When you ask someone who lives in Birmingham what their favorite part about this city is, nine times out of ten you’ll get this response: “The people”.
It’s so true. Birmingham’s successes – every. single. one. – can be traced back to the city’s incredible, resilient, loving and unique community. And upon moving here, we quickly realized just how critical building community would be. But here’s the best part – it was so easy! So many different types of people from so many different walks of life, with different stories and different strengths and talents – they’ve all been ours for the taking. 
One of my favorite acquaintances (whom, unfortunately, I did not take full advantage of while she was a resident of Birmingham) is Elisa Munoz. I don’t think she’d remember our first encounter, at a Forest Park coffee shop where she was working and I spontaneously popped in, weary from travel and desperate for good conversation. I said something awkward, to which she said something witty and then let out the most magnificent roar of a laugh. I was instantly smitten. For I tend to believe that the window to one’s soul resides in the belly-depth of their laughter. (She’s a good one… Take my word for it.)
Through various liaisons, we were connected. Elisa worked with Greater Community Birmingham Food Partners and she also co-penned several widely beloved blogs {BikeSkirt to name one}. Now she helps produce farmer’s markets throughout New Orleans, all while riding her bike, all while wearing skirts and hats and laughing deeply from the gut. And even as she stays so very busy , she allowed me to twist her arm (and nag and nag and nag) to write a little ditty about Birmingham, from afar.
Magic City, without further ado…the incredible Elisa Munoz and her ode to Birmingham’s obvious coolness:
I’m having trouble explaining just exactly what makes Birmingham so cool, y’all. I knew it when I left over a year ago, but my time away has just made it that much more clear.: Birmingham is cool.
Let me attempt to explain…
In Birmingham, there is a feeling of excitement and hope that can’t be stopped; it’s infectious. The positivity and openness to new ideas is unparalleled, with naysayers heard, and promptly pushed aside. The place teems with a sense of collective progress, as if everyone is working toward the same thing, and that thing is going to be awesome. Arts, parks, businesses, fitness, beer, fresh foods – t’s all up for improvement and things. are. happening. Trying new models, testing out innovative practices… anything goes, as long as it is good for Birmingham. Some projects may fail, but the aloofness that comes from being too cool to try seems to have taken a backseat to the need for improvement. The amount of collaboration and cooperation is staggering. The creative community has joined with the business community, who has joined with the non-profit community, who has…you get the picture. THAT is really cool.
If I want something to do here in New Orleans, I can always find something. I can’t however, find something that I know 85% of my friends (and Instagram friends) will also be attending. When something hip happens in Birmingham, everyone is in on it. Big or small, Downtown, Avondale, or Southside – there is always something, anything, happening. These are the amenities that draw people to cities: free concerts in the park, movies for the family, the opening of a new brewery… Birmingham has it all.
Yes, there are issues. Yes, the “over the mountain” folks seem to only want Birmingham to fail. Yes, the school system is a wreck, and local politics may never not be plagued with trouble, but you see people moved by this. People are mad, and demanding answers. This is not the sound of a city whose people are content and have given up. This is the sound of progress, of fighting the good fight. Of not letting the insanity win.
I hear more and more “Oh, you moved here from Birmingham? I hear that place is getting really cool.” To which I now say, “Damn right it is!”
Pat yourself on the back, Birmingham. You deserve it.
