Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 8-9-19

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019
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1st Of Its Kind Corvette Show Coming To Tampa
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On August 31st, residents will have an opportunity to participate in a first of its kind event. It will take place in Ybor City from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The event is entitled the “Historic Ybor City Corvette Car Show.” It is being sponsored by the Positive Im- ages, and being coordinated by Marvin Knight.
Knight said, “We are going to have more than 100 corvettes, as well as limited antique cars, and street cars on display. It will take
place in Ybor City on 7th Avenue and those attending can walk from 15th Street to 20th Street to look at the cars. The theme for the event is, “We Ain’t Playing Fair.”
“The Corvettes will feature all years and styles for the avid Corvette lovers. They will have an opportunity to enjoy all different kinds of food, soul, Italian, and Cuban pizza, in free, family-oriented atmosphere.”
Knight further said an invitation to attend the event has been ex- tended to all elected officials in Hills- borough County. There will also be displays from the City and County Departments.
There will be a voter registration booth, information on health issues, and other information.
The proceeds from the event will benefit the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Departments and St. Peter Claver Catholic School.
Knight said this event will kick off the Labor Day Weekend and that it is the first of many surprise events designed to bring the community to- gether in a positive way.
Anyone wishing to obtain more information about the event or who would like to volunteer, contact Marvin Knight at (813) 453-5690.
MARVIN KNIGHT
Survey :
University Area Residents Want Better Housing, Jobs And Food Choices
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
In the next three years, residents living in the University Area com- munity want to see more jobs, better food security, and more affordable housing options in their neighbor- hood.
And that’s just the beginning of the changes they say are necessary to improve their quality of life, ac- cording to the results of a survey re- cently released by University Area Community Development Corpora- tion.
The survey, conducted over sev- eral weeks earlier this year, asked residents more than 50 questions in the areas of housing, well-being, em- ployment, education, among others. About 600 surveys were completed.
Collecting that information is critical to implementing programs and establishing partnerships that can address those needs, said Sarah Combs, Chief Executive Of- ficer of the University Area CDC.
“Conducting a semi-annual com- munity survey not only gives us the opportunity to hear first-hand from
SARAH COMBS ...Chief Executive Officer
residents on the needs that are most critical to them, it’s also an impor- tant measure of our accountability in the area we serve,” she said in a press release.
The newest survey is a continu- ing practice of gathering input from residents to identify areas of con- cern and new initiatives. A similar survey last was conducted in 2017.
Some of the 2019 survey high-
lights include: 26% face challenges regarding education, including pro- hibitive cost, transportation issues, and lack of a high school diploma or GED. 65% work outside of the Uni- versity Area community, and 31 per- cent site lack of reliable transportation, poor health, and lack of education or certification prevent them from acquiring 45% report an income under $15,000.
Turning those challenges into opportunity isn’t too far-fetched, University Area CDC officials say.
At a community meeting in May, Chief Operating Officer Josie Rocco said the University Area CDC is looking at implementing training programs for certified nurs- ing assistant, green landscaping, and janitorial technician – all areas that are growing and require brief training.
“Our goals is that within six weeks, you have a job,” she said. “We will then help find you a job.”
Residents at the meeting said of- fering more paths to employment is just part of the solution; the other is working with public transportation systems to improve access to jobs.
Suggestions included more bus routes on 22nd Street, a shuttle route to cover areas no longer served by bus, and lower fares.
Affordable housing is another issue on which the University Area CDC has focused lately. In the past months, it’s hosted community fo- rums on the topic, inviting afford- able housing developers and community leaders to discuss solu- tions.
It’s a topic that needs much at- tention. According to the survey, just nine percent of survey partici- pants are homeowners while 72% are renters.
Barriers to homeownership in- clude poor credit, cost of housing, and unstable income. Solutions floated at the community meeting included partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build single family homes.
University Area resident Velma Simpson said she’s optimistic that some of the solutions presented will come to pass.
“I know it’s going to take time to make it happen, I know that,” she said.