News - Woodlawn United

(WE) Lead Fellowship Program

January 20, 2021

Since Woodlawn Foundation's founding in 2010, Woodlawn Foundation's mission has been to serve as a catalyst and facilitator for the transformation and revitalization of the Woodlawn community in Birmingham into a vibrant and sustainable community in which its residents have an opportunity to thrive.

The (WE) Lead Fellowship Program was developed to address the Woodlawn Community's gap in access to leadership development opportunities

A Journey Across America: Insights From Eight Weeks of Community Development - Mashonda S. Taylor

January 20, 2021

The last quarter of 2023 was a whirlwind tour across various cities in the United States - from the vibrant streets of Washington, D. C

Transformational Healing Through the Power of Yoga

January 20, 2021

This Black History Month, Woodlawn United is sharing the stories of local leaders supporting Black Health and Wellness in our Woodlawn neighborhoods. Meet Jamella Stroud, owner of Sacred Body Fitness

Woodlawn United: New Brand, Same Mission

January 20, 2021

Since 2010, the Woodlawn Foundation has served as a catalyst and facilitator for the transformation and revitalization of the Woodlawn community.

Our goal: to work alongside Woodlawn's residents and business owners to create the vibrant and sustainable community they envision

(WE) LEAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM CREATES SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN WOODLAWN

January 20, 2021

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but (WE) Lead is where the rubber meets the road for program fellows, an intergenerational group ranging from early 20s through retirement. (WE) Lead’s priority is to give fellows real-life skills they can use as members of the Woodlawn community in personal, professional, and civic capacities

Woodlawn Foundation Now Accepting Cryptocurrency

January 20, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, AL (December 28, 2021) - Woodlawn Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the holistic revitalization of the Woodlawn community in Birmingham, is excited to begin accepting cryptocurrency. On Tuesday, December 28th, 2021, the organization accepted its first Bitcoin donation from supporter Clay McInnis, owner of Commerce Consulting based in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, and early adopter of cryptocurrency

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Returning to Lead: Why Breakthrough Birmingham and Its Fellows Give Me Hope

Last night, I received a message from Mariohn Michel, Executive Director of Breakthrough Birmingham. She invited me to join her and the summer fellows for a visit to Equal Justice Initiative and its National Monument to Freedom. At first, I wasn’t sure I would make it. My schedule has been full, and the morning was creeping in fast. But I had given my word—and I believe in honoring my word. So this morning, I got myself together, cleared my mind, and joined them. And I’m so glad I did. Every summer, Mariohn leads an incredible program that brings college students—freshmen through seniors—from across the country to Birmingham. These fellows serve as mentors and teachers to rising seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, helping them avoid the all-too-common summer learning loss. Some of these fellows are from places like DC or Chicago, but many are products of our own Birmingham City Schools. They’ve left for college, but there’s something about this program, about this city, that draws them back. I had the opportunity to sit next to Brielle on the bus. A proud graduate of Ramsay High School (go Rams!) and now a political science major at American University, she represents the best of what’s possible when our students are nurtured and supported. As we talked, she asked whether she should consider a dual degree or minor in economics. Without hesitation, I said yes. I shared with her my belief that to shape a better future, especially for Black and Brown communities, we need to prioritize four things: people, place, policies, and economics. Too often, we’ve been left out of the rooms where decisions about business ownership, generational wealth, and homeownership are made. If we’re going to shift that, we need more leaders who understand how those systems work—and who are willing to disrupt them for good. As our conversation continued, I told her about my recent visit to Harvard and our discussions on walkable cities. Her eyes lit up—she’d already been researching walkable cities on her own time. She talked about what she loved about DC: the walkability, the access to culture, the freedom to move and connect. When I asked what it would take for her to return to Birmingham after college, she said, “That’s a loaded question.” I didn’t need the answer right then. What mattered was planting the seed. Because rebuilding communities doesn’t just happen from the top down—it’s co-curated. It’s shaped by people who left and are willing to return. But we have to ask: what are we bringing them back to? Throughout the day, I also met two young women from Jamaica and Nigeria, both students at Talladega College. They came to the U.S. because they wanted an HBCU experience—and they chose Alabama to find it. Their global perspectives add such depth to our local conversations, reminding me that leadership doesn’t always start at home, but it often finds its way there. After walking through the Sculpture Park, Mariohn gathered us in a circle and asked each person to share a word or phrase that captured what they were feeling. No repeats. The words filled the air: legacy, seen, powerful, inspired. And standing in the middle of that circle, I realized—these young people are not just learning to lead. They are leading. So today, I want to say thank you. Thank you to Mariohn Michel for your leadership, vision, and commitment to nurturing the next generation. Thank you to Breakthrough Birmingham for creating a space where students don’t just return—they rise. And thank you to the fellows. Your brilliance, your questions, your courage to come back home (or make this place your own) gives me so much hope. The future isn’t waiting—it’s already in motion. And it looks a lot like the bus ride I took today: full of passion, promise, and purpose.

