I PageA10-The Chronicle, Thursd Experiment In Self-R( After 20 y< By ROBIN ADAMS Chronicle Assistant Editor Louise Wilson was slightly irritated by an article she read in Monday morning's newspaper. The article quoted Charles Murray, a senior research fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, as saying that the War on Poverty has hurt and not helped poor people. "I'm conna write him a nice little note and tell him to shove it," said Wilson. Wilson said she knows better than that because, for the past 19 years, she has been a general on the front lines in the War on Poverty. And although the war continues, said the executive * * director of Experiment in SelfReliance Inc., many a battle has been won. "I like a good fight," said Wilson. *Tm in the War on Poverty. We win some. We lose ? some. But we~are gonna win (in the end). Winston-Salem and Forsyth County cannot afford to lose." This week, ESR will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a weeklong open house that culminates in a banquet on Friday. Because Wilson has been with ESR for almost as long as there has been an ESR, one of the best ways to find out about the organization that Wilson said helps 15,000 to 20,000 people a year, is to ask the person she calls "The Chief HellCatcher:" her. "We (ESR) have been a catalyst and a thorn in some peo pie's sides," said Wilson. "We have made our true number of L. enemies by pointing out, in the beginning, that certain things should be done by certain agencies. If you are blazing a trail, you're not going to blaze a trail without making some mistakes making some enemies. It's not possible. Some people ? very conservative and good Christians ? feel that we don't do anything but give to the poor and lazy." Rut F.SR "cprvpc the nwrfv." Wilson said, "not the greedy." ESR's services include: a weatherization program to help senior citizens insulate their homes at no charge. a nutritional program that feeds more than 400 senior citizens a day. a senior opportunities program that places homemakers in the homes of other seniors who can't clean their own homes. a Service Hot Line that locates rni Th< NCNB's prime rate is t percentage AV. October 18, 1984 eliance ears, compasi iM ESR Executive Director Louis ought to shove it (photo by Ji temporary employment. a shelter for people who have been evicted from their homes and don't have anyplace else to go. a Learn to Earn Program that helps people get their GED diplomas and teaches them a skill and how to locate a job. a Home Improvement Program that renovates housing for senior citizens. a Positive Mental Attitude Training program that teaches ESR clients how to feel good about themselves. - Jslf-you are blazing a trail\, without making some mist It's not possible. " and a Problem Center tha A _ _ _ _ meeis emergency neeas ana pro vides counseling, budget infor mation and follow-up services. ESR has been credited witl giving birth to the Gladiator Boxing Club and the local Lega Aid Society, has served as th delegate agency for the Iocs Headstart program and the Eas Winston Crime Task Force developed the first TransAid sei vice for the city, administered work program that later becam CETA and is now the Job Pari he rate announced by NCNB from i rate was 14.0% for a balance ofSh sionate and spi g%. _ ,; Bar BU ' \e Wilson: He who says the War o imes Parker). nership Training Act, funded the first public service proposal for the police department and helped write the first grant for the Model Cities Program. Although Wilson will admit 1 that's quite a lot of work, she'll also be the first to say that all that needs to be done hasn't. "We don't have the money to really to do some of the programs we feel are necessary," said Wilson. "But we coordinate with every other agency that provides services for people." Althnuoh FQR hac a Irtno lict i you're not going to blaze a trail akes or making some enemies. ? Louise Wilson t of proud accomplishments now, it hasn't always been that way. When the center opened in 1964 under the auspices of the North h Carolina Fund, an anti-poverty s, group, it was chastised by local tl newspapers for "moving too e slowly." According to a 1968 aril tide in the Winston-Salem Jourit nal, "an evaluation suggested 5, that the Experiment's attack on poverty was uncoordinated and a that the agency had no distinct e goals and priorities." t- The article further said that the um*( > jgH - '.i EL n time to time as its prime rate AI though 0,000 or more and 15.5% for a balana . ...... - -- - inky as ever fff00 *M ^r n Poverty has hurt poor people N agency failed to understand poverty, failed to involve the poor and practiced racial discrimination. The agency only survived during that bumpy period, said the article, because of "Mrs. Wilson's work." "When I took over as director," said Wilson, "I called the newspaper and said, Tell our good side.' But first, we had to have a good side to tell." Wilson made that vow almost 18 years ago and today, as she sat at a small table in her office, .1 t_: L _ U!_' iiiuiuuiug uiruugn a Dig scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings about ESR, its programs and the people it has helped, she said she believes the good side is being told. "If 1 could, I would do what I've done for the past 19 years the rest'of my life," said Wilson. "But I will turn 65 next year and I plan to come out. But I don't plan to stop work. "I've enjoyed every day I have spent at ESR. We have made people feel that they are somebody!* "This job has given me insight into what it means to be poor, ... and (insight) to create some programs or some type of philosophy that lets people know that somebody cares." Please see page B15 Of! ^ | appli youc Bb^H ^ Line( the HHHII One the LineOne interest rate based on N( ? of less than $10,000. The current Line 0 ' " - - - ^ ' tlva* pr^Ti ^ LOOK \ AT WHAT WE HAVE TO RENT" CHAMS I TABLES CQMSTIUCIIM tQUP I vM CHMA 4 GUSSNAtf TtUCXS ITULEK ,< ROtLAWAY KOS IffUANttS =. ' irnurimr. rrawtffNT aMMtiMft Jfe warns muo ttSUAUQUr TQCVBOB J . HOSPITAL I CONVALESCENT NffDS RMTUK ran ? MANY OTHER ITEMS ? tSSSfis g ssss IE 924-5236 SB 3400 TAOAINVUlI HWV AT VAUIY *0 ^ (OiO TOWN) WINSTON SAUM NC (mWTN fl\ 4^ 8) 5 ?T at "V L ROU A WAT TRUCKSk TAAKtRS Jjg * WIOOMG Sk 7xt5-6560 996-4551 43 ^ ISI1 S STRATFORD RD / A 304 N MAIN ST vS WINSTON SALIM N C V A\ KIRNfRSVAlf N C COMSTRUCTM ?<*? RtOUCMC MACMMS 27thAnnual Ebony Fashion Fair ? PresentslF^/^ ^Ofi/o^U Presented by . Winston-Salem Urban Lea0ue ^ llK>