Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 10-30-15 Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
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Young People Preparing For Holiday Production Of ‘Family Blessing’
Young people in the area have been spending countless hours preparing for the holiday production of “The Family Blessing.” Formerly known as “The Chocolate Nutcracker” and “Nut- cracker Twist,” “The Family Blessing” is sponsored by Bay News 9 and ARTZ 4 Life Academy.
“The Family Blessing” will be pre- sented in December at the Mahaffey Theater. The 18th production will be presented on Saturday, December 19th at 7:30 p. m. and on Sunday, Decem- ber 20th at 2 p. m.
This year, the production will showcase the talents of local commu- nity youth along with professional choreographers and dancers.
“The Family Blessing” weaves bal- let, hip hop, jazz, tap, African, Salsa, Mexican Folklorico, Brazilian and Bol- lywood dance into an exotic tapestry of light, color, music and movement.
This production follows young Michael’s journey from Harlem streets to the island of Cuba, the mountains of Mexico, South American rainforests, Brazilian Carnival, West African villages and India’s Bollywood.
ADIA HOLLIST
The principal character in the pro- duction, Michael, is played by an 8- year-old boy, Jeloni Parks, a student at Fairmount Parks Elementary School in St. Petersburg and a member of Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet. Jeloni can empathize with the plights of his stage character and his quest for a happy home because Jeloni himself is a homeless youth. He lives in vari-
JELONI PARKS
ous motels and whatever accommoda- tions his mom can make for that day. When he steps on the dance floor, however, his world totally transforms on stage. He says his goals are to be- come a college graduate and help change the world for others through the arts.
Cheryl Copeland, Ed.D., an edu- cator at Fairmont Park Elementary
School and ARTZ 4 Life parent, dis- covered Jeloni in her music class.
Guests for the 2016 performance include Lakewood High School Jazz Band, Dundu Dole Urban African Bal- let, Vincent Bingham “Bring On Da Noise, Bring On Da Funk,” Belinda Womack (as Grandma Zola) Adia Hollist (as Princess Zola) and many more.
BELINDA WOMACK
Opponents Of State Transportation Plans Prepare For Next Step
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
The Florida Department of Trans- portation (FDOT) has already started the process of acquiring right-of-way property for the expansion of I-275, and the proposed toll roadway that is to run down its middle.
Adversely affected by those plans are all of the hard working people who put in their time to renovate an empty church on Palm Avenue and convert it into a Community and Youth Center for the Tampa Heights community.
Ms. Lena Young-Green, Pres- ident of the Tampa Heights Junior
LENA YOUNG-GREEN
Civic Association, has taken the lead in opposing the plans by FDOT, and offers advice to others impacted by their proposed project.
“To the people in the Carver City/Lincoln Gardens area who’ve been doing battle with FDOT, all they need to do is file a Title 6 complaint, and that will get their attention.
“What we discovered is you have to take your fight to Washington, D.C. and the National Highway Ad- ministration. It’s obvious the state level agencies aren’t going to change their plans, and are actually acting like bullies throughout the process.”
Ms. Young-Green said they have started making inquiries at the
top level to give them information on what’s happening in Tampa.
“They actually have three separate projects going on, and each with lay- ers and planning. It makes it hard for the community to respond to the is- sues.
“My advice to the Carver City/Lincoln Gardens homeowners is to stop trying to deal with the local FDOT officials, and file a Title 6 com- plaint. Then, take it to the national level.”
As far as the community center is concerned, Ms. Young-Green said they have requested that FDOT put their plans, that would shut down the center, on hold for right now.
6th Annual Tampa Bay Vegan Festival Features Vegan Boxer
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
In the past, only a small segment of the population read labels to determine what ingredients were in foods. However, what may have begun as a trend has become a way of life for those chang- ing their lives and eating habits.
In keeping with this trend, the Tampa Bay Veg Festival came into existence. On Sat- urday, November 7th, its or- ganizers will host their 6th Annual event. It will take place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., at the Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park in downtown Tampa. The park is located
across the street from the Amalie Arena.
Designed as a family event, there will be food, en- tertainment, vendors, and ac- tivities for children.
In addition, several speak- ers, including a professional boxer, will attend the event.
The speakers are: Dr. Evelisse Capo, Stephen Esser, MD, JoAnne McArthur, Victoria Moran, Dr. Dustin Rudolph, and Omowale Adewale.
Adewale is the co- founder of Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.M.E.) a not- for-profit organization that came into existence in 2001. The focus of the organization
is strengthening youth lead- ership and building programs that address the dispropor- tionate socio-economic con- ditions in the lives of people of color.
He is a champion boxer, mixed martial arts fighter, track and field collegiate gold medalist, accomplished bodybuilder, and certified boxing coach and fitness trainer. He resides in New York.
At the age of 15, Adewale became a vegetarian because of his involvement in compet- itive sports. A few years ago, he decided to remove all ani- mal products, including dairy products, and honey from his diet.
OMOWALE ADEWALE
... Co-founder of G.A.M.E. (the Grassroots Artists MovEment)