Women's Leadership Council presents awards CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT The United Way of Forsyth County's Women's Leadership Council (WLC) celebrated their members and work by honoring students, teachers, volunteers and businesses at an Oct. 16 event at the Millennium Center. The WLC is aligned with United Way and the community's goal to increase the high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2018. WLC-funded programs being piloted at Philo-Hill Magnet Academy, Mineral Springs Middle and East Forsyth Middle schools are preparing students for the next step in their education and being credited with helping to increase the coun ty's graduation rate from 70.8 percent to 82.1 percent. At last month's ceremony, Austin Widener, an East Forsyth Middle School student, received the Outstanding Youth Award; Joshua Studer, an East Forsyth Middle School teacher, won the Outstanding Educator Award; the Outstanding Volunteer Award was presented to Betsy Bombick, a Reynolds American employee; the Outstanding Corporate Award went to Twin City Warehouse/Adele Knits/COR365; and the Susan Ivey Award was presented to Marcia Cole, CEO of Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. Susan Ivey Cameron, the retired president, chairman and CEO of Reynolds American and WLC's honorary chair, was on hand for the awards presentations. Since 2007, the Women's Leadership Council has grown to more than 1,000 members and raised more than $3 million to meet the pressing needs in Forsyth County. UW Photo (From left) Susan Ivey Cameron with Joshua Studer, Austin Widener, Marcia Cole, Rena Waring, Betsy Bombick and Barbara Duck. Harrell from page AT Harrell spent years in the corporate sector at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and later at BB&T, where her husband, JoColby Harrell, works as a mortgage loan officer, but says she never felt ful filled. With the birth of their second child, Maveric, six months ago, the couple decided it was time for her to take a leap of faith and start the com pany. "After Maveric was bom. we prayed about it, and we decided she was finally going to step out on her dream, and 1 was 100 percent behind her," JoColby Harrell said. "This is her passion." Harrell used her mater nity leave to research and plan Pink Culture Inc. The , couple purchased the used van after finding it on Craigslist and, with the help of family, their church family at Winston-Salem First and friends, began to outfit the former plumbing van into a destination for fashionistas. "It's something for everybody ... anyone who loves fashion," Harrell said of the fashion offerings creatively displayed in the van. The van has logged many miles with Harrell behind the wheel. She's parked and opened her doors to attendees at festi vals and events in Greensboro, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, where Pink Culture Inc. was a hit attraction at the recent Pride and Fiesta festivals. The van also has made stops at Winston-Salem State University and Salem College. Being able to meet her customers where Meka Harrell carries a unique variety of cloth ing and accessories in his Pink Culture van. they are - literally - is one of the many advantages of operating a mobile busi ness, HarTell said. "The main advantage to this is not having to pay a lease fee because every thing you need is right here in the truck," noted Harrell, who will bring the truck to her customers if they com mit to a purchase of $25 or more. "1 have the advan tage of going to people's homes, going to different festivals, or just parking on a random street. It attracts attention because it's bright pink." Fittingly, Harrell's most successful venue to date was her alma mater, Salisbury's Livingstone, where her fellow Blue Bears were keen to open their wallets during last month's Homecoming. "1 had a line wrapped around my truck of people waiting to come in," she happily reported. "I'm still on a high from that." Overall, Pink Culture has received high marks from customers. "They love it," Harrell said of her customers, who patronize her in person and on Instagram, where she also sells her wares. "They love the concept. I always get great compliments on the items and how innova tive it is, the fashion truck." The truck is just Harrell's latest venture. She started Colby's Closet - an online children's clothing store named for her four year-old daughter. ElleMari Colby Harrell - and Pink Culture Momtourage, a nonprofit for other mothers with a philanthropic bent. "Pink represents femi ninity, and culture is for all cultures," she explained. "That's how I came up with the name." Although the Harrells are saving on day care costs because Meka cares for Maveric, JaColby Harrell said going from two incomes to one to make the business a reality was a sacrifice for the fam ily. The reward - seeing his wife happy - was well worth it, though. "I'm just so happy to see her finding her pas sion," said the WSSU alumnus. "A lot of people don't get a chance to really follow their passion in life." Meka Harrell said she believes she's found her purpose in life, and she's never felt more fulfilled. Already, she has inspired several friends to chase their dreams in their careers. She hopes to one day parlay her story as a first generation college graduate and businessown er to motivational speaking engagements, where she can encourage youngsters from difficult backgrounds to believe in their dreams. "If you want things to happen, you just need to really pray about it and everything falls into place." she remarked. "I feel like I've been stress free ever since I started the truck. It's just in my spirit; I always knew what I want ed to do." For more information about Pink Culture Inc., follow the company on Twitter or Instagram @PinkCltrTruck, email pinkculturetruck@ gmail .c om or call 336-517-PINK. Photos by Layla Garms Meka Harrell with her husband, JoColby. Teachers from page A4 icy is placing a lot of pres sure on teachers to do more with less. 1 wanted to do what I could and team with the business sector to find a solution, if only a small one. I'm trying to build as many examples as possible of collaboration for the public good. My hope is that more business people will step forward as The UPS Store has and find a way to get increasingly involved in the day to day movement of our city, espe cially as that relates to the advancement of children." UPS store owner Amy Ruth Hallett worked out the fine print of the offer. "Representative Hanes has consistently updated us on the policy making in Raleigh and how it impacts constituents across his District," noted Hallett. "1 was particularly moved when he told me of the amount of copying that had to be done and the limita tions that were necessarily being placed on that line item due to budget cutting. This was a great opportuni ty for the UPS Store to get involved on the ground level. We have an opportu nity to impact a basic need that also happens to be foundational to my busi ness expertise." The offer is valid for the entire school year and open to both public and pri vate school teachers across Forsyth County. Teachers may take advantage of this opportunity on Tuesdays or Saturdays only. Schools are asked to send their teacher rosters to The UPS Store, 380-H Knollwood St., so that teachers can be easily iden tified. Brown from page AS made his debut as a soloist with the late Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. In addi tion to the classical art form. Dr. Brown also has a passion for gospel music and has had the opportu nity to share the stage with gospel recording artists such as Tramaine Hawkins, BeBe & CeCe Winans and BET's "Sunday Best" winner Crystal Aikin. Dr. Brown was a recipient of the Sarah & Robert Flemister Scholarship from Birmingham Southern College, where he studied with William DeVan. He received his master's degree from the University of Houston's Moores School of Music. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music. All the concerts will take place at the Stevens Center, 405 W. Fourth St. Tickets range from $15 ? $62 and are available in advance by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at WSsymphony.org. Brown hna|lM Tht Dtfforooco You Cm Makt * 1 DONATE YOUR CAR' 1-800-337-9038 m ^ free towing vpkp tax deductible ?I I A mi i neip ? rWWVi Diinoness Get A Vision Screening Annually fmhcritaqe ? y.or.hebifnd ? 1 VlKiHon VloudMr Id Ow . 20 0?n?T>S _ nryanl Norman. tM >S MoiV - lllUrS. 9- 5 if**. New Walkrrtown Hit rnr r WlnMHai Salem, NC 27101 ' Mafor Credit (Partis / Insurance Acoeptod 1 I