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Features
Community Invited To The 9th Annual Community Iftar
With great vision and a strong desire to establish in- terfaith dialogue and ulti- mately to help create a united community, the late Hakim Majied Aquil co-founded the Annual Community Iftar, along with Jarvis El-Amin. This year commemorates 2016 as the 9th annual Com- munity Iftar.
The mission of the Com- munity Iftar is to invite the community at large to come and share the evening’s fast breaking meal, which is known as Iftar, with the local Muslim community. This simple but empowering event is an opportunity for others to understand the significance of the holy month of Ra- madan and the benefits of fasting and this year, the Dis- cover Islam exhibition will be on display.
It also provides an open forum for diverse groups to foster the mutual under- standing which strengthens their relationships as citizens dedicated to building a har- monious society where the rights of all mankind are re- spected.
Initially, the Community Iftars took place in the Al- hamdulillah Dawah Center, but with the success and growing support of the com- munity, the event was moved to the Ferguson Law Center to accommodate a larger crowd of participants. It is the anticipation of the supporters that next year will require an even larger venue.
This is the first year that the late Hakim Majied Aquil is not here to organize and participate in this annual
HAKIM MAJIED AQUIL
occasion, and remarkably so, it is the first year that his fam- ily, the Aquil descendants have accepted the baton to carry on the vision of inter- faith unity.
The family acknowledges support by the following part- ners and organizations:
The Alhamdulillah
Community Center
Barkallah Community of Tampa Bay
Emerge USA
Tampa Bay Muslim Al- liance
United Muslim Associ- ation
Masjid Al-Qassam Br. Abbas Hashery
Candy Lowe’s Tea and Conversation Group
C. Unique PR and Man- agement
Gratitude is expressed to the partners and all the vol- unteers for their support and encouragement.
The general public is in- vited to attend Saturday, June 25th at 5 p.m. at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center, 1610 North Tampa Street.
Hope to see you there!
Education
Islamic
West Tampa Activist Wants Leaders To Meet On Future Of Community
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
West Tampa Community Activist, Dwight Bolden, wants to meet with Tampa Housing Authority CEO, Jerome Ryans, City Council District 5 Representative, Frank Reddick, County Commissioner Les Miller, and all of the West Tampa community leaders.
“It’s time we all sat down and talked about what’s really going on in West Tampa,” said Bolden.
“We continue to attend these meetings, we listen to what’s being presented, and we leave in the same shape as we were before we came in. I hon- estly believe the people are being lied to, or at least not being given the entire truth.”
Bolden points out the re- cent conversion of an apart- ment complex on Spruce and Rome Streets that is now known as West River Flats.
“If you go to the website of West River Flats, the first thing you’ll see is a big photo of a group of people who are sup- posed to represent the kind of tenants they want in the com- plex. Only one of them is Black.
“I think the writing is on the wall as far as the expectations of the city, the Housing Au- thority, developers, and some
DWIGHT BOLDEN
elected officials. The expecta- tions are to change the racial makeup of Eastern West Tampa, and have it reflect what’s going on east of the river.”
Bolden said it started long before the plans were laid down for the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
“The four meetings held at Blake on the park were a joke. Not one thing the people in that community asked for was granted. What was granted were the aspirations of a group of people who either just moved into West Tampa, or who don’t live anywhere near the community.
“Those suggestions were taken as gospel, even after the people who have called the area home for decades voiced their displeasure.”
Bolden said the “full steam ahead” attitude of city govern- ment to bulldoze West Tampa is insensitive to its history and its residents.
“We believe we’re going to
lose Just, Stewart, and Blake, regardless of the promises that have been made. It just makes sense for it to turn out that way based on what has already happened, and what’s being planned.
“It was established during a meeting with city and housing officials that there needs to be a serious meeting with the West Tampa community. The missing link in all of this is the African American community of West Tampa has been ask- ing for a project of this magni- tude for 30 years. Now that it’s here, it seems the people have no say to what’s happening in our own backyard.”
Bolden said to heal all the wounds left by these projects, it’s time for all of the West Tampa leaders, elected offi- cials, and residents to look each other in the eye.
“We must become one voice in dealing with all these issues, and we must establish a repre- sentative who will not just speak on our behalf, but will be respected and believed.
“The problem with that is everyone can’t agree on who that representative should be.”
Bolden said it’s important to maintain focus and pay at- tention to what’s being said at the meetings and what action is being taken to follow through with all the projects planned for West Tampa.
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