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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW-CRA-R-01-0081ITEM 11 SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. SEOPW/CRA 0 1 r 81 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PROVIDE A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,500.00 TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR DIRECT PAYMENT TO TALENT, INCLUDING SPEAKING HANDS, INC. FOR PERFORMANCES AT THE GOSPEL IN THE PARK "GOSPELFEST" EVENT WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 18, 2001, AT AN OVERTOWN PARK. WHEREAS, the City of Miami approved and adopted the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Plan pursuant to Resolution Nos. 82- 755 and 85-1247 (the "Redevelopment Plan"); and WHEREAS, the CRA is responsible for carrying out community redevelopment activities and projects in the Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Area (the "Redevelopment Area") established pursuant to the Redevelopment Plan; and WHEREAS, the CRA desires to provide a grant in the amount of $4,500.00 to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for direct payment of Talent, including Speaking Hands, Inc. to perform at the Gospel in the Park "Gospelfest" event in Overtown which is scheduled to take place on August 18, 2001 at an Overtown Park. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The Board of Directors of CRA hereby authorizes the CRA Executive Director to provide a grant in the amount of $4,500.00 to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for direct payment of talent including Speaking Hands Inc, for performances at the Gospel in the Park "Gospelfest" event in Overtown which is scheduled to take place on August 18, 2001 at an Overtown Park. Section 3. The resolution shall be effective upon its adoption. ITEM 11 SEOPW/CRA PASSED AND ADOPTED on this ATTEST: W44er J. Foeman, City Clerk 25h ay of June, 2001. Arthur E. Teele, Jr., Chairman SSW 0 0 ® St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church P.O. Box 01-1901 1698 N.W. Fourth Avenue Miami, Fl 33101-1901 (305) 5 76- 295 7 (Phone) (305) 576-3120 (Fax) DRAFT We invite you to be part of what we believe will be one of Miami's most meaningful events — Overtown's Gospel in the Park. On Saturday, August 18, 2001, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (Florida's first Black Catholic Church) and others will host a kick off "gospelfest" to initiate the revival, rebirth, rejuvenation and spiritual renewal of Overtown. This event will be held at Williams Park in Overtown (1717 N.W. 5th Avenue) from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. For many years, Overtown, which lies just northwest of downtown Miami, has been labeled Miami -Dade County's poorest and most dangerous neighborhood. Approximately 30% of the area's buildings are vacant and drugs are sold openly on the streets two blocks from our school and the church. • Contrary to popular belief, however, this was not always the state of Overtown. Overtown once was the only part of the city where African Americans were allowed to purchase land. Prior to the 60's, Overtown was a thriving place filled with black homeowners and black businesses. Black artists and performers, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne visited 0vertown regularly to perform in the clubs and stay in the hotels. In the 1960's, construction of Interstate 95 -- intentionally placed in the middle of Overtown -- demolished the heart of Overtown and left Overtown in a state of despair and poverty. Overtown has never recovered. Drugs, alcoholism, severe poverty, hopelessness and despair continue to plague Overtown. These social ills affect each and every member of the families in Overtown and the Miami -Dade County community as a whole. We want to help put the heart back into Overtown. Our church is centrally located in Overtown, and we believe that we can help. We want to broaden our reach to the Overtown community and be of more service to our neighbors. Our belief is that the most effective way to do this is to begin with a "spiritual renewal" to tackle the social ills that confront Overtown. Most recently, a young woman who is a cocaine addict was released from prison. Coming back to her roots in Overtown, • she met up with some "friends" who offered her a few cocaine "hits." She was immediately. hooked again — searching for her next "fix." She wandered around our SBOP CC f CRA 0 0 1 church and entered the school. School officials brought her to the priest who was s able to talk her out of committing suicide and direct her to the help that she so desperately needed. We want to be positioned to do this type of outreach more often and more regularly. How do we propose to do this? We want to give Overtown something to claim — something of its own; something that the residents can look forward to and benefit from. We believe that an outdoor festival of spiritual music, vendors and services (sickle cell/health screenings, legal advice) can be the beginning of something of which Overtown can be proud. At the same time, we believe that such a festival will allow us greater access to the Overtown community, such that we can be'a source of inspiration, hope and action throughout the year for Overtown. We need your support to make this happen. WEDR, the number one rated South Florida radio station which was founded in Overtown, was the first to get on board when the idea was just a thought. We have WEDR's support, but we need you. Please consider making a donation of at least $1,500.00 (or whatever you choose) to cover only the costs of this event. Checks may be made out to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (a 501(c)(3)) and sent to the address listed on this letter. As a sponsor, you will be recognized for your help in reuniting, reviving and rejuvenating Overtown. We expect no less than 10,000 people from the community • to attend the event. Sponsors will be mentioned prominently on WEDR, which has a listener reach spanning three major counties in South Florida. Of course, the sponsor donating the most financial support will be the lead sponsor. Thank you in advance for your favorable consideration of this request. We