‘Still Here, Still Speaking’ Gives Military Families a Platform in Birmingham
The Birmingham Times A national nonprofit is partnering with the Urban League of Alabama to bring a series of civic events and listening sessions to Birmingham to amplify the voices of military families and veterans. Secure Families Initiative will host a series called “Still Here, Still Speaking: Birmingham” on June 23 and 24. These events […]
Black News 
The Birmingham Times
A national nonprofit is partnering with the Urban League of Alabama to bring a series of civic events and listening sessions to Birmingham to amplify the voices of military families and veterans.
Secure Families Initiative will host a series called “Still Here, Still Speaking: Birmingham” on June 23 and 24. These events — which include a panel discussion and community town hall — are designed to highlight experiences of military families, veterans, and community members living in Alabama through structured conversations focused on service, democracy and belonging.
After an exclusive luncheon for military families on Monday, June 22, in Montgomery, the series will move to Birmingham for two special events. “Honoring Service, Confronting Inequity,” a panel discussion, will be held at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on Tuesday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guest speakers include Representative Terri Sewell, Mel and Regina Mason, Troy Mosley, Valencia Richardson, True Lewis, Kyle Bibby, and Scot Loyd. A military families town hall will be held on Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre in the Jazz Hall Lobby.
“Military families are often discussed in conversations about service and public policy, but too rarely are they given opportunities to share their own experiences in their own words,” said Brandi Jones, Organizing Director for Secure Families Initiative. “Still Here, Still Speaking is designed to create those opportunities through listening-first engagement. As we travel across Alabama, our goal is simple: listen closely, learn from lived experience, and create meaningful opportunities for connection across communities.”
The panel event is meant to honor those who have fought to defend American democracy across generations but have historically received less recognition. The town hall will create a space for active-duty military and veteran families to provide leaders with insight into lived experiences often missing from public records and policy discussions, and to deepen understanding of military service and the impacts of enduring systemic inequities.
The tour, which is traveling across Alabama, features facilitated listening sessions where participation is voluntary and personal experiences are treated as valuable civic insight. Programming will include listening circles, community conversations, panel discussions, reflection activities, and opportunities for dialogue among military families, veterans, civic leaders, and local residents. The events are cosponsored by the Urban League of Alabama, Black Veterans Project, and Representative Terri Sewell.
Secure Families Initiative is a national nonprofit organization that works to ensure military families have a voice in the civic conversations and public decisions that affect their lives. SFI’s Alabama tour marks the first installment of a broader national initiative that seeks to create spaces where military-connected families can share their experiences directly with civilian neighbors. Alabama was selected as the inaugural location because of its significance in the nation’s civic history and its continuing role in conversations about community, service, and belonging.
“Birmingham’s history reminds us that progress begins when people are willing to listen to one another’s experiences,” said William Barnes, President and CEO of the Urban League of Alabama. “The voices of military families and veterans are essential to strengthening our communities, and their service to our nation deserves both recognition and respect. This initiative creates an important opportunity to honor that service while fostering conversations that help build a more inclusive and equitable community.”
For more information and to register, visit stillherestillspeakingal.rsvpify.com.
