Experience Birmingham

The summit opens not in a ballroom, but in the streets, kitchens, and storefronts where
Birmingham’s economy is being rewritten in real time.

Day One introduces attendees to Birmingham as a living example of place-based economic mobility
through a curated experience focused on history, investment, infrastructure, culture, and economic
development.
Participants will explore how policy, place, and public investment have shaped Birmingham’s evolution
and future opportunities.

"Grounding participants in Birmingham's lived experience."

03

Opening Reception

An evening gathering at a historic Birmingham landmark to set the tone, the cohort, and the stakes.
02

Food, Culture & Entrepreneurship

Meals hosted inside Black-owned restaurants, makerspaces, and cultural anchors. The economy you can taste.

01

Immersive Tours

Guided neighborhood expeditions through
Woodlawn, Ensley, and Smithfield — led by the
residents and operators reshaping them.

A day 01 designedto move.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Negro Southern League Museum

• Registration
• Badge Pickup
• Hospitality
• Summit Information Desk

12:35 PM – 12:45 PM

Councilor Hunter Williams

Chair, Economic & Workforce Development/Tourism Committee

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Sports, Civil Rights & Economic Infrastructure

A guided exploration of Birmingham’s history, assets, and catalytic investments.

Chapter One

Birmingham's Foundation

• Negro Southern League Museum
• Civil Rights District

Chapter Two

Investing in Place

• Rickwood Field
• Regions Field
• Protective Stadium

Chapter Three

Designing the Future

• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
• Sports & Entertainment District
• Emerging Investment Corridors
Key themes include:
• Tourism & Economic Development
• Sports as Economic Infrastructure
• Historic Preservation
• Public Investment
• Place-Based Development
• Community Revitalization
• Economic Mobility

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Designing a City That Works:

Policy, Place, and the Economics of Opportunity
A conversation exploring how cities leverage policy, infrastructure, tourism, public-private partnerships,
and place-based investment to drive economic growth and opportunity.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Welcome Remarks

Council President Wardine Alexander
Reception Experience
• Networking
• Local Food & Beverage
• Cultural Programming
• Music & Entertainment
• Sponsor Recognition

19:00

Opening Reception

Dinner and remarks from the Mayor’s office and convening partners.