2017 Annual Report and More

2304 12th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35234-3111 | 205-326-6821 | www.gbm.org | facebook.com/GreaterBhmMin | @GreaterBhmMin

Living I t O u t

Thanks to you, GBM finished 2017 strong with a successful fundraising campaign, raising $105,000, and assisting 206 families with toys, clothing, bikes and food for their children at Christmas.

GBM’s members helped us pursue our mission of serving people in need, building community among a diversity of people and pursuing justice on behalf of people who are most vulnerable and marginalized in our community.

We will strengthen our resolve for the challenges of 2018 as more and more of the safety nets for people living in poverty are eroding. We offer hope to the people we serve with your help.

Mary Jones consistently stresses to GBM’s Direct Services Clients the importance of voting. We recently received this note concerning her steadfast efforts -

To Whom It May Concern:  I, Kantonia Coleman informed Ms. Jones of GBM that my experience and privilege to vote has inspired me as a parent to teach my children at an early age of the benefits to using their right to vote.  To prepare my kids, I decorate ballots for them and write the candidates’ names on paper in which they mark their preference.  Teaching them early is an amazing thing.  It gives them confidence for the future to be a self-proclaimed individual. 

Great job, Mary!

Our 2017 Work Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival$105,000 FundraiserVoter Outreach to 12,000 homes and 60,000 phonesVoter registration and restoration of voting rightsLaunch of #StandAsOne coalition Mayoral Candidates ForumSupported Immigrant Community calls for Sanctuary and Welcoming CityCommunity Defenders Program Created Poverty SimulationsBan The Box passed by Council on Islamic-American Relations, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal Diocese of AL, UMC North AL Conference Food, clothing and utility assistance for nearly 10,000 people

Organizational Funders 2017Alabama State Conference of The NAACPAll Saints Episcopal ChurchArlington Partners Charitable Foundation Inc.Autism Society of AlabamaAvondale UMC Fellowship Sunday School ClassBaptist Church of the CovenantBBVA Compass Charity Employee Charitable Contributions ProgramBirmingham Annual Conference CME ChurchBirmingham District AME Zion ChurchBirmingham District CME Church Continue on Page 3

Summary of 2017 Financials

Individuals

EmployeeCampaigns

FaithCommunities

Foundations

Endowment

Corporations

FEMAFood

Other

DirectServices

EconomicJustice/SystemsChange

FaithinCommunity

Management&General

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Income

Expenses

Birmingham District CME ChurchBirmingham Friends MeetingBirmingham Islamic SocietyCAIR AlabamaCawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.Center Point Presbyterian ChurchCentral Alabama Building & ConstructionChapel In the Pines PresbyterianCheaha District North AL Conference UMCClub Entre AmiesCombined Fed. Campaign of Ctrl Al, Inc.Community Foundation of Greater BirminghamCovenant Class Canterbury UMCCovenant Community ChurchDawson Family of FaithEBSCO Industries, Inc.Edgewood Presbyterian ChurchFederation Of Child Care Centers Of ALFidelity CharitableFirst Congregational Church General FundFirst Presbyterian Church BirminghamFrank And Fred Friedman Family FoundationGASPGreek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos SocietyHispanic Interest Coalition of AlabamaIndependent Presbyterian Church FoundationMary Reynolds Babcock FoundationMary's HouseMissoMountain Brook Presbyterian ChurchMountain Chapel United Methodist ChurchNeo PhilanthropyNetwork For GoodNew Orleans Workers' Center for Racial JusticeNorth Alabama Conference, United Methodist ChurchOld Shady Grove Baptist ChurchOur Lady of Sorrows Youth MinistryPleiad FoundationPresbyterian Women of Sheppards and LapsleyRegions Endowments and FoundationsSaint Francis Of AssisiSaint John CME ChurchShades Valley Presbyterian ChurchShepherd of The Hills LutheranSolutions IncSouth Highland Presbyterian ChurchSouthern CompanySouthminster Presbyterian ChurchSouthside CME ChurchSouthside CME Church Benevolent FundSt. John CME Church, EnsleySt. John CME Lay CouncilSt. Luke's Episcopal ChurchSt. Mark the EvangelistSt. Mark's Episcopal Church Deacon Discretionary FundSt. Peter's Catholic ChurchSt. Stephens Episcopal Church Disc AcctSt. Thomas Episcopal Church Deacon DiscretionaryStephens FoundationTemple Beth-El Rabbi's Discretionary AccountTemple Emanu-El The Benevity Community Impact FundThe Caring Foundation Blue Cross & Blue ShieldThe Church Of The Ascension Episcopal Church WomenThe Clark And Janice De Jonge Family FundThe Johnson Family Foundation, Inc.The Needmor FundThe Steve R. Spencer Family Legacy Endowment PlanThirgood Memorial CME ChurchTrinity United Methodist Church

