Live HealthSmart Alabama’s Community Leadership Academy (CLA) is a custom curriculum designed to develop community members who are interested in or already serving in leadership roles. Over the course of several sessions, the academy helps individuals understand personal strengths, learn public speaking and communication skills, resolve conflict, and more.
During a recent event, the Northside Harvest Festival, the Live HealthSmart Alabama team witnessed the real-world impact of its community capacity-building program in Birmingham. This festival—which brought communities together, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose—marks the first-ever collaborative event organized by the neighborhood leaders of Fountain Heights, Druid Hills, Central City, Evergreen, and Norwood.
Three CLA graduates, Barbara Thomas, Talethia Cosby, and Janet Maycock, put what they learned in CLA to the test to make a tangible difference in their communities.
Barbara Thomas
Barbara Thomas has been a dedicated resident of the Norwood community for over 40 years. Thomas was invited to join the CLA due to her extensive involvement in various neighborhoods and organizations. She was eager to join the CLA to enhance her leadership skills, recognizing that there is always more to learn, especially when already serving in a leadership role.
“The class taught us how to be better collaborators. It’s not about me; it’s about WE,” Barbara shared. The CLA provided her with valuable skills and strategies instrumental in planning and executing the Northside Harvest Festival. She emphasized the importance of collaboration and leveraging each other’s strengths, which were key lessons from the CLA. “This class showed me where my strengths and weaknesses were. By coming together, where I may lack skills, others may have had more strength in those areas, making it more successful,” she explained.
Talethia Cosby
Talethia Cosby, a resident of Norwood for almost 15 years, is the Vice President and head of Community Events for the Norwood Neighborhood Association. Her journey with the CLA began when she was nominated for the program, highlighting the positive impression she had made on her community. Cosby’s passion for community work is driven by her vision of revitalizing Norwood and bringing surrounding neighborhoods together. She has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and building momentum for community initiatives.
“The relationships and skills I developed through the CLA are beneficial,” Cosby explained. “Planning the event was challenging due to varying levels of involvement and financial difficulties. However, because of skills learned in the CLA, we were able to pull together resources, manage our budget effectively, and focus on the bigger picture of community unity.”
Janet Maycock
Janet Maycock has been a resident of the Druid Hills neighborhood for 14 years and serves as the President of the Druid Hills Neighborhood Association. Janet was nominated for the CLA, because of her active role in community health initiatives and neighborhood beautification projects. The CLA fostered a network of community members who could rely on each other for support and collaboration.
“The CLA has shown us that we can achieve great things when we work together,” Janet said. “It’s about building trust and showing people that we are here to support them in every way possible.”
Drawing an estimated 300 attendees from the Northside communities, the festival offered a variety of activities and services designed to engage and entertain all ages. Residents enjoyed face painting, a bouncy house, a train ride for kids, free food from local vendors, and a 40-foot movie viewing area—where attendees also enjoyed a screening of the Live HealthSmart Alabama video.
This event, organized with the support of CLA graduates, was a true celebration of community spirit and collaboration, demonstrating the impact programs like the CLA can make in the community.
