This picture of James Grissom was featured in an HIVIAIDS
photo exhibit.
Grissom
from page A 1
lems and came to Samaritan
Ministries' Project Cornerstone
in Winston-Salem looking to
clean up his life. At the time,
doctors had given him only six
months to live. ? Grissom's
friend Kacie Moore recalled
that when Grissom arrived at
Samaritan, he had Scotch tape
holding his glasses together and
all his Earthly possessions
inside a shoe box. He was
scared, Moore recalled.
But Grissom overcame his
fear and his addictions.
Speaking about his life and his
many mistakes became
Grissom's passion. Even in his
last days as he lay in a bed at
Hospice, the phone rang with
agejjpies and organizations
requesting that Grissom come
and share his story.
Grissom's talks would warn
people about the dangers of
addiction and unsafe sex. He
told those with HIV/AIDS that
there is hope for them. '?<
For Grissom that hope came
from AIDS Care Service, which
assists low income people suf
fering from HIV/AIDS.
Like many who were HIV
positive. Grissom stayed at the
transitionary apartments that
AIDS Care Service provides.
But unlike most who stayed
there, Grissom found a home.
He was asked to stay on as the
resident manager, a position he
held for five years.
Christine Jolly, president of
AIDS Care Service, said that
Grissom was an inspiration to
rtiaftyThere .
"He was a beacon of hope
to many of our clients and just a
mentor to many people," said
jouy.
Grissom impressed and
inspired his friend, Donnie
Scott, who works at Samaritan
Ministries. Scott said that
Grissom had his share of physi
cal challenges but never let
them get him down. He would
work through pain to attend his
Cornerstone support group
meetings. He also didn't let it
stop him, from making an
appearance to raise HIV/AIDS
awareness events.
"He made it a mission to
just go out and speak," said
Scott. "That was his gift."
Sonjia Kurosky, director of
Samaritan Ministries, said that
many who are in recovery
would go through a very posi
tive emotional upswing and
then come down. Grissom, she
said, never came down.
"He never got off that cloud
of being happy to be alive and
grateful for the day and just
really had one of the best atti
tudes of any human being I've
ever met," said Kurosky.
Grissom's recovery and
good works was so impressive
he recieved an Outstanding
Personal Achievement Award
from the N.C. Interagency
Council for Coordinating
Homeless Programs. The award
honored his transition from
homelessness and his work to
help the homeless. AIDS Care
Service also honored him for
his service and devotion to
fighting HIV/AIDS.
Grissom's family, who trav
eled form Oxord, N.C. and the
surrounding area to attend the
service, did not speak during
the program, but Grissom's
aunt, Elsie Peace, did thank the
community for all the support
her nephew received while in
Winston-Salem.
Illinois congressman stumps for Obama
US. Rep. Danny Davis spoke in Winston-Salem Saturday
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
With the May 6 North Carolina Primary
closing in, both Democratic presidential
hopefuls are eyeing the Tar Heel State.
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack
Obama had members of the Congressional
Black Caucus in the state touting each of
them last weekend.
Obama supporter U.S> Rep. Danny
Davis of Illinois stopped in Winston-Salem
Saturday to urge local voters to support the
senator, who also represents Illinois.
Davis, whose 7th district covers parts of
Chicago and Cook County, spoke to a small
crowd of about 20 people at the Forsyth
County Democratic Headquarters. He told
the crowd that Obama's appeal to voters is
magical.
"I can't always explain the phenomenon
of Barack Obama." said Davis, a member
of Congress for more than 1 1 years. "I think
the best I come to is suggesting that
Barrack has the unique ability to communi
cate to large numbers of diverse people all
at the same time and each one of those indi
viduals will feel that there was something
in his message that related directly to
them."
He said it was incredible that some
Obama rallies are drawing 35,000 people -
the type of crowd he expects at a ball game
not a political event. Davis said people are
buying into the "whirlwinds of change
sweeping the country" that Obama promis
es.
And change is indeed happening for a
black man, and a women, both denied equal
rights by the original Constitution, to run
for the presidential nomination. He said
that, instead of primarily basing their votes
on race, voters are now looking at issues
and considering who can change the coun
try.
Change, after eight years of Republican
President George Bush, is what the country
is looking for, he said. Either Clinton and
Obamtf could easily beat Republican nomi
nee Sen. John McCain because of this,
Davis theorized.
Davis said Obama will benefit from his
rmiw oy i.ucn,
Fleming El-Amin, left, stands beside of V.S. Rep. Danny Davis.
efforts to bring alienated citizens into the
political process. People who didn't have
enough interest or enough belief in the gov
ernment to vote before are turning out in
droves, he believes.
