We Are Positively Decatur!
Positively Decatur exists to celebrate and share uplifting stories from the Decatur community. Check out some of our favorite clips from the past few years!
Author: Positively Decatur
Stepping Back in Time: Your guide to “The Decaturs” historic districts
Did you know that Decatur was created from two different cities? Learn all about it from Caroline T. Swope, the historic preservation specialist for the City of Decatur!
Positively Inclusive: The Story of Everyday Sunshine
Everyday Sunshine is a Decatur-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to make the world a little more inclusive to those with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities.
Have You Heard?
It’s no wonder that Decatur was recently named the #1 barbecue city in Alabama with local legends like Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q at the table. Widely recognized for its smoked meats and famous white sauce, Big Bob’s has been a local staple for nearly 100 years.
Scottsboro Boys Civil Rights Museum
Decatur is soon to be home to a multi-million-dollar civil rights museum, thanks to Celebrating Early Old Town with Art (CEOTA), a nonprofit organization established to illuminate the heritage of the early Old Town neighborhood of Decatur.
Experience Culture and Community at the Daikin Festival
Step into a world of tradition, excitement, and culinary delights as you experience the magic of Japanese culture at the Daikin Festival. For 30 years, this beloved event has been a staple in the Decatur community, offering a night of appreciation for Japanese traditions and customs.
Celebrating History Through Art
Frances Tate's Decatur home is filled with stacks and stacks of beautiful drawings and paintings, each one a celebration of the city's rich past. She wasn’t always an artist, but a deep sense of history and a desire for representation led her to pick up a paintbrush. Her realization that she hadn’t seen a single photo of a Black church representing the early Old Town of Decatur was the spark that ignited her artistic journey.
Brown Books & More is Positively Building Community
Brown Books & More is Positively Building Community
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“No matter your culture, when you come in here, you’re going to feel welcomed.”
That’s how Janelle Brown, owner of Brown Books & More, describes her Decatur bookstore. It’s a place where community happens, where everybody knows your name.
The brick-and-mortar store first opened in 2022, and since then, Janelle has been growing her business to create a place where every person can feel represented, welcomed, and inspired.
Janelle started her career in the banking industry, but after nearly two decades in finance, she decided to turn her attention to entrepreneurship. Inspired by the need to increase literacy and reading levels among Black and brown students, she set out to open a bookstore where anyone could see themselves represented.
“We have books for everyone,” says Janelle of the store’s selection. “We cover every genre and every culture.”
But beyond just selling books, Brown Books & More is a community gathering place.
The store offers a lunch menu with smoothies, chicken salad, and more, inviting guests to relax and take their time inside. Reading rooms are available for groups and individuals to use.
And if a club or small group wants to use the space to meet? “No charge,” says Janelle. The room is meant to be used by the community.
Even the store’s interior decoration has been chosen intentionally to make the space feel like home to its guests. Walking through the door, patrons can feel they belong.
“You always see somebody that you know [here],” says Janelle, speaking of the community atmosphere.
We wanted to know: What makes Decatur a great place to live and run her business?
Many things, according to Janelle. She appreciates Decatur’s affordability, plentiful job market, and rich history.
“It’s a small town but still has access [to] modern amenities,” she says. “You can support your family here.”
In fact, when asked to describe Decatur in a word or phrase, Janelle keeps it simple: “Decatur is home.”
We couldn’t agree more!
Get Inspired
Q&A With Dr. Meg Adams Ingram, Pediatrician with Decatur Morgan Pediatrics
Meet Dr. Meg Adams-Ingram and learn what brought her and her family back to Decatur 14 years after she graduated from Decatur High School and moved away for college.
Positively Immerse Yourself in Art AND the Community at Alabama Center for the Arts
From studio art to graphic design to acting to music technology and everything in between, Alabama Center for the Arts in downtown Decatur has something for you.
Positively Pedaling: Exploring Decatur’s Bike Trails
Decatur, Alabama, is home to some seriously cool outdoor adventures. As the weather begins to cool off and the colors of fall start to paint the city, there’s no better time to saddle up and explore some of Decatur’s most popular outdoor amenities: the bike trails.
So grab your bike, and let’s embark on a fall biking adventure in Decatur!
Behind the Scenes at the Princess Theatre
You may be familiar with the image of the Princess Theatre’s marquee, its brightly colored lighted letters serving as an iconic visual landmark in downtown Decatur. But have you ever wondered what lies behind that main entrance?