'It’s Just Kind Of Where Everything Happens': Meet The People Of Birmingham

Damon Dahlen and Jenna Amatulli

Birmingham, Alabama, was stop five on our Listen to America road trip. We set up shop in the beautiful Railroad Park to talk to locals about what brought them to Birmingham. Here’s what they had to say:

“I want to see it grow ... I want to leave an imprint here.”

― Jeremy Burroughs, 25, account manager

“I’m an Ismaili Muslim and we have a big community here ... I like to learn from them.”

― Noren Salehani, 27, physician assistant

“I fell in love with the children’s hospital here. I was born in Birmingham. My dad’s medical career started in Birmingham... My dad’s my biggest role model. It was really nice for me to come to a place where he started his journey and now I’ve started mine.”

― Aleha Saleh, 26, pediatric oncology nurse

“We moved to the Ukraine because it has very cheap living cost ... then we were accepted here in Birmingham on an acceleration program.”

― Jozef Marko, 22, entrepreneur

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“Love the food, the culture, and the southern hospitality.”

― Angela Burroughs, 25, manager

“I’m from China ... Then I got an exchange program in Barcelona. In Barcelona, I met my boyfriend on the boat to Ibiza ... I came with him [to Birmingham] to help out with his startup.”

― Miao Deng, 22, digital marketing manager

“My family is part of the Birmingham civil rights history in that my sister, Denise, was one of the four girls killed in the 1963 church bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church.”

― Lisa McNair, 53, executive assistant

“I returned to make a difference in the community where I was raised.”

― Faith Abraham, 54, business owner

“It’s just kind of where everything happens.”

― Jurrien Abraham, 14, artist/student

We’re popping our bubble and dare you to do the same. Follow our bus tour across America to find out how much you really know about the state of the nation. Sign up for our email.

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The HuffPost bus sits in front of Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Sept. 22.
HuffPost tents are set up at the Ponce City Market.
HuffPost tents are set up at the Ponce City Market.
People gather around the tents at Ponce City Market.
People gather around the tents at Ponce City Market.
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Marc Janks of HuffPost (center) tries to drum up interest from a crowd of people dropped off by a tour bus.
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A passerby brings his dog for some watery refreshment during HuffPost's visit to Atlanta.
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HuffPost employees talk with visitors to the Listen to America tents.
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Basant Virdee puts on a temporary tattoo.
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An insect sits on a chair at the Listen to America event.
Kind bars are laid out and iPads are set up at the HuffPost site.
Kind bars are laid out and iPads are set up at the HuffPost site.
The tent had two sides at the HuffPost event.
The tent had two sides at the HuffPost event.
Basant Virdee and Christina Moniodis show off their temporary tattoos.
Basant Virdee and Christina Moniodis show off their temporary tattoos.
Ja'han Jones interviews Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on the HuffPost bus.
Ja'han Jones interviews Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on the HuffPost bus.
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Jones continues to talk with Reed.
Roddas Workneh is interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Atlanta.
Roddas Workneh is interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Atlanta.
Emma Reilly of HuffPost (center) talks to Jennifer Castle and Lee Hawks.
Emma Reilly of HuffPost (center) talks to Jennifer Castle and Lee Hawks.
Jacqueline Nash of Atlanta Ballet stops by HuffPost's tour bus location to show off her skills.
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Jacob Bush of Atlanta Ballet shows off his dancing skills during HuffPost's visit to Atlanta.
The Ponce City Market sign in Atlanta.
The Ponce City Market sign in Atlanta.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.