The Tribune

By NOELLE NICOLLS

Tribune Features Editor

nnicolls@tribunemedia.net

PRACTICALLY everyone in the Hay Street community knows Scrooge's corner barbershop, where community leader Valentino Brown resides and does business.

It is an unassuming one-storey structure with peach wooden walls, and peach and white wood fencing.

It not only serves as a place of business, but also as the headquarters of the Hay Street Movement for Change. Inside these walls, Valentino is plotting and planning a movement to transform his community of birth; to revitalise the streets he once patrolled as a notorious gang leader.

Valentino is not proud of many of his past pursuits. The streets, stained with the blood of friends, family and enemies, are a constant reminder of a life left behind. But in a community with few positive examples, Valentino is now doing all he can to lead the charge for change.

Last month, the Movement for Change broke ground on phase one of its bold $1 million redevelopment project, which envisions transforming vacant land in the community into empowering centres of activity and commerce, amongst other community building efforts.

More than eight months ago, Valentino conceptualised the children's activity centre on Lewis Street. He envisioned transforming three plots of land, formerly owned by Jack Johnson, one of the first black justices of the peace, into a haven for young people.

Bush had overtaken the properties, engulfing several dilapidated structures.

Working with programme sponsors - David Johnson of Teen Challenge; Debbie Bartlett, president of the CEO Network and GEMS Radio; and Jeff Mitchell, director of Caribbean Landscape - the community is clearing the land on one of the lots, paving the way for its future development.

Mr Mitchell said he was touched by the vision and initiative of Valentino and wanted to help.

"We are going there on Saturday. Hopefully we will finish that one lot. Then we will do a design and kind of fill in the lot and create a park area. There are a few other lots that need to be cleaned up, and we plan to do some stuff around the basketball court," said Mr Mitchell.

"I am just trying to help Scrooge move along with his projects.

"It is his vision and I am just trying to help get things going," he said.

Construction has already begun on Valentino's property for a Cultural Centre that is intended to bring tourism dollars Over the Hill. The centre will double up as a training facility, teaching cultural trades to the children of the community.

The long-term vision also includes purchasing the old Morris Convenience Store and turning it into a training centre for adults.

The abandoned building was a busy place of commerce just over two years ago. Now it is a murder scene gone cold; shattered glass still marks the spot where a bullet pierced the body of Dario "Douby" Johnson, Valentino's cousin. The building has been vacant since the fatal tragedy.

On the corner of Comfort and Lewis Streets, the Movement for Change also has its eye on a 6,000 square foot parcel of land.

The organisation envisions transforming the bushy vacant lot into a commercial village, so that existing entrepreneurs and graduates of the various training programmes can establish their businesses in the heart of the community. The commercial village will provide affordable space for small business owners.

Valentino is convinced the community will see no reprieve and no true development unless it starts making change happen for itself. He said the community is apathetic about the government and other formal social institutions.

"The problems of the Hay Street community are the problems of every inner city community," said Valentino.

Despite the fervor displayed during the recent general election, he said the community feels abandoned, and has little trust or faith in the new government or any of the social institutions. The people play the game and enjoy the revelry, but they know, when elections are over, little more is in store for them, said Valentino.

Governments have come and gone, but the community remains underdeveloped. The community is not blind to this, he said.

When Valentino was a child, his father was incarcerated for murder. He served 27 years. Valentino's mother was an addict, so he lived with his grandmother.

Valentino said his grandmother tried her best, but she could only do so much. Despite her best efforts, his ambition was to be with "the bad guys", and after school he made his way to the streets to make name for himself. Today, the cycle continues with the youth.

"Many of the kids who came after me are going through the same things I went through, and they are unattended on the streets," said Valentino.

"Who can control you after that? No one. No one can reach you unless you feel compassion in your heart and you feel for people," he said.

More and more, a ruthless mentality is setting in, represented by the law that trumps all - "get them before they get you", said Valentino.

"Human life has become nothing. It is just like eating chicken," he said.

The self-destructive culture is fed by a lack of opportunity and a deep sense of boredom and underdevelopment in the community, said Valentino.

Despite the current state of affairs, Valentino said he is not hopeless. He is clear eyed and determined to bring social services, economic opportunity and a new culture of upliftment to the community.