The projects represent an investment in neighborhood revitalization and community well-being.Three community-led projects have received mini-grant funding to help improve health, safety and neighborhood connections across Birmingham’s Northside communities. The grants are funded through the Cancer Prevention through Enhanced Environment Coalition, or Cancer PREEMpT, an initiative of the Cancer Awareness, Research, Engagement and Support Center, or CARES, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The coalition works with residents, community leaders and researchers to develop local solutions that strengthen neighborhoods and reduce cancer risk through improvements to social and built environments.
Through its mini-grant program, the PREEMpT Coalition awarded up to $5,000 per project to support three six-month initiatives focused on increasing access to resources, strengthening community engagement, and promoting long-term health and wellness. This year’s recipients represent Norwood, Evergreen and downtown Birmingham, with benefits expected to extend to surrounding Northside neighborhoods including Central City, Druid Hills and Fountain Heights.
In Norwood, funding will support the installation of a digital communication kiosk that will serve as a real-time information hub for residents. The kiosk will provide updates on neighborhood meetings, city events, public safety alerts and community resources. The project is designed to improve communication, increase resident participation, and strengthen awareness of opportunities and activities within the neighborhood.
A pedestrian safety pilot project in downtown Birmingham will use quick-build safety structures at locations where pedestrians face elevated risks from traffic. The initiative aims to improve accessibility, encourage walking, reduce injuries and help residents feel safer using public spaces. The project is intended to make neighborhood streets more welcoming community spaces where people can move safely and connect with one another.
The Evergreen Roots Community Garden will transform a vacant lot into a neighborhood resource focused on food security, education and community gathering. The project will provide access to fresh produce, hands-on gardening opportunities and a safe outdoor space for residents. Grant funding will support the construction of raised garden beds, accessibility improvements, soil, plants and other infrastructure needed to launch the garden.
The CARES Center, supported by UAB’s Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center and the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, is one of only five National Cancer Institute-funded centers under the Persistent Poverty Initiative and works to reduce the burden of cancer in area