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Project Focused On Community

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

Updated: 01/21/2008 06:13 pm

PROGRESS VILLAGE - As far as kickoffs are concerned, this one was a snap.

All Tony Harris and his staff at the Progress Village Recreation Center had to do was briefly explain the project, sign up the children and hand out disposable cameras with 27 exposures each. The free sandwiches and chips were just a bonus, lending a party atmosphere to the event.

Harris, a recreation specialist for 22 years at the Progress Village center, said the tough part of his job will happen a month down the road when the cameras are returned.

"It will be a lot of work, but it will be exciting, too," Harris said.

He and his staff distributed 43 cameras to children ages 6 and older at the kickoff of the "I Am Progress Village" project Jan 16. Earlier that day, they distributed cameras to members of the Senior Citizens of Progress Village, a group that meets at the recreation center.

"We're also giving out cameras to church groups, Little Leagues, anybody who asks for them," Harris said. He originally had 100 cameras available but said he will get more if he runs out, and there's an interest.

It's part of a multigenerational, cultural photography initiative designed to promote and strengthen the community, Harris said.

"It's geared to getting people to really look at their community in a new way and take pride in it," Harris said. "They have the leeway to take pictures of anything that catches their eye - family, friends, neighbors, buildings, you name it. We just want them to photograph people and places in the community of Progress Village."

John Brill, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, said funding for the project comes from a $2,500 award from the Friends of the Hillsborough County Parks. The nonprofit organization, which raises money to supplement the parks department budget, started the Ed L. Radice Project Award to honor 28-year parks director Ed Radice. Recreation centers are asked to submit proposals for the award.

"I wish I could say this was my idea," Harris said. "But I'm just jumping on the bandwagon."

Harris was on leave when the Friends of the Hillsborough County Parks solicited grant proposals. Recreation specialist Jackie Brown, who works out of the University Area Recreation Center, was filling in for Harris and came up with the idea of having residents document the community in photographs. The Palm River Point Community Development Corp. carried out a similar initiative last spring.

The community advocacy group for the greater Palm River area, which includes Progress Village, created an exhibit of community photographs to encourage neighborhood pride. After being on display at Palm River Point's office on Palm River Road, the exhibit traveled to the Hillsborough County Children's Board offices and is on display at the University of South Florida, said Point Executive Director Liz Gutierrez. Its next stops will be the Fred B. Karl County Center in downtown Tampa and state Capitol in Tallahassee.

Harris said the "I Am Progress Village" project is especially timely. The community, considered to be Tampa's first urban housing project, is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2009.

"We plan to archive all the photos so they'll be here way after I'm gone," Harris said. "But we'd love to have at least 1,000 of them on display for the big celebration."
Progress Village Civic Association President Hilrie Kemp Jr. said the community is making plans for its 49th anniversary celebration this summer.

The photographers will have until the first week of March to use up the 27 exposures on their cameras and turn them in. The images will be processed, and staff from the recreation center and the 78th Street Library in Palm River will examine the 2,700 images.

Selected photos representing the community's hope and empowerment will be enlarged and displayed at the library. Other outstanding photos showing the community's character and spirit will be enlarged to 5 by 7 inches and placed on permanent display at the Progress Village Recreation Center.

"It'll be a big job looking through all those photos," Harris said. "But it will be exciting to see what people come up with."

He said he's also eager to see whether any future photographers emerge from the initiative.

"You never know. Something like this could be just the thing to spark a kid's interest in becoming a photographer," he said. "Hopefully, one of them will be inspired."

Eleven-year-old Kathy Perez could barely contain her excitement. Before leaving the recreation center, she tore open the camera package and began looking through the viewfinder, experimenting with angles.

"I'm going to take pictures of my sister and my mom and my dog, Armani," she said.

Elijah Roby, 9, had his mind made up, as well. He has been itching to photograph a classic Malibu in his neighborhood from all angles.

Mya Hornsby, 7, was ambivalent about the magical black box in her hands.

Her first answer as to subject matter was a shrug. After prompting from her friends, however, the youngster got into the spirit, trying out the camera on a couple of them. She took shots of Tydreona Carter, 10, and Jasmine Setney, 8.

"I guess I'll take pictures of my friends and maybe some pictures of flowers," Mya said.

Harris said the library and recreation center likely will host a reception in May for the opening of the exhibit. Each participant will receive an "I Am Palm River" T-shirt.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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