Bill Cosby along with Birmingham Mayor William Bell, right, visit Pratt City with his friends from Miles College Friday. (Photo: AP Photo/The Birmingham News, Joe Songer)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Comedian Bill Cosby encouraged graduates of Birmingham's Miles College to help rebuild the tornado-ravaged communities in Alabama.

Cosby told the graduates Saturday to look for ways to help the survivors of the April 27 storms that killed more than 200 people across the state. He said the graduates need to "work it, rebuild it."

He told the 207-member graduating class: "This is Alabama. This is you."

Cosby spent Friday touring the damage with college president George French and other officials. He also received an honorary doctorate from the historically black college.