Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 3-7-17

Features
Housing
Housing Authority To Renovate Bethune High Rise Complex
Safe & Sound To Host Violence Prevention Conference Saturday
CURRENT VIEW OF BETHUNE HIGH RISE
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, March 10th, the Safe & Sound Hillsborough will host an East Tampa All Call Meeting. The event will be held at the Cyrus Greene Park, 2101 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Members of the commu- nity are invited to attend the meeting and discuss meth- ods to reduce violent crime, and what is needed to pre- vent violent crime. The Con- ference will include Mock Trials, guest speakers, and mental health first aid train- ing.
The theme for the confer- ence is “Working To- gether To Build Strong Families, Safe Schools, And Healthy Neighbor- hoods.”
Dexter Lewis, Outreach Coordinator for Safe & Sound Hillsborough said, “It takes all community mem- bers to come to the table to find solutions to our prob- lems. It takes a connected community to save a child.”
The organization will also share information on what is needed to prevent violence in the 33610 zip code. Others slated to take part in the Conference includes Hills- borough Speaks.
“We need the residents and stakeholders to attend this meeting so we can find more solutions and continue to make our communities safe. At the same time, we will bring awareness about issues of mental health, sub- stance abuse, and trauma in- formed supports of our community,” Lewis stated.
On June 3rd, Safe & Sound Hillsborough will host its in- augural Violence Prevention Conference at University Mall. During that event, the
Members of Safe & Sound
organization will bring resi- dents together from through- out Hillsborough County with community agencies, health care professionals, law enforcement, support serv- ices, faith-based leaders, and the private sector.
The Youth Summit, entitled ‘TEENtalk’ will allow Hillsborough County teenagers and
young adults an opportu- nity to speak on issues related to them and how they feel they can con- tribute to the solutions.
The organization will offer scholarships to graduat- ing seniors who have a 3.0 weighted grade point average and who live in the targeted zip codes of 33610, 33612, 33566, and 33598.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Mary Bethune High Rise was designed to provide affordable housing to the eld- erly, disabled, and handi- capped residents of Tampa. However, it was decided that the structure would be de- molished as part of the West River Project.
Now, the Tampa Housing Authority has reversed its de- cision. Instead of demolition, the 50-year-old housing complex will undergo reno- vation.
The Mary Bethune High Rise was built in 1966 as an 8-story apartment complex that contains 1 bedroom effi- ciencies and 2 bedroom
apartment units. It contains 150 units.
Mrs. Lillian Stringer,
said all of the tenants have been relocated. Once the ren- ovation is completed, the for- mer tenants have the option of moving back into the building.
She further said the com- plex will not undergo a name change and will remain a senior citizen facility. “With such dire housing needs, we have decided to renovate the complex. We are now review- ing how it will fit into the West River Project.”
It is named in honor of
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune-Cook- man University.
TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3