About Us
How Prosper Grows Birmingham
We are rooted in equity so that everyone, especially Black people and women, can thrive
We are in the business of creating opportunities where few currently exist.
We seek big wins and big national investments, and we won’t let past fears hold us back from building a more prosperous future for all
We measure and share our progress, celebrate wins, and engage the community in how we can do better
Prosper is the place for big ideas! Prosper focuses on building an inclusive and thriving economy through three key pillars focused on job creation, job preparation and job access and supporting our framework:
Job Creation Strategy
A cross-sector effort involving the Prosper HealthTech Accelerator powered by gener8tor and Business Advisory Services (Supplier Scale and TeamUP). These initiatives grow and create more living wage careers in Birmingham.
Job Preparation Strategy
An intentional strategy supporting Birmingham Promise connecting Birmingham students to work-based learning experiences and higher education financial assistance, mobilizing the regional Catalyze Birmingham Challenge funding innovative workforce development initiatives supporting students, and implementing the Good Jobs Challenge/Path to Wellness providing workforce development for health workers.
Job Access strategy
A collaborative approach to accelerate job access by connecting Black entrepreneurs with the resources needed through investments in Magic City Match and Operation: Backing Black Businesses/Network Navigator and by utilizing the B-Included website to eliminate health disparities and, ultimately, barriers to career opportunities.
Prosper 2023 Highlights
Our Team
Board of Directors
Mark Crosswhite — Chair
Retired Alabama Power
Lara Avsar
Boston Consulting Group
Rich Bielen
Protective Life Corporation
Melanie Bridgeforth
Women’s Foundation of Alabama
Tate Forrester
O’Neal Steel
Jim Gorrie
Brasfield and Gorrie LLC
Rosilyn Houston
Retired Santander Bank
Mike Kemp
Kemp Management Solutions LLC
Kendra Key
Birmingham Black Business Initiative
Regions Bank
Bonderia Lyons
Foundation Heights Neighborhood
Stephanie Mays
Maynard Cooper
Ruth Ann Moss
Small Magic
Chris Nanni
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Staci Pierce
Action Resources
John Sherman
Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED
Sanjay Singh
CS Equities
Lee Styslinger III
Altec, Inc.
Mark Tarr
Encompass Health
John Turner
Regions Bank
Tim Vines
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
Dr. Ray Watts
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kamau Witherspoon
Shipt
Randall L. Woodfin
City of Birmingham, Alabama