Join us for H.I.V.E.’s monthly book club on Saturday, June 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at Seeds Coffee (174 Oxmoor Rd). This month, we read Magic City Gospel by Ashley M. Jones. We are thrilled that Ashley, award winning author, poet and teacher, will be joining us to read from and lead a discussion on her book. All are welcome (even if you haven’t read the book!). Ashley will have copies of her book available for sale ($15 via check/cash/Venmo/Paypal).

Please join us for our next meeting on Thursday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Homewood Library, Small Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209.   We will focus on Guns in America and welcome Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Professor Frederick Vars, and members from March for our Lives Birmingham to discuss gun violence, common gun sense laws and what we can do to bring about effective change surrounding this issue.

The Primary election is on Tuesday, June 5th and it’s so important to be educated on the ballot and to VOTE! Spread the word, share the ballot and encourage your neighbors and friends to rock that vote. It’s an easy way to be part of the change you want to see in your state.

• District 46 (parts of Homewood, Mountain Brook, Hoover)
• District 47 (parts of Vestavia Hills, Hoover)
• District 52 (parts of Homewood, Mountain Brook, Birmingham)

REPUBLICAN BALLOT

• Ballot the same for Districts 46, 47 and 52

H.I.V.E. Alabama held a rocking Meet the Candidates evening on Monday, April 23rd. The room was full of energy and excitement as candidates took to the mic to talk about why they were running and their plans for our great state. Many thanks to our volunteers, our participants and especially our candidates for sharing their visions. We are so proud and hopeful! Please remember to rock that vote Tuesday, June 5th in the Primary and Tuesday, November 6th in the General Election.

We are so excited to get to know the candidates in the upcoming 2018 State, Congressional and Gubernatorial races. Please join us on Monday, April 23, 2018 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Homewood Public Library (1721 Oxmoor Rd) for brief presentations by the candidates and time to mingle. Current confirmed candidates include:

• AL Governor: Sue Bell Cobb, Christopher A. Countryman, James C. Fields and Walt Maddox
• AL Lt. Governor: Dr. Will Boyd
• U.S. House of Representatives, 6th District: Danner Kline
• Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court: Bob Vance
• AL State Auditor: Miranda Joseph
• AL Attorney General: Chris Christie and Joseph Siegelman
• AL Secretary of State: Heather Milam
• AL Public Service Commission, Place 1: Cara McClure
• AL Public Service Commission, Place 2: Kari Powell
• AL State House, District 46: Felicia Stewart
• AL State House, District 47: Jim Toomey
• AL State House, District 48: Alli Summerford
• AL Senate, District 16: Lindsey Deckard

H.I.V.E. hosted a Judicial Candidate Forum on Thursday, 3/15, at the Dance Foundation and we learned ALL the things! Nancy Yarbrough, fellow H.I.V.E. member and an attorney who is the executive director of a legal aid nonprofit, explained what we will see on the June 5^th primary ballot and why your vote matters.  She explained that most of the races in Jefferson County are decided in the primaries since it typically swings Democrat and several of the races don’t have Republican challengers. Click here to see Nancy’s introduction.

Judge Bob Vance, who is running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, chatted with us about the importance of the judicial system and why he is running for the Alabama Supreme Court. Click here to watch Judge Vance’s speech.

Then, Nancy provided us with a wealth of information to help us understand what the courts do and who is running. Click here for the video on what we will see on the June 5th ballot.

The candidates themselves spoke to us on why they were best for the job. Check the links below for more information on the candidates who participated in our forum.

Thanks for a great night and best of luck to all of our candidates!

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Jefferson County Contested Judicial Races: June 5^th Primary Election

For Circuit Court Judge; 10^th Judicial Circuit; Place 8 (Civil Court replacing Judge Mike Graffeo, who is retiring. No Republican challenger.)

• Marshell Jackson Hatcher  (Web/Facebook)
• Brian Plant (Facebook)

For Circuit Court Judge; 10^th Judicial Circuit; Place 15 (Domestic Relations Court; Judge Patricia Stephens is the incumbent. No Republican challenger.)

• Judge Patricia Stephens (Incumbent) (Facebook)
• Damon Watson (Web/Facebook)

For Circuit Court Judge; 10^th Judicial Circuit; Place 16 (Criminal Court; Judge Teresa Pulliam, a Republican, is the incumbent.)

• Pete Johnson Davis (Facebook)
• Linda Hall (Facebook)

For Circuit Court Judge; 10^th Judicial Circuit; Place 18 (Family Court Presiding Judge; Judge Raymond Chambliss is the incumbent. No Republican challenger.)

• Judge Raymond Chambliss (Incumbent)
• Janine Hunt-Hillard (Web/Facebook)

For Circuit Court Judge; 10^th Judicial Circuit; Place 27 (Criminal Judge Virginia Vinson, is retiring. Republican Leslie Moore is a challenger.)

• Amber Ladner (Web/Facebook)
• Alaric May (Web/ Facebook)

For District Court Judge; Jefferson County; Place 3 (Family Court replacing Judge Carnella Norman, who is retiring. Republican Davis Lawley is a challenger.)

• Frederic Bolling (Facebook)
• Clotele Brantley (Web/Facebook)
• Pamela Wilson Cousins (Facebook)
• Stephanie Hunter (Web/Facebook)
• Lashunta “Shun” White-Boler (Web/Facebook)

For District Court Judge, Jefferson County; Place 9 (Criminal Court, replacing Judge David Lichtenstein, who is retiring. No Republican challenger.)

