Moments of Impact

What surprised you during your program year? Was it a fact you learned, an insight you gained—or perhaps something you discovered about yourself? Several members of the Leadership Birmingham and Youth Leadership Birmingham (YLB) Class of 2025 describe defining moments they will always remember.

Dulce Rivera
CEO, Mi Pueblo Supermarket:

“What has stood out to me most is the disconnect that sometimes exists between the vast resources within our community and the people or organizations that need them most. However, thanks to this program, I’ve witnessed firsthand how these gaps can be bridged through meaningful connections and collaboration. When we take the time to learn about one another — our strengths, challenges, and shared goals — we can identify opportunities to work together more effectively. That’s where real impact happens. When we cultivate a diverse network, we become more effective leaders, collaborators, and problem solvers for our city. I look forward to applying that mindset in all that I do.”

Reggie Torbor
President, Pylon Building Group:

“My greatest insight was gained from my combined experiences of Education Day and Justice Day. The lack of opportunities in our education system creates an overloaded court system that leads to a dysfunctional prison system. The most disheartening piece of this is that this pipeline severely impacts our city’s most vulnerable: our children. We must work to resolve these issues for their sake.

“[Leadership Birmingham] has allowed us a space to come together to learn from each other. It has increased our networks of people with whom we enjoy our great city and lock arms to do the work so that we leave Birmingham better for the next generation.”

Sofia Nunez
Student, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School:

“One of my most meaningful experiences was meeting the mayor of Birmingham. Through this conversation, we learned about his passion for juvenile reforms. He has worked on conflict resolution strategies in schools to combat generational prison pipelines. Hearing these strategies from a prominent leader of the community was monumental! It made me realize that lawmakers do care about their constituents and youth concerns. After that open discussion, I started communicating with my lawmakers and speaking out about social issues. In future, I want to continue this work, interning in city hall and coordinating with advocacy groups to influence local, state, and national policy.”

Tyson Aguillard
Student, Ramsey High School:

“One thing that surprised me is how much my communication skills have evolved. I was kind of shy when I first got to the Opening Retreat, but after realizing that everyone there is going through the same thing and getting to know each other, it helped me become more open to talk to people.

“YLB has taught me a lot of things about the community. One thing we focused on was the civil rights movement and how it changed Birmingham throughout the 1960s. It encouraged me to help the community with different Black-owned businesses.”

Sid Evans
Editor in Chief, Southern Living:

“So much of Leadership Birmingham is about engaging with people who are not often visible in the community. During Human Services Day, we sat in on the Encore Community Respite Program at Canterbury United Methodist Church, which helps people suffering from dementia as well as their caregivers. As someone whose father had dementia for more than a decade, I was inspired by the brilliant work of Program Director Patti Williams as well as the other volunteers. We had the rare opportunity to take part in one of the sessions, to see the smiles and hear the laughs of the participants, and to witness the important work this program is doing.

“Every time I finish a program day, I come away inspired to find ways I can make a difference though my own work and connections. The problems we hear about are daunting — and sometimes depressing — but the passion and creativity of my fellow classmates gives me hope that we can help this city become a much better place.”

Keneshia Kirksey
Owner, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Alabama, PC:

“The insights I gained through Leadership Birmingham have encouraged me to reconsider leadership in a more holistic and expansive way. Additionally, the emphasis on speaking out on challenging topics has influenced how I engage with difficult conversations in the medical field. For instance, addressing health disparities within our community can be uncomfortable, but I now recognize the importance of tackling these issues with transparency and openness. This approach is especially crucial when advocating for marginalized or underserved populations, where boldness and courage can drive meaningful change.

“Furthermore, the advice to widen my lens beyond my own experiences has reshaped how I view patient care and community involvement. I am now more mindful of the diverse backgrounds, values, and needs of the people I serve. I am committed to being more open minded and proactive in understanding the unique challenges my patients face, and I plan to approach community health with a greater emphasis on inclusivity and cultural competence.”

Matthew Hess
Student, Briarwood Christian School:

“YLB blessed me with opportunities to seek other people’s opinions, ideas, and thoughts. This is important because hearing and understanding different perspectives is how we grow stronger as a community. On Arts Day, I had the opportunity to meet several artists and creative professionals. We discussed qualities of artists — creative, intuitive, methodical, perseverant, etc. — and which qualities were shared with leaders. The concluding question was, ‘Is good leadership an art?’ This taught me that leadership has no single correct form, no ‘right way,’ and no guaranteed formula for success. Learning how to adequately lead takes time, creativity, patience, and having an understanding of the people you are leading—all of which are attainable by making yourself aware of the people around you, stepping outside of yourself, and asking yourself the question, ‘Why do I believe this? Why do I stand for it?’ Above all, YLB has shown me the value of seeing the best in others and serving my community with respect and dedication.”

This article was originally posted in the Leadership Birmingham Summer 2025 magazine. See the full magazine here.