Story and Photos BY INDHIRA SUERO
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG – Equality. Infrastructure. Employment training.
Without a doubt, Midtown women demonstrate that they are aware of the needs of their community. Most of them do not hesitate when addressing them, especially with upcoming elections Nov. 3.
Some of them — like Angela Rouson, the president of the National Council of Negro Women of St. Petersburg — wish that elected officials continue work to make the city a level playing field. So, someone living in South St. Pete does not have to travel downtown to take advantage of shopping and entertainment resources.
“That there are no barriers for you to go to see a movie, or go to the library. South St. Pete didn’t even had a post office at one time and in the last few years they have established one,” said Rouson. “The community rally for us to keep it. Simple things like that make a huge difference. That you can take a four minute trip to go to the post office, not a 15-minute trip to have a package delivered.”
Dianne Speights, vice-president of the Negro Council, considers education issues extremely important and demands help for the vast percentage of African American students who are failing.
“Whatever that route is that is hindering our children’s success, we must find where it is and fix it,” said Speights.
Others, as Negro Council member Katheryn Read, agree.
Everything starts with the school system and by providing adequate education for children, she said.
“One of the focuses is educating our children and giving them same opportunities as others individuals,” said Read. “They don’t have the same resources or the adequate teachers so just sharing a will, going into the school system because we know if they’re not adequate educated that could affect the community, eventually.”
Read — who also works in employment training — highlights the importance of job placement training.
“I know they have the 2020 Plan, but we need to go out and partner with different businesses so they can go out and take some young people under their wings and train them for their jobs, or let them go there for the summer to work. If they can’t work or sustain their way of life then Midtown isn’t going to change,” said Read.
Churches
For Deborah Green, the first African-American female to pastor a Missionary Baptist church in St. Petersburg, the candidate who wins should care about Midtown and to continue city efforts to renew 22nd Street South.
“The way they implemented and upgraded Downtown St. Pete is what they have to do with Midtown,” Green said.
One other thing that the pastor addresses is juvenile delinquency and the need for more work programs for students who are out of school in the summer.
“The new chief is trying to find ways to pardon some of these minor offenses that some of the kids are getting because if a kid ends up with a charge they can’t go to college,” Green said. “College is not accepting children with certain types of charges.”
Bishop Clarice Pennington, of Christian Generation Center of Hope Church, would like to see more educational and recreational opportunities available in Midtown. He said children have to go to the north side of the city for activities such as a skating rink. Pennington also sees a disparity in the types of recreation centers and amenities available.
Promises
Candidates in the upcoming election include Lisa Wheeler-Brown, Winthrop “Will” Newton for District 7; and Philip Garrett and Steven L. Kornell in District 5.
Residents don’t want to be left with empty promises.
“A lot of times, too often, we see the politicians out there, campaigning and coming to the churches, yet when the campaign is over and it’s time for them to work they disappear,” said Read. “So we need someone that will represent the community from the beginning to the end and a lot of times we don’t have that.”