Birmingham youth leadership anti-violence program celebrates inaugural graduating class

By Michaela Yielding | myielding@al.comThe first graduating class from the 205 Game Changers youth leadership program, aimed at violence prevention, will celebrate their graduation Thursday.The event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Pearson Hall at Miles College.The city of Birmingham said the graduates participated in a six-week academy that equips young people to serve as paid peer mental health ambassadors, conflict mediators and community leaders who support Birmingham schools and neighborhoods year-round.Graduates recently organized We Got Us Day, a youth-led event promoting mental wellness, family engagement and violence prevention.The city said 205 Game Changers builds on Birmingham’s Community Safety Initiative and the success of Rise Up Birmingham, expanding youth leadership and violence prevention efforts through peer support and community engagement. Officials said the initiative reflects the city’s investment in community-based violence prevention.Among those expected to attend the celebration are Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action Executive Director and co-founder Jamila Davis, IRSJA Co-founder Angelo Pinto, Jarralynne Agee, vice president of Strategic Initiatives for Miles College, RESTORE Executive Director Carrie Buntain, and for the city of Birmingham, Director of Community Safety Initiatives Uche Bean and Birmingham Councilwoman LaTonya Tate.Michaela Yielding is a Birmingham native who covers data, education and more for AL.com. She is a 2025 graduate from Auburn University with a bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in political science. She has...