Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 29, 1994, edition 1 / Page 12
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OPINION/LETTERS Winston-Salem Chronicle Ernest H. Pitt, Publisher/Co-founder / NdCBTSI EgEMONYE, Co-Founder Elaine Pitt, Director of Community Relations Michael A. Pitt, Advertising Manager MEL WHITE, Business Manager Foundation Grant The Winston-Salem Foundation continues to impact positively on the African-American community. Recently, it granted the Shilohian and St. Peter's Corporation 525,000 to help equip 1 1 ,000 square feet of renovated space that wUl be used to offer child care to an additional 1 18 children. Enough can not be said for granting African-American organizations monies to help them deal with real hard issues plaguing the African-American community. It is important for African-American organizations to get a significant sum of grants because ideally they are on the front lines so to speak. One of our big concerns, however, is that these organi zations practice fiscal responsibility. In short, they must use those grants for and in the manner in which they are granted. We know for sure that the Shilohian and St. Peter s Corporation will do that. I "The grant could not have come at a better time," said James D. Williams, chief administrative officer of the cen ter." Now that the renovation is all but complete, the next step is to outfit according to state standards and even better; , if possible." Before the expansion can be utilized, the center must - first install outdoor and indoor equipment, landscape the area and stock the classrooms with adequate instructional supplies. 1 'iThe entire effort of transforming the space into a usable wing of the center has been a challenge," said Williams, "but when we set goals here we work to achieve them. The generosity of the 'Winston-Salem Foundation is certainly appreciated. I can assure its board and staff on behalf of the center and board that every penny will be used well and wisely." That is the kind of commitment we believe should be displayed by organizations receiving public dollars and grant dollars on behalf of the community. Our hats are off to the Winston-Salem Foundation and the Shilohian and St. , Peter's Corporation for their efforts on behalf of the African American community. ' ' ? I * %, s March of Marches ? A ? V One million African-American men marching on Wash ington! An intriguing and timely idear While there are many challenges to successful achievement of such a massive" undertaking, the opportunities for a positive collective and individual impact are far greater. We tend to think of mass demonstrations in this country as primarily sending a strong message to others. Often over looked is the longer term effect on the participants of such demonstrations. The many months of required planning brings minds together; the bus rides bring hearts together; the congregat ing for a common cause blends souls and the spirit of the experience continues to grow... strengthening other common bonds for years and decades after the event. The entire universe knows the terrible plight of the black ? ? * V, male in America today. Yet, there are not enough who are willing to admit that much of our racial pain is self-inflicted as we adopted the labels placed on us by others. f The planned march on Washington has the potential for self-healing also. Who in this area will stand up and be counted? Turner Nursing Home Has a Modern-day Scrooge To the Editor: Someone at Turner Nursing Home is a modem-day Scrooge say members of the 1967 Class of Anderson High School. Birdie Jackson's suggestion that the residents of Turner Nurs ing Home, located on Nfew Walkertown Road, be the recipi ents of non-perishable items as a holiday gesture of goodwill and giving back to the black commu nity was agreed to by class mem bers. Fruit was given to the resi dents of Sunrise Terrace located on Martin Luther King Blvd. When Jackson telephoned Turner Nursing Home to inform them of the gift, she was rebuffed in an "abrupt, rude and uncharitable manner." The per son answering the telephone continued to be discourteous by hanging up on her. Why in the world would that person deny residents of Turner Nursing Home this gesture of goodwill and holiday cheer? The Anderson '67 Class did find an institution that was most appreciative of the gifts they wanted to share. Itepis such as a comb, brush and mirror set, paper goods, shampoos, lotions, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc. were . given. So even though the door to Turner Nursing Home was slammed shut, another door swung open on welcome hinges ? The Christian Care Center of Winston-Salem, located on Reynolds Park Rd. Jackie Richardson suggested CCC and director Cindy Boone enthusias tically received the donation on behalf of the residents. Linda Cole Honor Lash To the Editor: 1 am writing to talk about one of the finest man I have had the pleasure of knowing since I have been involved in education and athletics. That man in David Lash. He has been an inspiration to many students during his teaching career and also since his retirement. I have had the pleasure of The Real Spirit of Christmas . '? "" " - During the Christmas season members of Olympic Lodge # 795 presented fruit baskets to the resident of : East Gate community. Pictured (I to r) Franklin Johnson , Hazel McGriff John Lindsay, Rayvon Hawkins, Adolphus Jefferies Sr. Harvey Rorie, and Billy Hawkins.. ? t ' ' ? ? ? working with and knowing Jack Musten, Homer Thompson. Gray Cartwright, Herman Bryson, and I knew Bob Deaton. AH these fine dedicated men gave so much to our school system and to our communities. Also, all these outstanding men have had gymnasiums or fields named in their honor. .1-1 think it is time for the Winston-Salem community to get together and name something in honor of David Lash. The first thing that comes to my mind is the gymnasium or athletic field at Carver High School, where Mr. Lash spent many years of his life touching others. Let's get together and honor another one of our outstanding educators and citizens while he can still know how much we appreciate and love him. Vernon E. Cloud ; Assistant Principal Carver High School About letters . . . U s ? . ' ' - .