Learn How to “Hack Your Happiness” from Teen Sisters and Podcasters
17- and 15-year-old sisters Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut co-founded their business Small Bits of Happiness after struggling with their own daily happiness. Soon after, they began co-hosting a podcast called Hack Your Happiness, where they interview iconic guests—Olympians, New York Times bestselling authors, Oscar winners, and top professors—to help teens [Read More]
An Insider’s Scoop on the Children’s Book Brave Little Panther
Birmingham author D.P. Johnson, also known as “The Prettiest Author In Alabama,” just released her first children’s book: The Brave Little Panther, and it’s an absolute delight. She brings a fresh perspective on problem-solving and perseverance to the table as a by-product of her own struggles throughout childhood and as [Read More]
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes is marking its 25th anniversary in 2025, continuing its mission to honor young people who are making a significant positive impact on their communities, humanity, and the environment. Established in 2001 by acclaimed author T. A. Barron, the prestigious award recognizes 25 exceptional [Read More]
YMCA Earns Praesidium Accreditation® by Praesidium
The YMCA of Greater Birmingham was recently awarded the Praesidium’s Praesidium Accreditation®, which is the highest recognition an organization can receive for child abuse prevention. Praesidium is the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm across the globe, and it specializes in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that [Read More]
The Sacrificial Love of a Mom For Her Deaf Child with Autism
Rhonda and Josh Hale were ecstatic to discover they were pregnant in 2006. Their miracle baby, Devin, was a delight, but they were quickly overwhelmed with visits to the doctor and living far from family. So they packed everything up and moved states from Georgia to Alabama when Devin was [Read More]
George Washington’s 293rd Birthday Celebration
Join the American Village in celebrating George Washington’s 293rd birthday on Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 17th. Enjoy family-friendly events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including a puppet show, games, a meet-and-greet with President John and Abigail Adams, and birthday cupcakes with George himself and his wife, Martha. You [Read More]
13 Valentine’s Day Must-Attend Events
Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, and if you haven’t made plans for the kids or for date night yet, you may be scrambling to find a fun, unique experience. Don’t stress! We’ve got you covered with these 13 local events happening on or around V-Day. From cake decorating to movie [Read More]
Free Downloadable Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids
Make this Valentine’s Day extra special with our printable, color-your-own Valentine’s Day cards for kids! These adorable, pun-filled designs let kids get creative while making heartfelt cards for their friends. Simply download, print, and color for a fun and easy Valentine’s activity. Whether they love roller skating, animals, or sweet [Read More]
10 Fun Ideas for a Valen-Tween Party!
As anyone can tell you, tween years are hard, especially on Valentine’s Day. You are too old to exchange boxed paper valentines and too young for romantic love. The good news is, the tween years are the perfect age to have a party at home with their friends. Here are [Read More]
From Dream to Job
Two roads diverged in an Auburn classroom… and both intertwined with Birmingham. I had the joy of befriending Vestavia Hills-raised Katie Glenn when attending Auburn University for our English degrees. After college, however, we chose to take very different routes with our passion for the English language. Katie soon became [Read More]