Continued from Page 1

UAB Benevolent FundUnitarian Universalist Church BirminghamUnited Missionary Baptist ChurchUnited Way of Central Alabama, Inc.Valley Christian ChurchValley Christian CValley Pearls Service FoundationVestavia Hills Baptist ChurchWells Fargo Community Support ProgramWestminster Presbyterian Church

Individual Funders 2017Hussein Abdul-LatifLivy AbeleDalia AbramsBen ActonCheryl AdamsCynthia AdamsDennis AdamsJanet AdamsMary AlessiCatherine AlexanderJohn AlexanderSherrie AlexanderEllen AllenWilliam AllenMyron AllensteinAdina AlpertBrenda AlstonCory AltheideElena Alvarado-StrasserAbdul AlwahiidMeg Ambrose-BrownLexi AmbroseGilda AndersonJaimie AndersonKirsten AndersonLaura AndersonWalter AndersonMallory AndertonMs. Gail AndrewsLynn AndrewsMark AntoniewiczSengaja ApesJane ArcherJack ArmitageMarlene ArnoldFreddi Lynn AronovAdam ArringtonBrandon AshleyCammie and Charles AtkinsLynn And John AultCarmen AustinKatherine AvantTobie and Bernard AxelCharles BakerDot BakerMildred BakerJim BallWilliam BallGregory BarnesJoni BarnettDave BarnhartSusan BarrowAmy BarskyLori BatemanJesse BatesMs. LaVeeda BattleAnna Bauman-Smith

Clarence BaynesJames and Patricia BeairdJames and Jean BeasleyJoellyn BeckhamAvivi and Mark BehelJan BellMadeline BennettFiona BennittElna Jean BentleyAmy BergalRichard BerlinerAlbert and Patricia BerstNeal and Anne BerteKaren BertrandStanley BibbsCarol BinderG S BinderGregory BinderDavid BishopMs. Joan BlackJoseph BlackLeslie BlackBill and Anne BlackerbyJames and Mary Lucia BlacksherStephen BlackwellMarie BlairMicah BlairWilliam and Mary Blake Jr.Irene BlalockKaren BlatterAlexander BlokhKim BoettnerMolly BoltBarbara BonfieldMinnie BookerMr. & Mrs. Gene BorgoszNicholas Bouler IIIMark or Cheryl BournEd BoutwellClinton BowieMary Ellen BowlingChristina BradleyJ. Lawrence BrasherLaura Valentine BreedloveJames BremanCarol BrobeckSharon BrombergJanet BronsteinAnnie BrownCourtney BrownMrs. Geraldine BrownGrayson BrownLeland BrownPaula and Bud BrownThomas BrownEllen BruckJackson BryantJack and Vicki BrymerMichele BudgessChristina BullockStanley BullockKathryn BurdetteLaura BurksRoy BurnetteKendra BurnsElisa BurtCecile BurtonAmy ButcherJoAnn Butler

