[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6266646,"mediaKeyId","3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f","parentId",3086864,"title","Montgomery joins Mayor's Neighborhood Academy with Harlem Children's Zone to expand cradle-to-career services","audioSeconds",93,"startMs",1288000,"endMs",1381000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f&start=1288&end=1381","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f/thumbnail_1288000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6266646/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Montgomery-joins-Mayors-Neighborhood-Academy-with-Harlem-Childrens-Zone-to-expand-cradle-to-career-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266646-75b2a6322a268b31289f5dc467d9f9a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193564&Signature=NNOeKhcJd3qCxisnY0gj6hVInokAqbMIFQyAnokCN-7VeO2G9ptZi~bHHy4GSp3sjmNYJLeoKU-pLp-wRfAZA8qIhmuwl5KhLlIVsvtQceMd5LvtprH0HVtIIkTg4040FvRFWUEQ6S6TtcRFNoHhfPXJ5uRm8I-JfDSYb5UR2aLwdiy0Vp~V7lgKcSwqRzu1RiyUqlB913XpBm9A8EB1UgdCRe6X0wDzoDkqhibrzBA3i8ML7nYD5nRKcbYWvtFA4dWePoKpiHpFbOFfUqOSOOJ9ZiDL97-iYIxKfFgerXfUPvkoukswZ1wSCDTMEgN13bmC1wk9xfDCAnBJH2PUrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery City, AL","date","2025-04-23T00:14:57.003Z","article","Mayor Steven L. Reed said Montgomery will participate in the Mayor's Neighborhood Academy in partnership with the Harlem Children's Zone to pilot a cradle-to-career approach to student and family supports.

Reed described the Harlem Children's Zone model—longer school days, Saturday activities, adult education, workforce development and wraparound services such as healthcare, food and mental-health supports—as a comprehensive blueprint the city plans to adapt. He said the program’s founder, Geoffrey Canada, and his team have decades of experience deploying cradle-to-career strategies in other cities and that Montgomery leaders hope to adopt proven practices locally.

Why it matters: Reed framed the partnership as a way to address barriers students face outside the classroom by coordinating education, after-school programming, family support and workforce pathways. He said the approach is intended to improve educational outcomes and long-term economic opportunity.

Reed said the city will look to expand school-day and weekend programming, connect students to health and mental-health services, and provide family and adult education as part of the effort. He described the selection as an opportunity for Montgomery to “adopt best practices and to utilize [the Harlem Children's Zone's] blueprint” to improve outcomes for children and families.

Ending: Reed said the city is excited to collaborate with national partners and that officials will share more details as implementation plans are developed; he did not announce specific neighborhoods, budgets or start dates on the podcast.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The Mayor's Take: Episode 4","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Reed said Montgomery was chosen to participate in the Mayor's Neighborhood Academy with the Harlem Children's Zone to adopt a cradle-to-career model focusing on education, health, workforce and family supports.","taxTitle","Montgomery City, Montgomery County, Alabama","taxId",3930,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266651,"City reports crime declines as Montgomery opens community centers and expands violence-prevention programs",79,1161000,1240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f&start=1161&end=1240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f/thumbnail_1161000.jpg","/articles/6266651/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/City-reports-crime-declines-as-Montgomery-opens-community-centers-and-expands-violence-prevention-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266651-2ec2e768ed1740ab70951aa0257c8bb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193564&Signature=CnOYdzFkxa3uofMFG~DpCEVr-ukCA7SD4DxaHYSMD5XGtQb06oMC0kTkW1sKJ5Mu3OF8jSjXHU8eeFSeSU6TFe80-d~RtaXe8LA33kJR6wnBiCg4asWhe~v6r71b5yfxj0yfmJAHwI20yIszPXJrte2pOy9JAjaOsnRmPnauBnA5-nNsvUH-UmOUJwEnbUeihmmtDzH9EH7bROtiv3AFEa4YVyygDgyKjfy1K9ofch9sRrZfWShxi7x8BA52RGFGlVxvFsD8UNO47n-JceaUVSxE5wSe0c5rtBTgPwLl7~~Y05bJFMAIdISd9V~zWYwNXdcE9nCGpdT4yGqBD7ip1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Steven L. Reed said Montgomery saw early signs of declining crime and highlighted a suite of community investments the city is rolling out, including renovated community centers and violence-prevention staffing.

