Councilor Sonja Smith

06/06/2026

A historic day for Birmingham and District 8. Today, Birmingham leaders joined representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new USCG training facility on the former Birmingham-Southern College campus. While honoring BSC's deep legacy as a pillar of our community, this new chapter brings vital federal investment and job creation directly to our neighborhood. We look forward to a strong partnership that keeps our community moving forward.

06/04/2026

Welcome Home Mrs. Wilder! Today we had the privilege of helping cut the ribbon on a newly-renovated home -- part of the Housing Authority Birmingham District's Home Ownership Program. This program focuses on creating pathways to homeownership by building new homes on HABD-owned sites and rehabilitating existing properties in targeted neighborhoods.

06/04/2026

A new chapter is on the horizon for Belview Heights! 🏗️

Before the transformation begins, we're taking a look at the current site for one of our District 8 ARPA Projects, The Belview Heights Gateway Project. These renovations represent an investment in the community, creating a space that will better serve residents for years to come.

Stay tuned as we follow the progress and share updates every step of the way. The future of Belview Heights is taking shape!

06/01/2026

In this edition of our Small Business Spotlight, we sit down with Refresh Clothing to discuss the power of mentorship, community, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

From guidance and encouragement to real-world experiences, mentorship can help shape futures and inspire young people to reach their full potential.

Watch the conversation and learn why investing in others makes a lasting impact.

05/25/2026

The YLI Juneteenth Essay Writing Competition is officially LIVE today!

Students rising into 6th–8th grade are invited to submit a 500-word essay for a chance to win cash awards, school supply bags, and more while reflecting on the powerful lessons of Juneteenth.

Scan the QR code on the flyer to access the application and submit your essay electronically. We can’t wait to read the inspiring voices of our future leaders!

Link to Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR0RjsbHsaXyDBXws3QQ63vhR5LmApZ1KjdjlmT59yU6LN_Q/viewform

05/17/2026

05/11/2026

Huge thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who showed up for Cleanup Day! 💚 Your hard work, energy, and dedication made a real difference in our community.

05/07/2026

Our Cleanup Day is only a few days away, and we’re ready to make a difference together! 🌎 Join us on May 9 as we come together to help keep our community clean, beautiful, and strong.
A special thank you to our sponsor, Serious Injury Law Group, for generously providing breakfast and lunch for our amazing volunteers! Your support helps make this day possible. 💙
We can’t wait to see everyone out there making an impact. Let’s clean up District 8 together!

05/06/2026

Our teachers do so much more than teach—they inspire, support, and shape the next generation of Birmingham. Today was just a small “thank you” for the big impact they make every day.

We appreciate you! 🙌🏽✨

05/06/2026

As you know, we are expecting potential severe weather this afternoon through overnight. Alabama Power is prepared and ready to respond in the event of any outages.

✅ Report a Power Outage: Customers can call 1-800-888-2726 to report an outage. This line is available 24/7.

✅ Residential Customer Service: Residential customers can call 1-800-245-2244 to report any issues with residential properties. This line is available Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Central.

✅ Business Customer Service: Customers can call our Business Support line at 1-888-430-5787 to report any issues with businesses. This line is available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central.

✅ Alabama Power Outage Maps: Customers may utilize our Outage Map and Outage Alert system to receive real-time information about outages in their area.

✅ Follow Along: Customers can follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information and updates and visit

Are you prepared for severe weather? for tips on storm safety, winter prep and managing usage.