During the boycott, King’s parsonage became a target of violence. On the evening of Jan. 30, 1956, a bomb was set off at the home while his wife, Coretta Scott King, and infant daughter, Yolanda, were inside. Although neither was hurt, the reality of what was occurring in Montgomery and inside the walls of Dexter Avenue thrust King into the world spotlight. The home was bombed several times later.

The parsonage at 309 South Jackson St. has become a museum paying homage to King and gives insight into the trailblazer while living with his family there from 1954 until 1960. King became the symbolic leader of the civil rights movement and a household name. Built in 1912 and the home of 12 Dexter Avenue Church pastors from 1920 until 1992, the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It still holds much of the furniture used by King and his family.

Cromwell Handy, the current pastor of Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, is proud to continue the legacy of those who came before him.

“I understand the history and staple this great church has become in the city, nation and world,” Handy said. “We don’t take that for granted. Thousands of people from the around the world each year come to Montgomery to, for one day, walk in the footsteps of King while he led this church, the boycott, the movement. It is an honor to meet all types of people annually that want to take a glimpse into Dr. King’s life; even while cut short, the life he led during the time while in Montgomery that molded him into the leader he was eventually known to be.”

Dexter Parsonage Museum and Interpretive Center is under a five-year renovation to restore and maintain the home. A grant from the Alabama Power Foundation is supporting that work. Inside is the study where King wrote memorable speeches and sermons; the dining room that was a meeting place for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) that organized the bus boycott; and the kitchen where King had an epiphany on Jan. 27, 1956, that eventually became the civil rights movement.

For more information on the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, the Dexter Parsonage Museum and Interpretive Center and its Foundation, visit www.dexterkingmemorial.org.

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)

What is being seen playing out with the COVID-19 crisis validates why many choose to go into the nursing profession. Though perhaps none bargained for graduating into a global pandemic, the desire to help those who are sick and in need of comfort and healing is apparent.

Matalia Conner, a graduate nursing student at UAB, said helping others is what drives her.

“I chose to go into the field of nursing because of the endless opportunities to help make a difference in someone’s life medically,” she said. “Not only healing when they are ill but identifying triggers to avoid further sickness and promote healthy lifestyles.”

Troy University senior nursing student Rachel Moody’s decision to go into nursing was personal. Her father was diagnosed with dementia and toward the end of his life, she was right there helping to care for him.

“This is what really solidified that becoming a nurse was what I was meant to do,” Moody said. “I was also able to see how the nurses were with him, which helped me to understand that I want to always be a nurse that is compassionate and caring to both my patient and their family.”

Alabama has a plethora of schools geared to creating the next generation of nursing professionals on all levels, from licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificates to doctoral degrees. These institutes have achieved a passing rate of more than 75% on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in 2019, according to the Alabama Board of Nursing.

The following are accredited Alabama colleges with nursing programs:

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)