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Unity Tree Grows At Fall Festival

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By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 1, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - A free Family Fall Festival is branching out with a "unity tree."

Attendees at the Oct. 25 event, sponsored by the University Area Faith-Based Coalition, will be greeted by representatives of the Baha'i Faith of Tampa. The guests will be encouraged to sign a leaf or flower made of paper that will be affixed to an image of a tree on a door-size panel.

Trudy Kensinger and Diane Black of the Tampa Baha'i Center proposed the idea at the Sept. 25 meeting of the coalition.

"The fruits of the tree are tolerance, respect and the good works. By working together, we can do good stuff," Kensinger said in presenting the idea.

Black said they wanted the tree to be "interactive," with representatives of various ethnic and racial groups greeting the visitors. The participants would show that "They see themselves are part of the global community," she said.

The festival, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at University Area Community Park on North 22nd Street, will feature entertainment, food, children's activities, a pumpkin patch and exhibitors ranging from social service providers to private businesses.

The 3-year-old coalition is part of an anticrime initiative of the University Area Community Development Corp. It seeks to bring together representatives from various churches and ministries, social service agencies, businesses and residents in the racially and ethnically diverse community west of the University of South Florida.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Barbara Reichard, chairwoman of the festival, said the event has signed up nearly 45 exhibitors.

"Our job is to market it now," she said. "We've gone to a lot of trouble to make it a big, nice event."

Some donations of food and beverages have been secured, but additional donations are needed, she said, adding that she also is trying to recruit volunteers from local high schools.

The coalition plans to put the completed unity tree on display in the University Area Community Center after the festival.

GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in joining the University Area Faith-Based Coalition, volunteering at the festival or donating supplies, call Dale Felix at (813) 558-5212.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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