Xaivier's Story: A Passion for South Rome
By Vicki (Slauson) Vincent - FF/S
As director of alumni relations, I have the opportunity to connect with alumni all over what I affectionately call "DarWorld." Recently, I had the chance to sit down with an extraordinary young alumna, Xaivier Ringer ('04), who is back in Rome working on a special project. I asked if she would mind sharing her story with the rest of the Darlington Community. Below is her blog:
I returned to Rome, Ga., in January of 2011 fresh from a two-and-a-half-year stay in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and just after attending a conference for young leaders from continental Africa and of the African Diaspora, YOWLI Conference 2010. My return home from my international travels and experiences was quite a transition. I moved from a bustling 2.5 million-inhabitant, Spanish-speaking metropolis where I worked as the manager for innovative initiatives with ALEPH, an human development consulting firm, to Rome's quaint seven hills and three rivers.
Eventually, I began moving about and integrating myself within town, visiting old friends, familiar landmarks, etc. I decided to make an adventure out of my return and explore Rome through new eyes, be a tourist in my own city. So I got a bike from Mr. George Pullen's bike shop and actually found the city to be enjoyable and scenic.
One part of town I visited was South Rome. I lived on Branham Avenue while I was a junior and senior at Darlington and even celebrated my successful graduation there in 2004. I have always loved South Rome's beauty, despite the negative comments I hear, and found it to be unique with various enclaves of communities.
My visits to South Rome were nostalgic, yet they left me with questions. I graduated from Georgetown University with a vision to pursue four passions: art, human development, politics and business, and not in that exact order. I have a background in strategic thinking for development and with all the news of the redevelopment and new buildings such as the Floyd County Health Department and the Boys & Girls Club, my gut and experiences told me something was missing, a certain voice, perspective, vision and specifically a medium to document the changes being made.
When riding down Branham and within the predominantly African-American community known to many as Hillsboro, I did not see the changes I hoped to see. So plain and simple as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I got the gumption to “do something.” I understood the power of my knowledge and know how gained while working in human development consulting in the Dominican Republic, thinking about sustainable development within the English-speaking Caribbean, examining problem-solving issues in D.C. public schools, and through a leadership conference in Dakar Senegal.
In early March, I talked with a close friend, Clarice Estes, about my idea and she told me of a young filmmaker named Deno Brown. The following Sunday we called him, he met with us and the next day we were out shooting the demolition of Anna K. Davie School. I just jumped into the need to capture the redevelopment of South Rome, its history, the residents and their stories, and all of South Rome's 2.5 square miles, Virginia Circle, Hillsboro, South Broad, Mount Aventine, Coosa Country Club, Blacks Bluff Road, Darlington, etc.
Since March 2011, I have solidified my initial notions of why it is so important to capture the redevelopment of South Rome. Initially, I wanted to understand what are the desired outcomes of the redevelopment. My questions concerned who is involved, who is responsible for the location of Anna K. Davie, who will then ensure the new school produces students of excellence; who influences the decision-making; what actors are involved in the economic well-being of the community as a whole; is there a risk of gentrification; how will those involved ensure that South Rome is community-owned, community-tailored and community-led; what policies are in place to create home-ownership; what institutions, communities and events are responsible for the current status of South Rome; how is the community being engaged; what will be the visual and social outcomes of such a great endeavor?
The documentary attempts to find answers to these questions. Thus far, we have filmed over 18 interviews. Our interviewees include Rome City commissioners, community leaders, Rome residents, ministers, former South Rome residents and many people who simply have a story to share. I have learned about Rome's history as a whole, pre- and post-segregation in South Rome, what the landscape was like, etc. Most people are very welcoming to the idea because it helps create a history of an important community and even a legacy. I am passionate about making the film because so much emotion is revealed and is established with everyone I meet. We are not only talking with stakeholders about physical buildings and infrastructure; we are thinking about people, people who work 12 hour days, people who are doctors, people who are struggling, people who are immigrants, people who love South Rome, people who are family.
I must note that I hope my work brings value to community development and the processes that are taking place. Many efforts completed by various actors involved, including the Rome City government, the South Rome Redevelopment Agency and South Rome Redevelopment Corporation, the South Rome Community Alliance and Darlington School, will have an impact.
When thinking about communities and their well-being, even their sustainability, we must ask questions and feel responsible for our communities because they are ours. This documentary is important because it is allowing Romans to tell their stories, give an opinion, articulate their position. My goal is to correctly give light to the diverse opinions and perspectives and provide a social documentary forum to argue for possible outcomes and conclusions.
As the director and producer of the South Rome Documentary, I feel it is my responsibility to act as a journalist and not just cover one side of the story. I do have my own perspectives and biases, which I know will work to the benefit of the film and make it a medium for community engagement and possibly social change. Undertaking such an endeavor to capture the structural redevelopment, social development, education needs and economic well-being of a community is no small feat. The collaborations I have solidified with local filmmakers Deno Brown and Brian Armstrong of GHTV, and with the great support of Jim Alred at Rome News-Tribune, ensure that the project continues. My co-producer, Clarice Estes, makes the effort doable by serving as constant support.
As I look forward to the coming months, my team and I are finishing interviews with diverse community members. We plan to have a fundraiser at the end of the year or beginning of the next and hope to edit the film and then premiere it in March 2012. It is important for all members of the Rome community, past and present, who have an opinion, who have a stake or who will be impacted by the redevelopment of South Rome to participate. This is an opportunity to be heard. Our community is deserving, we are deserving of the best school systems, of a viable and sustainable community that allows various cultures from varying economic backgrounds to live in harmony. More importantly, I feel this film is an opportunity to highlight the value of our great communities and take advantage of the great history that is being presented before us.
If anyone in the Darlington Community or beyond would like to participate, please contact Xaivier Ringer via email at southromedocumentary@gmail.com. I will feature Karen Dublin, community leader and former president of the South Rome Community Alliance, on my radio show “Lifting As We Climb” presented by Mary and Allen Shropshire's Food for Thought on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. on 1360AM. We will be discussing South Rome's development, history and the vision going forward.
