In a small Alabama town of 5,000, something incredible has been happening over the last 50 years. Big Oak Ranch‘s story begins in the early ‘70s with a pivotal decision made by John Croyle, a former defensive end for Bear Bryant at The University of Alabama. Croyle was working at a camp one summer when […]

It is more than common to walk around historic sites and monuments and marvel at their importance and impact. What is less common is driving through small-town Alabama and recognizing the history to be found at home. But history and home are two things that Lucy and Susan of the Locker family know best. It […]

Nominated by The Pollies, Thad Saajid was honored at our 2024 Soul of the South Awards as our Music & Entertainment category winner. Biography In a place known for bringing in R&B artists to record, Muscle Shoals has a new homegrown talent in Thad Saajid—a singular talent creating a buzz for his effortless melodies, deft […]

The Alabama League of Municipalities’ (ALM) “Live Locally Alabama” campaign seeks to highlight the crucial role that local government plays in creating healthy and vibrant communities across the state’s 465 cities and towns. The state’s diverse range of communities consist of an abundance of cultural, recreational and educational opportunities–all with the singular purpose of developing […]

Alabama seasons come and go on a whim. Some years, summer and winter linger forever, while spring and fall only visit a few brief days. This January, winter decided to sit down and stay for a while. Snow first fell across the state’s northern border, bringing frigid temperatures with it. A week later, the sugar […]

Nominated by Cynthia Crutchfield of Innovate Alabama, T.C. McLemore was honored at our 2024 Soul of the South Awards as our Innovation & Entrepreneurship category winner. Biography Following my undergraduate degree, I did a year of AmeriCorps VISTA working at Alabama Possible. One of the organization’s founders was well-known Alabama historian Wayne Flynt. I asked […]

In 1933, John Kelly Fitzpatrick co-founded the Dixie Art Colony with Sallie B. Carmichael and her daughter Warree Carmichael LeBron. John Kelly Fitzpatrick of Elmore dedicated his life to the arts.  He was a renowned regional painter and is considered one of the South’s most celebrated artists and art promoters of the 1930s-40’s. Now, in 2025, […]

For those of us born and raised in Alabama, we share memories from childhood of finding small spaces across the state that seemed to hold a certain magic—a garden in a grandmother’s backyard, a wooded path that wove along the lakeside, or a little hiding spot among the hills. For all of us, there was […]

Nominated by Melanie Bridgeforth of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama, Leah Davis was honored at our 2024 Soul of the South Awards as our Humanitarianism & Philanthropy category winner. Biography Leah Davis, a Mississippi native, is passionate about philanthropy, equity, and community engagement. Leah is currently the Development Director for the Jefferson County Greenways. In […]

Beginning a new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the past and set meaningful intentions for the future, and one of the most impactful resolutions you can make is to deepen your connection with your community. Living locally not only improves the quality of life in your area but also helps build stronger, more […]

As far as February days in Fairhope are concerned, it was an intolerably cold one. Weaving in and out of the small shops around town, I was desperately eager to find a place where I felt I could take up residence for an hour or two. My limited knowledge of the area combined with my […]

Good Towns is a regular feature of Doing More Today, highlighting the people and places that make communities unique. Our latest Good Town story ties into college football season – a fitting topic considering Regions is the Official Bank of the Southeastern Conference. It’s a Wednesday morning, and the work has already begun at Jordan-Hare […]

Nominated by Chef Adam Evans and Suzanne Humphries of Automatic Seafood & Oysters, Jacobi Williams was honored at our 2024 Soul of the South Awards as our Food & Beverage category winner. Biography Chef Jacobi Williams, hailing from Scottsboro, Alabama, has woven a culinary narrative deeply rooted in his Alabama-wide upbringing. As a child, Williams’ […]

The holiday festivities are over and you’re faced with a kitchen full of leftovers. You’re tired of the same plate of turkey and dressing. Before you send the rest of the leftovers to the trash, consider transforming them into new, delicious meals.  One idea for repurposing those leftovers comes from Andrea Snyder, co-owner of Urban […]

Every holiday season, year after year, The Regions Center in Birmingham brings festive cheer to The Magic City on a grand scale.  The tower’s light display marks the beginning of the holiday season for many Birmingham residents, as many have grown up witnessing the impressive display since childhood. The 30-story tower annually features designs of […]

Brodie Alexander, a first-generation student at The University of Alabama, was drawn to the school’s college of engineering because of a unique offering—the combination of computer engineering and underwater robotics research. “Like many, I was initially drawn to the engineering field by the machines and devices we use every day,” says Alexander. “As a young […]

Every Southerner knows collards and its kin are the official vegetable of a proper and propitious New Year’s Day meal. Alabama farmers grow some mean greens, but if you want to serve them to start 2025, you might need to think ahead. The state’s last two seasonal pop-up farmers markets that remain open, Pepper Place […]

Many Alabamians immediately think of springtime as the optimum gardening season—and yet, cooler weather gardening holds many untapped possibilities for home gardeners. Many may consider fall and winter as seasons to wind down—but according to many gardening experts, it could be the perfect season to dig in. “Fall is the ideal time for planting in […]

This holiday season, the perfect gift you’re searching for may be just out your door. Alabama-grown gifts are the perfect way to support your local community. “Buying locally helps farmers and their families continue producing the highest quality products while keeping your dollars close to home,” says Aisling Walding, Assistant Director for Sweet Grown Alabama. […]

From its inception, Birmingham’s Birch Tree Day Spa has been so much more than meets the eye. It all began when Dawn received disheartening news. At five years old, her son was diagnosed with autism. Quickly, Dawn started searching for the best support for her son and later began traveling to Colorado in pursuit of […]

Nominated by Louis Nequette of Nequette Architecture & Design, Cassandra Kellogg & Zane Morgan were honored at our 2024 Soul of the South Awards as our Architecture & Interior Design category winners. Biography The founders and principles of BLACKSHOP, Cassandra Kellogg and Zane Morgan, have been designing and making alongside one another for over a […]