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Green Book of Tampa Bay highlights area’s black vendors and businesses

THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER — Describing itself as a “mobile travel guide,” Green Book of Tampa Bay is an online resource that offers its readers information on African American cultural sites, black artists and black-owned businesses in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The site was created by Joshua Bean and Hillary Van Dyke, two educators who met at Azalea Middle School, where Van Dyke was an eighth-grade teacher and Bean was a school social worker.

Published

5 years ago

September 1, 2019

Oakland Post

Green Book of Tampa Bay creators Joshua Bean and Hillary Van Dyke offers an online resource that gives readers information on African American cultural sites, black artists and black-owned businesses in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.

By J.A. Jones

ST. PETERSBURG — Describing itself as a “mobile travel guide,” Green Book of Tampa Bay is an online resource that offers its readers information on African American cultural sites, black artists and black-owned businesses in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The site was created by Joshua Bean and Hillary Van Dyke, two educators who met at Azalea Middle School, where Van Dyke was an eighth-grade teacher and Bean was a school social worker.

The phrase “Green Book” is, of course, a nod to the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” the guidebook listing safe places for African Americans to visit, stay overnight in or buy services from while traveling across the country during the reign of Jim Crow laws (about which the award-winning 2018 movie was made).

Instead, Bean and Van Dyke’s guide offers information to help educate readers about and encourage visitors to spend their dollars with African-American retailers and professionals — to build black economic stability in the region.

Their long-range hope? That their project will be part of a changing tide, resulting in more opportunities for the region’s most valuable asset: our youth.

“The thing that started spurring our conversation about economic vitality was the epidemic of car thefts in our community,” explained Van Dyke, referring to a rash of thefts that resulted in the deaths or imprisonment of several of their students.

The fact that students they knew were dying or being jailed alongside adults for car thefts or theft-related incidents was just too painful for the young educators to accept.

Bean — who also worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice and in foster care before deciding he wanted to work in the school system — gave Killer Mike’s series Trigger Warning’s first episode, “Living Black” credit for “catapulting” the idea into reality.

In the episode, after vowing to only frequent black businesses quickly becomes an “impossible dream,” Killer Mike proves to himself and the audience how difficult it is to find a self-sufficient black community that can provide all of its own needs.

“After that first episode I was looking around, and there was no easy database or directory [for black businesses],” commented Bean, who today works as a social worker in the Pinellas County Schools’ Prevention Office and Student Services Department.

Feeling there needed to be a more consistent and updated resource for those who lived in the city, were visiting or had just relocated, Bean brought the idea of launching the site to Van Dyke.

The two also hoped that by highlighting black businesses and holding “Buy Black Fridays” on Facebook – which encourages people to patronize black businesses and post photos of their visits — they would raise awareness about the power of circulating dollars among black businesses.

Today, Van Dyke is the senior professional development coordinator for equity in the Pinellas County School System, and a self-declared “warrior for racial and educational equity.” She feels more needs to be done to reverse the systemic failure that has left a shortage of jobs for young people and a general lack of employment opportunities for the south St. Petersburg community.

“If you look at downtown, there’s no shortage of restaurants and stores for people to work at, but the second you cross Central Avenue, the more south you go, it’s harder to find [businesses],” stated Van Dyke. “And just the concept of having a job and making your own money – there’s just study after study that proves that when you have that, you’re not out committing crimes with the same frequency,” she added.

She points to Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner’s project Hire Houston Youth as one model of addressing the issue.

Turner has called upon corporations, government agencies and community organizations to participate in the program to “increase access to quality ‘earning and learning’ opportunities for Houston’s youth.”

According to the website, in 2018 more than 10,000 youth ages 16-24 applied for over 7,500 opportunities, earning at least $8 an hour for the summer program, with more than 3,000 youth completing job readiness programs.

While leaders and communities still have a lot of work to do to supply the region’s youths with the necessary skills, jobs and economic and educational equity – opportunity and equity that UNITE Pinellas’ recent report proves is sorely lacking — projects such as Green Book of Tampa Bay offer new ways to combat old issues.

Currently, Green Book of Tampa Bay highlights businesses, vendors, entertainment and events in 15 categories, from real estate and insurance to mental health and wellness to DJs and event planners.

The guide also shares photos of Bean and Van Dyke’s visits to the various vendors on its Instagram and Facebook pages (@greenbooktb) and includes listings from black businesses on both sides of the bay.

Visit Green Book of Tampa Bay at https://greenbooktampabay.home.blog/. For more information or to be included on their site, reach them at Greenbookoftampabay@gmail.com.

To reach J.A. Jones, email jjones@theweeklychallenger.com.

This article originally appeared in The Weekly Challenger.

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

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Supernova Parenting Conference Empowers Over 100 Parents with Resources for Neurodivergence and Mental Health

The inaugural Supernova Parenting Conference was co-hosted by Natasha Nelson, known as Supernova Momma, and Yolanda Walker, founder of Parenting Decolonized. It brought together over 100 parents, caregivers, and educators dedicated to fostering understanding and support for neurodivergent children and mental health challenges. The conference provided invaluable resources, expert insights, and a collaborative space for […]

Published

1 week ago

November 7, 2024

BlackPressUSA.com

The event featured a variety of workshops, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from leading experts in neurodiversity and mental health. Attendees left with practical tools and strategies to enhance their parenting journeys, emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting the unique needs of neurodivergent children.

“While the conference was a tremendous success, we believe that our work doesn’t end here,” said Natasha Nelson. “It’s crucial to continue providing ongoing support and resources for parents as they navigate this important journey. We want to ensure families can access the tools they need long after the conference.”

To extend the momentum generated at the conference, Natasha and Yolanda are excited to announce the launch of the Supernova Parenting Community. This membership-based initiative aims to offer a safe and supportive environment for parents and caregivers to continue their growth as conscious parents.

Membership is available for as little as $5 a month via Patreon, making it accessible for all families seeking support.

“We know that parenting can be a challenging journey, especially when navigating neurodivergence and mental health issues,” Yolanda Walker added. “Our goal is to build a community where parents feel seen, heard, and supported. We hope you’ll join us in this vital work.”

For more information about the Supernova Parenting Community and to sign up for membership, please visit supernovaparenting.org