Public art project celebrates Bradenton's millennials

Twenty-three Bradenton millennials will be looking at you from downtown windows for the next few months.

On Monday at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, officials from Realize Bradenton unveiled the first part of a new public art project called "See Me, Hear Me." It features photographic portraits of 23 local men and women between the ages of 18 and 35. They're police officers, artists, poets, lawyers, engineers, entrepreneurs, students, reporters, restaurateurs.

They're "millennials," a vague term that, as one noted Monday, has both positive and negative connotations.

Part of the impetus for "See Me, Hear Me" is to define what it means to be a part of that generation.

"It will personalize that 'Millennial' label," said Jeremy Piper, the communications manager for Realize Bradenton."

For the moment, the photographs are only on view at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce building, on the corner of 10th Street West and Third Avenue West. In the coming days, more will be added at the Manatee County Administration Center (1112 Manatee Ave. W.), Fawley Bryant Architects (10001 Manatee Ave. W.) and the Bradenton Herald. (1111 Third Ave. W.).

The portraits are the "See Me' part of the project. The "Hear Me" part is online, at realizebradenton.com/seemehearme.

Realize Bradenton officials asked the 23 millennials a series of questions -- including "Where do you see yourself in five years?" and "What would be your perfect day in Bradenton?" and posted their answers on the site.

One reason Realize Bradenton chose to highlight millennials is that they represent the future of the city.

"I like to say that a millennial is somebody who's going to empower and change your community," said 31-year Amy Phillips, who works in marketing and who is one of the 23 millennials whose portraits are part of the project.

Cedric Hameed, a poet and teacher at the Visible Man Academy, said that he sees Bradenton embracing millennials, providing them with opportunities to pursue their passions and using their vision and their energy to build a better community. And that, he said, says a lot for people of all ages in in Bradenton.

"How young people thrive in this community says a lot about the older people who live here," he said.

Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Public art project celebrates Bradenton's millennials ."