North Birmingham Library Hosting Women's Health Issues Event Friday, March 11

Join North Birmingham Library , 2501 31st Avenue North, for a discussion on women's health at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, March 11, led by Dr. Nadia Richardson, founder and executive director of No More Martyrs. 

Attendees will get a chance to compete for a cash prize of $250 and more prizes. Registration in advance is required, Call (205) 226-4025 or drop by North Birmingham Library for more information.

The following week at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, Inglenook Branch Library is hosting another women's health issues workshop, featuring Bridget Rene, a yoga specialist instructor. Learn more about Bridgette Rene by reading this February 2021 BhamNow spotlight on 7 Black women yoga instructors in Birmingham.  

The workshops are funded by a $20,000 grant The Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library received from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (CFGB).  

Both programs are among several Women's History Month programs BPL is hosting during March.

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.

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.