(■' Y
TME
THE
TRUTH WILL
SET YOU FREE
■» a r^ewspapei*, 7^ CZ^om m u n i ttj Institufic
In Our 25th Year Issue No. 1952 February 2007 www.theacphoenix.com Associate Consultants Serving the Triad FREE
MASONS TO HOST BLACK HISTORY MALE SUMMIT
(WINSTON-SALEM) - Looking to address a trou
bling trend of high rates of unemployment, incarcera
tion and school dropout in Forsyth County among
African-American men, several local organizations
have come together to hold the first Masonic African-
American Male Summit during Black History Month.
The summit will be held Saturday, February 24th,
at the Masonic Temple, 1025 East Fourteenth St., at 11
a.m. and is being sponsored by the Winston-Salem
Masonic Corporation and the Winston-Salem
Foundation, in conjuction with the Winston-Salem
branch of the NAACP, Winston-Salem State University,
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools, the Winston
Lake Famiiy YMCA and Boy Scout Troop No. 916.
“African-American young men have the highest
unemployment, incarceration and dropout rates in
Forsyth County,” said Stephen Hairston, a summit pan
elist and president of the Winston-Salem branch of the
NAACP. “The summit will provide a forum to address
soiutions to probiems surrounding African-American
young men in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.”
Paul Miller, District Deputy of the Winston-Salem-
area Masons, said, “We are very pleased to be
partnering with several local organizations in Winston-
Salem that, like us, have a vested interest in the
direction that young black men are headed. This
summit will bring together local youth to discuss what
community programs may be needed, and community leaders
Continued on Page 10
Eddie Thomas, WSSU and
Chris Paige, Parkland
TRILIANT CREDIT UNION’S
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
Marjorie Rorie, Director of Community
Services for Truliant Federal Credit
Union talking to students enroiled in a
financial education class in High Point.
One year has passed since Marjorie Rorie began
her employment at Truliant Federal Credit Union in a
newly created position as the Director of Community
Services. In just that short time, she has seen
positive growth in the progressive Credit Union.
“Truliant has opened several new Member Financial
Centers (MFC) and has developed new products to
better serve our member-owners,” she said. One
change that reaily excites Rorie, because of its histor-
icai significance, is the relocation of the Victory
Member Financial Center in Winston-Salem from the
Kings Piaza Shopping Center on Waughtown Street
to the Goler community at 893 Liberty Street. Truliant
merged with Victory Mutual Masonic Credit Union, a
predominately African-American credit union in 2003.
“The Marketing Department and i have been work
ing hard to preserve this legacy and promote outreach
activities to the diverse segments of our community
that currently use this MFC by conducting financial lit
eracy classes, implementing advertisements and
sponsorships with several churches and nonprofits in
the area,” she said. Rorie’s background in nonprofit
community service, business development and per
sonal financial management gives her the ability and expe-
Continued on Page 8
Curtis Neal
By John Raye
Nobody tells Curtis Neal when to
go to work or when to go home. He
punches his own clock, keeps track
of his own hours and work when he
wants to work. Which is nearly every
day. A Greensboro-based entrepre
neur, Neal loves his work so much,
CURTIS NEAL
TAKES THE
HIGH ROAD TO
SUCCESS
and has so much fun doing it, that
he often find it hard to stop.
Curtis Neal is one of fhose rare
individuals who acfually get excited
about going to work. He works in a
profession populated only by the
best and the brightest. Curtis Neal is
a professional salesperson, and
reports only to himself.
His company, LA Fashions, is a
mobile business, a unique line of
ladies clothing, shoes and acces
sories, that he brings directly to all
of his many customers.
“My store is aiways at your door.
You never have to leave home or be
bothered with traffic, unfriendly peo
ple or crowded stores. I’m one of a
Continued on Page 18
OFFICE PROMOTES
CONTRACT
OPPORTUNITIES TOR
HUR VENDORS
The Office
jfor Historically
jUnderutiiized
iBusinesses
l(HUB) located
jin the North
Ic a r 0 Iin a
Department of
JAdministration,
Bridget Wall, Director jg gp organiza
tion that advocates to increase
opportunities for historically under
utilized businesses; and promotes
diversity and inclusion in state
government procurement and
contracting.
Historically Underutilized
Continued on Page 7
INSIDE...
Liberty CDC Area
Selected as Neighborhood
of Choice 3
Dr. Maya Angeiou
Distinguished Author and
Poet, Kicks Off Beyond
Schooi Hours'® Afterschool
Conference 8
Health Station:
The 411 9
Ban the M-Word 28
Key to Future
of Information
Technology ........ 30
NAACP Defense and
Educational Fund .... 31
WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY