Mayor, partners showcase RISE/Bulletproof Voices youth violence-prevention program

Mayor Randall Woodfin and city staff highlighted the results of RISE at Birmingham and introduced youth and practitioner participants from Bulletproof Voices.

Uche Bean, the city's director of community safety initiatives, told the council RISE was "a 30 day intensive program for both young people and adults" that combined morning leadership sessions, a youth entrepreneurship track, junior violence interrupter training and practitioner development for community leaders. Bean credited council funding and partnerships with Miles College, the Institute for Research on Social Justice and Action, Jefferson County Family Resource Center and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham for program delivery.

Several young participants described the program's mix of conflict-resolution skills and entrepreneurship training. "This is a was a very great program and everyone should have opportunity to do it," one participant said. Another student outlined plans to host community basketball games and a music festival to engage peers and promote safer neighborhoods.

Miles College representative Dr. Geralyn Agee said the college helped host the program and noted that scholarships were offered to participants; she said the college looks forward to continued engagement with the students. Officials said some participants included formerly incarcerated young people and those affected by gun violence and that the program aimed to offer mentoring and workforce pathways.

Why it matters: Council members said the program represents a shift from policing-first approaches toward prevention and youth development and highlighted that council funding made the program possible.

Next steps: City staff and partners encouraged continued funding and community partnerships to expand programming; the mayor and council thanked participants and invited continued involvement from community organizations.