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Jeanette CampisiMark CarignanDouglas CarpenterClinton Carr Sr.Rev. Clinton and Kecia Carr, Jr.Kathleen CarrollMike CaseyPatrick CaseySean and Laura CaseyYvette CashioCassandra CasiasMariah CastleClaire ChandlerTiffany ChaneyKatherine ChapmanBen ChastainAmy ChauvinLydia CheneyRebecca ChiapponeShirley ChildsMartha ChitwoodPeter ChristiansonSara Dominick ClarkSusan CleageMike and Liz ClecklerJudith CloeMr. & Ms. Rafe CloeAnne CobbLois and David CohenMaayan CohenGayle ColeScott ColeRev. Sondra ColemanMr. Charles Collat Sr.Rob CollinsSusan CollinsHaley ColsonBrad ColtraneWilliam ColvinAlison ConantMs. Magnolia CookRuth CookCharles CooperHope and Leon CooperLee CooperBetty and Bill CopelandGlenda Corley-TophamJanice CottonMrs. Carolyn CrawfordThomas Crawford, Jr.Myra CrawfordAdrienne Crenshaw-RowlandCarla CrowderCaitlin CruzWilliam CullenJames and Judy CullinanAdele CulpColleen CunninghamBeth CurryJames CurryGuillermo DacumosGuy and Pam DaltoJeanne DAngeloLorne DannMac DauphinSusan DavenportLinda and Bob DavidJ Mason DavisLea DavisMarissa Davis

Dr. Natalie DavisRobyn DavisRoderick DavisWilliam DawsonCarol DeanJoseph Dean, JrMary DeanSharon DeanTanya DebroSamantha del CastilloMs. Gloria DennardMr. William Denson IIIDavid DerbesLinda DerocherPaul DeRuvoTon & Vaughn DeVosIlse DiasioPat and John DicasMelinda & Harold DickinsonDeborah DiehlLaurie DillEva DillardTodd DillashawWynne DimockLeda DimperioCarolyn DoakBetsy DobbinsElizabeth DobbinsMs. Jo DobbinsRachel DobsonJames DonaldsonRachel DoughtyLynn DouglasMarva DouglasScott Douglas IIIShelley DouglassNewstell DowdellAnnye DowningSallie DownsColeen and William DukeLinda DumasMichelle DumasNancy and Gary DunavantStephen DuncanWilma and Kenneth DuncanRyder DiazDavid DunnMichael DunnavantDenisha DurdenLawrence DurhamAnne DurwardSusan EarleJuliet EaslickMartha EcholsMary EdgarJeanette EdwardsMuna El FituriGloria ElcockDana EllisRev. Joe Elmore Sr.Lisa EngelLauren EphriamBarbara EptingMs. Kaydee Erdreich-BremanSarah ErdreichAndrew EsakovMary EtheridgeAshleigh EubanksRebecca Eubanks

Claire Lewis EvansCora EvansKatherine EvansRebecca EvansJoseph EversoleVicki FarleySallie FarmerDL FaulkinberryHala FawalGeoffrey FeaginGabriella FeingoldJim FenstermakerGloria FieldsCarol FifieldBarbara and Larry FineMs. Marion FintelRosemary FiskMia FitermanDr. William Fitzpatrick III M. D.Margaret FlemingSue and Andy FlintMary Forbes ReedKen ForbesAnne FordeGeorgina FornalMary FosterArbe FowlerAmanda FranklinDr. Arthur and Linda FreemanNed FreemanSusan FreezeBarbara FrenchJennifer FriedlinBarbara FriedmanMr. Bob FriedmanShirley FroehlichSharon FugateRonald FunderburgPeter and Ann FurstNick and Jo Anne Gaede, Jr.Abigail GamblesAndrew GardnerValerie GarnerLanier GartlandRonald GarzaLee GastonYvonne and David GauntHarlee and Nannette GauseIndira GautamDelores GermanyPamela GetzCaroline GidiereRon GilbertBryant GillSteven GilmerLaura GilmourDr.& Mrs. David GlasgowRichard GlasgowRobert and Barbara GlazeBarbara GlennSonia GlennieSusan GlissonGreg GloverSusan and Mark GobleCarissa and Chadwick GodwinDebra and Joel GoldsteinRichard GoldsteinElliot Goodenough

