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Features
Field Trip Gives Students Once In A Lifetime Experience
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Two weeks ago, people from throughout the nation converged on Selma, Alabama. They visited the city in remem- brance of events that took place 50 years ago that brought about changes in America.
Several hundred people re- enacted the 50-mile walk from Selma to Montgomery Ala- bama in Commemoration of “Bloody Sunday.” The march was the final step in the month-long commemoration.
When Ross Anderson, Resource Teacher at Van Buren Middle School, learned that the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP learned was going to Selma, Alabama, he decided to take some of his students.
Anderson, who is the founder of Men of Vision, set out to let his students experi- ence history in the making. He felt that by visiting the city where history unfolded would be an unrivaled experience for the students.
Anderson took six high school students on the 4-day field trip. Five of the students attend Steinbrenner High School. They are Marquavis
Members of the Men of Vision Service organization visited Selma, Alabama during the commemo- ration of the 50th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.” The young men who visited Selma are Marquavis Hamilton, Timothy Myers, Kieron White, Sheridan Thompson, Pierre Alsint, and Jahara Simpson.
me. My entire outlook on life was changed in those 4 days.” Derek Gaines, Principal
of Van Buren Middle School said, “This was a great experi- ence for the students. They were able to go back to the ac- tual city where everything hap- pened, stand on that same ground, and be a part of his- tory.”
Fifty-years ago, on March 7, 1965, a group of non-violent protesters attempted to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma to Mont- gomery for Civil Rights and Voter’s Rights for African Americans. But, the “Foot Sol- diers,” as they became known to be, were met with violence by law enforcement.
The day became known as “Bloody Sunday.” In all, 41 people died before the federal government activated the Na- tional Guard to protect the marchers. More than 5,000 people converged on Selma, Alabama.
On March 21, 1965, Civil Rights leaders, led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, under the protection of the federal- ized National Guardsmen, marched into history when they made the 50-mile trek.
Hamilton, Timothy Myers, Kieron White, Sheridan Thompson, and Pierre Alsint. Jahara Simpson, of Freedom High School, was the sixth student.
Anderson said the stu- dents learned about the events that led up to the march, about the Voter Registration efforts, and the lasting impact of the march.
The experience was also one that Anderson will not
forget. “Six Men of Vision members and I had the oppor- tunity to be a part of history during Spring Break. No class- room lesson will ever replace the lesson these young men learned in those 4 days.
“These young men took part in that historic walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and saw President Barack Obama give his speech and they were inter- viewed by several local and
out-of-state television stations along with being featured on Channel 8 with Evening An- chor Rod Carter.
“They met, Ms. Bernice King, the daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and took a selfie with Rowan Martin, of CNN. They also visited several museums and colleges along the way. I can tell you this was a life-changing experience for
Presbyterian Village Residents Prepare For Transition
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Since the announcement that the Florida Department of Transportation had purchased the Presbyterian Village Apart- ment complex, representatives from FDOT have been meeting with residents to help them with their transition.
FDOT bought the property as part of their interstate ex- pansion project.
Xenia Rodriguez, Relo- cation Project Manager for FDOT, said she along with five members of her staff, met with some residents last week to clear up misinformation and rumors about their transition.
“Before we purchased the property, we met with repre- sentatives of Presbyterian Vil- lage, and after the purchase, we met with the residents twice in face-to-face meetings.
“The first thing we did was to establish their eligibility for benefits and help. Those bene- fits will come under the federal Uniform Relocation Act. We will maintain those on Section 8.”
Rodriguez said there are two types of Section 8.
“You can either get a voucher or have Project Spe- cific Section 8, where they can’t transfer it to their new place of
PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE APARTMENTS
residency. That’s because Pres- byterian Village didn’t transfer the Section 8 to us.
“We are subsidizing their rent for the next 42 months, and we will cover everyone’s relocation expenses. For now, FDOT is collecting the rent from the residents.”
Rodriguez said they do have plans to demolish the buildings after everyone is gone, and right now they don’t have any one building that is completely vacant.
“What we’re looking at now is whether to wait until all of the units are vacant before demolition begins, or just go building to building.
“We are securing the empty units to prevent people from vandalizing them or living in them. Right now, the complex is 30% vacant.”
Rodriguez said 9 former residents have already become new homeowners.
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