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Photo by |lay la Farmer The Rev. Kelly Carpenter speaks at a news conference on Monday. CHANGE touts nonpartisan school races as a big win BY LAYLA FARMER THE CHRONICLE ^ An initiative started by CHANGE (Communities Helping All Neighbors Gain Empowerment) two years ago, has received the OK from the N.C. General Assembly. Lawmakers voted this week to make school board elections in Forsyth County non-partisan, meaning candi dates will not be identified as Republican, Democrat. Libertarian or Independent. The county is one of the last in the state that still holds partisan elections for its school board. Democratic members of the Forsyth County Delegation spearheaded the move in the General Assembly. On the House side. Reps. Larry Womble and Earline Parmon sponsoredjhe bill, while Linda Garrou pushed it in the Senate. "Children should not be subject to political decisions when it comes to education," declared Wombie at a cele bratory news conference held by CHANGE on Monday. "It's more fair, it's more equi table, and it speaks to the issues in front of us." The first nonpartisan school board elections will be next year. Although CHANGE had won support for its nonpartisan push from residents (the group collected more than 10,000 signatures) and Democratic lawmakers, members of the Republican heavy school board have not been fans of the idea. At a CHANGE forum two years ago. Republican school board members Marilyn Parker and Brown Jill Tackabery would not give solid commitments to the group to push for nonpartisan races. Even Vic Johnson, one of the three Democrats on the nine-member board, isn't happy about the change. Nonpartisan races, he says, will hurt African-Americans* chances of getting elected. "I'm concerned about the blacks that come after me. What chance will they have?" he questioned. "I just don't see what we (African Americans) are getting out of it:" Johnson, a member of the school board for the past 12 years, says he and his fellow members have always run based on the issues that the school system faces, not their party affiliation. "That's what we've done all along," he declared. "If you've been in politics, you've been running on issues.'' The board's only other African-American member, Geneva Brown, a former edu cator, supports the change. "Over the years, it's been easier for people to run because they're in certain parties. This kind of opens it Cyrus from page AH Cyrlis picked "Steps" after consulting with Katherine Crockett, a principal dancer with the Graham Company who will visit the campus in thp cnrino A hnd ,K. ...e. . ? mark work by a pio neer of modern dance, it is inspired by devastation, homelessness and exile, themes readily grasped by dancers and audiences alike. That accessibility is critical, Cyrus said. "Maybe you've not seen dance before. Wc want you IVJ IA- UUIV l\/ VV?I ? IV .?VV ?? ??'? not be alienated." said Cyrus, a dancer in the Graham Company from 1990-93. "Sometimes dance in its more intellectual form can be too distanced from the general populace. Graham, particularly 'Steps in the Street.' is accessi ble." The driving music was another factor in his choice. Graham n it arid "The music by Wallingford Riegger is so dramatic and sweeping. Just listening to it without the dance you get taken up by the music. Giving the dancers in our department the opportunity to work with such theatrically rich music I know will pull them along with their movement." This summer, Cyrus will research the dance, including attending classes at the Martha Graham Center in New York City. During the fall, he will teach Graham's tech nique and history to dance majors and hold audi tions for the cast. In the spring, he will guide rehearsals, performances and outreach, including presenta tions to dance appreciation and dance history students about "Steps" and Graham. Crockett plans to spend more than two weeks in Greensboro during the spring semester, leading Johnson up for all people," said Brown, who has served 011 the board since 1992. "1 really think we will get a lot more (high) caliber of people run ning for the board (now)." CHANGE has maintained that partisan school board races have allowed candi dates to run based on their party, since many vote a straight-party ticket, and not the issues that they plan to address within the school sys tem. "I, for one look forward to some issue based campaigns instead of incumbent silence," declared Walt Joyce, co-chair of CHANGE'S School Board Election Reform team. Sandra Mikush, the other co-chair of the team, ran unsuccessfully as an unaffili ated school board candidate in 2006. She says the change will make all those running for the board better, stronger candidates. "We don't want school board campaigns ... that don't take the time to engage with us as citizens and talk about what's important for our schools," she said. intensive rehearsals. Next sum mer, Cyrus will complete a DVD and other summary materials about the project. Cyrus is the founder and director of" Cyrus Art Production www.cy rusartproduction .com - an organization that presents dance and theater in unique and thought-provoking cultural events. As well as Martha Graham Dance Company, he has performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, "The Lion King" (original London cast), "Carousel" (U.S. tour) as well as directing domestic and inter national tours with Cyrus Art Production. UNCG is offering addition al opportunities to appreciate Graham's legacy in the coming year. The Graham Company will perform in Aycock Auditorium Oct. 24 as part of the University Concert and Lecture Series; That same week, the Department of Dance has scheduled Janet Eilber. Graham Company artis tic director, to present the annual Lawther Lecture. Credit from ftu Hr -W "A credit score can help provide a much clearer pic ture about where you stand." Butterfield said. "And when your personal information has been compromised, it's only fair that you should have as clear and complete a picture as possible." The bill that will be debated by the full House Committee on Energy and Commerce does not include the credit score provision. Butterfield plans to revis.it the issue when all members take up the issue. He has already won the support of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D III), the chairman of the sub committee, who has pledged to work with Butterfield to include the requirement. Pregnancy frum page A7 your body. Dad's health - It is impor tant for your partner to take car? of hjmselfas Well. Exercising, eating right, stop ping smoking and drinking, eliminating exposure tq haz ardous "substances. and % hay ing a physical exam that includes testing for STD> are some of the health-related issues he should consider. Getting Pregnant Knowing when you are ovulating (when the ovary releases an egg to be fertil ized) is key to getting preg nant. According to the American Pregnancy Association, most women who have