ALSTON
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is necessary because in the recent past, state civil rights
leaders "have not been speaking out and holding pub
? lie officials accountable." Although Alston steered
. clear of pointing fingers, it's public knowledge that the
? . organization has been embroiled in internal controver
> ,sy. Alston believes his eip^erience as an entrepreneur
i and as a publicly elected official can be an asset to the
organization, particularly at this time.
' Born and raised in Durham. Alston made
' Greensboro his home nearly 20 years ago. There he
runs S&J Management Corporation, a real estate firm
with a $45 million portfolio. Alston also serves on the
Guilford County Board of Commissioners. In addi
tion to S&J Management, Alston has launched two
other real estate development firms, including a ven
ture with Tyrone "Muggsey" Bogues, who plays for the
Charlotte Hornets. According to Alston, that partner
ship will focus on neighborhood revitalization in the
Charlotte area. His other venture, Alston and
' Associates, specializes in revitalizing Greensboro
' neighborhoods as well as new construction.
In addition to those endeavors, Alston is a co
founder of Sit-in Movement Inc. which was formed to
purchase and renovate the historical Woolworth build
ing in downtown Greensboro. Alston's goal is to create
an international Civil Rights Center and Museum
Public funding of the museum has been of bone of
contention for some taxpayers in Guilford County.
Still. Alston, a Democrat, was able to negotiate with
Republicans on th# board of commissioners to shore
up critical county dollars. The result was an indication
that despite the controversy, Alston can get results.
The success he has achieved in business and in pol
itics should be a possibility for African Americans
around the state, said Alston in a recent interview with
the Chronicle. Dressed in his usual crisp white shirt
and dark suit, Alston sat back on the leather couch in
his East Market Street office and explained why he
wants to continue serving as state president.
He recalls how his great-grandfather was tricked
out of several houses he owned. There was no one
around to help him make wise business decisions.
There was no one looking out for his great-grandfa
ther's interests. Alston says he's willing to champion
the rights of black people everywhere in North
Carolina.
"We do have some of our chapters that have kind of
stagnated But that doesn't mean that they can't be
rejuvenated." says Alston. "They need to have a cause
to fight for. And we're trying to identify those causes
and rejuvenate ;HI of our staunch, hard civil rights
leaders across the state."
From Alston's perspective, the NAACP doesn't
have to manufacture issues to create a need for the
NAACP. On request, he can rattle of a list of issues.
There's one right in his own back yard. Not far away,
in Davidson County, the local branch has unsuccess
fully lobbied the county commissioners for the past 10
years to formally create a holiday in honor of Martin
Luther King Jr.
"We have a plan that will be unveiled there in
January" Alston said "1 will announce that during my
address to the delegates on Nov. I ."
"We're going to get the holiday." Alston says confi
dently. "If not this year then next, or the year after
that. We're going to keep pushing That's going to be a
top priority"
Alston, 40, cites King as his personal inspiration.
Pictures of King and other civil rights leaders adorn
several walls of Alston's office. "I'm trying to get
national people to come to Davidson County on
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we're going to hope
fully shut down the whole town."
There are still six counties in North Carolina that
do not observe a King holiday. Alston says. "It's the
principle of the thing. You have seven white.
Republican males that are saying "no" to this holiday.
In addition to Davidson County. Alston says the
state conference has important work to do in neigh
boring Rockingham County, where officials in Eden
have asked for assistance in recruiting more black
teachers.
Asked if the state conference should be more pro
active in addressing racial inequities in North
Carolina. Alston responded:
"We really have to wait until people bring problems
to us. We have a lot on our plate already. It's not as
though we have nothing else to do and we're going out
looking for problems. We have enough people that
have day-to-day problems anyway."
Although Alston cites his experience as an asset,
some may claim he'll bring political baggage. Alston
has his critics in Guilford County He is frequently crit
icized for raising racial issues at county commissioner
meetings. Alston defends himself against those charges
by say ing that race is a legitimate issue. I le say s that his
remarks are often intended to raise social conscious
ness. both at the state and local level.
