Photo by Lay la Farmer
S ha wan Gabriel poses with members of his Leadership Team, including Program and Membership Director Jolyn Roberts
(at Gabriel's left); Mentoring ServicesDirector Daisy Rodriguez (at his right ) and Teen Program Director Spencer McCall,
Ktnntiinv . far left.
Gabriel
from page A1
facility to learn more about
the vision behind the Y's
inception. The Y's history is
steeped in community
involvement, Gabriel
learned. Its a fervor he
hopes to recapture.
"The branch is headed in
a direction ... where. I think,
it was intended to be when it
first opened," he said.
"We're going to continue in
that rich tradition."
Gabriel is the first execu
tive director of Winston
Lake to presicjjp over both
the Y itself and Community
Outreach Services (COS),
which is now formally
housed at Winston Lake.
Also a YMCA of Northwest
North Carolina agency, COS
operates adult literacy, fami
ly mentoring and after
school assistance programs.
The addition to COS
gives the Winston Lake
branch the opportunity to
touch many more lives with
numerous additional servic
es. Gabriel believes.
"This gives us that holis
tic approach to truly provide
a well-rounded view of what
a kid needs," Gabriel said.
"We want them to use this
facility, as a resource."
Young leadership is
becoming a pattern at the
Winston Lake Y. Gabriel's
predecessor was Jarrod
Covington, who was in his
late 20s when he came to the
Y less than two years ago.
Covington left in the sum
mer to serve as executive
director of two Y branches
in Memphis. Tenn.
Winston Lake Y Board
Member Vernon McHam
says the branch has held up
despite Uie fact that it has
been without an executive
director for several months.
The leadership structure at
the branch has also been
tweaked. Staff members now
report to one of several
directors on site, instead of
reporting to the executive
director directly, as they had
in the past. The new system
frees Gabriel up to do more
work within the community,
according to McHam.
"Shawan's major respon
sibility is to get out there
and sell, sell, sell the
Winston Lake YMCA," said
McHam. who believes that
Gabriel's energy and life
long affliation with the
YMCA will help him
encourage more and more
local people to take advan
tage of the Winston Lake
facilities and its droves of
services for people of all
ages.
Gabriel has spent most of
his professional career with
the Y in some capacity. Most
recently, he served as execu
tive director of COS.
"This was a great career
move for me," stated the
father of two. "It puts me in
position to do the two things
I want to do most in life:
provide for my family and
serve my community."
With scarcely a month on
the job, Gabriel is already
making changes, focusing
specifically on staff devel
opment, fiscal responsibility
and enhancing the Y's pres
ence in the greater commu
nity.
Getting things to his lik
ing has required some long
days at the office, but
Gabriel says he doesn't
mind.
"It feels good." he
remarked. "Everyday, I see
strides that we're making. 1
leave here everyday feeling
good about something."
For more information
about the Winston Lake
Family YMCA's programs
and services, call 336-724
9205 or go to w ins ton -
lake .ymcan wnc .org .
Nominees sought
for Human Rights
Medal from A&T
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State Universil
currently seeking nominations for its Human Rights Medal '
award recognizes individuals who have endeavored to cor
social injustice and have notably contributed to the bettermen
the world.
The award was established by A&T Chancellor Emer
James C. Renick to honor individuals whose courageous acts
a reflection 01
the extraordi
nary action
against social
injustices that
was demon
strated on Feb
1, 1960. by four
A&T freshmen
- Ezell Blair Jr.
( J i b r e e 1
K h a z a n ) ,
r 1. i : M 1
r i a ii k i i ii * f*\. /??** ^ v.. w..?vv.
Eugene
McCain, Joseph Alfred McNeil and David Richmond Jr.
The winner will he notified in December and invited to acc
the award at the Sit-in Breakfast marking the 49th anniversar
the Greensboro Sit-in Movement, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.
The Human Rights Medal is presented to an individual \
Has had a positive impact on correcting social injustices and oi
humanitarian activities. Any outstanding individual who has
a positive impact on humanity is eligible to receive this awar
Anyone may nominate. Nominations must be received fc
p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. Forward all entries and/or questions tc
Committee for Awards, Honorary Degrees. Fall Convocatic
and Honors, Day
c/o Office of the Chancellor
1601 East Market St.
Greensboro, NC 274 U
JUDGE CHESTER DAVI
?17 years District Court Judge
? 1 of 2 Equitable Distribution Judges in
Forsyth County
? President of the Forsyth County Bar
Association (2006-2007)
? 3 years US Army (1 year in Vietnam as a
helicopter pilot)
www.judgedavis.cor
Paid for by Judge Chester Davis Re-Election Committee
I "As q credit union member,
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