Page 2 - 4-17-15 Friday's Edition

Features
Local Hairstylist Gets Role
Rally Planned To Unite Community And End Violence
In New Motion Picture
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Selena Washington, a hairstylist at Simply Raw Salon, has been acting since she was a small child perform- ing at the National Baptist Convention
“I was a part of New Salem M. B. Church’s Youth Ministry. We had a drama department, and we would compete against other churches at the conven- tion.”
Washington said she was about 10-years-old at that time, and it just continued in high school when she attended Jefferson.
After graduating in 1996, Washington became a hair stylist. She also attended Bethune-Cookman University where she studied theater for 3 years.
“That’s when the acting bug bit me. I still plan to at- tend a professional acting school. So far, I’ve taken some classes at the Andi Matheny School in St. Petersburg.”
Washington now under- stands how hard work does pay off as she’s gotten a lead role in the movie, Strato- sphere, produced by Victor Young, and directed by Erica Sutherlin. The movie was re- leased in February 2015.
“I loved every minute of being on the set of Strato- sphere. I’m the wife of Reid Crawford, the main charac- ter in the movie.
“I spent four weeks study- ing the script for the movie, and most of the filming oc-
SELENA WASHINGTON
curred in Sarasota and Tampa.”
Washington said her family is very excited about this opportunity for her, and they are her biggest cheerlead- ers.
Washington said she’s back in school now studying at Hillsborough Community Col- lege, then in January she’ll be attending the University of South Florida.
“I have a daughter, and she loves the whole thing. I’ve done some commercials, and I’m always looking for the next big opportunity.
“I think I want to try all genres of theater and just go with the flow.”
Stratosphere (When Crime Reaches The Stars) tells the story of Reid Crawford who is awarded a federal govern- ment contract to create a data- base to capture and maintain the information for every per- son in the United States. The records of 300 million Ameri- cans along with the ability to move billions of dollars-per- day becomes a target for an underworld crime boss who uses a childhood friend of Crawford to betray him and gain access to Stratosphere.
MS. JANELLE MCGREGOR
... Spokesperson, Tampa Police Department
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
So far, law enforcement agencies in Hillsborough County have investigated 29 deaths since the beginning of this calendar year. The major- ity of the deaths occurred within the boundaries of Tampa, and has involved the use of a gun.
On Saturday, people from all walks of life will gather in Sulphur Springs for the first of several Rallies to focus on the violence that has taken place this year.
Ms. Janelle McGregor,
spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department said the first walk will begin at Abun- dant Life Church, 8113 N. 13th Street and end at Idlewild Sul- phur Springs, 8209 N. 19th Street. As the walk unfolds, the group will stop to reflect on re- cent events that have taken place in the area.
“We want to help the resi- dents of the area to find re- sources to improve their quality of life, such as health-
REV. DR. W. JAMES FAVORITE
... Pastor, Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, President, Pastors On Patrol
REV. DR. THOMAS SCOTT
...Pastor, 34th Street Church Of God, Chairman Tampa Bay Coalition of Clergy
MS. VIVIAN HEYWARD
... Community Activist
care, employment, and coun- seling, all of which is within that community and available to them.
“Our goal is to re-energize the residents and let them know that we need their help in reducing the violence in their communities. We are asking citizens from all of the other communities to come out to show support for the residents of Sulphur Springs.”
“Our ultimate goal is to get the guns out of the wrong hands. We want to prevent an- other parent from having to bury a child or having to visit a prison where his or her child is incarcerated. We need people from all walks of life to come out and show their support,” she said.
For several years, Ms. Vi- vian Heyward has held can- dlelight vigils to remember those lost to violence. She will participate in the upcoming Rally.
“We want everyone to come out and participate in this Rally. My role in the walk is two-fold. First, I want to re- member the victims who died as a result of violence, while stressing the need to eliminate violence in our communities. Secondly, I want to help open the lines of communication be- tween the residents and the po- lice to seek solutions to ending the violence.
“Death is never a welcome visitor, even when we know it’s going to happen. But, we are
losing our youth far too early to gun-related violence. As a com- munity, we must come to- gether to rid our communities of this violence that often ends with the senseless loss of life. Our children are dying before they have even had a chance to live.”
Ms. Heyward said the Rally will focus on the positive resources in existence in the community such as summer jobs for teenagers, and other resources to help the youth move in a positive direction.
During the walk, the group will have a moment of silence to remember Ikeim Boswell, 16, who died on March 16th and 14-year-old Richard New- ton, who died on March 21st.
Some of the organizations slated to participate in the event includes the Cow Bros.,” Pastors on Patrol, and mem- bers of the Tampa Bay Coali- tion of Clergy.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Scott, senior pastor of the 34th Street Church Of God, and Chairman of the Tampa Bay Coalition of Clergy said, “I plan on being there and I am going to send an email to all of the members of the Coalition to make sure they are aware of the walk.”
Rev. Dr. W. James Fa- vorite, senior pastor of Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, and president of Pastors On Patrol said members of Pastors On Patrol are planning to par- ticipate in the Rally on Satur- day.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015