Community Profile

Community Profile

By Phil Ammann

Neighborhood News Bureau

On a warm Sunday evening at a gymnasium in the heart of St. Petersburg, more than a thousand Midtown residents gathered to honor some of their most talented high school students. It was a music-filled celebration reminiscent of the rich past of “the Deuces” mixed with the hope for a new generation.

For one Midtown native, a night of dancing, fashion, rap and jazz was to be something special.

Toriano Parker, born to a single mother and raised in Jordan Park, saw the event as his crowning achievement.  As the founder and owner of the Advantage Village Academy, Parker sponsored the night’s activities. It would represent the most ambitious event yet from his fledgling organization.

Through Parker’s eyes, the show could only succeed with the hard work of his 25-person, all-volunteer staff.  Their efforts would be the key to a winning evening.

 “There was a lot of sweat and blood that has gone into this show,” said Parker as the activity of the evening rushed around him. “The neighborhood participation has been phenomenal.”

Parker, 39, a lifelong resident of Midtown, came a long way from the Gibbs High School class of ‘90. After graduating, he went on to earn his business degree from Waynesburg University, a Christian college 25 miles south of Pittsburg, Pa. Upon returning to St. Petersburg in the mid-1990s, Parker spent several years working at Equifax.

Parker branched out five years ago by starting his own financial services company, focused on serving his old neighborhood. Advantage Financial Services provides tax-preparation, accounting and money management services to the Midtown area, where the median annual income is less than $25,000.

The Labor Day weekend event was held at the Midtown Youth and Family Enrichment Center, commonly known as the old Jordan Park Gym, located at 1201 22nd St. S.  The center sits in the heart of the historic Midtown district known as “the Deuces.”  The center is across the street from the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center and only steps away from the recently renovated Royal Theater.

The show started with a burst of energy. Boca Ciega High School saxophonist Jarred Armstrong began the entertainment by playing a jazzed up version of the “Star Spangled Banner.” The audience cheered louder.

In the hall were St. Petersburg City Council members Wengay Newton and Karl Nurse, as well as Florida State Representative Darryl Rouson.

 “From the words of my mouth, to the bottom of my heart,” Newton said to the crowd, “I want to thank you all for tonight.”

“We must keep coming out and supporting our kids,” said Rouson.  “We are displaying their talents. Thank you Advantage Village Academy for doing what you are doing.”

Featured sketches were by teenagers from all seven south Pinellas County high schools. The acts included a high-energy fashion show of “club wear” as well as “step team” choreography by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Gibbs High School student Oreion Crittenton, Jr. rapped solo, followed by local recording artist Shawty, singing his hit “I Made It Rain.” The crowd went wild. After the show, there was a chaperoned youth dance.

Parker established the Advantage Village Academy in May 2009 as a nonprofit organization offering after-school activities, sports and education for residents of the community.  According to its website, the Academy was “established to promote self-sufficiency, financial stability and economic development within the community.”

Parker created the association with the goal of “keeping the center going” and giving back to his neighborhood.  To keep services affordable for low-income families, the Academy charges a yearly fee of $5 to $10. The fee goes to help cover operating expenses.

At the end of 2008, while the Midtown center was still under the management of the St. Petersburg Department of Parks and Recreations, the City Council was presented with a difficult choice. Although the Midtown Youth and Family Enrichment Center remained popular, city leaders felt the budget could not sustain both the Midtown location and the nearby Wildwood Community Center. Earlier in the year, the gym had hosted a professional match for Florida Championship Wrestling. After that, the building sat vacant.

The city’s plans frustrated Parker, whose office on 22nd Street South is located next door in full view of the center.
 

“I was sitting in my office looking at an empty building,” Parker says. “I decided we needed to do something to just get it open.”

Using a combination of personal funds and private loans, Parker started the Academy. He petitioned the city to take charge of the operation for the Center.  A few months later, Parker and the Academy entered into an agreement with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, who holds the deed to the building, to maintain the Center. The city would still own the building, but Parker had an option to buy.

Concerned an empty building would cause more crime in the neighborhood, Parker believed that by having the Academy based in the Center, it would be a good sign to show Midtown residents community involvement.  Looking back, Parker now feels he was right.

“Before, I had my door ripped off a couple of times and they tried to get at the computers in my office,” says Parker. “Now, the people are the same and the computers are still here.  What has changed is how people look at things.”

On this night, the Sunday before Labor Day, Parker was at the center of constant activity. Dressed in a grey t-shirt and jeans, he hurriedly rushed through the crowded basketball court, greeting friends and politicians, directing volunteers, talking with performers and other well-wishers.

After the Academy took control of the Center, with some remodeling and landscaping, residents of the “the Deuces” now had their own active youth multipurpose community center. The building houses a computer room with nine workstations, as well as an exercise area filled with free weights and treadmills in a converted laundry room.

There is a dodge ball tournament every two months and Parker hopes to get the Florida Championship Wrestling match back soon.

Parker purchased the computers himself. Stetson Law School and other local businesses donated the weights and exercise equipment.

According to Parker, his group of volunteers offers activities and services for up to 75 kids a day. In addition to computer training, they have FCAT tutoring. On Sundays, a local pastor holds a church service. The organization is looking to rent out the main basketball court for other events, weddings and birthday parties. There are also plans to expand to adult learning, offering GED classes.
   

“There are kids that take three buses to get to our front door,” says Parker. “For every nine kids that use the computers, there are nine more on a waiting list. It is a problem, but a good problem to have.”

Anthony Hart, facilities director for the Academy, hopes for more from the City of St. Petersburg.

“We are doing good deeds in this (22nd Street) corridor,” Hart says. “We have to scrounge for everything. There should be more than a physical presence from politicians.”

Apart from the nominal yearly user fees, donations and the occasional grant money, the Academy does not rely on outside revenue.  However, without more successes like the one this past Labor Day weekend, Parker said the situation can change. His goal this year is to secure a steady cash flow to cover operating costs.

“The current financial situation is making it difficult,” Parker said. “My mom is praying we get funding.”

Parker sees the main obstacle for Midtowns is communication.

“There must be an understanding between the opportunities and the people,” said Parker. “Sometimes you just don’t know what is in the community.”

With the turnout for his triumphant Sunday night show, it may be that Toriano Parker is well on his way to showing Midtown what is out there for them.