Blogging Black Miami

Breakfast on a budget @ Blessed

I'm outsourcing my meal preparation by getting breakfast from Blessed Catering Soul Food Restaurant. They serve breakfast all day for $5. I was in the drive thru line at Mickey D's but I wanted some grits and to support a friend's business. Stop by 5711 NW 7th Avenue, Miami today. Tell Denise that Vanessa sent you.

Edmonson says Transit Village contract offers jobs guarantees

Written by JESSICA DE LEON

(FIU) - The Miami-Dade County commissioner whose district includes Liberty City says the county's contract with the presumed developer of the Seventh Avenue Transit Village will address demands for concessions being made by some residents and community groups. Read entire story at South Florida Times....

Heart of Liberty City Forum: Progress or More of the Same?

_{Heart of Liberty City Forum - Thursday, 02/03/2011 - Church of the Open Door} 

I attended the Heart of Liberty City forum Thursday night at the Church of the Open Door. It was scheduled to start at 6 pm. When I arrived the parking lot was already almost filled to capacity and cars were still pulling into the lot. That was a good sign because too many important community meetings are not well attended.

After signing in and finding somewhere to sit, I scanned the room and saw a few familiar faces. Many of the attendees were taking advantage of the refreshments and others were in engaged in conversation. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and the sound of the African drumming added to the communal ambience.

TACOLCY CEO Alison Austin welcomed everyone and Rev. Dr. Joaquin Willis, pastor of the Church of the Open Door, delivered an inspirational prayer. There was a brief PowerPoint presentation on Liberty City, its current plight and visions for the future by the Miami Workers Center’s Lead Organizer Hashim Yeomans-Benford. After the presentation, Stephanie Sylvestre facilitated the small group discussion segment.

Each table of individuals was asked if they supported a community alliance to establish a strong, unified voice in determining the future of Liberty City. Everyone in attendance seemed to rally around the alliance recommendation but the rest of the meeting seemed to rapidly deteriorate in an attempt to garner consensus around other issues.

As a representative for each table group spoke, a disconnect between the organizers and many in attendance became apparent. After talking with my tablemates and others in attendance, there was a desire for more information on the MLK Transit Village Project and the designation of The Carlisle Development Group as the developer. Some came to hear from the developer, others had negative history with The Carlisle Group and there is overwhelming distrust of county government to do the right thing for the residents in Liberty City. Passionate comments by Tyrone Greene of Greene Dreams Shoe Repair pretty much sealed the deal on expressing community discontent.

When the evening was coming to a close, there was an odd and awkward exchange between Austin and Rep. Darryl Reaves who asked a question about The Carlisle Group. Austin’s retort and insistence multiple times that the meeting was not about Carlisle led to grumbling by folks in my immediate area about secrecy and the transit project being another empty promise to the black community. Moreover, urging local residents to call County Manager George Burgess and Matt Greer of The Carlisle Group and ask them to reach a resolution before February 8 just didn't seem right without knowing what that resolution will be.

Perhaps the forum agenda was not well thought out and too ambitious for the period of time allotted. Perhaps sharing substantive project background information could have quickly brought everyone up to speed and on the same page. I don’t think the audience push back was expected; if it was there was no strategy used to effectively mitigate it.

I got a better sense of the MLK Transit Village Project after the forum via internet research and talking with individuals with knowledge of it since its inception. There is also confusion about the next steps since the County website shows the Regional Transportation Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, February 7, 9:30 - Noon not Tuesday February 8. The MLK Transit Village Project is not specifically identified as a topic to be discussed but I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for the meeting confusion. Besides, it’s important to just be ready at all times.

When all is said and done, prayerfully, the community alliance will be formed and there will be more outreach in crafting the vision for and fighting for fair treatment of blacks in the redevelopment of the 7th Avenue Corridor in Liberty City. Residents and small business owners are angry. They do not trust county government and are tired of broken promises. Nevertheless, the people must make demands and follow through on making sure those demands are met. If there will be progress we must move from emotion to action.