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Mr. T. Michael GoodrichHoward GoodwinTroy GossJenna GrantSonya GravleeMs. Joyce GreathouseHon. Carnella Greene NormanDwight GreeneRev. John GregoryAnn GriffinCarole GriffinLaShondia GriffinRaymond and Priscilla GriffinJames GrimesBrandon GrisaffiColette GrodnerMr. Gary GroomsTrudie GrumanSherrie GrunfeldCleophas GuiceVirginia and Edward GuindonMarla Gutierrez-PattersonGrace GwinAnn HaasWade and Pamela HaddockKhaula HadeedLaquita HallJohn HamDollie HambrickBruce HamiltonJohn HancockJudith Hand-TruittAshley HannanJanice HansonJeanine HansonMs. Doris HardySeneta HardyMike HarperOliver Harper M.D.Thomas HarrellWillie Mae Tigner HarrisJohn HarrisonZoe HarteSusan HaskellWyatt HaskellJessica and Herman HatchDr. Beverly HawkTheron HawkinsLovie Jean HaydenCharles HayesArlene HayneDylan HaynesDale HeadSandra HeberlingBrian and Sarah HeckertJane HendersonJoanne & Matt HenningLucia HermoDelaney HicksHeather HiestermanMr. Mike HigginbothamRev. Lawton HiggsDr. Connie HillGail HillHeager and Nettie HillLida HillRobert HillHolly Hilton

Mr. Carey and Bill Hinds Jr.Lisa HoangMargaret HodgesJoel HoffmanShoshanna HolmanWilliam HolmesSusan HoltNellie HoneycuttJill HoogstraDana HookJill and Mark HopkinsJenell HoustonLee HowardRebecca HowellRev. Clinton Hubbard Jr.Rev. Kelley HudlowAnne Hudson-PriceRichard HudsonChad HullettSteve & Stephanie HuntMatthew HunterDr. Jeanne HutchisonRobyn HydenBrent HymerJames IrbyDr. James IsobeChervis IsomJoshua IvkerBen Ivey JacksonJames JacksonMichele JacksonDr. Stewart JacksonWalter F. JacksonWillis JacksonRamona JacobsRichard and Linda JaffeJothany JamesJulia JamesSusan JamisonLisa JesseFelix JoffrionMary Johnson-ButterworthDr. Barbara JohnsonBarbara JohnsonGracie JohnsonJean JohnsonKathleen JohnsonMerwyn S. JohnsonStan and Gracie JohnsonThomas JohnsonAlexandra JonesArthur JonesFrancine JonesLeonard JonesMary JonesMary and Leonard JonesMischa JonesRichard JonesRoxanne JonesSherri JonesWilliam JonesWilliam and Margaret Jones Jr.William and Terri JonesMr. Anthony JosephMicha JosephyMichael JuneauMariame KabaLisa Kahn

Helen KellerMarty & Leland KellerBay KelleyKamonte KellyRaQuitta KempRichard KendrickChris KennedyShia KentStephanie KeownRavi KhannaRev. Darryl KiehlJennifer KilburnKim and David KimberlinJames and Janet KimbleDavid KingJulia KingWilliam and Patricia KingSusan KirbyTeresa KirkwoodNeil KleinGriena Knight DavisMr. Joe and Jennifer KnottJeannette KnoxMarie KnoxWinston KnoxBart and Robin KolberJoan KrawcheckSheri and James KrellEve KuglerMark La GoryTherese and Kenneth LaegerKelly LamkinTimothy LanierDr. Joyce LanningBrandon LaRueJohn and Rebecca LaurentCarolyn LavenderStanley and Sandra LawlerJeffrey LeachSally LehrmanAmy LesterLinda LevineMichael LevineLee LeviterStephanie LewisVicki LewisWarren LightfootSarah Likis-WerleBetty LikisRuth Vann LillianRenessa LinstrombergEric LippeMarianne LloydNancy LoDeborah LockridgeDr. Tondra Loder-JacksonMr. Gary LondonPamela LongJane LongshoreGloria LongstreetRev. Helene LoperLila Higgins LowerySusan LucasDianne LuketicDon LupoRobert and Martha LyonVerna LyonsBetsy MackinPatrick Mackin