will call you shortly after you have had a chance to review our letter and consider it. Please call Jennifer M. Smith at (305) 789-7689 (w) if you have any questions. MIA1 #1041993 v1 • Most sincerely, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH Father George Knab, O.M.I. Jennifer M. Smith, Esq. Chairperson, Overtown's Gospel in the Park ® CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA a ITEM 11 SEOPW/CRA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM joDATE: Chairman Teele June 25, 2001 And Members of the CRA Board SUBJECT: FROM Dipak M. Parekh Executive Director RECOMMENDATION REFERENCES: FILE : St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for Talent for at Gospel in the Park event ENCLOSURES: Resolution It is respectfully recommended that the CRA Board of Directors approve the attached resolution authoring the CRA Executive Director to provide a grant in the amount of $4,500.00 to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for direct payment of Talent including Speaking Hands Inc, for performances at the Gospel in the Park "Gospelfest" event in Overtown which is scheduled to take place.on August 18, 2001 at an Overtown Park. • BACKGROUND The CRA is committed to provide assistance to organizations to Overtown that is committed to the community. Gospelfest was initiated this year (2001) by St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church to initiate the revival, rebirth, rejuvenation and spiritual renewal of Overtown, in the hopes of restoring Overtown back to the thriving place. Fund Source: General Fund Account Number: 689004.55001.6.690 SEOPW/CR& 01- 81 , St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 1W P.O. Box 01-1901 1698 N.W. Fourth Avenue Miami, Fl 33101-1901 (305) 576-2957 (Phone) (305) 576-3120 (Fax) DRAFT We invite you to be part of what we believe will be one of Miami's most meaningful events — Overtown's Gospel in the Park. On Saturday, August 18, 2001, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (Florida's first Black Catholic Church) and others will host a kick off "gospelfest" to initiate the revival, rebirth, rejuvenation and spiritual renewal of Overtown. This event will be held at Williams Park in Overtown (1717 N.W. 5th Avenue) from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. For many years, Overtown, which lies just northwest of downtown Miami, has been labeled Miami -Dade County's poorest and most dangerous neighborhood. Approximately 30% of the area's buildings are vacant and drugs are sold openly on the streets two blocks from our school and the church. Contrary to popular belief, however, this was not always the state of Overtown. Overtown once was the only part of the city where African Americans were allowed to purchase land. Prior to the 60's, Overtown was a thriving place filled with black homeowners and black businesses. Black artists and performers, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne visited Overtown regularly to perform in the clubs and stay in the hotels. In the 1960's, construction of Interstate 95 -- intentionally placed in the middle of Overtown -- demolished the heart of Overtown and left Overtown in a state of despair and poverty. Overtown has never recovered. Drugs, alcoholism, severe poverty, hopelessness and despair continue to plague Overtown. These social ills affect each and every member of the families in Overtown and the Miami -Dade County community as a whole. We want to help put the heart back into Overtown. Our church is centrally located in Overtown, and we believe that we can help. We want to broaden our 1 reach to the Overtown community and be of more service to our neighbors. Our belief is that the most effective way to do this is to begin with a "spiritual renewal" . to tackle the social ills that confront Overtown. Most recently, a young woman who is a cocaine addict was released from prison. Coming back to her roots in Overtown, she met up with some "friends" who offered her a few cocaine "hits." She was immediately hooked again — searching for her next "fix." She wandered around our SEOPW/CRA church and entered the school. School officials brought her to the priest who was • able to talk her out of committing suicide and direct her to the help that she so desperately needed. We want to be positioned to do this type of outreach more often and more regularly. How do we propose to do this? We want to give Overtown something to claim — something of its own; something that the residents can look forward to and benefit from. We believe that an outdoor festival of spiritual music, vendors and services (sickle cell/health screenings, legal advice) can be the beginning of something of which Overtown can be proud. At the same time, we believe that such a festival will allow us greater access to the Overtown community, such that we can be a source of inspiration, hope and action throughout the year for Overtown. We need your support to make this happen. WEDR, the number one rated South Florida radio station which was founded in Overtown, was the first to get on board when the idea was just a thought. We have WEDR's support, but we need you. Please consider making a donation of at least $1,500.00 (or whatever you choose) to cover only the costs of this event. Checks may be made out to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (a 501(c)(3)) and sent to the address listed on this letter. As a sponsor, you will be recognized for your help in reuniting, reviving and rejuvenating Overtown. We expect no less than 10,000 people from the community • to attend the event. Sponsors will be mentioned prominently on WEDR, which has a listener reach spanning three major counties in South Florida. Of course, the sponsor donating the most financial support will be the lead sponsor. Thank you in advance for your favorable consideration of this request. We will call you shortly after you have had a chance to review our letter and consider it. Please call Jennifer M. Smith at (305) 789-7689 (w) if you have any questions. MIA1 #1041993 v1 Most sincerely, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH Father George Knab, O.M.I. Jennifer M. Smith, Esq. Chairperson, Overtown's Gospel in the Park SEOPW/CRA