CLICK HERE to see the Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir Website.

In June 2015, three friends came together with a vision. While preparing for their first year in college, they organized a back to school concert to help the community. They called their former school classmates, friends, family, and church members to form a choir for the occasion. The result became “The Birmingham Youth Fellowship Choir.” The organizers requested the citizens and businesses of Birmingham to donate school supplies. On the night of July 24th, 2015, the choir held its first “Youth ‘N Praise” Back to School Concert, donating over 200 school supply bags to students around the Birmingham Community. Initially, the choir organized for the one-time event, but after overwhelming acclaim, the choir continued.

The choir director is Ahkeem R. Lee, a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and the University of West Alabama. The choir’s membership comprises dedicated youth and young adults across the Birmingham Metropolitan Area. The choir has opened up for Former Senator Doug Jones, Bishop Marvin Winans, and Comedian Rickey Smiley and performed at conventions and events such as the Gospel Music Workshop of America and UAB Men’s Basketball.

In 2022, the choir officially changed its name to the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir to represent its growing membership. In July of the same year, they released their first single, “Restoration,” during the choir’s 7th Anniversary. In 2023, the choir became a 501 (c) (3) organization. The choir is on a mission to provide a creative space for youth and young adults to develop and share their musical talents through proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Join us to hear Dr. Gregory Samuels speak on the history and importance of celebrating Juneteenth. Before arriving at the University of Montevallo’s College of Education, he previously taught in Baltimore and Tampa with more than 10 years in the social studies classroom. After earning his M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction/Social Science Education at the University of South Florida, he joined the Department of Teaching, Leadership, and Technology at UM. In addition to teaching courses on classroom management, diversity, literacy, and social justice, he supervises teacher candidates in the Secondary Education Master’s Program and serves as UM’s Manager of Special Programming. His research interests include pedagogical applications in the social studies, teaching and learning for social justice, facilitation of critical pedagogy and working to include marginalized voices throughout the social studies curriculum.