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Dr. Walter MaddoxHeather MahoneyMia MansfieldLeslie MargolisMarsha MarkusRonald MarshallMargaret MarstonLois MartinSuzanne MartinSusanna MartinezAlexander MasonAli MassoudKeri MatherneMs. Donna MatthewsJoan MattinsonRandy MayfieldAlfonzo or Cynthia MaysJB MazerSusan McAlisterHeather McCalleyDebra McCallumBarbara McCauleyJanna McClainSarah McCullarMary McCullough Ph.DRoger McCulloughAnthony McCurdyRev. Henry McDaidJoe McDanielLee McDanielMargaret McDermottAllyson McDonoughMary McGeheeMr. & Mrs. Travis McGowinPaula McIntyreDavid McKennaBrenden McKimRandy McKinleyCarolyn and Jerome McKinstryVirginia Christene McKnightMs. Ann McMillanHenry McPhersonFrank McPhillipsJulian McPhillips Jr.Anne McShaneCarol McShaneStephen McWhorterShirley MeansEva MeltonNathan MendelsohnKarolyn MersmannEd and Candy MeyersonMontaye MilesKelilah MillerPeggy MillerVictoria MillsMary Ann MireeCynthia & Brad MitchellRev. Douglas MitchellSylvia MitchellMs. Margaret MonaghanGary MonheitJudith and Gary MonheitCarolyn MonroeGary MooreJohn and Bettye MooreKaren MooreMelissa MooreTeresa Moran

Mr. Hugh MorganHenry Morris IIIRenee MorrisTanya MorrisTexys MorrisJulia MortensonNancy MosleyTremon MuhammadAshley MullinsKathy MumaSusan MurphyNancy and Hubert MurrayFred MurryAllison MyersDeboarah NaramoreValerie NashCynthia NevilleAnn NilesVictoria NoblesToni NordanJerald and Wilma NorrisJohn NorrisWilma NorrisMr. John NorthropLuke NortonMs. Carol NunnelleyKelsey O'DonnellBillie O'HaraJohn OcampoLeslie M OdleSteva OlcottSharon OldsRaymond OliverMaureen OrmondThomas OsborneDavid OvsonKatherine OwensJeff PadawerRev. Ben and Dr. Carol PadgettMatthew PagnottiRev. Dollie PankeyVincent PankeyAmelia PantalosKayla ParkJulianne ParrisRachael PassMelissa and Bentley PatrickBarbara PattersonEllen PattersonJanice PattersonKara PattersonPamela and Robert PattersonVirginia PattersonZelma PattilloLuke PattonMartha PattonJeri PaytonJ. Wray PearceBill PeeplesElise PenfieldAllen Perdue, Jr.Nayely Perez-HuertaMike and Lisa PerezBeth PerryMaria PerryJulia PetersonSam PettwayDr. & Mrs. Robert PhillipsRobert and Pamela Phillips

Annette PhilpotJoy PhippsMojabeng PhoofoloAnthony PiccoloMimi PickeringRevs. Nathaniel & Deirdre PierceRhonda PierceKathryn PittJohn and Patricia Pleasant IIIEli PoliakoffAgnes and Gene PollockRev. Morgan and Peggy PonderJim PoolMargaret PorterJohn PostlethwaitChristina PotenzaClaire PoulinHazel PowellPamela and John PowellMelinda PowersRev. Bud PreciseJulie PriceSusan ProctorTara ProwellAngela PruittGeorge and Dale QuiggleMr. Michael QuillenLilly RaineySusan and Tom RainsFred RandalWinter RandallMs. Lynn RathmellAmelie RatliffGary RatnerMattie Hendrix RaySonrisa ReedDavid ReeseRobert ReicheMary ReillyJosiah RengersEvelyn ReynoldsJohn Stanley RichLinda RichardsonLouise RichardsonRebecca RichardsonSusan RichardsonLynda RileyCarol RinglandHelen RivasJillian RobinsonKim and Bruce RogersTrudi RogierFrank RomanowiczAutumn RomerAndrea RosaLynn Rosenfeld Ph.DKelly Ross-DavisJames RossDr. Adrienne RoysterEva RubinIsabel and Freddie RubioAndrew and Donna RucksMr. & Mrs. Samuel Rumore, Jr.Peggy RuppEmily RushingMrs. Allen RushtonJudith and Charles RussellReverend James Rutledge Jr.Nathaniel Rutledge

