Page 11 - 3-27-15 Friday's Edition

Local
Retired And Proud Group Visits Theater
Shown in this photograph from left to right are: Chester Reynolds, Gloria Young, Jeridine Jefferson, Alferstine Malone, Dr. Elaine Lee, Gwen Evans, Gloria Nelson, Margret Gilliam, Consiwilla Small, and Delores Lewis. Nate Jacobs, founder of WBTT is shown in the front.
‘Operation WIN’ Completes Successful East Tampa Cleanup
Last Saturday, the City of Tampa’s Operation WIN (Working In Neighborhoods) deployed a massive clean-up effort that targeted the College Hill area, specifically addressing the area bordered by 22nd Street on the west, 29th Street to the east, 26th Avenue to the south, and Lake Avenue to the north.
Crews, working with community service workers, picked up over 10 tons of trash and debris.
Operation WIN is a monthly program run by the City’s Neigh- borhood Enhancement Department where staff members, with the assistance of community service workers supplied by the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office take over a small area, going block-by- block to clean it up.
Recently, members of the organization, Retired and Proud (RAP) had an opportu- nity to travel to Sarasota. The purpose of the trip was to at- tend a theatrical production.
The production, entitled “Jazz Hot Mamas,” took place at the West Coast Black Theater and the show featured four women from Sarasota who showcased their talents singing songs popularized by such singers as Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washing- ton, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone.
Howard Harris, Presi- dent of RAP said the talented performers were authentic. “They applied their own style to the fantastic music of these stars while providing historical facts about these amazing women.”
Members of the RAP Executive Committee are: Treasurer Delores Lewis, Alferstine Malone, Mary Staples, Beverly Diaz, President Howard Harris, and Vice President Betty Coleman. Dr. Aaron Smith and Bettye Gatlin are not shown in the photograph.
He further said that Dr.
Elaine Lee, a member of RAP, was particularly moved by Teresa Stanley’s rendi- tion of “Strange Fruit.”
“Ms. Stanley had tears flowing as she slowly and pas- sionately sang the words,” Harris said. The songs talks about the lynching and killing of Blacks and the group agreed that ‘The march is not over.’
The retirees have come to enjoy attending stage produc- tions throughout the city, re- gion and state. Next year, they are planning trips to Savannah, Georgia, a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, and a trip to the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Harris adds, anyone who would like to know more about the organization can contact him at rapinc2005@yahoo. com or via mail at Retired And Proud, Inc., P. O. Box 4592, Tampa, FL 33677.
These are scenes from the cleanup effort by Operation WIN in College Hill.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-A