THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260440
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 90 lines
Don't ever tell Phyllis M. Jones, a tenant at Parker Riddick Village, that she lives in a public housing project.
``A housing project is something you dissect,'' said Jones, a resident of nearly nine years.
``We're a community. We're people just like anybody else. I pay rent, I fill my refrigerator. I'm just not as rich as everyone else.''
But people don't always treat Jones's three children and other children at Parker Riddick and nearby Cypress Manor Apartments like everyday people.
Reports of public housing crime last year drew attention to Jones and her children, some of whom were photographed although they weren't involved in illegal activities. Soon after, schoolmates at John F. Kennedy Middle School distanced themselves from the children at the complexes. They refused to continue socializing or playing basketball. The children of Parker Riddick and Cypress Manor were ostracized.
``It was embarrassing,'' said Kevin Jones, 12.
Added Jermaine Harry, 16: ``Some people don't come here because they think it's a bad neighborhood.''
Jones wants to dispel the image; she decided to act.
After about a month of hitting the pavement, passing out fliers and soliciting support from area businesses, Jones will chair a ``Unity in the Community Day'' on Saturday at both complexes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The aim is to unify both complexes, register voters, spearhead a cleanup effort and debut the apartments' first youth basketball team, the Cypress Manor-Parker Riddick Players, in an exhibition game.
The Cypress Manor-Parker Riddick Shakers, a cheerleading squad, will support their team. Vice Mayor Charles F. Brown and Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Chairman Rev. John H. Kindred plan to attend.
Tenants readily admit that they deal with crime, but say the problem stems from outsiders. Police agree.
Acting Police Chief W.A. Freeman said that for the past several years, drug dealers have come onto the properties ``cajoling and befriending'' kids to get them involved in the drug trade. Yet tenants say they need to empower themselves.
``It's basically an outsider thing, but it's the insiders who allow the outsiders to start trouble,'' said Diann Stevenson, vice president of the Resident's Council for the complexes.
Compounding the problem is a lack of togetherness from both complexes. For years, residents at both Parker Riddick and Cypress Manor have existed in a vacuum, say police and tenants. Stevenson said residents rarely socialize - even though their complexes are across the street from one another.
``It's important to have a Unity Day because we live like two different complexes,'' Jones said. ``There's a gap, and the gap needs to be closed.''
To close the gap, Jones began planning the event. But it wasn't easy getting support or organizing it. Jones's memory is slightly impaired after she became disabled with a stroke. She keeps a note pad handy to jot tasks. At one point, she felt overwhelmed and defeated.
Earlier this month, she was crying in despair.
``It seems like no one wants this thing to happen,'' said Jones, choking on tears.
But people started listening.
She called Brown, Kindred, the MECCA Foundation and the Suffolk police. Obici Hospital, Planters Peanuts, Different Strokes Hair Salon and Birdsong Peanuts, Applewhite Funeral Home and a host of others agreed to volunteer their services.
If it doesn't rain on Saturday, Jones is hoping for a big turnout. The Cypress-Manor Parker Riddick Players have perfected their jump shots. The Shakers know their chants.
Now all Jones wants is community.
``We're hoping for a change,'' she said softly. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II\The Virginian-Pilot
Phyllis M. Jones helps Kenyon Daughtery, with ball, and Jermaine
Harry prepare at Parker Riddick Village for their basketball game
Saturday for ``Unity in the Community Day.''
Graphic
Where: Parker-Riddick and Cypress Manor housing complexes at 94
Stacey Drive
For details: Contact Ed Hipps at 934-3296.
Schedule:
7 a.m. - 9 a.m.: Community clean up
9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Welcome by Phyllis M. Jones, prayer by the
Rev. John H. Kindred and address by Vice Mayor Charles F. Brown
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Relay and olympic games
1 - 2:30 p.m.: Special events by a radio personality
2:35 - 2:55 p.m.: Door-prize giveaway
3 - 3:30 p.m.: Exhibition basketball game between Suffolk Police
and members of the MECCA Foundation
4 - 5 p.m.: Unity basketball game
5 - 6 p.m.: Entertainment with DJ Jimmy Reid by CNB