"I think that young people who tradi
tionally have felt that they have no reason
to get involved, that they didn't have a rea
son to vote, that they didn't have a reason
to register, somehow Barack Obama con
nected with them and they are registering
like they have never registered before in the
history of the country," said Davis.
And they're also giving like never
before too. Obama raised $40 million in
March, twice as much as Clinton. The
money comes largely from small online
donors. The average donation was only $96
last month. So far over 1.3 million people
have given to the Obama campaign since it
began. Davis said his wife has sent in mul
tiple donations herself, something she
never did even for Davis' own campaigns.
One issue that Davis champions in
Congress is helping ex-offenders reinte
grate into society. He said Obama has
championed that issue as well. Earlier this
month the Second Chance Act was signeu
into law which funds re-entry assistance for
ex-offenders. Obama co-sponsored the
Senate version of the bill, while Davis'" co
sponsored tie-House Version. As president,
Obama plans to do even more to help ex
offenders get work when they come out of
prison, Davis said.
Davis made headline late last year when
he was pulled over by Chicago police offi
cer* while driving three friends, all African
American, home. The white officers told
him he had swerved over the center line,
and he was given a ticket. Davis believes it
was a racially motivated stop and is fight
ing the ticket in court. He said he wants an
explanation as to why he was pulled over.
The case has yet to be heard in court.
Forsyth Count Democratic Chair
Fleming El-Amin, who has made it no
secret that he supports Sen. Obama, was
pleased that Davis made a stop in Winston
Salem.
"We're really honored to have him here
at our Democratic headquarters," said El
Amin. "His spirit really reflects the nation
al spirit of the country for change."
HBCUs
from page A2
United Negro College
Fund that represents 39 private
historically black schools.
Since 2006, the institute
has granted more than $8.1
million to 29 member schools
for projects that include
said.
"Their alumni have had
more access to . income, to
assets, and thus could give
back," Gasman said, adding
that blacks also tend to give
more to churches.
But at Norfolk State
University, alumni giving has
grown from 2 percent to 8.2
increasing alumni
support.
"There was a
recognition that
alum of these institu
tions represented a
very important con
stituency that had
not been tapped in
any systematic
way," Pinkard said.
The colleges,
founded to serve
hla^lrc Hnrinn cam
Gasman
? V
ro ft ntmn
perceni since zuuu,
nudged, officials
say, by graduates
who are more mon
eyed at younger
ages.
"As we get some
of the majors that
we have now, for
example the optical
engineering, there
are individuals
leaving * college
with decent
uiuvivo uuuiig v taiiuu,
have kept tuition low to help
underprivileged students. That
leaves little extra cash for
things like fundraising. said
University of Pennsylvania
assistant professor Marybeth
Gasman, author of
~ Supporting Alma Mater:
Successful Strategies for
Securing Funds from Black
College Alumni."
They also have historically
been reluctant to ask former
students, already paying off
loans, to give more money. At
the same time, black alumni
haven't always had the income
of graduates from predomi
nantly white schools. Gasman
r
salaries," said Phillip Adams,
interim vice president for uni
versity advancement.
And there are potentially
more of them: 142,420 bache
lor's degrees were conferred to
blacks in 2005-2006, up from
fewer than 92,000 a decade
earlier, according to the
National Center for Education
Statistics. '
But among black colleges'
top resources, say some, is
alumni loyalty.
"Many of our alum respond
to our institutions as providing
an opportunity when many
other institutions would not
have. So they give back,"
Pinkard said.
1
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Adolescent Medicine
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Comp/Alternative Medicine
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NEARLY 50% OF CHILDREN
IN FORSYTH COUNTY
ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE.
0
YET, BY MAKING HEALTHIER CHOICES AND ADDING ACTIVITY INTO
DAILY ROUTINES, children can live healthier lives. *
Brenner Children's Hospital at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
recently opened the region's most comprehensive obesity program for children
Doctors, nurses, family counselors, physical therapists and dietitians in the
program have specialized training to help families recognize and overcome
roadblocks to better health.
' _ v
Our nationally renowned obesity expert uses a research-based program that has
been proven to be effective.
In addition, our specialists also treat children for the side effects of obesity as
well, including high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea and offer bariatric
surgery for the most extreme cases.
If you think your child has a serious weight problem, askfyour child's pediatrician
to call the pediatric specialists at Brenner Children's.
For more information, visit our website at brennerchildrens.org/brennerfit.
And whatever your insurance, chances are we take it.
KNOWLEDGE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
I __
| Dara Garner-Edwards, MSW, LCSW, Family Counselor
Joseph Skelton, MD
? Sherry Frino, PT, Physical Therapist &
Stacy Kolbash, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, Dietician
Brenner Children's Hospital
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
O
Wake Forest University Baptist
gjg angiiii?nii 1
Wake forest Utiiveritti/ I'hysicians