*? v-' The Chronicle welcomes letters as well as guest columns from its readers. Letters should be as concise as possible and should be typed or legibly printed. The letter must also include the name, address and telephone number of the writer to ensure the authenticity of the letter. Columns must follow the same guidelines and will be published if they are of interest to our general readership. The Chronicle will not publish any letters or columns that^arrive without this ihformafipn. We reserve the right to edit letters and columns for brevity and clar ity. Submit letters and columns to: * Chronicle Mailbag, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem. N.C. 27102. "Changing the Odds" for Children in Our Community Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Forsyth County has kicked off a recruitment effort for volunteers that should be of interest to all members of our community, especially the African-American Community. The recruitment effort is a "grass roots" effort of current African-American Big Brothers and Big Sisters (sanc tioned by Big Brothers/Big Sis ters of Forsyth County) to increase the number of African American volunteers, particularly males. Why? There are approxi mately 135 children on the wait ing list to be matched with adult volunteers and 85 percent of that number are African-American. There is a tremendous void in the community that remains unfilled and under served, one only has to read the newspapers to grasp the severity of the challenges that face our children (yes! OUR chil dren) on a daily basis. African American children are in need, more so today than in the days of our childhood, of positive guid ance, positive role models, friendship and leadership from the adults in their lives. There is the popular miscon ception that the children on the waiting list for adult matches are "BAD" kids who have no "home training" and are destined for failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. The children in the program are just that, chil dren. Children whose families are seeking exposure for them to other adults and hopefully a greater diversity of possibilities for their lives. For myself, being a Big Brother offers the opportu nity to expose my Little Brother CHANGING THE ODDS By MILES MAVNARD to new things and to have plain old "FUN" while doing so. ? The recruitment campaign will culminate in April of 1995, with a banquet and program. Time and location will be announced at a later date and will be available through Big Broth ers/6 ig Sisters of Forsyth County at (910) 724-7993. Please get involved and join in "Changing the Odds" for the children in our community. (Miles Maynard is a guest columnists) 1995: A Year For Community Activism to Create Jobs and Educational Opportunities All eyes are on Washington these days, where the great debate begins between an administration committed to a proactive government role in solv ing our nation's critical social problems and a Con gressional majority skeptical of government's abil ity to do much of anything domestically right, except fight crime and foster economic growth. The Battle of the Budget will be the first test of strength as the adversaries press different concep tions of how government can best use its resources. Don't look for new programs to create jobs or to expand training' and educationAL opportunities for poor people whose education and skills deficits keep them from meaningful employment. Neither the resources nor the will is currently available in Washington to pass such initiatives. Do look for proposals that sharply cut govern ment programs aimed at sustaining poor people and creating opportunities for them to enter the mainstream. Expect a welfare debate that centers not on creating jobs and providing necessary services, but on moving women and children off the welfare rolls and curtailing benefits. And expect increasing state and local responsi bility for designing, financing and implementing social programs. The Congressional majority plans to cut and cap social spending entitlements and turn them over to the states. Even if that fails to win approval, we'll see much more state control of such programs. ? The grim political and budgetary reali ties ahead will result in an acceleration of the trend to a^ shift of authority ana resources to state and local governments. So while all eyes are on Washington, they should also be trained on the state capital and on city hall, because that is where much of the action will be in the coming months and years. As responsibility and resources are shoved down to the local level, it is important to have robust, activist citizen organizations with the know-how and the clout to influence the way local governments operate those critical social pro grams. What many of us think of . "federal" programs are actually run by state and local governments who have increasingly broad discretion in the use TO BE EQUAL ^By HUGH B. PRICE -of the funds Washington sends them. v That means ?an important new role for commu nity organiza tions like our Urban League affiliates. They must educate people about such critical issues as crime, welfare, education reform and others. And they must mobilize them to become actively involved in solving those issues. That involvement can take many forms. An essential part of school reform, for example. requires that parents understand the national edu cation standards that spell out what every child should know. They'll need to monitor their chil dren's performance and the schools' effectiveness in teaching those fundamentals, and it's up to com munity organizations to help parents get the tools to do that. School reform also requires mobilizing parents and their communities to ensure that curricula, teaching standards and school budgets are ade quate to educating our children for the world of the 21st century. Similarly, it will take an informed, activist community to steer local government initiatives in the right direction to effectively cut crime and design welfare programs that assist people to become economically self-sufficient Washington may be where the rhetoric is pumped out, but our local communities will be where the action takes place in 1995 and beyond. We'd better be prepared. ( Hugh B Price is director of the National Urban League).
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 29, 1994, edition 1
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