Sheila Tyson, Councilor, District 6
Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson is Chair of the Public Improvements and Beautification Committee, and a member of the Public Safety and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Committees.
The Birmingham native is a business accountant, former president of the West End community and the Birmingham Citizens Advisory Board. Councilor Tyson studied business accounting at the Quartermaster School operated by the U.S. Army. She is serving her second term as a Birmingham City Councilor.
Councilor Tyson maintains a reputation as a community leader for the people. Her most proud and notable accomplishment is the act of leading the Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation in its pursuit to concentrate on the formerly incarcerated population to engage and mobilize them to participate in the 2008 presidential election. The Secretary of State office purged 9,000 ex-felons from the registration rolls, which was further complicated because of the confusion and difficulty in identifying which allowed ex-felons to register and vote and which ones were not. While the law stated ex-felons who were not convicted of crimes of moral turpitude were allowed to vote, it failed to identify specifically which crimes were excluded from this definition. Coalition members visited local jails in Birmingham and registered more than 500 offenders currently serving time, and delivered them all absentee ballots. All 500 voted.
With hopes to create a better footprint for the southwestern district, Councilor Tyson assisted on passing laws that removed alcoholic coolers from convenience store fronts and minors no longer have access, helped pass a smoke-free ordinance for four cities in the state of Alabama, completed a one year training program for Organizing Project, started a walking team for 99 communities, and chosen to host a webinar for Equal Voices, which was shown in twenty-seven states across the country. She is certified by the International Research Board and is now a certified facilitator by UAB and one of thirteen people chosen to lead a webinar about getting influenza vaccination grassroots up and running. She has also assisted with starting eight gardens within the West End community and helped several uninsured women receive breast cancer screenings through the Reach Us program. She fought to save Cooper Green Mercy Hospital before they closed their doors and continues to work to stop sewer rates from increasing. Currently, she assists with feeding needy citizens of Birmingham three meals a day.
She has received numerous awards during her years of service: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Keeper of the Dream award, NAACP, and the SCLC award. Other awards that Councilor Tyson has received include the Martin Parents Against Violence Award, Metro Birmingham Women’s History Award, Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP 2012 Believers Award, First Responders Award, Birmingham Police Department Community Award, Voting Rights and Social Justice Roundtable from the National Black Women Roundtable, and Woman of the Year Award from NAACP for the state of Alabama, Outstanding Community Service award, Odessa Woolfolk Community Service, Stars Fell on Alabama, Black Women’s Roundtable Phenomenal Award, Alla’s Elite Person Award, NAACP Outstanding Community Service Glen Iris Elementary School – Recognition for her outstanding community support, Booker T. Washington School- Recognition for outstanding community support, Brenda Brown Bosom Buddies – Dedication, Award for Neighborhood Elective, City of Birmingham Proclamation for A Night out on Crime, Census Bureau for 2010 partnership, and Certificate of Appreciation for Arlington West End and West End Communities. Her participation in several year long conferences like Alabama Grassroots Leadership Development and National Organization of Black Elected Legislative women enables her to become a more effective leader, allows her to create relationships with other women in politics, helps other women rise to leadership roles and most importantly enhances the lives around her community. She has also attended many other workshops including Tandeka’s program on childhood obesity prevention. Councilor Tyson is also a member of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Neighborhood USA, Birmingham Board of Education Executive Committee, UAB Minority Health& Health Disparities Research, a lifetime AIDS and HIV advocate, a part of nine PTA’s, started a nonprofit called Building Healthy Communities. In July 2017 she was selected to travel to Kenya and empower women in politics abroad.
Councilor Tyson not only cares about her community, but Alabama as a whole. Working overtime to insure her community and surrounding communities are safe. Hoping residents will feel proud of the area they call home.
For more information concerning Councilor Sheila Tyson or to discuss scheduling arrangements, call 205.254.2358 or email sheila.tyson@birminghamal.gov.