Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 4-1-16 Edition

Features
THAP To Host Networking Session For Startup Businesses
Tampa Hillsborough Ac- tion Plan's (THAP) 5508 Co- working and Collaboration Exchange is an East Tampa based collaborative business hub designed to help startup companies grow more rapidly.
5508 offers furnished pro- fessional work space and busi- ness assistance services to highly motivated entrepre- neurs in the community. Among these businesses is Ur- banite Collective, which houses a community art gallery.
Friday April 1, 2016 from 7 p.m.to10p.m.willbeits grand opening. The showcase will feature art and photogra-
phy by owner Demeterius Inostroza.
In addition, local author and portrayer of Mary McLeod Bethune, Ms. Ur- sula Odom will feature “The Legacy Wall of Fame” show- casing African American ac- complishments locally and around state.
The event will be held at THAP’s 5508 campus located at 5508 North 50th Street, Tampa Florida 33610 Suite 30. For more information, please call 727-537-6594 or email ur- banite.collective@gmail.com and visit coworking5508.com. The event is free and open to the public.
1,300 Residents Set To Demand Action At HOPE Nehemiah Rally
1,300 residents committed to unite on April 4th to meet face-to-face with local deci- sion makers at St. Lawrence Catholic Church - Higgins Hall.
Residents will gather at St. Lawrence Catholic Church – Higgins Hall to ask leaders to fully implement Civil Cita- tion/Arrest Avoidance pro- grams for children. Civil citations would redirect almost 1,000 children every year in Hillsborough County who cur- rently are arrested for misde- meanor marijuana possession to counseling and anti-drug use programs.
“It is not acceptable that Hillsborough decision makers insist on arresting our children for misdemeanor marijuana possession, especially when our state makes it possible for them to use arrest avoidance programs that discipline chil- dren and assist in their devel- opment without the long-term damage of an arrest record,” stated Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson, Pastor of First United Church of Tampa.
Residents will also seek to alleviate the economic burden of 74,000 working families
REV. BERNICE POWELL JACKSON
and seniors in Hillsborough County who make less than $35,000 a year and spend 1⁄2 or more on housing. Residents are pushing for a local Hills- borough Affordable Housing Trust Fund that could generate $10 million a year for housing.
“It’s a shame that hard working families cannot afford where they live. The high cost of rent is forcing families to travel long distances to jobs and move their children from school to school to chase rent. Substandard housing causes utilities to increase, hurting the livelihood and safety of our families. The number of strug- gling families coming to our doors seeking assistance con- stantly increases. We must
tackle this housing crisis!,” said Fr. Bob Schneider, Pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Riverview.
Decision makers invited to attend the April 4th rally in- clude: Hillsborough County Commissioners Les Miller, Chair, Victor Crist, Kevin Beckner, Sandy Murman, Ken Hagan, Stacey White, and Al Higginbotham. Also invited are: Sheriff David Gee, Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward, Chief Judge Ron Ficarrotta, State At- torney Mark Ober, and Public Defender Julianne Holt.
The HOPE Nehemiah Ac- tion is Monday, April 4, 2016, 7 p. m., at St. Lawrence Catholic Church Higgins Hall, 5225 Himes Avenue, Tampa, 33614, on the SE corner of N. Himes and W. Hillsborough Avenue.
The residents attending are members, friends and neigh- bors of the interfaith congrega- tions of HOPE (Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality).
For further information, visit www.hillsboroughhope. org or contact Sharon Streater at 813-325-0455.
Free Friday Extra Concert Series Returns To Tampa Parks
Tru L3gacy – J. None, KG, Nick Melvin and Raphael Barge (Photo taken at the 2016 TOBA Breakfast by Lomax McIntyre)
Enjoy free, high-quality musical entertainment Friday nights this spring as the Friday Extra Concert Series returns to Tampa’s parks beginning Fri- day, April 8. The city’s longest- running, outdoor music festival has been around for 29 years. The Friday Extra Con- cert Series attract thousands of fans every Friday night during the two-month concert series, which showcases the talents of local bands and artists from a wide range of musical back- grounds.
This year’s opening act is the Newsome High School Chamber Winds. Newsome High School is the only Florida high school marching band chosen to participate in the an- nual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In addition to per- forming on April 8, the band will be raising funds for travel expenses at each of the con- certs.
All concerts start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Con-
certs in April will take place at Water Works Park, located at 1710 N. Highland Ave., and concerts in May will take place at the Lowry Park Bandshell, located at 7525 North Blvd.
2016 Friday Extra Concert Series Line-up
April 8 – Water Works Park Opening: Newsome High School Chamber Winds -Pop Chamber Winds
Main: Kraig Kenning - Con- temporary folk, blues and rock.
April 15 – Water Works Park Opening: ShaideTree – R&B and rap
Main: Tru L3gacy – Hip Hop, Soul.
April 22 – Water Works Park Opening: Jeff Hembree – Acoustic, pop, rock blues. Main: Jonnie Morgan Band – Horn infused modern rock. April 29 – Water Works Park Opening: Lasana Bandele – Reggae. Main: Trigger City Funk – Funk.
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B