Début Of Community Connection Series At BPL | First Topic: Legal Opportunities, Resources, & Services

Join us for our first Community Connection Series. Flyer design by Lisa Mitchell.

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is excited to début its Community Connection Series on Wednesday, August 3. Each week, the series will bring together a handful of organizations to share information with the public about opportunities, resources, and services related to a specific topic. 

The focus of the Community Connection Series' first event will be legal opportunities, resources, and services. Local organizations slated to host tables include Legal Services Alabama (LSA), the Cumberland School of Law's Public Interest Program, and Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham (VLB).

The idea for the Community Connection Series sprang out of BPL's recent Citywide Resource Fair, which offered the public a chance to gather information about opportunities, resources, and services available to them through community-based organizations and businesses. With over 400 guests in attendance and 70 organizations and businesses represented, the city's need for this type of event was unmistakable.

Legal Services Alabama (LSA) is one of the preeminent legal aid organizations in the country involved in bridging the civil justice gap through its recognized commitment to racial, social, and economic justice. LSA collaborates with other firms across the state and nation to find solutions to systemic issues caused by poverty and social justice inequities. LSA staff attorneys will be on hand next Wednesday to provide free, client-centered, civil legal advocacy. 

The Cumberland School of Law's Public Interest Program at Samford University is a law student-run organization that seeks to connect the community with free or low-cost legal services in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. Victoria Chaplin, the program's Co-Chair, will be present at the first event to distribute knowledge and contact information about these services. 

Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham offers free legal assistance to low-income Jefferson County residents. VLB's main areas of focus include housing (evictions, living conditions), finances (garnishments, bankruptcy), and family issues (divorce, custody/child support). VLB attorneys will be available to answer questions about these subjects. 

Each installment of the weekly Community Connection Series will feature a different theme. On Wednesday, August 10, the spotlight will be on opportunities, resources, and services available to Birmingham's older citizens. Please stay tuned for details. 

Education, jobs, mental health, physical wellness, and the environment are some of the topics that will be addressed in future chapters of the Community Connection Series. 

The Community Connection Series will take place every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Central Library. It is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

By Margaret Splane | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Development