Joseph D. Bryant
Housing Authority of the Birmingham District
There is no large park with green space at Morton Simpson Village in the Kingston Community. But that didn’t stop residents from replicating one.
Following the shooting death of a young girl just a few blocks away earlier this month and regular news of violence nearby, residents last weekend created a day of unity and solace for their children.
Children rocked inside two bounce houses anchored in front of apartments as music blared from a DJ booth set up on a porch just across the street.
“This is all about bringing the community together for the sake of our children to say ‘stop the violence against our kids,” said Eldridge Knighton, president of the Morton Simpson Village Resident Council. “We are coming together as fathers to protect our children and be here for our children and be a community.”
Four-year-old Taleayah Stafford died July 12 after being shot in a confrontation that began near Morton Simpson. While the incident didn’t begin at Morton Simpson, its impact was felt just as strongly there.
Saturday’s event was a grass roots effort by residents to bring positive activity to their neighborhood and give their children a moment of stress-free summer fun.
Men took turns holding a stop sign to escort children darting back and forth from the food booth to the play area. The beat from the speakers was contagious as the crowd moved to the rhythm.
“This is what a community is all about,” Knighton said. “We’ve got grown folks out here, we’ve got kids, just everybody having a good time.
Organizers also held a raffle to give away school supplies. All festivities were organized by the Morton Simpson Village Resident Council — neighbors for neighbors.
Neighborhood vice-president Qua’Asia Richardson used a megaphone over the music as she called out the winning numbers.
“Right now Morton Simpson is known as a violent community, but we’re not,” Knighton said. “You have residents who live in the housing authority who are decent-living residents who just like to relax and enjoy their children and be part of a community.”
Cheryl Minnefield, Morton Simpson Village secretary, kept her post at the school supply booth, passing out notebooks, pencils and other items as numbers were drawn.
“We are here to let everybody know that you can get together without violence,” she said. “We need to come together as one, and show love like we are doing out here today.”