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Maureen RyanNancy SalesCharles SalgavioKristie SalleeHayley SamenJanice SandersJennifer SandersPhilip and Carolyn SankeyNathan SaturdayDr. Stephen SchaefferHarriet SchafferGenevieve A SchechterCarl SchinasiBob SchlehuberFather Les SchmidtLynn SchoelSandra SchrohenloherKathryn SchulzKelly ScottMajor Ann ScottSally ScottBettye Seals-WestGeorge Seidenfaden, Sr.Robert SeilerBarbee SeiserRichard and Michele SelfEd SenterJohn Gemmill ServicesEvelyn ServinDr. & Mrs. Arthur SerwitzSue ShacklefordKen and Fonda ShaiaElizabeth ShannonRev. Gates and Margot ShawKatara ShawTrinket ShawHolly ShawhanMelinda SheltonJoyce & Maury ShevinLinda ShieldsReam ShoreibahJimmy ShortMandy ShunnarahVictoria SicilianoNatalie and Albert SikoraSusan SilvernailKarla SilvisDavid SingletonRoger SinkeyLaura SissonVictoria SissonRachel SizemoreMarti SlayGayle SmalleyAngela SmedleyKaron SmileyApril SmithBarbara SmithCatherine SmithDawn SmithJenny SmithKathryn SmithNathan SmithMrs. Peter SmithTywanna SmithWade SmithSarah SnookBishop Teresa Snorton

Robin SnyderBari SokolMr. James SokolCarol SosninGladys SouthallHenrietta SpeaksJim SpearmanDr. Leon P and Karen SpencerJessica SpencerJulia SpiegelSusie SprakerCamille SpratlingKasi Spyker-DuncanW. Stancil StarnesAlta StarrBruce and Susan SteeleDavid & Deborah StegallOscar and Mary StephensonLaura SterlingRonald SterlingArden SternMax and Margaret SternDr. William StetlerJason StevensonAkilah StewartBeth StewartBetty StewartFelicia StewartBarrie StokesSusan StraussJeri StudtLauren SullivanRev. Mary Bea SullivanMichael SullivanJoan SwanWhitney SwartzElizabeth SwiftMarcie SynchefMr. Michael SznajdermanAnthony TannerBruce TanzerAshfaq TaufiqueChristopher TaylorDeborah TaylorGeorge and Genie TaylorJames TaylorJo Alison TaylorJohn and Edwina TaylorZion TempleElizabeth Thagard Jr.Deacon Louise ThibodauxAlexis ThomasDeborah ThomasFredrick ThomasSammie ThomasVirginia ThomasMary ThomasonBill ThomastonMr. George ThompsonJean ThompsonDenyse Thornley-BrownBrandon ThrasherSue TillmanPam TillySandy and Doug TiltJack TimmonsFrankie TippettCynthia TiptonSandra Tolliver

Denise Tomasini-JoshiJoyce ToneyChristeen TownsendLeslie TownsendJane TrechselKate TremblayMr. Ronald TrussDiane TuckerRev. Jim and Elma TuohyMelissia TurnerStacey TurnerEmily TynesMary VailCharlotte Van SlykeJoyce VanceLinda VerinMikki VineyardPamela VoekelVirginia VolkerDr. Cameron VowellAnn Wade M.D.Ray and Mary WadeCarol WadleyRich WagerMs. Constance WagnonLuther WalkerErica WaltersAlice WaltherDafina WardMildred WardNancy WardAbbyann WasilewBarbara WatsonRay WattsJeanne WeaverMary WeidlerKaren WeinribRachel WeinsteinDr. Scott WeisbergRhea Weiss SawtellChristopher WeitzVicky WeselohEverett WessGarron WestSteven WheelerChristopher WheelockHarry WheelockKimberly WhisenantAnn WhitakerDonna WhitlockNancy WhittLorna WigginsDr. Robert WilkersonMr. Charlie Williams Jr.Christine WilliamsGracie WilliamsJanice WilliamsRonald WilliamsSteve WilliamsLawrence WillsonAmanda WilsonStanley WoodallKelsey WoodfordJulia WoodruffLaura and David WoodruffMs. Odessa WoolfolkJames WootenRev. Angela WrightBonnie Wright