"When you consider that the state Department ol
Transportation has $5 billion in spending and only I
percent of the contracts for those goods and services,
are given to African Americans, yes. there are some #
real problems." Alston says he's not looking for quo
tas or set-asides I'm looking for fair treatment and
fair opportunity." That will he accomplished by con
tinuing to recruit new members..especially youth, say's
Alston, adding that under his interim leadership over
all membership around North Carolina jumped by
about 10.000 in one day If he holds on to the position.
Alston pledges to increase the amount of NAACP
scholarships, youth chapters and tutorial programs.
This strategy, he notes, is in line with the goals of the
national organization.
UNC
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' certificate for sports equipment rental front Play It
Again Sports, a bouquet of roses, her crown, an Art
Carved class ring, a three-month membership at a
, health spa. a visit to a full-service salon, and other
gift certificates. In return, she will serve as a repre
sentative of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill throughout the year.
"It is a great honor to be chosen as a representa
tive of UNC-Chapel Hill, and 1 give honor to
J God." she said
As a senior biochemistry major at UNC-CH.
Sellers considers this honor a fine way to round out
her academic tenure. She wanted to make an impact
on the campus in some way before she made her
exit, and her role as queen offers the perfect venue
for making a difference. "As UNC Homecoming
Queen. I can show young people that they do not'
have to compromise their beliefs or values to be
accepted." she said.
As a part of her commitment to the title Queen.
Melanie has designed a three-day service project
called Giving to Others Daily (GOD). This project
will involve the development of the spirit, soul and
body of the participants. Because Sellers wants to
bui|d ties between students and faculty, the first day
of the project will allow faculty and student pairs to
volunteer a visit to the North Carolina Children's
Hospital. They can take a gift that encourages men
tal development within the child, such as an activi
ty book or a puzzle The second day of the project
focuses on the development of the body. Student
and faculty volunteers will join with the Interfaith
Council to serve as the local Soup Kitchen. On the
third day. which addresses the soul. Christians will
be encouraged to reach out to others and show their
faith.
Melanie certainly knows where her allegiance
lies. She spent this summer working in Tampa. Fla..
with the Hol> Bible Ministries through the Alpha
Epsilon Omega Christian Sisterhood, l or several
weeks, she served in a local soup kitchen, helped to
invite community people to a 40-day tent revival
and assisted in the daily operation of the services.
She worked with Apostle Derrick L. Wells.
"It was a small ministry that needed our help,
and they found a place for us." Melanie said.
Melanie sees her service to this ministry as a way
to give honor to God. who. she says, made her a
royal daughter even before she was crowned
Homecoming Queen.
"God has called all of us to be kings and queens
in him. I was already a queen spiritually. I believe
that God wants his children to pick up their crowns
"and walk as kings and queens daily." she said.
Sellers has been very active in the Black Student
Movement (BSM) on campus as a member of the
finance committee and of the BSM Gospel Choir.
In fact, she was crowned Queen of the BSM Sept.
19. She's been active with the BSM since her fresh
man year. Melanie said the organization gave her a
strong foundation and offered her a chance to cele
brate her uniqueness. It has been a source of
encouragement and a way to build a strong-network
of support as a minority student on an historically
white college campus.
Not only has Melanie;been active in the BSM.
but she walked onto the UNI' Track Team and ran
for two years, earning her letter jacket. She shared
information about herself that made her special at
the Drug Education for Youth (DEI Y) self-esteem
building workshop at Reynolds Park Recreation
C enter Oct. 18.
Melanie plans to continue her community, ser
vice. Following graduation, she plans to take a year
off and volunteer again with the Holy Bible
Christian Ministries. She will then pursue her mas
ter's degree at the School ot Public Health in the
Held of public policy and health administration
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