Tuesday, March 25, 1997
Neighborhood may be "rising from the dead"
By ANTHONY WILSON Staff Writer
A God-fearing rapper dubbed "Lazarus" served as the
perfect symbol for the Carver Community Pride Rally Monday night.
Because after witnessing the numbers and energy of those in
attendance, the ralliers believe Carver may be rising from the
dead.
"One lady just told me, 'We can make it happen,' "
Odis Dalton, a member of the Carver Community Steering Board,
said afterward. "Those are the words I wanted to hear."
Monday's rally marked the public debut of a plan already months
in the making.
The seven-member steering board has drafted a "road map"
for addressing issues vital to revitalizing the rotting northside
neighborhood. On Monday, the board unveiled six task forces necessary
to the process and shamelessly recruited members to craft goals,
objectives and strategies for housing, economic development, land
use, health and welfare, public services, and culture and historic
preservation.
"It's our time," Dalton told a crowd of about 100
jammed into the G.V. Daniels Recreation Center. "The only
way this will come to pass is if you all are a part of it.
"I'm begging you," he continued. "We need you
now more than ever before. We have one shot to make this community
thriving again. If you will join us, we can make this a place
we can be proud of. But you have to let us know what you want."
Though the movement will be aided by city officials and community
groups, organizers repeatedly stressed that Carver residents will
drive the redevelopment of the 25 blocks north of downtown, Abilene's
oldest black neighborhood.
"It's not what we're going to do," said City Planner
Carl Lockett, born and raised in Carver. "It's what you're
going to do."
The project seeks to rebuild Carver into a "vital"
residential and business community with a "renewed"
sense of pride in its heritage, according to a mission statement.
The task forces will spend months assessing the neighborhood's
needs and assets, gathering data, drafting a plan, seeking its
endorsement throughout the city and working toward its implementation.
The redevelopment is expected to take about 10 years.
On Monday night it got a rousing - and rapping - start.
The "DOGs" - the Disciples of God, a church youth
group that ministers through rap music - warmed up the crowd by
speeding through rhymes in the name of the Lord. Even the eldest
in the crowd, sporting Carver Community Pride gimme caps, couldn't
help but bop their heads to the booming beat.
One of the DOGs told the crowd the group dubbed him "Lazarus,"
explaining his Christian rebirth saved him from a deadly lifestyle.
The story rang true for Wanda Merritt, the city's community development
administrator.
"That's what we've got to do to this neighborhood,"
Merritt said.
"Dreams can come true," she exhorted. "We've
got to believe that. I see concern for our neighborhood. We don't
have to sit back anymore."
The enthusiasm infected the audience, a blend of young and
old, of black, brown and white. Most rushed to enlist in the campaign
afterward, eager to begin working.
"Everybody ought to take an active part because everyone
has something to offer," said Terry McGhee, whose lived in
the neighborhood for 25 years. "I thought tonight showed
a lot of unity. It's important we stand up and take part or our
community will die."
Dalton agreed.
"We'd love to have each and every one of you participating,"
he told his friends. "People helping people, neighbors helping
neighbors. It's a snowball effect. Today shows that snowball is
rolling."
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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