Small Magic

Birmingham Talks is a free, city-wide program that works with babies from birth - 3 years old to foster lifelong literacy through conversation. Our organization is the city’s first data-driven program that models best practices for early childhood language development and communication skills. Founding partners include the City of Birmingham and Bloomberg Philanthropy. Currently, Birmingham Talks works with mothers in the home setting and Early Head Start teachers in the classroom setting. Two delivery methods, one goal: to increase the number of words babies hear before they turn 3. Our program involves three main components: training caregivers to have more interactive conversations with babies, utilizing LENA technology (a "Fitbit for words") to count how many words babies are hearing, and coaching caregivers around the data that comes from that counting. By 2022, Birmingham Talks anticipates graduating nearly 2,500 children in the city.