“The saying how children are raised by a village--my village was on Bowen Homes Wilkes Circle. I always knew that I was protected and that the other adults would look out for my welfare along with my brothers and sisters. So my fondest memory is Bowen Homes was Home.” 

This video clip features an oral history with Fred A. (Tony) Parker conducted by Atlanta Housing and produced by Keven Williams in 2017 about Mr. Parker's childhood at Bowen Homes. Mr. Parker resided at Bowen Homes in the 1960s with his parents and siblings. In 1977, at the age of seventeen, he joined the U.S. Army. Mr. Parker received a bachelor's degree in public communication from San Francisco State University in 1987. After retiring from his service in the Army as a Sergeant Major, Mr. Parker began a career at Atlanta Housing, serving many roles in the agency until becoming Director of Records and Information Management. Mr. Parker retired in 2018 from Atlanta Housing to serve in a mission to the people of Jamaica in June of that year for three years with his wife, Lina O. Malolo. 

Transcript of Fred Parker’s Oral History

Transcription for Fred A. (Tony) Parker Oral History, 2017.  Produced by Keven Williams. PARK2017.00001. Atlanta Housing Archives.

Length: 6:43

My name is Fred Parker and I’m the Director of Records and Information Management here at the Atlanta Housing Authority and I am also a former resident of Bowen Homes.

In regards to the time in which I lived in Bowen Homes, I was born in the early 1960s, born and raised here at Atlanta, and I lived in the Bowen Homes development until my mid-teens from 1960 until early 70s. My family along with my siblings, that was our primary residence; we attended school there. A.D. Williams Elementary School. We then in the early 70s had the opportunity of going to Frederick Douglas High School, which was also a part of the education system there of most of the students and children that were raised in the Bowen Homes area.

In regards to my siblings and other family members that resided with me, there in Bowen Homes was my mother and my father. I have four brothers and three sisters. We all were raised there and considered Bowen Homes to be a place of safety, a place of enjoyment, a place that allowed and helped us to establish our morals and values in regards to life itself. My fondest memory of living in Bowen Homes was how everyone really respected and regarded their neighbor. We had the opportunity of going to school, but not only going to school, but growing up with others in whom you saw on a regular basis. We each took care of one another. When my parents were not at home, the saying how children are raised by a village--my village was on Bowen Homes Wilkes Circle. I always knew that I was protected and that the other adults would look out for my welfare along with my brothers and sisters. So, my fondest memory is Bowen Homes was Home. It was not a place of public housing. It was not a place that was high ventured in crime, but it was home.

Well having the opportunity of working here at Atlanta Housing Authority and as the mixed income model was being rolled out, I knew at some point in time the dynamics and make-up of Bowen Homes would have to change, and so after learning that Bowen Homes would be demolished, I looked at it as a new opportunity for those who had lived there for several, several years, as a new opportunity now to venture out on a new journey, so I welcomed it with open arms.

So, I retired from the United States Army in February of 2000 where I started my career here at the Atlanta Housing Authority as a Strategic Planning Analyst. I worked in that particular position for two years before then moving to the Finance Department, where I received the title as a Budget Analyst. I served in that corridor for about a year before then receiving the assignment as the Manager of training for the Information and Technology Department. I did that for about five years, and I then had the opportunity of moving over to the Records and Information Management Department as the Operations Technician, and I’ve now been the Director here of [Records and Information Management] now for two years.

I’ve seen many changes take place over my 16 years here at AHA starting with leadership, collaboration, teamwork as well as just the change in regards to the communities throughout Atlanta. Based off the leadership and collaboration of many, I’ve been able to actually witness our customers, participants, as well as landlords, come through the front door and receive various levels of customer service to aid them in their quest whether it be for a place to live of whether it be to provide a place for someone to live. I’ve also seen the AHA team overall strengthen esprit de corps, if you would, in regards to team work, working more closely together, eliminating silos, all working toward a common goal of ensuring that we keep our eye on our main responsibility of taking care of our participants and providing for their needs.

The opportunities that public housing created for myself, and I now see it creating for others, it gives you the opportunity to establish a solid base in regards to home and family, to establish solid morals, to be able to gain the necessary education that’s needed in order for you to advance through the various stages of life. It also gives you an opportunity of serving, working, and caring for others. Having the opportunity of growing up in public housing, now even makes me appreciate more my childhood, recognizing the opportunity in which I’ve had to be able to advance throughout the various stages of life where I now can help others. The only other thing I would like to share is I am a direct product of public housing and the assistance that public housing offers in order to establish and continue to build upon the common creed of family, good neighbor, as well as success and prosperity.

--End of transcript--

Transcription by Ijumo Hayward and Meredith Mitchem