THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506060105
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: In The Neighborhoods
SOURCE: Mike Knepler
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Park Place holds its second annual community celebration Saturday, but the best show may not be on festival grounds.
If a visitor asked what was going on, Alphonso Albert would first point to the displays of Park Place's many grass-roots groups.
``Then I'd walk him to 31st Street, to the 700 block,'' he said. There, one would see a blend of new and renovated houses, glimpsing the potential for inner-city revival.
``It gives you a good feel for the continuity of the neighborhood,'' said Albert, executive director of the nonprofit Park Place Community Development Corp.
But Albert wouldn't want you to gaze too long at the handiwork. You can do that any time. Saturday is for the neighborhood to applaud itself and rededicate toward the future.
``It's an opportunity for all the diverse groups in Park Place to celebrate common goals,'' Albert said. ``Certainly, there have been some problems with different visions and with suspicions. But I think a lot of that is subsiding.''
The ``We Love Park Place Festival'' exemplifies how folks with different ideas come together, he said.
Note the variety of displays.
``More people are starting to take on projects,'' Albert said. ``That's the kind of thing that builds cohesiveness.''
But the festival also measures how far Park Place must go. For future celebrations, Albert wants more neighborhood-grown entertainment and more residents organizing the event.
There's a perception, he said, that the festival belongs only to his group, which has been the center of controversies about who's calling the shots.
``People are starting to see the benefits of putting the community ahead of the goals of their own agencies,'' Albert said. ``None of us are perfect, and there's still disgruntlement. But we're all trying to get to the same place.''
A better Park Place.
The festival will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday behind James Monroe Elementary School.
Reaching out. Reaching in. The energies in Park Place can be described many ways. Some focus on the next generation.
Two are sponsored by the Park Place Academy, which really isn't a building as the name suggests. It's a community-based group housed mainly in the hearts of participants.
This will be the second year of the academy's Summer Jobs Mentoring Program, which provides employment and character-building activities for teens.
In 1994, the program placed 15 kids in jobs. There are 30 this year. Most jobs are in Ghent, which illustrates how neighborhoods can be partners. Employers include a pet groomer, bed manufacturer, furniture stores and a camera shop.
A few employers will be in other parts of Norfolk, such as a medical clinic at Wards Corner.
``It's fascinating seeing all these small businesses stepping up,'' said Pam Nelson, coordinator. ``It's not make-work stuff. It's work that needs to be done, and the attitude is, `You can help me do it.' ''
Nelson believes she's witnessing a resurgence of the idea that work not only provides wages but helps people develop self images.
Another project, the Park Place Academy Enrichment Program, works with kids, ages 4 1/2 to 15.
It's a summer camp, and this year's theme is ``It takes a community to raise a child,'' said Linette Norfleet, director.
But it also gives back to the neighborhood. Older children will spend one day a week as ``Community Problem Solvers.'' They'll do neighborhood beautification and other volunteer work.
There also will be field trips. The camp has room for 60 kids. Call 623-6823 for fees and information. by CNB