Birmingham Promise Celebrates 5 Years of Providing Scholarships, Job Opportunities for City Students

dcwins.com For Sarah Granderson, who graduated from Ramsay High School in 2021 and is now a senior at Jacksonville State University, Birmingham Promise is more than a program. “It’s a path to economic opportunity that can truly change lives,” she said. Through Promise scholarships, Granderson has been able to work toward her degree in political science and sociology without needing student loans. She also continues to benefit from her time as an intern at Oakworth Capital Bank, where she met people who continue to serve as mentors and role models. “To this day, I stay in touch,” she said. On Friday, Granderson attended a gathering that brought together city leaders, employers, and students who have benefited from Birmingham Promise. The program celebrated its fifth anniversary helping city students with scholarships and internships. Since its creation in 2019, Birmingham Promise has provided college scholarships totaling $11 million to 1,636 graduates of Birmingham City Schools. It has also facilitated paid internships for more than 300 high-school students in the Birmingham system. The independent nonprofit organization was originally launched by Mayor Randall Woodfin’s administration. Woodfin, speaking at the anniversary event at the Fennec on Friday, said while Birmingham Promise is a charitable organization,...