Cancer
from page Al
received m April, was intend
ed to address the disparity, by
providing free screening
mammograms for up to 40
women who meet the pro
gram's criterion of being unin
sured; over 40 years of age;
not pregnant .trying to become
pregnant or breast feeding;
and having no history of
breast cancer; no lumps or
other problems with breasts:
or implants. Also the woman
must have never had a mam
mogram screening.
Flowers and Lewis say
they are happy to help all
women find the treatment and
financial assistance, even if
they don't qualify for the free
screening.
To spread the word about
the free mammograms.
Flowers and Lewis say they
have distributed fliers to free
clinics and other organizations
that serve their target audi
ence. They regularly attend
health fairs as well, in hopes
of recruiting women who need
the service. But the communi
ty's response to their efforts is
far less than they had expect
ed. To date, only four women
have signed up to receive the
service.
"We were anticipating
having to put in a lot of leg
work in getting the word out
there, but once it was out
there, we were expecting to
get calls, calls and more
calls," Lewis remarked. "1
know there are many women
out there who can benefit from
this."
The lack of interest has
Flowers and Lewis scratching
their heads.
"I'm concerned more than
1 am frustrated," Flowers said..
The YWCA's Belly Meadows.
of the lack of participation.
"Somehow, it's not enough.
We're missing something, and
we have been brainstorming
about what that could be."
Sister, Speak! Coordinator
Betty Meadows believes she
knows what's keeping the
women away. Meadow s, who
has led the YWC'A's breast
cancer education and outreach
program since its inception,
has had similar grants from
the Komen Foundation in the
past, and says she's never had
a problem filling the . slots.
"I always had a long list
(of women signed up for the
mammograms)," Meadows
reported. Having a mobile
unit where mammograms
could be done on-site at health
fairs and the like made the dif
ference for her. Meadows
said.
"They have to be willing
to take it to the people." she
commented. "If you don't
take it to the people, they're
not going to come to you."
Meadows' most recent free
mammograms grant expired
in 2007. and she says she has
been referring those in need of
the service to Flowers and
Lewis, but many have failed
to follow up with the patient
~?avigatoi>.
Despite the difficulties
.they have faced in reaching
out to women in need,
Flowers and Lewis say they
are determined to keep trying.
"We want the word out
there. We want women to
benefit from this and be on
their way to being cured and
being whole," said Flowers, a
five-year breast cancer sur
vivor.
"Breast cancer is no longer
a death sentence," her col
league added. "Untreated, or
advanced, that's where the
problem comes in. The whole
goaf is for the person to be
diagnosed early . . . and be able
to live a long, healthy life."
For more information
about the free mammograms
program, or to schedule a
screening, contact Flowers at
(336) 7I3-6H49; or Lewis at
(336) 713-2688.
Microsoft
from page A4
promoting minorities.
Past honorees include Earl
Graves Sr., founder and pub
lisher of Black Enterprise
magazine; The New York
Times Company and its CEO
Arthur Aulzberger, Jr.; and
Ronald A. Williams, chairman
and CEO of Aetna Inc.
According to Arnwine.
Microsoft is distinguished
from past honorees because of
their internationally renowned
corporate diversity mission
and for inspiring law firms to
demonstrate the same commit
ment. They were also the first
and largest technology compa
ny honored.
"This award is particularly
important as Microsoft strives
to be the global
1 in
itauti in aiuaciui^
diverse talent to
careers in technol
ogy," said Gwen
Houston, director
of global diversity
and inclusion for
Microsoft. "We
hope to provide an
inclusive work
environment where
they Can succeed."
Microsoft's
aspiration to attract a diverse
and talented company network
among under-represented
groups, youth and women
involves partnering with sev
eral organizations, including
the National Urban League,
the Women's Business
Enterprise National Council,
the Minority Business
Development Agency, the
National Society of Black
Engineers and the National
Black MBA Association.
