Community Connection Series September Schedule Kicks Off on Wednesday

 

 The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is excited to announce the September schedule for its Community Connection Series. The series takes place every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on the first floor of downtown's Central Library. Please join us this Wednesday, September 7, for the first event in this month's Community Connection Series.

Topics to be addressed this month include:

* Legal Assistance and Resources (Wednesday, September 7)

* Opportunities and Services for older adults (55+) (Wednesday, September 14)

* Housing Assistance and Programs (Wednesday, September 21)

* Early Intervention & Substance Abuse Recovery (Wednesday, September 28) 

Every Wednesday, BPL's Community Connection Series brings together a handful of organizations to share information about opportunities, resources, and services related to a specific subject. The events are free and open to the public.

This Wednesday, September 7, attorneys and representatives from the Cumberland School of Law’s Public Interest Program, Legal Services Alabama (LSA), and Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham (VLB) will be on hand to answer questions about your legal concerns. They will suggest the proper channels to take when searching for answers to your legal questions, as well as offer legal guidance. 

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 tomorrow to distribute knowledge and contact information about these services.

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 this Wednesday to provide free, client-centered, civil legal advocacy.

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 on Wednesday to answer questions about these topics. 

The idea for the Community Connection Series sprang out of BPL’s recent Citywide Resource Fair, which offered library patrons and the public a chance to gather information about resources available to them through community-based organizations. With over 400 guests in attendance and 70 organizations and businesses represented, the city’s need for this type of event was unmistakable. BPL’s next Citywide Resource Fair is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 1.

The Community Connection Series takes 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 you will join us this Wednesday, September 7!

By Margaret Splane|Library Assistant III, Development Department