Birmingham Regional Empowerment and Development Center, Inc. (BREAD), was incorporated in December, 2003 and is an outgrowth of programs started by Bethel Baptist Church, Pratt City. BREAD serves at risk youth, their parents, and other community members. Programming includes after-school and summer academic enrichment activities, STEM, adult education, and health initiatives. For the past twenty years, the organization has received its primary funding from Alabama Department of Education, (ALSDE), serving both Birmingham City and Jefferson County School Systems. Academic enrichment services are provided year-round, Monday through Friday and in the summer to prevent learning loss in five Birmingham City Schools. BREAD was selected as one of the vendors of Birmingham City Schools during the summer of 2022 to provide academic services to their students. BREAD has developed an award winning model 21st Century Community Learning Center. In October 2007, the Alabama State Department of Education identified and awarded eighteen sites throughout the state in its first “Excellence in Extended Day and Extended Year Award”, with BREAD being among the recipients. With this award, BREAD signed an agreement with ALSDE to assist in the training of teachers, principals and other interested parties in quality extended day and extended year programs.
