Our Story
​The Movement Foundation was developed and designed to support the overarching vision of addressing and assessing our community needs with solutions.
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We are a Public Foundation 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to you under IRC Section 170.
Plan Of Action
​The Movement Foundation is multifaceted with subsidiaries to serve an overabundance of opportunities in assisting the concerns of those who live, work, and serve in our communities.
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The Learning Center @ The Movement
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The Movement C.A.R.E. Community Health Clinic
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The M.B.A. (Movement Business Accelerator)
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The Movement Manor (Affordable Housing)
The MoveMent
The Center For Transformation
The Movement
The Center For Transformation
1517 Hibernian Street
Birmingham, AL 35214
Overview
The Movement- Center For Transformation was established to revitalize the communities of Ensley and Pratt City in District 9 of Birmingham, Alabama. This center will serve as the model for transformation throughout the City of Birmingham, County of Jefferson, State of Alabama and the Country of The United States of America. Our mantra is strategic in, but not limited to Community Development, Economic Development, Civic Development, and Personal Development. The Center is committed to specific keys to producing successful central business districts, urban open spaces, and providing all citizens with recreational, ecological, aesthetic value to generate momentum within the communities.
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7 Benefits of Credit Unions
Are credit unions better than banks? There are many benefits of credit unions once you become a member. You may be asking yourself if it is time to make the switch. We’ve outlined 7 advantages of credit unions in this article to help you make your decision.
Credit Union vs Bank
When weighing the advantages of a credit union vs a bank, it is important to understand what a credit union is.
Credit unions are cooperative financial institutions owned and operated by their members — not shareholders. That means most credit unions offer higher interest deposit accounts and loans with better rates.
While belonging to a large financial institution has its advantages, there are just some benefits you won’t find anywhere but a credit union. Here are 7 benefits of credit unions that might make you think twice about getting an account with one of the big guys.
1. Lower Fees
Credit unions tend to offer lower fees than banks. This is because of their not-for-profit business structure and their tax-exempt status. Rather than paying shareholders, credit unions are able to reinvest their earnings back into their members, decreasing the need to charge fees such as overdraft penalties.
2. Better Savings
According to the National Credit Union Administration’s credit union and bank rates report for 2021, credit unions offer better interest rates than banks on their CDs and savings accounts. In the first quarter of 2021, the national average rate for a 5-year CD is 0.76 for credit unions, while the national average rate for banks is only 0.63.
3. Lower Loan Rates
In addition to offering better rates on savings accounts, credit unions are also known for offering lower interest rates on loans. Many credit unions offer all the products that banks do, from car loans to mortgages. However, credit unions are able to offer better rates on these same products because of their not-for-profit business model.
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4. Local Experts
According to the Federal Credit Union Act enacted in 1934, credit unions provide membership to a specific population. A credit union’s field of membership could be a specific occupation or location.
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Credit unions often offer financial counseling led by local experts, like these free financial workshops. By offering workshops led by local business owners, credit unions can help provide more specific financial education for their members.
5. Commitment to Members
As nonprofit businesses, credit unions rely on their membership to continue operating, rather than being driven by profit. Members of credit unions enjoy the benefits of the organization’s strong focus on personalized customer service.
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6. Elected Board of Directors
One of the benefits of being a member of a credit union is the ability to participate in the election of leadership in the organization. Naturally, this means that members can help guide the major financial decisions and corporate goals of their credit union.
7. Investments in Your Community
Credit unions make a commitment to investing in local communities. While national banks invest in large scale industrial projects, credit unions partner with local organizations to keep their earnings circulating within their communities. The goal is to improve the lives of the people in their membership base and add value to the community in which they operate.
Switching to a credit union has many benefits for both members and the community at large.
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Foundation
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.
Goals
1. Target Smart Growth- Selective programs in communities that intentionally draw boundaries to keep development dense and compact
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2. Urban Renewal- This refers to programs that concentrate on land redevelopment
in areas of low, moderate- to high-density urban use.
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3. New Urbanism- This trending concept is designed to increase “movement” that
promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types.
4. Lower Crime Rates- The Center will immediately address a theory known as the
“broken window theory,” that argues that small indicators of neglect, such as broken
windows and unkempt lawns, loitering, poor sanitation, dilapidated
homes/structures all promote a feeling that an area is in a state of decay.
Anticipating decay, people likewise fail to maintain and manage their own
properties.
5. Strategic Planning and Partnerships- The Center will focus on setting,
implementing and maintaining high-level goals and determining desired areas of
growth within Ensley and Pratt City of District 9 in the City of Birmingham. The
results of the planning and partnering process is the CORE of our strategic plan- also
known as the development plan, core strategy, or comprehensive plan. We have
identified 3 key areas of concern within this strategic plan:
*Build Community Infrastructure- we will partner to develop vital components that
every city/community must possess to have sustainability- quality education and
academic support, urgent care facilities that partner with hospitals/healthcare
agencies, safe parks/walkways, entertainment venues.
*Public Works Infrastructure- we will provide education and assistance to advocate
the supply of cleaner water in our communities, address a sewage problem that has
plagued the citizens of Ensley and Pratt City for decades, and implement a secure
telecommunications system throughout the communities.
*Safety and Transportation needs such as better roads, better relations between
citizens and those in law enforcement, as well as quality fire facilities/support.
As you can see and imagine from the above strategic planning concepts, great
planning demands a lot of work, sweat equity, determination and resilience. But
when it is done correctly, planning at the community, city, county, state and national
levels will have a positive impact with longevity on everyone involved.