Reed said the city recorded \"a first quarter drop of, you know, 15% overall, 22–24% in some areas,\" and credited coordinated efforts by the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. \"It is good to see the data,\" he said, while adding that officials will not relax efforts to reduce violence further.

Why it matters: Reed framed reductions in crime as linked to community programming and prevention, not just enforcement. He said the city has launched or expanded an Office of Violence Prevention and a Community Violence Intervention Program and is staffing those efforts to increase outreach and support.

Reed noted specific community-center investments, including a $2.5 million renovation of the Chisholm Community Center and upcoming work at Sheridan Heights and the Courtney Pruitt Community Center on Calmar Drive. He said renovated centers will offer programming such as gaming, health and wellness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, with a different approach to staffing and services.

Reed said the combined approach—enforcement partners plus wraparound services and centers—was intended to reduce violent incidents and provide alternate pathways for young people. He emphasized the need for sustained community involvement and said progress will require continued investment and coordination.

Ending: Reed said the city will continue to roll out prevention programs and new programming at community centers and urged ongoing community participation to sustain crime reductions.","Mayor Reed said Montgomery saw an overall first-quarter crime drop of about 15% and highlighted investments in community centers, the Community Violence Intervention Program and the Office of Violence Prevention.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266656,"Reed criticizes Montgomery school board process, urges leadership that 'fixes the pain' in schools",136,726000,862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f&start=726&end=862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f/thumbnail_726000.jpg","/articles/6266656/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Reed-criticizes-Montgomery-school-board-process-urges-leadership-that-fixes-the-pain-in-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266656-beba15212ba1ea1ad81bedab31fe2f1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193564&Signature=o1Gco5MIwilGDUD4mib7iBtRWL6Guu6CgJn2UCw2RN~pkjTgV9B9AP3i2GriYhia06HxxKGyKrRtCTb5RbFkFf5nXtsAFPO3L6sknNZ-kQEGFLT8lxC9ZALVrTuIE1FhSv63nXTFkSjYi2rNakiMrPlHMijLTsGb7ypMd3t6J52aWxbNXFlj-~57ctV-pcsMOGDUwlVN09Qoata7cMFCEqdD-Iu0qdfP0WWDYfZNG5QNDF9O5RUX8OnKaSaMKnAjZnnVuQhOTMrNEQc~65w0Z~UNjr2KfqECLzEYZAmxR8gNYZQZs3r8Hiy2iZWt2AT2PtwcJ9bBGmluPbb501YdBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Steven L. Reed criticized the Montgomery school board's recent superintendent search process and urged the district to hire leaders who can improve academic outcomes.

On the Mayor's Take podcast, Reed said the city needs \"best in class\" leadership in the school system and cautioned against removing a nationally recognized superintendent for reasons of personal disagreement. \"You don't push out a superintendent who is nationally recognized ... because you don't get along with him,\" Reed said. He added, \"You gotta trade up,\" arguing that any replacement should clearly be an improvement.

Why it matters: Reed linked school leadership to student performance and to the city's ability to recruit and retain higher-paying jobs. He said Montgomery remains behind on reading and math scores and on absenteeism and that community leaders must “challenge parents” and teachers to improve outcomes.

Reed referred to the superintendent search directly, saying the process as conducted undermined trust because it was not forthcoming or transparent. He identified a “pain in our school system” that he said requires leaders who will address academic shortfalls, not leaders selected primarily for personal compatibility. Reed also noted his personal stake: his wife is a teacher and the city must support classroom effectiveness.

Reed referenced one individual by name from the search, saying, \"Dr. Byrd may be a nice guy,\" and added that the priority should be who can improve student results. He did not specify a timeline for further city-level involvement or any formal remedies the mayor’s office would pursue; his remarks were framed as commentary and a call for community involvement rather than a policy action.

Reed also framed education as linked to public safety and economic health: he said strong schools are key to workforce readiness for the high-paying jobs the city is recruiting. He reiterated that the city has added nearly 5,000 jobs since he became mayor and said employers ask about workforce capacity when deciding to locate here.

