Shakeitha Tatum grew up in the Titusville and Ensley neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. Although she often saw the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus, her most vivid memory of the University is attached to a surprising venue: a nearby grocery store.
“My first memory of UAB is when I was with my grandmother, and we were riding down 6th Avenue,” said Tatum. “At the time, [there was] a grocery store right across the street from the athletics department … We did all of our shopping [there]. So I had an opportunity to not only see the school—even if it was from a distance—but also see the students.”
The experience of seeing college students grocery shopping and walking back to their dorms helped Tatum picture herself on campus, which, in turn, made UAB feel more accessible and real.
“Knowing that there was an amazing college right in my reach … it was easy for me to make the decision to come to UAB,” said Tatum.
Tatum, who now serves as Vice President of Agency Relations for the United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA), enrolled at UAB to earn her bachelor’s degree. She was drawn to the Department of Social Work, because she had a deep-rooted desire to pursue a “helping profession.” She was motivated by the tragic loss of her mother.
“I decided to go into social work based on my personal life,” said Tatum. “I lost my mom to epilepsy when I was seven-years-old.”
The program provided access to impactful classroom experiences, as well as internships. Tatum’s first internship was at UAB Hospital with the Women and Infants Center. She helped conduct wellness checks and also connected mothers with social workers and resources after being discharged. According to Tatum, the skills she developed through these experiences—both in class and in the hospital—were wide-ranging and remain valuable in her current role with UWCA.
“Time management, communication skills, problem solving skills … you master those skills when you’re in college,” said Tatum. “I still utilize a lot of things I learned in my social work classes and especially in my internships.”
Tatum earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) in 2008 and joined the team at UWCA in 2013. In her 11-year tenure with the organization, she has accomplished a great deal, but one milestone in particular stands out to her. In her early days with UWCA, she served as the director of the 2-1-1 Call Center opens a new website, which connects residents with community services. While leading the center, Tatum was charged with guiding her team through a rigorous accreditation process. She decided to enlist some additional support from a familiar partner: UAB.
“We were partnering with the UAB Department of Social Work [by hosting] service-learning students,” said Tatum. “It helped us because we were able to have students come in and take those calls …. It gave me an opportunity to give something back to my school.”
Together, Tatum, her team, and the students led the 2-1-1 Call Center to be the only accredited center in the state at the time. And, from there, Tatum continued to find ways to give back and make a bigger impact at UWCA. Now, as Vice President of Agency Relations, she is taking on greater responsibilities, and her work is garnering praise. Specifically, earlier this year, she was recognized as one of the 2024 Women to Watch by the Birmingham Business Journal opens a new website.
As her role expands and her impact on the community deepens, she remains focused on two core principles that have guided her since college: “Be kind and be helpful.” And, of course, she still finds way to celebrate her nearby alma mater and the long-term impact it had on her. “It’s an amazing opportunity to be connected forever to a school with such a great reputation,” she said. “I really do appreciate and am proud that I am a graduate of UAB.”
It’s a bond that is likely to lead to more partnerships, community-focused projects, and lifelong friendships.
