Overtown to honor families

By LESLIE CASIMIR
Herald Staff Writer

``We have to salute families right now,'' said Miranda Albury, administrator of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team Service Center in Overtown. ``Because they are the ones in the trenches, providing stabilization for their children and we really appreciate their efforts.''

And a little bit of encouragement doesn't hurt, Albury said. Overtown's public school principals, who are in charge of finding the families, agreed.

On Monday, they met with Albury to discuss the parade that will be held along Northwest Third Avenue between Ninth and 17th streets. Each school will name five families.

Participating schools are Frederick Douglass, Dunbar, Phillis Wheatley elementary schools and Booker T. Washington Middle School.

The march, scheduled for 6 p.m. May 31, could serve as encouragement to the families and perhaps help others realize the importance of a stable family environment, organizers said.

``We have the hardest time finding a traditional family in Overtown that is still together,'' said Thirlee Smith, assistant principal at Douglass Elementary, 314 NW 12th St. There, the majority of the students come from single-parent households, he said.

``But the ones who do stay together show that the family unit has a tremendous effect in a child's academic and social life.''