I overstand that organizers of the forum understand the adage that if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu and are trying to get in front of and trying to drive needed community engagement in the Transit Village Project because its construction is needed and seems inevitable. The devil will be in the details of the actual construction of the MLK Transit Village Project and further development of the 7th Avenue Corridor.

One thing the community must not do is become paralyzed because of the misdeeds of others in the past. The happy medium is to do right by the small businesses in the community and the residents. It’s time to recoup, regroup and move forward.

 

Related Links:

A Policy Paper on Community Development in Liberty-Model City

Millions for deals, not for merchants

Executive Summary and Transmittal of the OIG1s Final Audit Report on the Agreement Between Miami-Dade Transit and the Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust to Jointly Develop the 7th Avenue Transit Village Project, Ref. IG07-09 

Transit Village takes root in Liberty City 

Our Fight for a Fair Transit Village

 

© 2011, Blogging Black Miami, www.bloggingblackmiami.com 

CAC-Florida Medical Centers opens in Liberty City

CAC-Florida Medical Centers will host a ribbon cutting and free community event for the grand opening of a new comprehensive full-service medical center in Liberty City.  CAC's investment of approximately $2.5 million in the new Liberty City medical center will provide area residents with a wide range of social, health and lifestyle services and programs with an ultimate goal of improving the quality of life and health of residents in the community.

Grand opening activities are scheduled for Saturday January 22, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with VIP ribbon cutting from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the  Liberty City CAC-Florida Medical Center, 6269 NW 7th Ave., Miami, FL 33150.

 

Liberty City business owner continues fight for future after development of MLK Transit Village

Check out this article from the Miami New Times about Greene Dreams thwarting County development plans. The store is well-known in Liberty City and does the best shoe repair around but let’s not digress. The Greenes are concerned about where their business will be relocated when the development of the Martin Luther King Transit Village begins. He also accuses the County of harassment. Interesting.

Development is needed in the area but it’s also important to support and develop the small businesses along the Seventh Avenue Corridor. The community really needs business creation and development rather than being limited to the role of consumer. Keep an eye on this situation.

 

Related Links:

Greene Dreams Owner Says County Is Harassing Him For Blocking Development

Transit village plans worry business owners

Millions for deals, not for merchants

Where Do We Go From Here? A Policy Paper on Community Development in Liberty-Model City

 

Miami Children's Initiative Designated [PHOTO]

On September 21, The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida designated the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami as a Florida Children's Initiative. The designation was presented to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
As she accepted the award, Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson applauded the volunteers and community leaders who worked together to complete the Strategic Community Plan required to earn the designation. Edmonson also thanked the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida for their leadership and guidance throughout the planning process.

In 2008, the Florida Legislature approved a process for the establishment of a comprehensive community-based children's initiative to provide quality education, healthcare and youth development programs for children and families living in neighborhoods and communities where opportunity and infrastructure is limited or nonexistent.

Commissioner Edmonson said, "The Miami Children's Initiative will be the catalyst for change from what may have been deemed devastating, bleak and disheartening to a flourishing and thriving community in Liberty City. Block by block, in districts 2 and 3, the Miami Children's Initiative will touch the lives of families and give hope to children to exceed expectations in all their endeavors."

The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida would like to acknowledge Alison Austin and Leigh Toney for their vision. Also, a special thanks to Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Senator Larcenia Bullard, (former) Representative Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, Secretary George Sheldon, Irene Taylor Wooten, Betty Key and the members of the community who served on the strategic planning team for their faithful commitment and continued support of the Miami Children's Initiative.

Inaugural Board of Directors
Miami Children's Initiative has seated their inaugural board. They include:
Ms. Elaine L. Adderly
Mrs. Elaine H. Black
Ms. Thema Campbell
Mr. Morris Copeland
Dr. Luvernice H. Croskey
Dr. Cathia Darling
Mr. Cedric McMinn
Ms. Annie R. Neasman
Rev. Nathaniel J. Wilcox

**The Executive Director position has been advertised and over 400 applications have been received. The Board hopes to finalize its selection by mid November.

