Mayor Woodfin and Birmingham Leaders Make Their Mark at SXSW in Austin

Last week in Austin, Texas, Mayor Randall Woodfin and a delegation of Birmingham nonprofit leaders actively took part in the SXSW EDU—the education segment of the globally renowned music, tech, and entertainment extravaganza known as SXSW. The city of Birmingham was the only city nationwide to be represented in four separate panel discussions, speaking on a diverse range of themes from encouraging college access to literacy and the buoyant “third sector”.

Birmingham Takes the Stage at SXSW

Originally conceived as a music festival attracting thousands of attendees from across the globe, SXSW has since expanded its scope to include the front-runners in tech, entertainment, and politics—featuring heavy-hitters such as Willie Nelson and former President Barack Obama.

Commenting on Birmingham’s significant contribution, Ruth Ann Moss, Executive Director of Small Magic, noted, “SXSW EDU has a well-deserved reputation for elevating great ideas in education from communities around the country. Birmingham’s inclusion reflects a growing recognition that we have something to contribute to the national stage—and that the success of our work to date can be an example for cities nationwide.”

Key Takeaways from SXSW

As per a press announcement from the City of Birmingham, the key themes discussed during SXSW included:

• Facilitating college access.
• Promoting early literacy.
• Innovative approaches to support neurodivergent learners.
• The role and impact of AI in equipping students for the future employment landscape.

Birmingham’s Representation in Austin

In addition to Mayor Woodfin, a diverse range of speakers and guests from Birmingham attended the event, including Alyssa Singer from the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, Deon Gordon from Tech Birmingham, Michele Kong Bham Now from UAB, and Maria Underwood from Birmingham Bound, among many others.

Moreover, the event also showcased some of Birmingham’s renowned local businesses with Pizza Grace performing cooking demonstrations and TrimTab Brewing, O’Henry’s, Easy Hemp Co. and Campesino Rum providing beverages.