Councilor Vasa

Joshua Vasa

Birmingham City Councilor, District 3

Josh Vasa is a dynamic leader with over two decades of experience in community engagement, nonprofit management, and operational strategy. As Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Woodlawn United, Josh plays a critical role in overseeing business operations through standardizing internal operations and financial systems. Woodlawn United is a community development nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming and revitalizing Birmingham's historic Woodlawn neighborhood through a holistic approach. Josh has worked with numerous nonprofits, including Jones Valley Teaching Farm, where he led fundraising efforts and community engagement initiatives, and McWane Science Center, where he oversaw four revenue-generating divisions.

As Director of Operations at Blight Free Birmingham, Josh led efforts to reduce blight and increase homeownership opportunities in Birmingham, spearheading innovative programs like the Pathway to Ownership, which transforms renters into homeowners. And as the festival director at Sidewalk Film Festival, he coordinated all aspects of festival production with a team of over 700 volunteers. His experience spans diverse roles, reflecting his commitment to excellence and meaningful community impact.

Josh has worked with numerous nonprofits and played a foundational role in Birmingham’s civic and cultural landscape. He served on Railroad Park's founding junior board and chaired community programming in the Titusville neighborhood at the Marc Steel building. Josh has also advanced his leadership through several prestigious leadership development programs, including graduating from the WE Lead program, being selected for the Mosaic Fellowship, serving as a Community Action Fellow at the Ed Foundation, and participating in the Alabama Leadership Initiative class of 2017.

Beyond his professional achievements, Josh actively shapes Birmingham's future through contributions to the arts and civic leadership. He joined the board of the Bare Hands Gallery, furthering his dedication to cultural enrichment. His efforts extend to leadership roles in education and community advocacy, including becoming a board member at the education-focused nonprofit Breakthrough Birmingham, and founding the Birmingham Asian American Young Professionals Group.

Rooted in Birmingham, Josh combines his professional expertise with a personal commitment to his community. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his wife Chloe, their daughter Clea (pronounced "claya"), and two dogs, Sox and Chaco. Josh enjoys listening to jazz records, hiking the Vulcan Trail, biking the city, cooking steaks, playing chess, attempting to out-sing Sam Cooke, and unwinding with Netflix.