Welding is hard work. It requires heat and pressure, melting and filling, exposure to potentially dangerous elements and conditions. Done properly, welding produces coalescence, a joining together of disparate pieces by strong and lasting bonds.

What better metaphor for the need in Birmingham, a community that, almost since its inception, has been defined by division between municipalities, institutions and races — and seen its rich potential thwarted repeatedly by those who exploit those divisions in defiance of the public good. And what better name for an online publication — and application — that will help generate opportunities for transforming Birmingham by providing connectivity and promoting interaction between its readers and the community as a whole?

As the welder’s art has both practical and aesthetic functions, so will the content of Weld offer readers distinctive perspectives on life in Birmingham — from breaking news stories to arts, culture and entertainment coverage written with style and substance; from groundbreaking public interest reporting on local politics, government and business to feature-length profiles of local people, places and events. Weld’s founding objective is to become the premier destination for readers seeking authoritative news and information about Birmingham — and for those who just love good writing.

Through its interactive online presence, Weld also seeks to become a virtual gathering place, where people, businesses and organizations throughout the Birmingham region can connect with one another, perhaps for the first time. In doing so, Weld hopes to play an influential role not only in identifying issues and opportunities facing the community, but also in building consensus around a shared agenda for addressing them. Weld will promote the public interest by providing Birmingham with something it has lacked — a unifying civic voice.

It’s time to Weld. For Birmingham.