regular menstrual cycles (28-32 days; Day 1 is when you start your menstru al period) are fertile for about 3 days between days 1 1 and 21 of their cycle. This is usu ally around Day 14. There are ways of knowing when you are most fertile by using a basal body thermometer or looking at your cervical mucus. Your basal body tem perature will go up when you ovulate, so if yoii track your temperature each day during your cycle, this can help you know "when you ovulate. When you ovulate, your cer vical mucus will become abundant, slippery, clear, and very stretchy, like egg whites. Track your cervical mucus TEAM UP from puffe A I embark on a barrage of out ings. It s gonna be amazing; I can t wait," Sanders declared. "I think it's pretty nice lor somebody to give me the opportunity to learn something new that I can share with other people." TEAM UP participants hail from five counties in the area. All have participated in the Department of Social Services' LINKS program, which helps them prepare lor independence when they turn 1 8 and are emancipated Irom .state custody. Visits to government offices in Raleigh; the North Carolina Museum of Art; and tours of WSSU, UNC C hapel Hill and North Carolina A&T State University are among the activities scheduled for the week of June 12-19. The youth will also shop for business attire at Concord Mills with money from the ^program; dine at the Piedmont Club; and spend time in Paramount's Carowinds as part of TEAM UP, which is supported by grants from a handful of local entities, including the school's Center for Entrepreneurship. Local LINKS Coordinator Carmelita Burrell has worked closely with Pagiavlas on the plan ning of the TEAM UP pro gram. She praised TEAM UP for the wealth of learning experiences it affords its participants. I cannot even begin to describe to you what this means to our kids," she declared. "In my eight years of being employed here, this door has never been opened... for the youth to have this opportunity, it leaves me speechless." A game show Pagiavlas designed, called "Guess What I Do for a Living" will round out the program, allowing the youngsters to each day, by gathering some with your finger, and this can help you know when you are ovulating. Most women have about a 25 percent chance of getting pregnant each month. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine rec ommends women consult their health care provider if she is: 1) under 35 years old and has been trying to con ceive for more than 12 months, or 2) Over 35 years old and has been trying to 'conceive for over 6 months. ? Signs orPregnancy The most common sign of pregnancy is missing one or more consecutive periods; missed periods can also be caused by other health issues, however, so it is important to see your health care provider to diagnose the cause. Other signs and symptoms of preg nancy may include: Nausea or vomiting (morning sickness) Sore breasts or nipples Fatigue ? i Headaches, dizziness Food cravings or aver sions Mood swings Frequent urination As soon as you think you are pregnant, you should see your health care provider to begin prenatal care, to give you and your baby the best chance for a healthy pregnan cy. First Trimester According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, during the first month of pregnancy, your baby's brain, spinal cord, heart, digestive system. , and other organs begin to form and by week five, baby's heart will begin to beat. As the trimester moves forward, baby's umbilical cord will form, as well as fin , gers, toes, nails, and nerves. Towards the end of the first trimester, the gender of the baby will become apparent. For the mother, you may continue to notice many of the symptoms listed above, though it is important to remember that every woman experiences pregnancy differ ently. You may have many of the symptoms or none at all. It is also important to remem ber with regard to nausea and vomiting, if you are unable to eat or drink for 24 hours, you should call your health care provider. ? Contribution by the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity Do you need further information or have ques tions or comments about this article? Please call toll-free 1 -877-530- 1 824 . Or, for more information about the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, please visit our web s i t e : http.H yvww.wfubmc .edu/m ino rity health. Photo by Lav la Farmer Dr. Novis Pagiavlas and Carmelita Burrell. interface with professionals in various fields and learn about what each occupation requires. "The kernel of original thought was about providing career options to youth in a funny way," Pagiavlas said of his motivation to create the game show from which everything else sprouted. "Our original thinking of making it creative and not making it look like an adult program has permeated everything we've done. All of this is designed to show them what's possible and what's available in a way that's not (intimidating)." While TEAM UP might sound like it's all fun and games, Burrell says the con trary is true. "It's all an intentional, providing educational opportunity," she asserted. * Life skills like negotiat ing the public transportation system and cooking are also incorporated in the week's activities. "All of the activities are designed to give them (expe rience with) some of those small, tiny things that they may have to do someday," Pagiavlas remarked. "...It's fun and educational, without being boring." Burrell says she saw TEAM UP as a golden opportunity for kids who oftentimes haven't had many breaks in life. "These are not all honor roll students who come from natural support systems. These are typical kids in fos ter care, and that's why this program is so great," she commented. "They're going to be involved in something positive that they're going to want to continue to be a part of, and that's going to he|p them in so many ways." TEAM UP participants will have opportunities to continue the program, by participating in a special project that will extend into the 2009-10 school year. Pagiavlas and Burrell are hopeful that they will be able to take a new crop of kids on a similar outing again next summer. For Sanders, who has spent the past seven years in foster care, it's enough just to be a part of something that was so thoughtfully crafted. "At least I know some body out there's looking out for me," he said TEAM UP organizers are in need of a bus to provide transportation for the stu dents on several days. For more information, or to donate , volunteer or get involved, contact Pagiavlas, at (336) 692-5272, or pagiavlasno@wssu.edu; or Burrell. at (336 ) 703-366S or burrelcc@forsyth.cc. COMMUTING MADE EASY. GOVERNMENT ? MADE EASY. USA.gov 1 (800) FED-INFO Your official source for federal, state and local government info.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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June 11, 2009, edition 1
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