Media Contact: Shannon Thomason
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Upward Bound Program will receive a $10,000 grant from the Birmingham Bar Foundation.
This summer, UAB Upward Bound students participated in a Birmingham Bar Foundation “Resolve to Solve” series, which walked students through effective strategies for deescalating situations, communicating, thinking critically and resolving conflict.
Charletta Wiggins, UAB Upward Bound director, says students and their families do not have access to basic legal education. Her department reached out for help from the Birmingham Bar Foundation, which offered them the “Resolve to Solve” virtual series. It was a valuable experience for the students and helped them learn effective conflict resolution skills, Wiggins says.
“The facilitators at the Birmingham Bar Foundation were immediately impressed by our students and their commitment to learning,” Wiggins said.
After the successful summer program, UAB Upward Bound was awarded $10,000, which will be used for participants and their families in the initiative. UAB Upward Bound’s partnership with Birmingham Bar Foundation will help its students and their parents in their understanding of law, which will facilitate positive change in society.
“We understand that change doesn’t happen in isolation, and involving more students and families in this learning process is vital,” Wiggins said. “We are grateful for the opportunity and look forward to this partnership and the significant impact it will have on both our students and the community.”
The Upward Bound Academy at UAB is funded by the United States Department of Education to enhance development of its participants, who are often socially and economically underrepresented. The program provides academic instruction, counseling and support services for first-generation college students, and helps them successfully complete both secondary and postsecondary education. The program serves several high schools in Birmingham, as well as the Greater Birmingham area.
Birmingham Bar Foundation was established in 1994. It encourages the volunteer and educational efforts of the Birmingham Bar Association for the promotion of justice in the community. For 20 years, the foundation has offered grant awards to nonprofit organizations that offer access to justice and civic education.