Promise Neighborhoods Update
Promise Neighborhoods, established under the legislative authority of the Fund for the Improvement of Education Program, provide grant funding to eligible entities so they can significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children in our most distressed communities.

The Promise Neighborhoods grant award supports the development of an implementation plan that includes:
· A leader and an organization that can engage the community and be accountable for results
· A "place-based" approach which leverages investments by focusing resources in targeted places, drawing on the compounding effect of well-coordinated actions
· Close integration of schools, academic programs, and family and community supports to close gaps that contribute to children missing academic and developmental milestones
· The capacity to collect, analyze, and use data to evaluate success

At the conclusion of the planning grant period, grantees should have a feasible plan to implement a continuum of solutions that will significantly improve results for children in the community being served.

This summer, 339 applications were submitted for the first round of
Promise Neighborhoods grant funding. Nationwide, only 21 communities were awarded grants. None of the 14 applications from Florida communities were selected; however, the following 9 Florida applications scored 80 or above out of a possible 100:
· Sulphur Springs Neighborhood of Promise, Tampa
· Gainesville Promise
· New Town Success Zone, Jacksonville
· Orlando Promise Neighborhoods
· Ounce of Prevention Fund in collaboration with East
Jacksonville, Miami Gardens, Pinellas County and West
Palm Beach
· Broward L.I.F.E. Project
· Florida City Promise Neighborhood
· Edison Edu-Plex Promise Neighborhood, Miami
· Miami Beach Promise Neighborhood

The Ounce of Prevention Fund applauds these communities on their performance and encourages you to continue the great work you have begun in your community.

Activist Renita "Biggie Mama" Holmes Assaulted by Miami Police for Taking Photos

Activist Renita "Biggie Mama" Holmes Assaulted by Miami Police for Taking Photos

Renita Holmes, a Miami inner-city activist, said a police officer assaulted her while she was photographing a candlelight vigil last month.

The vigil was to memorialize a man named Marvis Williams, whom she said was the eighth person to be killed in this area of Overtown within the last year.

A Miami police officer named Keandra Simmons – who is related to Williams – did not want Holmes photographing the vigil.

“She said, ‘why don’t you leave? Why do you have to take pictures?’” Holmes said in an interview with Photography is Not a Crime.

Read more...
http://www.pixiq.com/article/activist-assaulted-by-miami-police-for-taking-photos

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami is seeking applicants for homeownership in Liberty City

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami is seeking applicants for homeownership in Liberty City. There are more than 150 infill lots and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami is working to acquire more vacant property and existing structures to rehab or rebuild. Make Liberty City Shine with your partnership and support! the application fee of $25.00 is waived until september 30^th!

Download the homeowner application(aplicación en español).

Your application can be mailed in or walked in WITH COPIES OF ALL THE DOCUMENTS REQUESTED ON PAGE 2 OF THE APPLICATION to the following address:

3800 NW 22^nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33142

	McKenzie N. Moore Jr.  Community Outreach Coordinator
	3800 NW 22nd Ave., Miami, FL 33142 Ph: (305) 634-3628  Cell: (305) 608-4459  Fax: (305) 638-4917
	www.miamihabitat.org Donate • Volunteer •  Sign up for the Newsletter

Trick Daddy's Autobiography Magic City: Trials of a Native Son in stores Nov. 16, 2010

 

The self-proclaimed "Mayor of Miami" Trick Daddy exploded onto America's pop culture landscape as one of the pioneers of Dirty South rap. His 2001 album, Thugs Are Us, established him, as one critic wrote, "alongside Ludacris and Mystikal as one of the few nationally championed Dirty South rappers, and … catapulted him onto the playlist of every urban radio station in America, not to mention MTV." Widely credited with infusing hip hop with new life, he has been one of the most prolific southern talents since his introduction on Uncle Luke's timeless 1996 dance floor staple, "Scarred".