From Storefront to Strategy: Building Woodlawn’s Business Ecosystem from Within

A Message from our Economic Vitality Director Eight years ago, my family and I opened Club Duquette—a lifestyle brand and storefront that took root in the heart of Woodlawn. It was more than a business; it was a gathering space, a place for community, and a practice in listening and learning. Woodlawn didn’t just shape our brand—it shaped me. So when the opportunity came to build out the Economic Vitality component with Woodlawn United, stepping back in felt like a natural continuation of the journey. This week, I spoke on a panel for Small Business Week on Nonprofits, hosted by the City of Birmingham’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development. The conversation was moderated by Carlos Aleman, CEO of HICA, and featured Angela Abdur-Rasheed, Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Prosper. Both brought grounded, forward-thinking perspectives shaped by deep experience in community advocacy and cross-sector collaboration. Their contributions moved the discussion beyond abstract goals and into the real, lived dynamics of economic and cultural growth. It was a chance to reflect on how nonprofits show up in this ecosystem—not just as service providers, but as co-builders in economic development. I shared answers to some of the very questions that shape our work: How are we building with, not just for? Are we creating space for local identity to thrive? Are we making sure local business owners and residents have a voice in shaping what comes next? Before that, I spoke on a panel for the Alabama Leadership Initiative alongside other Woodlawn United team members. And just recently, I had the honor of attending the Purpose Built Communities conference. Across all of it, one truth echoed: transformation doesn’t happen in silos. It starts with place—with where you are, who you’re building with, and whether you're truly listening. What I saw at Purpose Built was proof that dreaming big works—but only when rooted in the community’s own stories, partnerships, and belief systems. It reminded me of something we’ve always known in Woodlawn: legacy is everything. It’s the soul of a neighborhood. And when you build from within, when you honor the identity of a place, you attract the kind of businesses that don’t just show up—they stay. Economic development can’t just be about shiny new buildings. If we build without small business at the center, we risk losing the very culture that makes our cities vibrant. Small businesses are the heart of the city. They tell its story. They offer the kind of texture and welcome that big box stores never could. Money can help you grow—but identity helps you last. So here’s where we are now: building the ecosystem with intention. Supporting the businesses already here. Attracting new partners who are ready to align with the values of the community—not extract from it. It’s about living wages, welcoming spaces, and public-private partnerships rooted in real trust. The best collaborations feel like family—messy, real, but rooted in belief. In Woodlawn, we believe in dreaming big withour community. Because you can’t transform a place unless you’re willing to be transformed by it. And Woodlawn? It’s still transforming me. Together, we’re not just building businesses—we’re building a future where every resident sees their story in the success of Woodlawn. If you’re a partner, business owner, resident, or someone who believes in the power of place, we invite you to join us. Let’s build a community where everyone thrives!

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(WE) Lead Fellowship Program

A Journey Across America: Insights From Eight Weeks of Community Development - Mashonda S. Taylor

Transformational Healing Through the Power of Yoga

Woodlawn United: New Brand, Same Mission

(WE) LEAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM CREATES SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN WOODLAWN

Woodlawn Foundation Now Accepting Cryptocurrency

Our Blog

Returning to Lead: Why Breakthrough Birmingham and Its Fellows Give Me Hope

From Storefront to Strategy: Building Woodlawn’s Business Ecosystem from Within

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Annual Reports

2024 Annual Report

Woodlawn Sunday Dinner