Chelaine WrightChristine WrightCindy WrightEleanor WrightJohn and Mary WrightTeri WrightCindy Wrobel

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GBM was an active leader in the 40-day launch of the 21st Century Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Phase 1 of movement began in May on Mothers’ Day and ended on June 23rd with a rally in Washington DC on the National Mall. During the 40-day launch, rallies and nonviolent civil moral direct actions took place at the Alabama State Capitol on six consecutive Mondays. Protests focused on systemic poverty issues as it affects women, children, the disabled; systemic racism that interlocks with voter suppression, immigration reform and islamophobia; militarism and the war economy, which averts billions of dollars away from much needed social services; ecological devastation that hurts the poor, and confronting the false moral narrative of religious nationalism.

GBM’s staff and board were actively involved in this pivotal civil rights movement as the mission of the Campaign and the mission of GBM were aligned. Rev. Carolyn Foster serves as a Tri-Chair for the Alabama Poor People’s Campaign (ALPPC), Rev. James Rutledge is on the Coordinating Committee, Rev. Dollie Pankey serves as Theomusicologist, Rev. Kelley Hudlow serves as Lead Videographer and Documentarian, Tari Williams serves as Cultural Artist Coordinator, Scott Douglas serves as Political Educator, Angela Balfour serves at Media Coordinator, Gracie Johnson is handling finances and Carol Binder, Patty Faulkinberry and Carol Dean were volunteers serving as peacekeepers, marshals, providing refreshments and other tasks.

Phase 2 of the movement will focus on voter registration and engagement which is also an important focus for GBM. Contact carolyn@gbm.org to get involved.

For more information about the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, visit www.poorpeoplescampaign.org.

Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

IN ALABAMA:• 45% of people in

Alabama are poor or low-income - a total of 2.1 million residents. This includes 589,000 children and 1.1 million women; 60% are people of color, 37% are White people.

• The richest 1% of Alabamians are expected to received 32% of the benefits of the new federal tax law, while the poorest 20% are expected to have to pay $150 more.

• Working at the federal minimum wage, it takes 82 hours of work per week to afford a 2-bedroom apartment.

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has developed a detailed Moral Agenda Based on Fundamental Rights that would revive the efforts of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For a detailed copy of the campaign’s agenda, see: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/demands/

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Rev. Angie Wright Retired from GBM in June

IN HER OWN WORDSDear GBM Board and Staff members,

Today is my retirement day from GBM! It's hard to believe and very bittersweet for me. In addition to taking more time to write, be with family, work on my Spanish, garden and cook, I will continue to do some contract work with GBM on fundraising and #StandAsOne. So I'll still be around!

I first came to GBM in 1983. Unemployment was soaring because of the closing of steel mills and businesses that depended on them. My first organizing campaigns at GBM were helping Connors Steel and Liberty Supermarket employees fight the loss of their jobs.

Each week, instead of dozens of requests for utility and rental assistance, we now had hundreds. We launched into a massive two-year campaign to stop winter utility cut-offs and restructure rates for low income households. Our utility campaign was David against Goliath. For two years we organized, presented testimony at hearings with the Public Service Commission, built alliances, and educated the public. We organized busloads of people from all

over the state to come to Montgomery every week to push the Public Service Commission to serve its people. We lost.

But not according to Sarah Price. She has said from that day until this one, We did not lose! We won - because look how many organizations came together to fight for our people! We are organized and we can make a difference!

When we looked up from our pity party, we saw that she was right. We had organized a coalition of around 35 diverse groups! From that coalition emerged Alabama Arise, which continues to this day advocating with and behalf of the poor.

