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Kimberley Park Elementary students and their parents participate in International Walk to School Day on Oct. 7.
Kimberley Park Elementary celebrates
International Walk to School Day
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Continuing a tradition that started in 2008, Kimberley Park Elementary School par
ticipated in Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 7, which is also International Walk
to School Day. Nearly 50 children plus parents joined in the fun.
Kimberley Park joined 212 other schools across North Carolina as well as schools
nationwide and in many countries around the world that are hosting events. The goals of
the Walk to School Day movement include reducing childhood obesity, and pushing for
more sidewalks, pathways and other safe routes for students.
International Walk to School Day, along with Walk to School Month, is an important
part of Safe Routes to School, an international program that encourages communities to
make it safer for more children to walk and bike to school. The program aims to reduce
or prevent childhood obesity, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality around
schools. Currently North Carolina ranks 12th in the country for its high rate of childhood
obesity.
The city of Winston-Salem Department of Transportation sponsors the Safe Bus
Routes to School Program for the Winston-Salem urban area.
W-S native witnesses
first anniversary of
Michael Brown's death
BY FELECIA PIGGOTT-LONG. PH.D.
FOR THE CHRONICLE
Michael Brown, an 18-year-old
unarmed African-American male, was
shot and killed on Aug. 9,2014 by Darren
Wilson, a Caucasian police officer in
Ferguson, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. This
shooting prompted demonstrations and
protests, which sparked a national behav
ior contagion in the area and around the
nation called the "Black Lives Matter"
movement.
One year later, demonstrations,
parades, and a moment of silence com
memorated the shooting of Michael
Brown. More than 200 returned to the
Canfield Green Apartments where Brown
was fatally wounded, including Paige
Woods, a native of Winston-Salem who is
currently working to complete her senior
thesis at Harvard University. Woods is a
2012 graduate of Parkland High School.
A Social Studies/African American
Studies major. Woods chose to study the
reaction of residents of Atlanta to the
Michael Brown shooting. Therefore,
Woods spent her summer in Atlanta, but
she made her way to Ferguson on the
weekend of the Brown anniversary. There
were moments of fear and solemnity for
Woods.
"Atlanta reacted. There were marches,
a conference, protests, parades, and a day
of civil disobedience on Monday. The
police targeted the protesters," said Woods.
"They used tear gas and they used the
snitch and grab method as a police tech
nique. The police went into big crowds and
would snatch and grab protestors and
arrest them. They arrested white people
also. They would pin point different types
of people. Black cops were also snatching
people."
Woods was in the crowd, but she was
never snatched.
"There were close calls. 1 did see Dr.
Cornell West orchestrate a protest with
others against the U. S. Department of
Justice, and he was arrested. He crossed a
police barricade to deliver a letter to the
governor. The police would not let them
through."
Woods saw the memorial of teddy
bears, balloons, flowers, candles and an
emblem of remembrance that Michael
Brown, Sr., and other supporters had
placed on the street where his son was
killed. Activists, clergy, members of
Michael Brown's family gathered at the
memorial to give honor on the anniversary
of his death. Woods was disappointed with
how the police destroyed the makeshift
street monument.
"The police did not value the teddy
bear memorial. They kicked the bears and
candles and burned
the memorial that
people had set up.
My goal is to under
stand how persons
ages 16-35 react to
such events. These
persons are called
members of the
millennium genera
tion," said Woods.
"It has been said
that this generation
is selfish and only
concerned about us.
But we had many
people of this gen
eration to rise up. 1 want my research to
reflect that."
Woods wants her research to have an
impact on the nation.
"There were close calls. I did
see Dr. Cornell West orchestrate
a protest with others against the
U. S. Department of Justice, and
he was arrested."
"There is a way to have impact with
my work. I want to publish my thesis and
get it out there. It will contain more than
100 pages. It is due in early March,"
Woods said.
Woods called her mother Mabel Woods
at least twenty times while she was away
doing research this summer.
"I was in Ferguson for four days, and I
talked to my mother everyday. I knew it
was important for her to know what was
going on because anything could happen,"
said Woods. "I wanted to make sure she
was aware and as comfortable as possible.
Woods went to Ferguson with four
other people who are a part of her research.
"They are my focus group for my
research. I am studying people from
Atlanta who are in their twenties. I chose
this group because 1 am a member of that
group. I want to understand how they are
changing our perception of civil rights
today. They are at the lead of the story at
this moment," Woods said.
"She spent too long in Ferguson. It was
too long. I prayed constantly for her pro
tection, and I was glad when she arrived
home safely," said Mabel Woods.
1
Woods
"God Take Us to the
Next Level in Passionate
Ministry. Please!"
GUEST PREACHER:
Rev. Joseph Daniels, Jr.
Lead Pastor, Emory
Fellowship in Washington,
DC & District
Superintendent of the
Greater Washington,
Baltimore UMC Conference
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