On Saturday, September 9th, 2023, 344 volunteers gathered at 18 different Birmingham community sites to participate in the 24th bi-annual "Into the Streets," a program for students, faculty, and staff designed to support UAB's mission of forming partnerships that enhance education, health, economic prosperity, and quality of life.

This event was made possible through UAB Leadership & Service Council and UAB Student Housing and Residence Life. Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA) takes pride in being one of the 18 community partners who embraced this initiative. Volunteer tasks ranged from the humble act of picking up litter to the more labor-intensive efforts of cleaning, disinfecting, painting, and landscaping at community sites. Among the locations were many popular Birmingham places such as Railroad Park, East Lake Farmers Market, and Birmingham Zoo.

Six of the community sites were located in LHSA's demonstration zones, including Dupuy Alternative School in Kingston, Barrett Elementary in East Lake, Memorial Park in Titusville, Greater Birmingham Ministries in Druid Hills, Bankhead Towers in Central City, and the UAB Child Development Center on campus. Each of these sites had hydration and cooling stations donated by LHSA partner Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.

Trina Holmes, LHSA Community Engagement Manager, emphasized the significance of this initiative stating, “Participating in community service, especially, directly contributes to our goal of making good health simple. When we invest in cleaning up the spaces where we live, work, and play, we're not just enhancing one’s physical health, but also nurturing a sense of well-being that extends to every aspect of our lives. It's about creating environments that support our overall health and vitality."

Live HealthSmart Alabama extends gratitude to all the exceptional partners and volunteers involved to ensure the success of the event. The next Into the Streets will be held in Spring of 2024. Join LHSA next year as one of our 1,000 Volunteers.