 Born and raised in poverty as one of twenty-seven children, Maurice Young aka Trick Daddy, is considered by many as a thoughtful thug. His unsparing portrayal of life in the southern ghetto has earned him a legion of fans. Over a twelve-year career, he's released two platinum selling albums and numerous Billboard chart toppers. The recent merger of Trick's label, Dunk Ryders, with the high profile Cash Money Records, the home of Li'l Wayne and other platinum-selling stars, along with the upcoming release of the debut Dunk Ryders group album, is currently causing quite a buzz in music circles.

 

Magic City: Trials of a Native Son, chronicles Trick Daddy’s story against the backdrop of Miami, the Magic City. It is an extraordinary story, of a childhood marked by poverty, a crime-laden adolescence, an incarceration, a meteoric rise to fame, and a struggle with a potentially fatal medical condition. It's the story of a boy whose father was a pimp; who, left to his own devices, learned to hustle to survive and whose only role model was his brother, the drug dealer he watched plying his trade on the block. But while his story is remarkable, the most astonishing part is that he is not only still alive, but that he got out.

 

Magic City: Trials Of A Native Son is the story of how that potent mixture of extremes, the dazzling beauty and glittering wealth of the Magic City, and the crime, the corruption and the despair playing out in its shadows gave rise to what has now become the most dominant sound in hip hop, in the process revitalizing a stagnant art form. MAGIC CITY, told in Bailey's artful prose, is an ode to the city of Miami, a riveting tale of a paradise lost.

Liberty City native named new artistic director designate of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Now, there's another reason to see the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Arsht, May 20 - May 23. Liberty City native and New World School of the Arts alum Robert Battle has been named the next artistic director of the famed dance ensemble. How cool is that?

Battle follows in the footsteps of the Judith Jamison who becomes artistic director emerita when the transition is complete.

Here's Battle's bio from the Ailey site:

About Robert Battle
Honored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2005 as one of the “Masters of African-American Choreography,” Robert Battle was born in Miami, Florida, in 1974 and was educated at the New World School of the Arts and The Juilliard School. Upon his graduation from Juilliard in 1994, he joined the David Parsons company as a dancer, and in 1998 he began setting his own work on the company, which now has performed his choreography nationally and internationally. Upon leaving Parsons in 2001, Robert Battle founded his own group, Battleworks Dance Company, which made its premiere in 2002 at the World Dance Alliance’s Global Assembly in Düsseldorf, Germany, where it was the U.S. representative to the festival. Battleworks has subsequently performed extensively at venues including the Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, American Dance Festival and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Robert Battle began his association with Ailey in 1999, when he was commissioned to create Mood Indigo for the popular young Ailey II company under the leadership of its long-time Artistic Director Sylvia Waters. He first worked with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2003 when he created Juba for the company and choreographed side-by-side with Judith Jamison and Rennie Harris for Love Stories, which had its world premiere in 2004. The most recent work by Mr. Battle to enter the company’s repertoire is In/Side, performed during the December 2009 New York season to popular and critical acclaim. Mr. Battle has also conducted workshops for The Ailey School as an artist-in-residence in 2006 and 2008.

Other companies that have commissioned new works from Mr. Battle or restaged his ballets include Hubbard Street Repertory Ensemble, River North Dance Company, Koresh Dance Company, Introdans, PARADIGM, Jeanne Ruddy Dance, and Ballet Memphis, among others.

In addition to his activities as a company leader and choreographer, Robert Battle regularly conducts residencies at universities throughout the United States and teaches master classes in New York and abroad. Among the honors he has received is the prestigious Statue award of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which he accepted in 2007.

Congratulations, Mr. Battle! What a tremendous accomplishment. 

Related Links:

Move Over, Chad Ochocinco, Robert Battle Is Liberty City's Best Dancer

Robert Battle talks of next steps for Ailey dance troupe

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Photo: Andrea Mohin