Susana Schuler

We are a few weeks away from Alabama’s final numbers in September, but it appears about 1,800 third graders did not pass the reading tests required and will repeat the year.

Central Alabama’s connection to helping people who live with disabilities thrive runs deep.This month, we recognize Disability Pride Month by focusing on the value and dignity of all people and fighting against stigmas and stereotypes for those who have disabilities.On the very day the 33rd Summer Olympics will kick off in Paris July 26, our country will recognize the 34 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was put in place.Lakeshore Foundation’s CEO John Kemp was instrumental in gett…

Thinking about ways to combat the violence we see in our city, we know support, hope and intervention at an early age are key solutions.One area where everyone can have an impact is to enable a life of reading for a child. Sixty percent of low-income families do not have a single children’s book in their homes.This spring a new state law requires third-grade students to pass a literacy test or repeat third grade. Last year, 50% of third graders in schools and learning centers working with Better…

March is National Women’s History Month.Given that our state faces a labor participation shortage and women in Alabama make up 53% of the available workforce, we should focus on women more to fill that labor gap.A new report from the Women’s Foundation of Alabama shows half of women face barriers to working because they are the primary caregivers unable to find access to high-quality and affordable childcare.A U.S. Department of Education report shows Alabama has the highest number of Childcare…

We are facing an epidemic that killed almost 500 lives in Jefferson County last year, doubling since 2019.We aren’t talking about gun violence but opioid addiction.This epidemic transcends geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. It is estimated almost half of adults living in the U.S. know someone who died of a drug overdose.Just last week, the national director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention visited Birmingham to see progress made since awarding a multimillion-dollar…

In a world with so much despair and difficulty, WVTM 13 is committed to finding and sharing stories of hope in Central Alabama and showcasing those weekly in our Project Community Series.>> COMING TOGETHER: Project CommUNITYSleep in Heavenly Peace’s mission is to make certain every child in our community has their own bed to sleep in at night.Silas Brown is starting early in his quest to feed his community by bottling peppers from his family’s Odenville farm and using the profits to support his…

The official beginning of the holiday shopping season last weekend brought some hopeful news across the country and here at home with retail sales climbing on average 5% for in-store traffic.As you work your gift list, remember to shop local first because when our local retailers thrive we all thrive. One potential gloom for holiday shoppers could be getting help when looking for an item in a store. Some local retailers are struggling to fill seasonal positions. While Alabama has a very low unem…

If you were to poll people in the Birmingham area about what safety issue concerns them most, crime would be the assumed answer. But recently, a group of local Birmingham students participating in the Rotary International Peace conference were asked and said dangerous stray dogs were a top concern - dogs roaming their neighborhood making them fearful to be outdoors.Just last week in Ensley dogs attacked and killed a woman riding her bike. This was the 3rd dog attack in our area since June.Violen…

You are invited to one of the largest tailgating experiences in the country right in our backyard!

This Fourth of July, let us remember the sacrifices made to guarantee our freedoms and, equally important, remember our right and opportunity to be who we want to be.