About Us

About Prosper Birmingham

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 outcomes infographic

Prosper 2023 Highlights

Prosper highlights in January
Prosper highlights in June
Prosper highlights in December
Prosper Annual Report

View our 2023 Annual Report

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Our Team

JW Carpenter

President of Prosper

Angela Scott Abdur-Rasheed

Angela Scott Abdur-Rasheed

Communications and Community Engagement Director

Dee Manyama

Dee Manyama

Initiatives Director

Aubrie Strange

Aubrie Strange

Fundraising Manager

Aryan

Aryan Anerao

Data Specialist

Carlisha headshot

Carlisha Harris

Catalyze Birmingham Specialist

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