Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall
TIME names Birmingham’s KultureCity to its 100 most influential companies list
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KultureCity is one of TIME’s 100 most influential companies in 2026.
The Birmingham-based non-profit, which recently opened up its 1,000th sensory room globally at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), was recognized in the prestigious magazine’s annual “100 Most Influential Companies” edition.
KultureCity works nationally to promote sensory inclusion and accessibility for people with sensory processing disorders, including autism, PTSD and dementia. It was founded in 2013 by Dr. Julian Maha and Dr. Michele Kong.
Here is an excerpt from the story describing the organization’s impact:
“Overwhelming sensory stimulation like bright lights and loud sounds can be distressing for people with conditions like autism, PTSD and dementia. KultureCity is making the world more inclusive for these people. The nonprofit partners with some of the most popular public venues — including LEGO stores, NBA stadiums, and Carnival Cruise Line ships — to teach staff to identify and help people with sensory needs; provide sensory bags equipped with noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys; and create quiet zones.”
TIME, The 10 Most Influential Social Good Companies of 2026
KultureCity’s impact in Birmingham
In addition to locally opening up their latest Sensory Room in town, KultureCity purchased the massive Powell Steam Plant in the fall of 2025, which in April added the nation’s first FIFA Arena.
Located next to Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, the steam plant is the future home of KultureCity’s National Accessibility Park — an exciting redevelopment of the structure that will include the following amenities:
- Museum
- Technical college
- Outdoor amphitheater
The new headquarters and park are slated to open in 2028.
At the BCRI ribbon-cutting earlier this year, founder Maha emphasized how important Birmingham is to the company as KultureCity’s hometown:
“KultureCity could not exist in any other city in the world. It had to exist right here in Birmingham, Alabama.”
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