50 Years Forward

50 Years Forward is the theme of the City of Birmingham's year-long program of events during 2013 recognizing the semi-centennial anniversary of the Birmingham Campaign and the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church.

Events

January 1: Official event launch, bell-ringing and dedication of the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail
January 5: NAACP Emancipation Commemoration at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
January 17: Release of NAACP's When We Walk commemorative calendar.
January 18: "This is Our Story" music and spoken word program at St Joseph Baptist Church
January 19: Citywide Youth Program and activities at Shiloh Baptist Church. SCLC gun buy-back at St Joseph Baptist
January 20: Cultural Arts Presentation at Hopewell Baptist Church
January 21 (Martin Luther King, Jr Day): March from Birmingham City Hall to Kelly Ingram Park and Civil Rights Rally at 16th Street Baptist Church
- MLK Love Feast for homeless and senior citizens, Boutwell Auditorium
- "Reflect and Rejoice concert with premieres of "Here We Are" and "Send Me Hope" by composer Henry Panion. Alabama Symphony Orchestra conducted by Roderick Cox at the Alys Stephens Center.
January 24–26: SCLC Leadership Conference
January 27: NAACP salute to Civil Rights Mass Churches, 16th Street Baptist
February 15: Public lecture by rapper/actor Common (Lonnie Lynn, Jr) at Bartow Arena
September 19: Eric Essix performing "Evolution" at the Alys Stephens Center.
September 21: Premiere of Yotam Haber's "A More Convenient Season" by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Damon Gupton at the Alys Stephens Center