The Experience Overtown Show

Up close and personal with SEOPW CRA Executive Director Cornelius Shiver. Learn about the mission and vision for transforming Southeast Overtown and Park West neighborhoods

The Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency continues to invest in economic development and small businesses. From COVID-19 emergency grant funding to CRA Construction grants, small businesses remain at the heart of the SEOPW CRA's community empowerment initiatives. On this episode host, City of Miami Commissioner Jeffrey Watson, spotlights the expansion of the SEOPW CRA's latest small business construction grants awarded to two businesses in the redevelopment area. The former owners of Copper Door Bed & Breakfast, Jamila West and Akino West, will embark on an exciting new business venture for their new café and bar concept called Negra Y Fuerte. The café and bar will be located on the ground floor of the Soleste Grand Central located at 218 NW 8th Street in the Overtown redevelopment area. Additionally, Overtown staple Lil Greenhouse Grill restaurant, which recently received national recognition by Oprah Winfrey and several local awards, will expand to the ground floor of Lyric Point, a freestanding retail and office space located at 101 NW 8th Street in the redevelopment area.  Lil Greenhouse Grill, currently located at 1300 NW 3rd Avenue, is a soul-food restaurant owned and operated by Overtown resident Chef Karim Bryant who has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, and Nicole Gates. Chef Bryant previously operated a mobile restaurant located in Overtown, and he also managed the Theodore Gibson Park Concession Grill. Lil Greenhouse restaurant Co-owner Nicole Gates shares insight on what the community can expect to see with the new expansion.

The Southeast Overtown/Park West  Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA) is excited to welcome Miami Spice to historic Overtown and continue the SEOPW CRA's economic development marketing efforts to position Overtown as a South Florida culture and entertainment destination.  This year Miami Spice celebrates 20 years.  It is a two-month-long restaurant promotion (August 1, 2021-September 30, 2021), organized by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's (GMCVB), in which participating restaurants offer three-course menus at reduced prices. Red Rooster Overtown is a Miami Spice participant for the first time since opening in the Overtown Culture and Entertainment District in December 2020. The restaurant opened in the redevelopment area as the first initiative of the SEOPW CRA's culture and entertainment district.  Their participation is the very first for the Overtown community by any restaurant.  Tristen Epps, Executive Chef at Rooster Overtown chats with host Miami City Commissioner Jeffrey Watson about what Rooster represents for the area, his background as a chef, and what folks can continue to expect from Rooster and the evolution of their menu. In part two of this episode, host Watson interviews Connie Kinnard, VP of  Multicultural Tourism & Development at the GMCVB. Its mission is to promote the diversity of Miami's multicultural communities, attractions, and events. Many of the programs facilitated by this department are directly related and created to support business partnerships, cultural organizations, and tourist attractions in Black communities and neighborhoods like historic Overtown.

Miami District 5 Commissioner Jeffrey Watson hosted “Origins: The Soul, Light, and Spirit of Miami,” a three-day celebration of the 125th anniversary of the city's incorporation showcasing historic Overtown and its cultural institutions. Commissioner Watson partnered with the Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency and local organizations to present a weekend of community events paying homage to the neighborhood's rich history and Miami's Black pioneering community. On Thursday, July 29, 2021, Commissioner Watson kicked off the celebration with a community youth talk featuring Historian Marvin Dunn and youth from throughout District 5 to discuss what Miami means to them and the history of Miami.  The event was hosted in the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency redevelopment area at the historic Overtown Performing Arts Center. Youth groups represented included Touching Miami with Love, City of Miami Police Department PAL, Overtown Optimist, Little Haiti Soccer Club, Meyga, and the Overtown Youth Center. A special thank you to moderator Trina Harris from Touching Miami with Love for moderating the event. Listen to youth discuss what Miami means to them in light of the City's birthday celebration. Our youth are truly the future of this great city!

On this episode of The Experience Overtown Show, Host City of Miami Commissioner Jeffrey Watson talks about technology and media career opportunities with Florida Film House CEO Marco Mall and upcoming Summer enrollment for the  1st Take Youth Film Program. Listeners explore Overtown through a new historic Overtown Legacy Trek and Tour with guest Nicole Crooks, Overtown Community Engagement Coordinator with Catalyst Miami, and Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant, Executive Director of the City of Miami Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum Inc.

Host City of Miami Commissioner Jeffrey Watson talks about affordable housing, Overtown Juneteenth events, and speaks with Jackie Bell, CEO of New Washington Heights CDC, and Leroy Jones, CEO of Neighbors and Neighbors Association to discuss small business development in Overtown during the nation's covid-19 pandemic early recovery phase.  Jackie Bell is the CEO of New Washington Heights CDC. The organization which works in tandem with SEOPW CRA, she's worked to bring black-owned businesses back to Overtown for more than 45 years and continues to be a pioneer for economic change in the community through Folk Life Friday. At 83 years old, Ms. Bell is considered to be a beacon in the Overtown community. Folk Life Friday returns June 18th + 19th at the Overtown Pedestrian Mall located at 819 NW 2nd Avenue.  Leroy Jones is the CEO of Neighbors and Neighbors Association. The organization runs the Overtown Business Resource Center located at 1490 NW 3rd Avenue, Suite 106 in Overtown and recently teamed up with the SEOPW CRA to manage the SEOPW CRA's COVID-19 Emergency Small Business Grant. The grant will award up to $10k in grant assistance to small businesses located within the redevelopment area. Jeffrey Watson (Host) Twitter | Instagram | Website Twitter: @JWatsonMiami Instagram: @jwatsonmiami   Social Media: Twitter:  @cityofmiamicra Facebook: miamicra Instagram: @miamicra

City of Miami Commissioner Jeffrey Watson is joined by Photojournalist  Rashaan “DJ Fly Guy” Alexander to discuss his current photo exhibit in partnership with Hampton Art Lovers at the Historic Ward Rooming House titled “To Miami, with Love.” City of Miami Commissioner Jeffrey Watson is also joined by Executive Director Timothy Barber of the Black Archives to discuss the new Overtown youth jobs initiative sponsored by the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency and Commissioner Jeffrey Watson. Timothy Barber also shares insight on the significance of the Black Archives in preserving and collecting the history of Black Miami.  Business Spotlight:  Overtown Business Resource Center  Historic Ward Rooming House: 249 NW 9th St, Miami, FL 33136 To see the full list of upcoming art exhibits and programming visit www.Hamptonartlovers.com To learn more about The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, please visit https://www.bahlt.org/