
The Community Foundation was founded in 1959 by a group of generous, dedicated leaders, and though the issues facing our community change over time, our commitment remains the same. We are here to empower people, ignite passion and pursue our vision of a brighter future and a Greater Birmingham. For more information, visit cfbham.org.
Comments