Submitted Photo Scholarship winners pose with NAACP leaders. NAACP scholarships and honors presented CHRONIC II STAFF REPOR1 Bright students and community pillars were the stars of the Winston-Salem Branch of the NAACP's 2014 Freedom Fund Banquet. The annual event drew a healthy crowd to Mt. Zion Baptist Church on the evening of Friday, April 25. The church's pastor, Dr. Serenus T Churn Sr., wel comed the crowd, while greetings were brought by Mayor Pro Tempore Dr. Vivian H Burke. WX11 12 News Anchor Wanda Starke delivered the keynote address, elucidat ing on the national NAACP's theme, "Forward Together, Not One Step Back." The following 12 high school students were pre sented with college schol arships: Alexus Rose Acree, Reynolds; Timothy Jordan Behnke, East Forsyth; Samassa K Boko, Mt. Tabor; Aja Lauren Grant, Reagan; Tinesha Lasha Johnson, Parkland; Herbert Breshaun Liles, Carver; Jihoon Lim, Mt. Tabor; Shannon Wayne Patterson, Mt. Tabor; Barbara Ashley Robinson, W-S Prep; Brandon ?m. Matthew Rogers, Atkins; and Steve Doral Stowe II, North Forsyth. Doris Herrell (chair), Rev. Dr. Marcus Barr and Mos6 Delaine Belton are the members of the branch's Scholarship Committee. Community service awards were presented to legend gospel deejay Anita "Boss Lady" Dean-Arnette and longtime mentor and anti-violence advocate Ben Piggott. Barr. who is also the branch's youth and col lege advisor and ACT-SO director, received the President's Award for all the work he did to make the Freedom Fund Banquet a success. Attorney S. Wayne Patterson is the president of the Winston-Salem Branch. Schools from pane A! disrupting the learning environment for all. You have to have a balance." Dr. Gwendolyn Johnson-Green, director of Alternative Education, said solving the problem is any thing but simple. "That's an ongoing issue in education." she said. ".. .There are so many variables all over the coun ty that influence those reports in that there's no one thing (to blame)." Lamaya Williams, a marketing consultant for Communities in Schools, says she believes the serv ices offered through CIS and other agencies that pro ! vide mentoring and aca demic support are con tributing to the decline in long term suspensions and expulsions. "What they were doing was one-on-one mentoring to help those kids stay in 1 i ?? ?i scnooi, me mother of three said of CIS. "...I was really impressed with that and the fact that they were able to have such success in such a short period of time." Montague Davis agreed that relationships are an impor tant piece of the puzzle. "To me. the most important things that make a difference in a kid's behavior is the kid building a relationship with some one," she said. "If they feel they have a relationship with someone in that build ing, you will see a differ ence in that child ... because they feel they have an advocate, they have a voice." Johnson-Green said the data bears out a trend the school system has been cultivating for years, through a variety of indi vidualized programs that are designed to meet the unique needs of each stu dent. Alternative learning programs are now available :jji. m cvciy iiiiuuic and high school in the county, offer ing opportuni ties for stu dents to contin ue their aca demics in an in-house learn ing environ ment after hav ing been removed from the tradition al classroom setting due to behavioral issues. "It is not punitive," said JohnSon-Green, who also serves as president of the NC Association of Alternative Educators (NCAAE) Board of Directors. "...We support behavior modification while we continue the aca Venable demies." Howard Venable, the founder of Silver Lining Youth Services and a long time advocate of at-risk youth, says he has seen some changes in the schools he visits and is cau tiously optimistic about trends being touted by the district. "Now, you have indi viduals taking a more direct approach and talking to kids, trying to figure out what makes them tick," he said. "Prior to that, they were taking a more hands off approach. Now they're becoming more hands on." As a mother of African American children in the school district, Williams said she has been con cerned about the disparities in suspension and expul sion rates for some time, and she is heartened to learn that the local officials are taking action on the issue. "I definitely think it's a good sign," she said of the decline in suspension and expulsion rates sys temwide. "1 definitely think the more you can keep a kid in school, the better." Photo hy Lay la Garms Lamaya Williams with her sons Ira III, 6 and Issa, almost 2. Retail from [Hiye A! income. The campaign seeks to demonstrate that not all of these jobs are behind a cash register. "Retail is extremely vibrant in North Carolina, and we are for tunate to have several of the retailers we are pro filing serve as leaders and respected executives on our Board of Directors," Ellen said. "Companies like Ashworth's, Family Dollar and Food Lion proudly serve their com munities in ways the pub lic may not even recog nize, and we want to help tell their amazing stories. We are excited to be a part of the NRF's cam paign and to add North Carolina's voice to This is Retail." NRF chose North Carolina as the pilot part ner of its "Retail Across America" initiative because the industry is the state's largest private employer, with more than 60 retail brands having headquarters or distribu tion center locations across the state. Additionally, 30 of North Carolina's top employers are retailers. For more information about the national This Is Retail campaign and Retail Across America, visit www .this is re tail .org. Allen EVERY SUNDAY IN MAY 1-5 P.M. ARTS DISTRICT TRADE STREET WINSTON-SALEM, NC MAY 4 BLUES-A-PALOOZA TWIN CITY BUSKERS THE LOW COUNTS WEZO AND THE MOFOS MAY 11 MOTHER'S DAY MIXED BAG EM ERGE BIG RON HUNTER BAND MAY 18 DOWN HOME BIG BUMP & THE STUN GUNZ RICHARD BOYD'S TRADE STREET TROUBADOURS MAY 25 BEACH PARTY SUNDAY THE TIME FLYERS KIDS CORNER EVERY WEEK FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.THEAFASGROUP.COM ^IL l^jcr. ? H ^ S 1 VMrDMlMM WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR DONALD R. BUIE I filed as a candidate for District Court Judge because I have 30 years of experience practicing civil and criminal law in North Carolina. I served as a District Court Arbitrator for twelve years rendering fair and impartial decisions in cases appealed from Small Claims Court and selected District Court civil cases. I have practiced in every area of the law that is heard in District Court. I have seventeen years experience practicing with medium and small sized law firms. For the past thirteen years I have successfully run a sole law practice. I have a strong work ethic gained from starting work at an early age in rural North Carolina. I have many years of volunteer experience in Guilford and Forsyth Counties. I strongly believe in the democratic process and served as a Chief Election Judge in Guilford County for the past ten years. I believe the citizens of Guilford County deserve and need a judge that is experienced, knowledgeable of the law, and has common sense, in order that decisions rendered will be fair and impartial. Your consideration and support would be greatly appreciated. DONALD R. BUIE FOR DISTRICT COURT Family: ? \larml .M) \ears to IWIi\ Jo IVterson-Buie. ? One t hil* in North Carolina in HMD ?Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina ?Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ? American Association of Justice ?North Carolina Advocates for Justice ?North Carolina Bar Association ?National .Association of Consumer Baiikrupte\ Attorneys ?National Bar Association ?Federal Bar Association ?Bivouac Lodge No. 503-Prince Hall ?Set hos Temple No. 170-PH A 1' * >