By Nausicaa Chu
The cheer practice room at Mountain Brook High School is typically used for, per its name, cheerleading practice. But every spring, it transforms into a training ground. Girls in their senior year of high school tackle and scuffle for hours. They learn how to throw someone over their shoulder.
Their teachers? Six Mountain Brook police officers.
This is not a scene out of Fight Club. This is a yearly self-defense class run by ALL IN Mountain Brook, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports youth and senior citizens. At a time when any number of books, websites and influencers claim to know easy answers to complex issues, ALL IN takes a different approach—avoiding assumptions, acting on community feedback and listening to everyone from high schoolers to the mayor.
The organization might work with a pediatrician to make a podcast episode about vapes, high schoolers to make a 26-page report about social media or—in this case—the Mountain Brook Police Department to teach a self-defense class.
“I mean, they literally are tackling,” laughs Becky Holt, Executive Director of ALL IN. “Mountain Brook Police Department’s willingness to truly just teach, train and make sure the senior girls feel equipped before they leave and head off to the next stage of life—it’s really remarkable.”
Such cross-collaboration is at the heart of ALL IN’s mission. The organization was founded in 2014 by school leaders, religious leaders, civic leaders, parents and business owners. They “recognized the need for a coordinated effort to support and protect the well-being of local youth,” says Holt. “That collaborative spirit continues to guide our work today.”
Ten years ago, Holt joined ALL IN as a parent representative for Cherokee Bend Elementary. “As a new kindergarten mom eager to get involved, I was looking for a way to jump right in, learn more about the community and build meaningful connections. ALL IN Mountain Brook gave me that opportunity,” says Holt.
Holt’s vision for Mountain Brook is a community that prioritizes strong relationships. “I believe that respect and a willingness to truly listen can go a long way toward addressing many of today’s challenges,” says Holt. “I am inspired by the vision of a community where asking for help is encouraged, where people genuinely look out for one another and where collaboration is the norm.”
Any given ALL IN board meeting could include the mayor, city council members, the school superintendent, the police and fire department chiefs, religious leaders and parents. They address a wide range of issues affecting youth and seniors. To name a few: youth gambling, social media addiction, AI, sextortion, online scams and isolation among older adults. “It’s lovely because you’re not chasing down everybody since you have so many of the decision makers right there in the room,” says Holt.
Because people bring different perspectives to the table, one suggestion often builds onto another. For instance, grandparents wanted to make their devices safe for grandchildren to use. The fire department mentioned that more residents should store emergency contacts in their phones so they would know who to notify during a fire or health scare. The police department noted a rise in identity theft scams targeting older people.
Combining their suggestions, the ALL IN board created a four-part series about technology safety for older adults in 2024. This past year, the organization expanded the programming to address active aging, connecting with grandchildren and grief and loneliness. “Really at the heart of everything we do with ALL IN, our goal is for people to never feel alone and to know that they have resources and support throughout our community,” says Holt.
Instead of simply providing guidance and demanding others follow it—a top-down approach—ALL IN speaks with those directly affected by issues and bases guidance off their feedback. In 2023, the organization released a 24-page report for parents about the social media landscape. Before it was created, Cameron Cole, founding chairman of Rooted Ministry and Director of Adult and Nextgen Discipleship at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, led focus groups about social media with school administrators, mental health professionals, youth pastors, college students and high schoolers.
The final report incorporated the feedback from each of these focus groups. “Rather than beginning with assumptions, we wanted to listen first and understand the experiences and concerns of those most directly affected,” says Holt. Parents appreciated the practical guidance in the report. “Many parents have shared that MB Plugged In gave them both the confidence and the language to begin important conversations about technology within their families,” says Holt.
ALL IN also emphasizes community involvement through its scholarship program. The Dr. Dale Wisely All In Service Scholarship, named after a co-founder and former Executive Director of ALL IN, is given to Mountain Brook students with a “demonstrated commitment to serving youth.” This year, the scholarship went to Polly Allbritton and Julia Butrus.
“I’m ALL IN,” a series of community members declared in a 2024 ALL IN kick-off video. ALL IN’s founders viewed this slogan as more than a play on words. They realized that “the best way to create a safe and healthy community was to literally go ‘ALL IN’ together,” says Holt.
That might look like providing a hundred hours of information sessions, thousands of dollars in scholarships—or an annual self-defense class with the Mountain Brook police. “I continue to be amazed by the generosity, expertise and willingness of so many professionals and volunteers who give their time to support this mission,” says Holt. “Mountain Brook is filled with talented people who genuinely care about one another, and it’s inspiring to witness that collaboration every day.”
ALL IN Mountain Brook, the City of Mountain Brook and Mountain Brook Schools have partnered together to provide a local crisis line for the community. This free crisis line is available 24/7 and is active and available for all Mountain Brook residents. The line can be reached by calling (205) 92SAVES or texting (205) 927-2837. For more information, visit allinmountainbrook.org, follow ALL IN on Instagram (@allinmtnbrook) or Facebook (ALL IN Mountain Brook) or reach out directly by email to [email protected]. To donate, visit allinmountainbrook.org/donate.