GBM shaped me in many ways. When I arrived at GBM, my faith was a blank page. Rarely did my family go to church in my growing up years. My Grandmother was a "good Southern Baptist" who went to church most Sundays, while holding strongly to the racism she learned in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1910's and '20's. For me and most young people, Christianity was a combination of hypocrisy and irrelevance.

I witnessed something at GBM I had never imagined. GBM’s work was (and is) driven by women and men of faith who worked with the poor, took risks on behalf of the poor, claiming the right to life abundant for everyone, because of their faith. This was a revelation to me. It led me into a deep relationship with the God of love, justice and mercy. I found my faith through the people who walked and worked together at GBM. My gratitude for that gift is immeasurable.

I worked at GBM from 1983 - 1986 until my family made what we thought would be a "permanent" move to North Carolina. But the move wasn’t permanent. Four years later, we were back in Alabama. For a few years I served on GBM’s board and involved in small ways as a volunteer. In 2011 I re-joined the staff.

Within weeks of my return, the Alabama Legislature passed HB 56, voter photo ID law and other repressive laws. Our work was cut out for us, and it still is.

Our shared struggles have given great meaning and purpose to my life.

I am grateful beyond words for the companionship you have given me all along the way. I"ll never leave GBM. I'll just be involved in different ways.

You are in my heart and prayers,

Blessings all,

Angie

Thank you, Angie, for your years of advocacy, commitment, and dedication to the work of equal justice for all and building the beloved community.

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Photo Gallery

GBM Staff, Board and Volunteers Attend Power of Participation

Facilitator Training

Direct Service Clients Learn about the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral

Revival in GBM Waiting Room

Board Member Deborah Taylor Works with Direct Service Client

Birthday Party Benefits GBM’s Food Pantry

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Photo Gallery

Shades Valley Presbyterian Church Hosts GBM’s Trading Places: A Poverty Simulation

Volunteers Drop Off Christmas Toys

GBM Calls Press Conference to Discuss GOTV Effort

Staff and Board Holiday Party Hosted by Baptist Church of the Covenant

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Meet Our New Staffers

Amanda Cherry calls a lot of places “home,” including Louisville, Boston, and Mexico City, and she is excited to be returning “home” to Birmingham to work at GBM. Amanda speaks English and Spanish and has experience working with migrants, immigrants and refugees in a variety of contexts. She has fought for immigrant rights in Alabama, organized clergy to support the Black Lives Matter movement in Ferguson, and stood alongside deportees in Mexico City to protest the unjust immigration policies of the United States. Amanda is looking forward to getting reacquainted with Birmingham and partnering with the community for change. 

Majadi Baruti is a long time organizer and activist born and raised in Chicago. He has worked in Washington DC, Newark, NJ, Youngstown, Dayton, Ohio and Charlotte, NC. He has done community engagement, education and empowerment around issues as diverse as Reparations, Domestic Violence, and Food Sovereignty.  “I am looking forward greatly to working with the incomparable Greater Birmingham Ministries and their partners, to assist in empowering our marginalized communities towards their collective full Human and Civil Rights.” 

2304 12th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35234-3111

NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

PAID BIRMINGHAM, AL PERMIT NO. 679

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

GBM is excited to announce the launch of a lively and interactive program aimed at low propensity voters. Power of Participation helps participants understand why voting is critical and fundamentally about who has power and who doesn’t.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this 4-session, 2 hour program. However, GBM is particularly targeting low propensity voters who are • Women of color• Single/unmarried women• College Students• Low-income and/or rural• Formerly Incarcerated/

Convicted• Latinx/Immigrant/

undocumented/nationalized

realization that voting is vital and voting lays the groundwork for representation and policy decisions both now and in the future. If we want our lives, our state, our country and our world to be better, voting is extremely important.

If your congregation or group would like to host Power of Participation or if you would like more information about the program, contact Tari@gbm.org.

Power of Participation

Sessions are interactive, engaging and fun and helps participants understand The Big Why of voting. Discouraging or preventing some people from voting has significant impacts and advantages to those who currently have power, and want to keep it and expand it.

Members of our community who may not believe that voting or not voting, affects their lives directly will come away with the