If you are a reporter, pick a question, below, and produce a story to answer it.
The Ensley Asks project aims to respond to the need of local reporters and newsrooms to better understand the issues that are really important to people in Ensley, and to have convenient and compelling access points to help them cover those stories.
It also responds to the need of Ensley residents to be informed about the things that impact their lives and their community, things such as city planning decisions, development proposals, budgetary changes, law enforcement, and the intentions of elected officials.
These questions offer local media a simple and tangible way to build a new audience in Ensley, and create lasting relationships in this community.
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for reporters to produce stories about Ensley that are relevant and important to the people that live here. A list of local contacts and information providers is included, below.
If you are an Ensley resident, you can ask the media a question.
Want to know where your city councilor stands on a certain issue?
Perhaps you're wondering about plans for a vacant lot or abandoned building in your street?
Or maybe there's something happening in your neighborhood and you'd like more information from city officials, local police or other authorities?
This is your chance to ask the question, and have a local reporter track down an answer for you.
We'll be sending questions posted to Ensley Asks to newsrooms, reporters, freelance journalists and media students all across Birmingham. This is their opportunity to build a relationship with people in Ensley, and demonstrate the great value of local journalism that matters to local people.
You can submit your own questions directly to this page by sharing a short video on Instagram using #EnsleyAsks.
Click on a resident to hear their question. (Click the arrow to hear more questions.)
Local contacts:
Brian Hawkins
Co-founder of Ensley Alive community organization. Artist.
205.567.0333
Bettina Byrd-Giles
Co-founder of Ensley Alive community organization. CEO Bethesda Life Center. Clinic administrator.
205.585.4101
Yohance Owens
Local resident, Executive Director Village Creek Society.
205.798.0087
John Hilliard
City Councilor for District 9, covering Ensley.
john.hilliard@birminghamal.gov
205.254.2302
About:
Ensley Asks is a collaborative effort by Ensley Alive, 100 Days in Appalachia, the people that live and work in Ensley, and the committed media professionals and students in the Birmingham area.
The goal of Ensley Asks is to build a working relationship between the people of Ensley and local media.
By doing so we aim to improve local media coverage of the important issues that people in Ensley are concerned about, and help people in Ensley be informed about the things that impact their lives and their community, such as city planning decisions, development proposals, budgetary changes, law enforcement, and the intentions of elected officials.
If you have any questions about Ensley Asks, email Jake Lynch, Community Engagement Editor for 100 Days in Appalachia, at jakelynch@100DaysinAppalachia.com
For more information about 100 Days in Appalachia, visit www.100daysinappalachia.com
For more information about Ensley Alive, visit www.facebook.com/ensleyalive