At the end of each year, I have the opportunity to join our board members to visit one of the National Fund’s Network Partners and get a close-up look at work that is happening in their region. Earlier this month, our travels took us to Birmingham, AL where our Network Partner, Central Six AlabamaWorks!, hosted a wonderful visit.
Before I visit a city, I always like to do a little research about the economic history of the region so I can better understand the context in which our Network Partners are doing their work. One thing that stood out to me in reading about Birmingham is that there was a moment in history when the city made a strategic decision that impacted its economic trajectory for decades.
When Delta Airlines was looking for a hub city to expand their operations, the choice was between Birmingham and Atlanta. While Atlanta city leaders worked hard to woo the airline, Birmingham’s leaders weren’t interested in working collaboratively with public and private stakeholders to expand the emerging aviation industry in their region. Fast forward to today, Atlanta’s airport is now the busiest in the world as Delta’s major hub — generating more than $52 billion a year in revenue. Birmingham’s airport generates roughly $1 billion.
It’s certainly a cautionary tale of how failing to seize the moment can affect a region’s economic prospects for generations. Today, Birmingham finds itself at another inflection point, but this time the momentum is shifting. Designated a national Tech Hub in 2023 by the Economic Development Administration, the city’s technology sector is experiencing unprecedented growth. Adding to this momentum, an $11 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the EDA is supporting a transformative healthcare workforce initiative aimed at driving practice change and uplifting marginalized communities.
Central Six is integral to these initiatives, actively ensuring that everyone in their region — especially young adults of color — have access to quality jobs as a result of new investments. They also serve as a proud Generation Work™ partner, an initiative the National Fund is implementing alongside the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
As part of this effort, Central Six convened a Tech Council to amplify the voices of young workers. We sat in on an excellent panel discussion with young workers who shined a light on their experience with breaking into the tech space. Several stressed how they learned about the importance of social capital in career progression. For me, this discussion underscored how important the National Fund’s focus on transforming career navigation systems and services is to workers at every stage in their careers.
It was a delight to experience the energy and shifts happening in Birmingham. I’m deeply grateful to Kristen Holder, Maggie Thompson, and the entire team at Central Six for hosting such an awesome visit. It was a great way to end the year on a high note and I’m energized for what’s in store for 2025!
