This series has introduced me to people who came to Birmingham and Homewood from all kinds of

directions — through city government, through nonprofit work, through building a business here. But

some of the most interesting stories belong to people who grew up here, left, and chose to come back.

Today's guest is one of them.

Elizabeth Simpson is a Homewood High School graduate who went on to study political science and

urban and community health at Rhodes College, then earned her master's degree in public administration

with a focus on health care policy at American University in Washington, DC. She spent six years there

working in policy and issue advocacy, including time on Capitol Hill and with a major government relations

firm, before moving back home to Homewood, where she now works in public affairs and issue advocacy

at Peritus Public Relations.

As I head into my senior year at Homewood in a couple of weeks, it is exciting

to get the opportunity to speak with someone who was in my shoes not long ago.

When we think about a city, we usually notice the things we can see: parks, roads, trails, restaurants, neighborhoods, and new developments. But behind every one of those places are hundreds of decisions, countless meetings, and people working every day to keep a community moving forward.

One of those people is the city manager. While many people know what a mayor does, far fewer understand the role of the person responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations that make a city function.

In this episode of The City Inside, I sit down with Cale Smith, Homewood's first City Manager, to explore what it really takes to run a city. We talk about everything from balancing long-term vision with everyday problem-solving to building safer streets, improving connectivity, and preparing a growing community for the future. Whether you're interested in leadership, public service, urban planning, or simply curious about how your hometown works, this conversation offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of local government.

Over the past few months, I've had the opportunity to participate in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute's Legacy Youth Leadership Program, an experience that has challenged me to think differently about Birmingham, its history, and my own role in the community. Through conversations, site visits, and an in-depth study of the Civil Rights Movement, I've come to realize that understanding where we are going requires understanding how we got here.

That reflection feels especially meaningful on Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom, celebrates resilience, and reminds us of the ongoing importance of learning from our nation's history. Birmingham played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, and many of the lessons from that era continue to shape our city today.

In this special Juneteenth episode of The City Inside, I sit down with Barry McNealy, educator, historian, and leader of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute's Legacy Youth Leadership Program. Together, we discuss Birmingham's role in the Civil Rights Movement, why these stories still matter today, and how young people can help carry that legacy into the future.

As a recent graduate of the Legacy Youth Leadership Program and an incoming docent at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, this conversation was especially meaningful to me. I hope it encourages listeners to reflect on the importance of understanding our past, not only to appreciate how far we've come, but also to help shape a better future.

Fresh strawberries, chocolate croissants and local wildflowers ….where else can you shop for all of these things on a warm summer morning then the Pepper Place Farmers Market! I’ve been spending my Saturday mornings here with my family since I was a little kid, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve been thinking a lot more about where all of these amazing local items come from, and how has this farmers market that I love made an impact on our Alabama community.

In this episode of The City Inside, I sit down with Leigh Sloss-Corra, Executive Director of the Pepper Place Farmers Market, to discuss the market, its impact on our local economy, its role as a social gathering space in Birmingham and its ability to educate our community on healthy food and the importance of supporting our local farmers.

After attending one of Homewood's first comprehensive plan stakeholder meetings, I became curious about how cities make long-term decisions and who gets a voice in that process. In this episode of The City Inside, I speak with Mayor Jennifer Andress about Homewood's new comprehensive plan, how community members can get involved, and why planning today will help shape the city that future generations inherit.