Councilwoman Samantha Ingram Sets Community Safety Forum at Mobile’s Rickarby Center

MOBILE, Ala. — Residents of Mobile’s District 2 will have a chance to speak directly with city leaders about neighborhood safety at a Community Safety Forum set for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at the Rickarby Community Center. District 2 Councilwoman Samantha Ingram announced the forum in her weekly District 2 newsletter, saying it follows recent violence near Rickarby Park.

Ingram framed the gathering as a listening session, one designed to put the concerns of people who live in the neighborhood at the center of the conversation.

Community Safety Forum Details

• What: Community Safety Forum hosted by District 2 Councilwoman Samantha Ingram
• When: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
• Where: Rickarby Community Center, 550 Rickarby Street, Mobile
• Who: District 2 residents and others who live near Rickarby Park

The newsletter did not describe the recent violence near the park in detail, and no further information about the incident was included in the announcement.

A Forum Built Around Residents’ Voices

In her newsletter, Ingram said the purpose of the forum is to hear from the people who know the neighborhood best: those who live there.

She posed several questions she hopes residents will come ready to answer: “What are you seeing? What concerns you most? What changes would help you feel safer?”

Ingram wrote that those firsthand accounts carry weight that official data cannot. “No report, statistic, or meeting can replace the experiences of the people who call a community home,” she wrote.

Forums like this one give neighbors a chance to share observations about specific locations, times of day or recurring problems, which can help city officials and police better understand what is happening on the ground. They also give residents an opportunity to ask questions directly of their elected representative.

About Rickarby Community Center and Park

The Rickarby Community Center and Park is a city of Mobile Parks and Recreation facility located at 550 Rickarby Street, in District 2. According to the city, the site includes a playground, a basketball court and restrooms, and the center building has a kitchen and two multipurpose rooms that are used for neighborhood activities and gatherings.

The park has been a focus of city investment in the past. In 2017, the city approved a round of improvements to Rickarby Park through its Capital Improvement Program, including a new basketball court, goals and benches, new baseball benches, sidewalk repairs, new trash receptacles, security measures, fresh paint inside and outside the recreation center and a new roof for the building.

As a neighborhood center, the facility serves as a natural meeting place for residents who want to come together to discuss issues affecting the surrounding area.

Ingram Reflects on Nearly a Year in Office

The forum announcement was part of a broader message in which Ingram reflected on her time on the Mobile City Council. She noted it has been 11 months since she took office.

“I promised to listen, advocate, and act. That promise continues to guide how I serve,” she wrote.

Ingram won the District 2 seat in the Aug. 26, 2025, municipal election, receiving about 53% of the vote in a three-candidate race that included incumbent Councilman William Carroll. Because she cleared the 50% threshold, no runoff was needed. She was sworn in in November 2025.

According to her biography on the city’s website, Ingram is a Mobile native and longtime educator. She graduated from Ben C. Rain High School and Auburn University and began her career as a science teacher at Blount High School. She later served as deputy superintendent of the Mobile County Public Schools and as a chief with the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity.

Meeting With Downtown Business Owners

In the same newsletter, Ingram said she recently met with downtown business owners to hear their concerns about issues affecting downtown Mobile.

She wrote that the people who live, work, invest and run businesses downtown “deserve a meaningful voice in conversations about creating a downtown that is safe, vibrant, and welcoming for everyone.”

Public Safety Committee Meeting in September

Ingram also pointed to a Public Safety Committee meeting held on Sept. 22, 2026, which she said grew out of her belief that elected officials have a duty to seek facts, provide clarity and pursue solutions when questions arise about public safety.

“Accountability is not an attack. Asking questions is not opposition. It is part of responsible leadership,” she wrote.

Ingram said the meeting showed what can happen when people come together in good faith, allowing participants to clarify information, address concerns and work together toward solutions.

She also addressed her relationship with law enforcement, writing that she will continue to support the police officers who serve and protect the community while remaining equally committed to residents who, she said, “deserve transparency, communication, and confidence in the institutions that serve them.”

Going Beyond the Council Chamber

Ingram described her approach as one that requires showing up in neighborhoods, sitting down with business owners, hearing directly from residents and asking difficult questions. She thanked everyone who has attended a meeting, called, sent a message, shared an idea or stopped her to talk.

“Your voice matters. Your neighborhood matters. District 2 matters,” she wrote, encouraging residents to keep speaking up, showing up and sharing ideas.

How the Mobile City Council Works

The Mobile City Council is made up of seven members, each elected from a single district. Council members vote on the city’s budget, ordinances and contracts and serve as a direct link between neighborhoods and city government. Committee meetings, such as the Public Safety Committee, give council members a venue to examine specific issues in more detail outside of regular council sessions.

How to Participate and Stay Safe

Residents planning to attend the forum may find it helpful to come prepared with specific observations, such as locations of concern, times when problems tend to occur and ideas for improvements like lighting, patrols or youth programs. Those who cannot attend can still share their concerns with the District 2 office.

• District 2 office: 251-208-7441
• District 2 email: [email protected]
• Mobile Police non-emergency line: 251-208-7211
• Emergencies: Call 911

Public safety officials generally encourage residents to report suspicious activity promptly, get to know their neighbors and consider joining or starting a neighborhood watch group. Residents who witness a crime in progress or see someone in immediate danger should always call 911 first.

What Comes Next

The Community Safety Forum is set for Monday, Oct. 19, two weeks from today. Ingram closed her newsletter by acknowledging that, while much has been accomplished, “there is still more to do.”

“And together, we will keep moving District 2 forward,” she wrote.