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Group tries to regrow its roots in diversity
By JACKIE RIPLEY, Times Staff Writer
TOWN 'N COUNTRY -- There was a time in Town 'N Country when every time it rained the streets would flood. And every time school let out teenagers would run roughshod over the neighborhood. These problems drew together a group of concerned neighbors, and the Town 'N Country Alliance was born. The problems were solved. But once the streets were high and dry and the teenagers had activities to keep them busy, the group turned its attention to economic development. And the very alliance that had come together to address these common problems lost its ability to bond. "There were a lot of Hispanic parents against gangs in the alliance," said Ed Crawford, newly elected to head the Town 'N Country Alliance. "But when talk turned to economic development we lost some of those folks along the way." They never came back in any real numbers, even though Hispanics now compose as much as 65 percent of the population in some Town 'N Country neighborhoods. The alliance, which is overwhelmingly white, is now left with a new challenge: how to remain relevant in a multicultural world. "How do you fix it?" asked Carlton Lewis Jr., alliance vice chairman. "I wish I knew." It's not that the alliance is ineffective. The organization, an umbrella group for many schools, churches and neighborhood associations, can point to many recent accomplishments, including the opening of Alonso High School and plans for a senior center, a new YMCA branch, and expansion of both the Westgate Library and the Jackson Springs Recreation Center. Tony Morejon, Hillsborough County's Hispanic Affairs liaison, acknowledges that the alliance has been a significant benefit to the community, including Hispanics. He suggests that many Latins are too busy earning a living to get involved, and that they do not fully appreciate the need. "That takes a while, but you have to cultivate it," Morejon said. Crawford agreed. "Regardless of ethnic background and persuasion we need to get people involved again," he said. Meetings with politiciansThe alliance has its origins like a lot of things in Tampa -- over coffee. Seven years ago community leaders began meeting at a Shoney's restaurant, now closed, on W Hillsborough Avenue. The idea was to provide a very informal forum for county and state elected officials. One of the first politicos to take part was then-Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik, who discussed the area's flooding problems. The alliance attracted strong personalities to its leadership, including ex-Town 'N Country Chamber of Commerce president Mark Fogarty, self-styled activist Joyce Smith and pacifist Bill Rose, who, at 69, traveled to Iraq in November with an organization called Voices in the Wilderness. Crawford, who was elected this year despite his address outside Town 'N Country, in the Citrus Park subdivision of Fawn Ridge, is a spokesman for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit system and known for his innovative views on transportation. 'We need to step up'When Eddy Calcines isn't cutting hair at his home-based salon, he is writing about his boyhood in Cuba. Now 46, he moved to Milwaukee at 14. Today he lives and works in the Pinecrest neighborhood off Waters Avenue. He is not a member of the alliance but, as a former political candidate, he has taken part in its forums. He agreed that long working hours keep many minorities from becoming involved politically. But he also blames apathy. "We must realize the importance of being at the table with decision makers representing our community," said Calcines, who nevertheless gives the alliance credit for making positive changes in Town 'N Country. Although he believes the alliance leadership should make more of an effort to include minorities, "we need to step up," he said. He does some of this, he says, by working within the Hispanic community through his church ministry. Language differences are one barrier, said Cathy Pena, who moved to the United States 38 years ago from Argentina. "It's not easy to speak in public with an accent," said Pena, who represents Incarnation Catholic Church on the alliance. "Also, learning a language is easier for some than others." But cultural differences can be a factor, too. Lewis, who is African-American, suspects many minorities feel the civic organization is "a white European thing." He finds that "the alliance is like going home to a family," although understands that he is the exception. "Sometimes I look around at meetings and I feel remiss," Lewis said. "The only other people of color are government employees and I wonder, 'Why don't we have these values?' " Even though Town 'N Country is about 8 percent African-American, Lewis suspects many of his neighbors are somewhat embarrassed that they live in the suburbs. "The feeling is, 'You've moved away, turned on us. Why don't you come back and help?' instead of putting your energy into a civic organization," Lewis said. Other alliance leaders disagree that the group lacks minority representation. Pam Prysner, serving her third year as secretary, said that despite how things might appear at meetings, through its 60 member organizations, the alliance represents many people of color. Further, she says, if people do not feel compelled to come to the meetings, "they're either happy or there's no real problem or pressing issue." Regardless of who attends the meetings, organizers say the alliance is as relevant as it ever was. "Things are going well because there is an alliance," said Smith, a past president. "It irons out its problems in the community instead of in front of the Board of County Commissioners." These days the alliance is concerning itself with an issue that affects everybody: the Town 'N Country community plan. Like other such plans, it seeks to give residents a say in guidelines for future development, as well as a kind of town center along Paula and Ambassador drives. Closer to Crawford's heart, the county is extending the Town 'N Country Greenway, a linear park that, when completed, will run from Webb Road to Sheldon Road, while the Upper Tampa Bay Trail connects Linebaugh Avenue to Memorial Highway along Channel A. "There are some good things down the pike in the near future and it's important for us to be relevant to get involved in those things," Crawford said. "I'd like to take those two issues and reignite people in the community." -- Jackie Ripley can be reached at (813) 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com. To learn moreTown 'N Country Alliance meetings are free and open to the public. The next meeting is Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 8401 W Hillsborough Ave.
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