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Events

Stay up-to-date with Alabama Possible events! Each event is open to the public but might also have an intended audience listed in the description. On-demand recordings can be found at youtube.com/alabamapossible.

Community Conversation: Navigating College Admissions in Special Populations
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Audience: High school counselors, career coaches, educators; community-based organizations; postsecondary access & success professionals

A member of our Educator Advisory Council will lead our final community conversation for the academic year. This discussion will focus on supporting students with unique needs in housing, learning, or enrollment as they transition to higher education.  Ensuring seniors understand available resources and options, empowering them to self-advocate in complex systems, and forming creative collaborations with institutions of higher education. This conversation is an opportunity to workshop ideas, explore new strategies, and share lessons learned.  Register for the Community Conversation HERE.

Celebration Day and Professional Development Workshop
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 10:30AM – 11:45AM
Audience: High school counselors, career coaches, educators; community-based organizations; postsecondary access & success professionals

In partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education, Alabama Possible will celebrate the successes of the 2025-26 school year. In addition to recognizing the Cash for College award winners, we’ll also feature some highlights from the Alabama College Application Campaign and Direct Admission Initiative! Educators will have the opportunity to hear tips and strategies from their peers and receive professional development credit. Register for the webinar HERE.

High school educators can claim professional development credit by visiting alsde.truenorthlogic.com and using Course #333921, Section #536694.

Archived

Keynote by Joshua Jones, CEO of QuantHub
Research from ACT has highlighted the importance of school-based college preparation supports for students and their self-reported preparedness for college. Specifically, students say they want more guidance in exploring college majors and future careers, identifying good-fit colleges, and understanding the steps needed to prepare strong college applications. In this session, ACT’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) will share how the campaign is supporting high school seniors and juniors in their planning for life after high school. Presented by Tina Gridiron of ACT.
Alabama’s statewide Direct Admission initiative, powered by the partnership between Alabama Possible and Match, is transforming postsecondary access for high school seniors. With more than 30 participating colleges, the initiative has delivered thousands of admission offers and scholarships to students across the state—many from institutions they may not have otherwise considered. This session will highlight the strategy behind the rollout, measurable outcomes, and how direct admission can serve as a practical counseling tool to simplify in-state and out-of-state pathways while advancing Alabama’s workforce goals. Presented by Kory Smalzer and Alexis Robinson of EAB
Reliable transportation is essential for Alabama residents to get to work, school, medical appointments, and other needs, yet not enough residents have reliable access to transportation. A recent AARP study ranked Alabama 48th in the nation for transportation; Alabama is the only state that provides no state funding for public transit. Communities in our state must find creative solutions to overcome these transportation challenges. In the Greater Birmingham region, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is helping lead efforts to build an effective public transit model: microtransit. Utilizing multi-passenger vans and a sophisticated algorithm, the Birmingham/Max On-Demand service picks up passengers where they are and drops them off at their destination for the price of a bus ride. In operation since 2019, the service gets consistently high rider ratings and average pickup times under 12 minutes. This session will provide an overview of this service and highlight both successes and challenges. Presented by Gus Heard-Hughes of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Most major technological shifts come with fear, followed by eventual adaptation. AI is no different. This session reframes the conversation around how Alabama's learners, counselors, and career coaches can use AI as a capacity-building collaborator rather than a threat. We will explore free and affordable tools with immediate, high-impact applications for both the professionals in the room and the students they serve. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to help Alabama's next generation approach AI with confidence rather than anxiety. Presented by Joshua Sahib of the Lowder Center for Entrepreneurship - Auburn University
This session examines hunger as a complex, multidimensional issue spanning global, national, and local contexts. Participants will distinguish between hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; explore types and dimensions of food security; and analyze impacts on physical health, mental health, and educational and workplace performance. Drawing on data from Action Against Hunger, USDA, and Feeding America, the session connects poverty, cost of living, and policy to lived experience. It concludes with an overview of the Hunger Solutions Institute and its integrated teaching, research, and outreach initiatives. Presented by Sarah Grace Kaschak from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn University
A+ Education Partnership led the Every Child Alabama Coalition to advocate for restructuring school funding which eventually turned into the Alabama RAISE Act at the legislation. The RAISE Act has transformed how Alabama funds its schools, replacing a 30-year-old formula with a new hybrid approach. A+ Education Partnership will explore what changed, why it matters, and who benefits most. Participants will gain insight into how the new formula directs more resources to specific student populations and what that means in practice for schools. The session will also examine how these changes may impact students’ day-to-day experiences and outcomes. Finally, we will share what’s next for A+ Education Partnership as it continues working to build on this progress. Presented by Mark Dixon of A+ Education Partnership
HICA representatives will present an overview of the organization’s programs and services, with a particular focus on its Education and Career Pathways initiatives. This session will highlight HICA’s work in workforce development, including current and upcoming programs designed to expand access to career opportunities and supportive services for constituents. Additionally, presenters will share updates on the organization’s growing education efforts, including strategic partnerships with local and rural school districts. Attendees will learn about the ESCALERA and LISTO curriculum, which are designed to empower Latino and immigrant students to successfully access and navigate postsecondary education and career pathways
At Ingram State Technical College, a host of Career Technical programs are offered to train highly competent and highly motivated adults for careers in over 20 different skilled trade areas. Using the untapped labor market of formerly incarcerated adults, businesses can fill labor gaps and reinforce areas of weakness with graduates who provide professional acumen and a willingness to create a career opportunity that will benefit both the employer and employee within their chosen profession. Presented by William Young of Ingram State Technical College
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