Birmingham was selected as one of five cities to model a program aimed at teaching parents how to better talk with their children, and in turn, improve early brain and language development. Birmingham is one of five cities receiving a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to model a program first tested in Providence, Rhode Island, dubbed “Providence Talks.” The grant will pay for the program for three years. Bloomberg Philanthropies will also provide in-kind donations of technology and software, including talk pedometer devices and software. The program will serve 2,500 children across Jefferson County over the next three years. The other four cities that are replicating Providence Talks are: Detroit, Michigan; Hartford, Connecticut; Louisville, Kentucky; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Combined with local investments, the support provided across five cities totals nearly $12 million over three years.