Voices of Alabama Families
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What we inherit shapes how we raise our children.
In this opening episode of Voices of Alabama Families, we explore how history lives on through families, communities, and everyday experiences—and how those stories become a child’s first lessons in identity, belonging, and resilience.
From the legacy of Africatown to childhood memories on Davis Avenue, from Birmingham to Montgomery, voices from across Alabama share how place, culture, and community shaped who they are—and how those influences continue to guide the children in their lives today.
Because long before a child enters a classroom, they are already learning—from the stories they hear, the people who surround them, and the history that lives within their communities.
Featuring voices from across Alabama:
Karlos Finley — Mobile, AL
Blaine Hayaski — Mobile, AL
Sallie Martin — Mobile, AL
Ashley Robinson — Montgomery, AL
Dr. Christine Spear — Montgomery, AL
Tad Hosford — Birmingham, AL
Katherine Hosford — Birmingham, AL
Mariohn Michel — Birmingham, AL
Episode 1
Roots and Routes: How Alabama’s History Shapes Today’s Families
Long before children ever step into a classroom, they are already learning—through stories shared in everyday moments. Around kitchen tables, on front porches, and in passing conversations, children begin to understand who they are and where they belong. In this episode, Voices of Alabama Families explores storytelling not as something imagined, but as something lived—an essential part of how families pass down history, identity, and culture.
Through personal reflections, this episode reveals how stories—spoken and unspoken—shape the way children see themselves and the world. From the role of family storytellers to the power of language, including African American Vernacular English and Indigenous languages like Creek, storytelling becomes one of the earliest and most meaningful forms of teaching.
At its core, The Front Porch Tradition is about connection. It’s about the responsibility of sharing truth, the impact of traditions repeated over time, and the lasting sense of belonging children carry with them. Because the stories we tell don’t just reflect who we are—they help shape who children become.
Episode 2 Contributors
Katherine Hosford (Birmingham)
Jessica Stinson (Mobile)
Dawn Owens (Montgomery)
Blaine Hayaski (Mobile)
Karlos Finley (Mobile)
Raven Johnson (Birmingham)
Mariohn Michel (Birmingham)
Tad Hosford (Birmingham)
Teresa Lewis (Mobile)
Venay Holden (Mobile)
Episode 2
The Front Porch Tradition: Storytelling As Early Learning
