Gov. Perdue endorses the
president's 'Serve' campaign
CHRONICLE STAH REPORT
North Carolina has signed on
lo United We Serve, a national
campaign spearheaded by
President Obama to engage more
Americans in serving their com
munities this summer.
Gov. Be\ Perdue announced
her wholehearted support for the
effort this week. She says that
the Governor's Office and the
state's departments and agencies
will participate
"These II weeks are* a time
for North Carolinians to take the
lead in organizing service proj
ects and forging partnerships
with local organizations to get
their communities back on
track." Perdue said "Whether
you are working in a soup
kitchen, reading to a child or
helping out a friend in need,
everyone's small efforts can cre
ate some .big results."
The campaign kicked off on
June 22 and runs through Sept.
u. wmch
will be
marked for
the first
time as a
national
day of serv
ice and
r e m e m -
bra n < e .
The initia
tive focuses
on four key
Perdue
areas: education, health, comfnu
nit\ renewal, and energy and the
environment. It is being led by
the Corporation for National and
Community Service, a federal
agency thai improves lives and
strengthens communities
through volunteering and serv
ice.
The governor will focus on
mentoring during the summer of
service campaign. Cabinet sec
retaries will volunteer with dif
ferent nonprofits and advocacy
groupv-throughout the summer as
well. The governor also encour
ages state employees to use their
allotted 24 community service
hours in support of the initiative
and to help get North Carolina
back on track.
The Obama administration
created www.serve.gov, a Web
site that allows visitors to type in
their zip code to find local vol
unteer opportunities and recruit
volunteers by posting their orga
nization's projects.
Brown
Miller
Quick
Brown, friends to host personal growth seminar
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Radio personality Busta Brown will
host an interactive forum on Saturday,
June 27 at the 14th Street Recreation
Center from 3 - 5 p.m.
His "Building Your Life With Busta
Brown" series has already held an event
in High Point; another is slated to take
place in Burlington in July. The events
are designed. Brown says, to help
improve lives - personally, professional
ly. spiritually, physically and financially.
"In 2009, I am determined to maxi
mize my life and all that God has blessed
me to know and do," Brown said of his
motivation to start the series. "I am
working to improve my life, and 1 want
you to grow and learn right along with
me."
A panel of experts knowledgeable in
things such as finance and spirituality
will join Brown for Saturday's event.
They include local author Mercedes L.
Miller, businessman Algenon Cash, and
Amos Quick, a radio personality and
vice-chairman of the Guilford County
Board of Education.
"I am confident that the top-notch
group I have assembled will profoundly
impact your life," said Brown. "They
have made a major difference in my
lite."
YMCA of Northwest N.C. CEO Curt Hazelbaker mixes
cement on Saturday morning.
Kasha d Little, a WSSV senior and Winston Lake Y employ
ee, stands atop a hill of mulch.
Scott Keefe, right, and Tommy Healy work in the play
ground's garden area.
Playground
from pEgi A1
One of the unique aspects
of KaBOOM is that the
agency requires the commu
nities where they award
grants to get involved by vol
unteering to build the play
areas under the watchful
supervision of trained pro
fessionals. Teams of volun
teers have constructed more
than 1.600 KaBOOM play
grounds. skateparks. sports
fields and ice rinks across
the nation .
"We really want people to
understand the importance of
play for kids," said Cassie
Haslett. the KaBOOM proj
ect manager for the Winston
Lake build, which was the
agency's first in the city.
"Play is not only important
physically, but it really helps
a child develop in so many
other ways."
The call for volunteers
was answered by loyal
Winston Lake Y members,
fraternal organizations like
Omega Psi Phi and even
members of The Firm, an
area motorcycle club.
Employees of BlueCross
BlueShield of North
Carolina perhaps showed up
in the largest numbers. The
company has a large local
operation in Madison Park
on University Parkway, but
some BlueCross volunteers
drove in from Chapel Hill.
Photos bv .Kevin Walker
Winston Lake Y ED Shawan
Gabriel in action.
where the company is head
quartered. BlueCross
BlueShield was the main
funding partner for the Y
playground build.
Micha James, a Winston
Salem BlueCross employee,
was already drenched in
sweat at 9:30 a.m. As she
helped to paint a shelter
adjacent to the playground
site. James admitted that the
heat was an unwelcome
guest. But when her sweating
became intense, she would
simply remind herself of the
reason she volunteered in the
first place.
'it's all tor the kids," she
said with smile. "And 1
believe to whom much is
given, much is required."
Ian Gordon, senior vice
president of operations at
BlueCross. was sweating
right alongside the other vol
unteers.
His company has put
itself at the forefront of help
ing to make its employees,
and North Carolinians in
general, healthier. Gordon
said the playground will
mean so much more than fun
and games for the kids that
will soon be using it. He
hopes it will be one of the
first steps that kids will take
in a lifetime of physical
activity.
"This is important
because so many kids play at
home in front of a TV set,"
said Gordon, who pointed
out that the covered shelter
and even a garden are in
close proximity to the play
ground so that parents will
have things to occupy their
time as their little ones play.
"The only way to do this
(get kids active) is by getting
the whole family involved,"
he believes.
Winston-Salem Fire
Department Firefighter
Gerrod Hardy could very
well be strolling through that
garden soon. But on
Saturday, his full attention
was focused on constructing
wooden platforms for the
adult area of the playground.
"My kids will be using
this playground, so that
makes it real special," he
said.
Gabriel says that he does
n't want the playground -
which had some design input
from local kids - to be con
sidered the Y's play area. He
wants everyone - members
and non-members - to take
pride and ownership in the
new addition.
"This isn't just for the Y,"
he said. "It is truly for the
community."
By mid-afternoon on
Saturday, a colorful play
ground had taken shape. As
of press time, though, it was
not quite ready for business.
Cement still needed to dry
and a few other tweaks were
still required. Gordon is
among those who can't wait
for youngsters to let loose on
the playground.
"That is when we will
really get our reward: when
we drive by and see kids
playing here," he said.
Gerrod Hardy assembles a piece for the playground area.
Micha James works up a sweat.
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