Sheila Tyson, Councilor, District 6
Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson has dedicated her life to causes that uplift members of the community. Councilor Tyson is chair of the Public Improvements and Beautification & Parks and Recreation Committee and a member of the and Public Safety, Transportation and Utilities Committees. She is a native of Birmingham and is a proud graduate of West End High School. She served in the United States Army and graduated from the U.S. Army Quarter Master School with a concentration in Business and Accounting.
Councilor Tyson is the past President of the West End Community and has worked with various community partners to develop programs that revitalize and empower the community. She is also the immediate past President of the Citizens Advisory Board, where she provided leadership to all 99 neighborhood community leaders.
Councilor Tyson is often heard saying, “The only thing she loves more than working in the community, is being a MOM!”
As a servant leader and a community advocate, Councilor Tyson started the “Building A Healthy Community” program in the West End area in partnership with the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center. As a result of her efforts, there are 25 walking teams in the community and walking tracks are being built in each neighborhood; with two already complete. She collaborated with the Joe Rush Paint initiative at Urban Ministry, Inc. to build, paint, and repair homes; which led to 35 home repairs and over 100 homes being painted in a one year period. She also assisted community residents with taking advantage of a program that allows urban neighborhoods to renovate and weatherize their homes.
Councilor Tyson serves as Operations Director for Birmingham Vision, which provides employment opportunities for youth during the summer, ensuring that hundreds of young people are working instead of roaming the streets. She has worked with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation to engage and mobilize formerly incarcerated residents to participate in the presidential election and began the non-profit organization “Friends of West End”, which partners with Princeton Hospital on numerous community projects, including a scholarship program for local high school students. Additional community partners include the West End Merchants Association, the West End Community School and West End Library.
Her storied career also included coaching community fast pitch softball since 1986; leading her teams to several championships and mentoring 15 girls to scholarships in softball. She helped 4 families that were displaced by Hurricane Katrina find permanent jobs, housing, and schooling in Birmingham.
Councilor Tyson is a member of various community organizations including the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Neighborhood USA, the Birmingham Board of Education-Executive Committee and the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center. She has won numerous awards including the Martin Luther King Keeper of the Dream Award, an NAACP Award and a SCLC Award.
For more information concerning Councilor Sheila Tyson or to discuss scheduling arrangements, call 205.254.2358 or email sheila.tyson@birminghamal.gov.