Ensley Rising Part 2 - Functions in the Junction This Weekend

The joint will be jumpin’ in Ensley this weekend, thanks to a lot of dedicated folks who work tirelessly, year after year, to make something happen in Ensley, of all places.

I say “of all places” because it seems to me that the broader community tends to ignore this side of town. Oh yes, many fondly remember the Ensley of yesteryear, when it was a fairly prosperous and independent slice of Birmingham, virtually a town within a city. The Ensley community had a number of distinct residential neighborhoods, all connected to the central downtown that boasted its own high rise, the 10-story Ramsay-McCormack Building.

When steel was king, the Ensley Works employed up to 28,000 workers. They kept dozens of Ensley eateries, clothing stores, and a wide range of other businesses humming along for decades, and the neighborhoods filled with laborers and managers. It was a vibrant community with a large ethnic mix of African Americans, Italians (including the Bruno family), Jews and Greeks.

So I know it’s hard for folks from the heyday to see Ensley as it is now, in decline — many business buildings closed and in disrepair, and rows of substandard or vacant housing –and grappling with the perception and reality of crime.

But it’s also why I take my hat off to the men and women who against those odds have worked hard to bring about the signs of rebirth and renewal going on in Ensley’s residential and commercial areas. And this new life are being celebrated this weekend with two important festivals.

The Function at Tuxedo Junction Festival is celebrating its Silver Anniversary on Saturday, July 23, at Erskine Hawkins Park. For 25 years, a small group of dedicated women and men stayed on the grind despite their circumstances and lack of broader financial support.

The original festival organizers were determined to restore pride to a neighborhood. “Back then, Tuxedo was a low-income area that was mostly housing projects,” says Magnolia Cook, chairwoman of the Function at the Junction organizing committee. “So our community resource officer at the time, Mr. James Cotton, said ‘Let’s do something to celebrate what happened here, to honor the great musicians who came from Ensley.’

“‘Tuxedo Junction’ was known around the world because of Erskine Hawkins’ song. We are so grateful to him for putting Birmingham on the map the world over. So we decided to have the festival around the time of his birthday (July 26),” Cook says. “Up until the time he died, Erskine Hawkins came home every year to perform in the parade and the festival.”

For 25 years, the little group has pumped out this concert series that now attracts as many as 10,000 people annually. Headliner acts have included the BarKays, the Zapp Band, and of course, the Temptations, whose lead singer, Eddie Kendricks, was born in Ensley. This year’s headlining group is Lakeside.

As always, The Function at Tuxedo Junction starts with the parade at 10 a.m. and goes throughout the day with music, food and fun until 10 p.m. The Annual Parade leaves at 10 a.m. from Bethel A.M.E Church on Avenue D between 14th and 15th Streets Ensley and ends at Erskine Hawkins Park.

The musical lineup includes:

The Christian Heart Gospel Singers
Praise Dancers
The Golden Hummingbirds of Birmingham (gospel)
The Pillars (gospel)
The Reminder Band
Season to Please
Birmingham Heritage Band (jazz)
Force Five Band
Velvet Touch Band
Roots Posse (reggae)
Kalu (blues/jazz)
Lakeside

The Silver Anniversary festivities will take place virtually across the street from the new Tuxedo Terrace, a HOPE VI development of the Birmingham Housing Authority that is a vast improvement to the neighborhood.

Other improvements planned for the area include:

• More new housing in Sandy Vista by the Bethel Ensley Action Task Force (BEAT);
• A multi-million dollar push to restore and adapt the Ramsay-McCormack building into senior housing, a project guided by Main Street Birmingham;
• Heritage development and historic preservation activities at the old Nixon Building, another Main Street project, and other historic sites;
• A park, walking trails and potential future housing developments at a new park planned near Village Creek, spearheaded by tireless members of the Village Creek Society in Ensley, and guided by the City’s Urban Planning division;

The Function at Tuxedo Junction has this year spawned another event to build on the success of Ensley merchants in the downtown business district.

Jubilee on Avenue E is a Main Street Birmingham celebration in the heart of the business district on Friday, July 23, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.. It starts with an unveiling of an historic marker in Downtown Ensley, and continues with jazz music featuring Jose Car, and continues with more music, arts and fashion organized by WE ARE Rtists. You can download the event flyer here.

This event highlights the downtown renewal led mainly by its strongest catalyst, lawyer Antonio Spurling, who has bought and renovated several buildings in downtown Ensley. Its newest Ensley merchant, David Bowers of TriBeCa, the fashion store is also adding to the mainstay businesses such as Cotton’s clothing store and Gilmer’s Drugs. Learn more about the happenings in the business district on the merchant’s website and about Ensley on its Facebook page.

There is so much more to tell, about meetings with Ensley community leaders who are passionate about doing more to revitalize the area. But that’s for another newsletter, as I have run kind of long here.