Ending: Reed urged the public to take part in school oversight and community engagement, and he urged the school board to adopt transparent, improvement-focused hiring practices.","Mayor Steven L. Reed said the school board's handling of its superintendent search undermined trust and stressed the need for leadership focused on improving reading, math and attendance.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266661,"Mayor Reed outlines downtown growth push, cites housing, retail and weekend street closures to boost activity",81,374000,455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f&start=374&end=455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086864-e4a1d286e3491100c04abe059b03313f/thumbnail_374000.jpg","/articles/6266661/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Mayor-Reed-outlines-downtown-growth-push-cites-housing-retail-and-weekend-street-closures-to-boost-activity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266661-f6ca0b5ade3ea2d88849348212a3013e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193564&Signature=GOOqeicuWHn4Ap-W3lqMXLv6zZq1XPYXbfag3z42W-g9xf-wuUXgNY-j~yGfW7bhz6H7WiuRZL5AyXDjmGIfW7fm3Bb8mT9-zGK9iBPHGmS02q-SpC5n99tv5eYA-Qv2Qcwy65k45EcDEBLv2~3WJ4ueRrs6V7-lvwGXXC4W1nH6q0Vwv3umGl632THFoN6H55gtOAAvQu61LN1qvLz11q3ahiv951ThvaHEMvkA2RL3Gw3CZ2Xg5qdnqIsjUqds-DYKC0Y8p-zUxMsiBF2hmcQdK72k21pxZHMWfy-4aD-IjoJXM0GAjY0xqIjltQUvWntn3xHfOoTNUODjvWlg5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Steven L. Reed said Montgomery is actively pursuing more housing and retail downtown and will use pedestrian-friendly street closures and events to draw residents and visitors.

Reed, speaking on the Mayor's Take podcast hosted by Daryl Hall, said, “We're going to see more lofts, more apartments, downtown, more retail establishments, downtown, to bring people there on the weekends.” The mayor framed those changes as part of a multi-year effort tied to convention center and arena planning that city officials say could shape the downtown experience in 2027–2028.

Why it matters: Reed said more housing and retail would support visiting conventions, concerts and other events and help Montgomery compete regionally for tourism and jobs. He described a strategy that pairs physical improvements—new parking decks and streetscape changes—with programming such as food trucks, outdoor tables and weekend activations to keep people downtown.

Reed listed several existing and incoming local businesses and venues as examples of the downtown mix, including Eugene's Hot Chicken, Cece's Daiquiris, Ravello, Central, coffee shops such as Prevail and the lobby and rooftop space at Trilogy. He also pointed to cultural sites—the Legacy Museum and EJI's sculpture park—as assets that create a walkable visitor route to the Riverwalk.

On attracting larger retailers, Reed said the city has “hooks in the water for some real, real big retailers” and that the recruitment conversations include questions about what downtown Montgomery should look and feel like in 2027 and 2028. He said the administration is talking with developers about loft conversions, apartments and ground-floor retail and that the city expects to close streets more frequently in spring and summer to create pedestrian spaces.

Host Daryl Hall asked where residents might go for dates or social outings; Reed pointed to museums, outdoor music on Dexter Avenue and the growing food scene as drawcards that the city wants to amplify. Reed urged residents to support events and businesses, saying turnout and spending are needed to sustain new offerings.

Reed did not provide a timetable for specific retailer announcements, and he framed arena and convention center projects as multi-year efforts that will require ongoing planning and developer agreements.

Looking ahead, Reed said the administration will continue to recruit housing and retail investment downtown, expand weekend programming and pursue the longer-term convention center and arena plans that city officials say are meant to transform downtown’s weekend and visitor economy.","Mayor Steven L. Reed told the Mayor's Take podcast that Montgomery is pursuing lofts, retail and events downtown to draw visitors and residents, and said the city is negotiating with larger retailers while advancing plans for a convention center and arena.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montgomery joins Mayor's Neighborhood Academy with Harlem Children's Zone to expand cradle-to-career services

City reports crime declines as Montgomery opens community centers and expands violence-prevention programs

Reed criticizes Montgomery school board process, urges leadership that 'fixes the pain' in schools

Mayor Reed outlines downtown growth push, cites housing, retail and weekend street closures to boost activity