"We invest hundreds of
millions of dollars in dedicat
ed outreach to attract minori
ties and women to high-tech
careers," said Houston.
She explained that this
includes grants, scholarships,
event sponsorships and part
nerships with universities,
such as Howard and Xavier
Universities, and organiza
tions that serve minorities and
women, such as the United
Negro College Fund.
Besides attracting diverse
talent to careers in technology,
Microsoft focuses on distribut
ing investments into under
served communities through
the minority investment pro
gram, which was launched in
2000.
The company conducted
research with the Urban
League that revealed minority
owned businesses have a lack
of resources to adopt and
implement information tech
nologies for business func
tions. Therefore, the diversity
investment program focuses
on increasing funding options
Higginbotham
for businesses historically lim
ited by lack of capital.
According to Microsoft's,
Web site, the corporation has
$50 million of unsecured
deposits in minority-owned
banks and directs more than
$1 billion of investment busi
ness volume to minority
owned brokers and asset man
agers.
"This award just confirms
that | anyone | can benefit from
Judge Higginbotham's vision
of a more fair and just legal
system," said Professor
Charles J- Olgetree Jr., of
Harvard Law School. "I think
he would be smiling down
with great joy to see that a cor
porate giant is seeing the
importance of delivering racial
equality."
Higginbotham dedicated
his life's work to racial and
social justice, all
while breaking
racial barriers on a
national and interna
tional scale. His
work in the legal
profession centered
on voting rights,
civil rights and
employee discrimi
nation.
He was the first
African-American
orl i r\ IQA") tn cpn/p r\n
??? w..
the Federal Trade
Commission. In 1964 at the
age of 36. Higginbotham was
appointed to the United States
District Court Judge for the
Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, making him the
youngest person ever appoint
ed to the federal bench. He
was appointed to the U.S.
Court of Appeals in 1979,
where he remained until his
retirement in 1993.
His commitment to equal
opportunity led him to advo
cate for democratic elections
in South Africa post
apartheid.
Higginbotham was award
ed with the Presidential Medal
of Freedom in 1995 by former
President Clinton, and had
received more than sixty hon
rary degrees by the time of his
death at the age of 70 in
December 1998.
Higginbotham was renowned
for his 1991 "Open Letter to
Clarence Thomas," in which
he criticized Thomas and his
role in reversing "racial
progress;..''
Higginbotham was known
as a mientor for many up-and
coming lawyers, including
Olgetree, who has worked
with Higginbotham's wife to
continue his legacy.
Ogletree says, "The fact
that a major corporate entity
has time to pause and recog
nize Judge Higginbotham is
not only a tribute to him but
more so a tribute to the lasting
impact of his legacy more than
a decade after his death."
us HBzn%
fwisTI
150
Stimulus money to improve
WinstOn-Salem section of 1-40
CHRONICLE STAFF Rf.POR I
Money from the federal economic recovery
act is now being used to rehab a stretch of l-4()
in Winston-Salem.
The N.C Department of Transportation is
expected to begin work on the section - which
runs from mile marker 194 to mile marker 196
- this week, although a stormy forecast may
delay work. The project should be Completed by
September. Greensboro-based APAC-Atlantic
Inc., Thompson-Arthur Division, has been
awarded the $1 .2 million contract far the work.
According to -the Federal Highway
Administration. every $1 million spent on trans
portation creates 30 jobs, and according to the
construction industry, every dollar invested in
transportation trickles down into the economy
six times; . ... J _
Most of the rehab work will be done in the
evening, after rush hour. There will be lane clo
sures in the section of 1-40 each night from 7
p.m. until 6 a.m. Crews will rehab pavement
and widen a shoulder and a curve, replace
guardrails and repave the exit ramps onto N.C.
109.
And as part of the overall maintenance of I
40 through this area, the department is also
using maintenance funds to raise the approach
slabs and repair existing ground settlement
issues at the two bridges along this section of
highway. .... ? ?
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