But if you can make it out to Ensley for the weekend festivities, I’m sure you will have a good time. I look forward to seeing you out there.

Have a great day!

Vickii

Southern Comfort presents Blues & BBQ with Chef Jeff Henderson this SUNDAY!

MILES COLLEGE PRESENTS THE 2010 PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP BALL, “AN EVENING AT THE ACROPOLIS”

Join us for an evening of elegance as Miles College Presents The 2010 President’s Scholarship Ball, “An Evening at the Acropolis.”  This black-tie gala will take place Friday, April 9, 2010 at The Birmingham Sheraton Grand Ballroom at 7:00p.m. with an Opening Reception that will begin at 6:30p.m.

This new event will feature dynamic performances from our music and performing arts students.  Plus, local rhythm and blues sensation Milean and soul artist Jaafar will perform selections from his debut album, “Travel Light.”

This is an evening of dining, dancing and entertainment you don’t want to miss! So join us for an evening of class, culture and civility as we prepare to raise scholarship dollars for Miles College students.
For advance tickets and table reservations please call (205) 929-1444 or email us at supportscholarships@miles.edu.  To find out more about “An Evening At The Acropolis” visit us on-line at http://www.miles.edu/acropolis.asp

Morris Day and the Time to perform for the Inaugural UNCF Birmingham Masked Gala 2010

BIRMINGHAM, AL– The Alabama-Mississippi Area Office of UNCF – United Negro College Fund – the nation’s oldest and most successful minority education assistance organization, today announced the highly anticipated guest entertainment planned for its Inaugural UNCF Birmingham Masked Gala 2010, its 65th annual fundraiser, to be held Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, 2101 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard, North.

Morris Day and The Time will electrify the UNCF audience this year, following a moving Masked Gala program and dining, with flashback hits, including “Get It Up,” “Cool,” “Girl,” and “Jungle Love.”  We look forward to the artist who first posed that infamous question - “What time is it?” - to do what he does best.  Joined by The Time band, Morris Day “will generate infectious music and a performance that inspires all to get up and move.” (Morris Day and Masked Gala pdf images are attached.)  In addition to the announced guest artists, plans are underway to showcase special entertainment from among the dynamic student talent of Alabama’s-own UNCF member institutions.  These artists and their colleges or universities will be announced in the coming weeks.

UNCF Birmingham Masked Gala 2010 is a signature black-tie fund-raising event in support of UNCF and its five member colleges and universities in Alabama.  Spearheaded by newly appointed and former UNCF Director Walvid King, who most recently served as Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Stillman College, the event is expected to attract a host of community and business leaders, spanning the generations, who strive to give back to their community by assisting students who have all the potential it takes to succeed, despite their economic circumstances.

Birmingham couple and business professionals, Herschell and Majella Hamilton, serve at the helm of this year’s fundraising effort as UNCF 2010 Campaign Co-Chairpersons.  Both attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., an Historically Black College or University (HBCU).  Fairfield Mayor Kenneth Coachman and Attorney Juandalyn Givan serve as Gala Planning Committee Co-Chairs.

The UNCF Birmingham Masked Gala 2010 will encompass a black-tie optional dinner-dance fundraiser and reception, scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  The evening will include elegant dining, “MASKED” Award Presentations, a Parade of Masks, dancing and live entertainment.

“We are grateful that Birmingham corporate, business, and community supporters for their commitments to make our inaugural Birmingham Masked Gala 2010 a success by pledging substantial contributions to help educate young leaders of tomorrow,” said Walvid King.  “To ensure a successful event, our Leadership and Planning Committees are striving to create a memorable experience for all guests.  But we need your individual and collective support as we work to provide vital funding and scholarships for students who are in critical need of our assistance to get their college educations.”

Last year, the UNCF Gala raised many thousands of dollars to support deserving students who attend UNCF’s 39 member colleges and universities across the nation.  This year, the Birmingham Masked Ball will support nearly 300 Alabama students who attend UNCF member institutions. The 2010 UNCF Leadership and Planning Committees have set a goal to raise $300,000.

In 2009, UNCF supported approximately 60,000 students at 900 colleges and universities with approximately $195 million in grants and scholarships. About 60% of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and 62% have annual family incomes of less than $25,000. UNCF administers over 400 named scholarships.

Young Professionals Unite for Haiti

Young Professionals Unite for Haiti. Join us on Monday, January 18, 2010 with live entertainment at the Rouge Tavern as we seek to raise $5,000 with the City of Birmingham and a group of young professionals and community partners.

Community Partners Include: City of Birmingham, Birmingham Roundtable, Birmingham Urban League, Code RED, First Friday…s Birmingham, Red Cross of Greater Alabama, Rotaract, School of Hip Hop,Upgrade Magazine, 98.7 KISS FM, Urbanham.com and many more.