• Kechia Davis (Web/Facebook)
• Glenda Freeman (Facebook)
• Sheila Weil (Facebook)
• Debra Weston-Pickens (Web/Facebook)
• Lou Willie (Web/Facebook)

For Jefferson County Probate Judge Place 1 (Judge Alan King is incumbent. No Republican challenger.)

• Judge Alan King (Incumbent) (Facebook)
• Everett Wess (Web/Facebook)

For Jefferson County Probate Judge Place 2 (Judge Sherri Coleman Friday is incumbent. No Republican challenger.)

• Judge Sherri Coleman Friday (Incumbent) (Facebook)
• Willie “Redtape” Florence Sr.
• Jameria Moore (Web/Facebook)

Thursday, March 15, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
The Dance Foundation, 1715 27th Ct S, Homewood, AL 35209
Place 9? Place 23? Criminal? Civil? Family? Domestic Relations?
Tired of being confused about who is running for a judge’s position and what that judge does? Nancy Yarbrough, fellow H.I.V.E. member and an attorney who is the executive director of a legal aid nonprofit, will explain what you will see on the June 5th primary ballot and why your vote matters. Then, get ready to hear from the judicial candidates themselves! Judge Bob Vance, who is running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is confirmed to speak as well as other candidates for contested primaries.

H.I.V.E. is partnering with some rocking groups (Forward Alabama, Greater Bham Democrats, MAD in Alabama, Shelby County Flip It Blue, Vestavia Democrats) to host Fun(d)raisers for our great candidates this Spring!

First up, is the fabulous Felicia Stewart for AL House District 46 on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse on Highland (2908 Highland Ave S). There’s no cost to attend and we hope you will join us and be inspired by Felicia’s vision for our great state. Click here for more information.

And please mark your calendars for our other upcoming fun(d)raisers:
We Love Danner Kline (Candidate for the Sixth Congressional District)
Wednesday, March 21st, 5:30-7:30 PM

We Love Emerge Alabama’s New Graduates for 2018   
Monday, May 7th, 5:30-7:30 PM

H.I.V.E. is excited to host Dr. Wayne Flynt at our February meeting on Monday, February 19, 2018 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Edgewood Presbyterian Church at 850 Oxmoor Rd (please note the change of venue from the Homewood Library).  Dr. Flynt is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Auburn University and is the author of thirteen books. He is one of the most recognized and honored scholars of Southern history, politics and religion and has won numerous teaching awards.

One year ago, H.I.V.E. began in the back room of Weezie’s Candy Emporium as a group of women gathered to voice our concerns, disappointment and hopes for our community and beyond. We didn’t know much but we did know we had a desire to create some positivity around us. So we began by educating ourselves on issues and then moved to getting involved in local projects, initiatives and candidates. We’ve supported each other in our own projects and come together to lift each other up. We’ve also met with more fabulous people and organizations than we can count to help create positive change in our community, state and beyond. Thank you for an awesome first year and we look forward to much more to come!

This past year, H.I.V.E.:

• Successfully asked the Homewood City Schools to change their Code of Conduct to be inclusive of students (and employees) regardless of their sexual orientation/gender identity.
• Organized an Anti-Bullying/Anti-Bias Book Drive resulting in over 43 books being donated to the three Homewood Elementary schools, totaling over $900 in donations.
• Rallied behind our local candidates Felicia Stewart (Candidate for AL House District 46), Danner Kline (6th U.S. Congressional District) and Doug Jones (U.S. Senate), hosting a meet the candidates night, phone banking sessions, writing postcards, parading in the Homewood Christmas Parade and more.

HOSTED

• Co-hosted a Women’s in Politics Luncheon at the Clubhouse on Highlands with the fabulous M.A.D. in Alabama, Forward Alabama and the Greater Birmingham Democrats
• Organized our first Open Ears & Beers Event at Good People Brewery, bringing together people from all sides of the conversation to find common ground
• H.I.V.E. Books, a monthly book club

DONATED

• Our members collected donations/contributed to:
  • Magic City Acceptance Center
  • First Light Women’s Shelter
  • Islamic Academy of Alabama
  • YouthServe

MEETINGS/PANELS

• Talking to Our Neighbors (Indivisible’s Carole Griffin, Lawyer and Member Extraordinaire Doug Marsh) 
• Environmental Issues (GASP,’s Kirsten Bryant, March for Science’s Nicole Watkins)
• Meet the Candidates Night (Felicia Stewart, Danner Kline, Doug Jones) and info session with the Greater Birmingham Democrats’ Bob Parker and Ready to Run’s Pat Vandermeer
• Healthcare (Former Finance Director of Children’s Hospital Alabama and more Doug Hoffman, Retired Medical Director of the William A. Daniel, Jr. Adolescent Health Center and more Marsha Studervant and Director of State Government Relations at HealthSouth and more Katie Shuey)
• Education (Alabama education blogger Larry Lee, AL.com Education reporter Trisha Crain, Elementary School Principal Susan Remick)
• Human Rights (Magic City Acceptance Center’s Amanda Keller, Lawyer & ACLU and AIDS Alabama Board Member Anil Mujumdar) 
• Emerge Alabama’s Stacie Propst