Best Choice Center
gets new donated
smart board
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE _ _
The Best Choice Center, 1031 North
Highland Avenue at the corner of 11th
Street, has been around for nearly two
and-a-half decades. It is an after-school
and summer camp program with the
capacity to serve 50 to 75 children ages 5
to 13 sponsored by the YWCA of
Winston-Salem Forsyth County.
Dr. James David Branch and his fami
ly are among a group of community mem
bers who continue to support the Best
Choice Center. They recently presented
the Best Choice Center with a smart board
(similar to a computer) and software that
will enhance the program participants'
learning with exposure to additional tech
nology.
The students are taught daily good cit
izenship with academic reinforcement.
Parents of Best Choice Center students
appreciate the homework assistance and
enrichment activities that their children
receive.
Ninety-five percent of the Best Choice
Center's students in third through fifth
grades passed their EOGs (End of Grade
tests). They arrive from various schools
and receive homework assistance, tutor
ing, usage of the computer lab and help
with projects. Their parents can pick them
up as late as 6 p.m. The staff is made of
licensed teachers and counselors with
experience working with children and
youth.
Historically, the Best Choice Center's
students were identified by former
Winston-Salem Police Chief George
Sweat. These were children "at risk" of
being involved in drugs and other antiso
cial behavior.
Chief Sweat presented a proposal to
the then Winston-Salem Board of
Aldermen, asking for a way to help those
children. Alderman Virginia K. Newell
asked to be allowed to take those children
and control them by love. The proposal
was accepted, and within three to four
months, the East Winston Restoration
Association accepted the idea and was
instrumental in the development of the
original Best Choice Center. The popula
tion of children who attend the Best
Choice Center has changed. However, the
spirit of love and nurturing, which guided
the original program is still a cornerstone
of the current program.
The YWCA, United Way and the
Winston-Salem community has accepted
Best Choice as a place to help our children
achieve and become good citizens. United
Way support makes it possible for the Best
Choice Center to offer scholarships to
community children for after-school and
summer camp.
For more information or to donate, go
to www.ywcaws.org or call Marilyn
Odom at 336-722-0597.
Isaiah Myers, a fourth-grade student at the YWCA Best Choice Center, works
with the smart board.
People affiliated with the Best Choice Center are: (L-R, first row) Todd McCloud,
Jourdyn McLaughlin-Moses, Dr. James David Branch, Dr. Virginia K. Newell,
Jayshun Reed; (L-R, second row) Evelyn Becoat, Renee Sulivan, Cathoni
Waiguchi, Marilyn Odom, vice president of youth services; Rosario Lopez Perez,
Semaj Reed, Khyrea Tymes and Sioria McCloud.
Members of Phi Omega Chapter.
AKA celebrates 107 years,
the importance of HBCUs
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc." celebrated
its 107th Founders' Day with a lunch
eon at the Anderson Center on the cam
pus of Winston-Salem State University.
The guest speaker was Rosemary
King, Northern Carolina Cluster
Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic
Region. The theme for the event was
"Think HBCU: Transforming
Communities through Education,
Engagement and Advocacy." North
Carolina's eleven Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
were honored and attending university
officials were presented with awards.
Also, during the luncheon, new
Golden member Sandra Armstrong and
new Silver members Andrea Bush,
Cheryl Harry, and Freda Henry were
recognized.
"HBCU's are the heart and pulse of the African-American community having pro
duced some of the world's most talented individuals, and of course the illustrious and
premier sorority established for African-American women in 1908 - Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority Inc.," said Kenyetta Richmond, chapter president.
Richmond encouraged participants to take the time to reflect on the contributions of
our HBCU's and the role they have each played in the lives of African-Americans and
RaVonda Dalton-Rann (L) receives HBCV
Award for Winston-Salem State University
from Kenyetta Richmond, Phi Omega
chapter president
the communities in which we all live. She also noted that
this is a critical time in the history of our HBCU's and it is
the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure
their continued existence.
The Phi Omega Chapter, raised over $8,000 at the
Founder's Day luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 21. The funds
have been designated for scholarship awards to students
attending HBCUs. Scholarship applications will be avail
able in April at local high schools. Students may check
with their guidance counselors for more information at
that time.
Priscilla Green and Cassandra Lewis co-chaired the
Founders'Day Program Committee. Committee members
were Tammy Burke Griffin, Lois Buries, Andrea Bush,
Veronica Ford, Robin Griffin, Linda Jackson-Bames,
Sandra Miller Jones, Sharon Jones, Rayna Minnigan,
Olivia Morgan, Susie Nance, Anissia Scales, Roberta
Wilkins, and Dorothy Wynecoff. Inactive sorority mem
bers are invited to join the Phi Omega Chapter. The soror
ity meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
at the Ivy Arms Apartment Club House located on 1115 E.
2nd St.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is an international
service organization that was founded on the campus of
Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the
aldest Greek-letter organization established by African
American college-educated women. The sorority is com
prised of more than 265,000 members in approximately
986 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United
States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Caribbean,
Canada, Japan, Germany, South Korea and Africa. Led by
International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is often hailed as "America's
premier Greek-letter organization for African-American
women." For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority Inc. and its programs, log onto
www.akal908.com.
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