'Conversations'
highlight W-S
neighborhood
group's summit
BY TEV1N STINSON
THF. CHRONICLE
Neighbors for Better
Neighborhoods was the
host of the first Cross
Systems Equity Summit on
the campus of Winston
Salem State University.
The summit was
designed to bring local
institutions, ? government
agencies and community
based organizations togeth
er to discuss, plan, strate
gize and fund efforts to
work on social; economic
and educational disparities
plaguing a number of com
munities.
Paula McCoy, execu
tive director of Neighbors
for Better Neighborhoods,
said these conversations
have to happen to make an
impact in neighborhoods of
color.
"Neighbors for Better
Neighborhoods is about
asset-based community
development but you can t
do any work without recog
nizing what is going on in
communities of color, so
we have to talk about it."
According to McCoy,
the regions's slow eco
nomic recovery combined
with rising inequality and
wide racial gaps in income,
education and opportunity
puts the region's economic
future at risk.
Monica Walker, nation
al trainer for the People's
Institute for Survival &
Beyond, was the guest
speaker for the summit,
spopsored by the United
Way of Forsyth County on
Saturday, Oct. 24. During
her speech. Walker present
ed data from a number of
universities and professors
that showed how race is a
determining factor when it
comes to social, economic
and educational disparities.
The data collected by
Walker and others were
designed to show that race
is always factored into the
structural analysis of sys
tems such as health care
and education. Walker
believes that to improve the
quality of life of the
African-American commu
nity, the data must be used
as part of the solution.
"If race is present in the
outcome, a structural
analysis of race must be
part of the solution," said
Walker. "If the program
you are designing has not
considered a structural
analysis, then that is the
reason you are getting what
you are getting, because
you are not asking the
question why."
Many of the people
who attended the event are
members of nonprofit
organizations, community
development organiza
tions, community leaders
and educators.
Dr. Yolanda Edmonds,
chair of the Department of
Rehabilitation Counseling
at Winston-Salem State
University, said she came
to the program to get to
know the community bet
ter.
"The program I have is
a rehab counseling pro
gram, so we actually train
people to work within the
community specifically
dealing with disabilities
and employment," said
Edmonds. "I wanted to get
to know the community a
little better so when we get
ready to work with the stu
dents, we know they will
be working for the commu
nity."
Following Walker's
presentation, a number of
attendees said, although
they had seen the data
before seeing the research
compiled at a event with
people from different back
grounds, really helps to
think of solutions to the
problems.
"Because I work with
data, I've seen that data
before, but when she put it
all together, that's what
made an- impact for me,"
Edmonds said.
"I already knew a lot of
the information but when
you start showing it in
every area education,
employment, healthcare it
makes a bigger impact." 1
The room used for the (
event was full, but some <
thought others should have
attended because they are
most affected by the data
presented.
Sisters Tashandra and
Marquita Wisley, who are
members of the Cleveland
Avenue Transformation
Team, said they believed
more young African
American males should
have attended.
"I've been to this
before, when they had it in
Greensboro. I came today
to see what type of people
are coming out to get this
information," said
Tashondra Wisley. "The
people who are targeted the
most by racial disparities in
this country are not here."
"I really enjoyed the
speech today, but I just
think people have to see the
people who are affected by
the decisions they are mak
ing," said Marquita. "We
should be having these
same types of conversa
tions in our on neighbor
hoods and communities."
Following Walker's
opening address, a number
of separate sessions were
held on a number of specif
ic topics including; "Faith
& Race: Are we a
Community of Unity?,"
"Let's Talk about
Education," "The Health of
the Health Industry for
Communities of Color," "Is
Racial Justice Possible in
our Justice System," and
"Income, Gender and
Race: Policy & Poverty."
For more information
on Neighbors for Better
Neighborhoods, visit
www.nbncommunity.org.
REGIONAL
I rr? <1^ 1
Photo from Anonymous via wltx.com
A Columbia, S.C., resource officer is seen in a classroom before he is seen toss
ing a student across a classroom floor.
?w -?-? -* ?% -rf?
Video shows S.(J.
school officer tossing
student in classroom
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA. SC. ? A South
Carolina school district banned a school
resource officer pending an investigation
after a video surfaced showing him tossing
a student across a classroom floor.
The incident apparently captured on a
student's cell phone happened at Spring
Valley High School in Columbia. School
officials and sheriffs deputies are investi
gating what happened, Richland Two
Superintendent Debbie Hamm said.
'Pending the outcome of the investigation,
the district has directed that the school
resource officer not return to any school in
the district." Hamm said in a prepared
statement.
The video shows a uniformed officer
asking a student to rise from a classroom
desk. Another adult is standing nearby. The
student stays seated, when the officer
wraps a forearm around the child's neck.
He tips the attached chair and desk back
ward until the student spills to the floor.
Then the officer tosses the child several
feet across the floor to the front of the
classroom.
The video shows the officer removing
a student who was disruptive and refused
to leave class, Richland County Sheriff
Leon Lott told multiple media outlets.
"The video then shows the student
resisting and being arrested by the officer,"
Lott said.
The images captured an "egregious use
of force" against the student, ACLU of
South Carolina Executive Director
Victoria Middleton said.
Photos by Tevin Stinson
Members of nonprofit organizations, community development organizations,
community leaders and educators listen to Monica Walker during the first
Cross-Systems Equity Summit on Saturday, Oct. 24.
? i ,
i H-I
Don't Set the Flul
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with a flu shot
Everyone older than 6 months should get a flu shot every
year!
High Dose vaccine is available for those over 65 yrs.
Starting Oct. 1. flu shots are always free at
Forsyth County Department of Public Health
799 N. Highland Ave. Winston-Salem, NC
Clinic 3 Hours
M-W 8:30a-3:45p, Th9:30a-6:45p, Fr 8:30a-11:45a
Forsyth County
Dt'/xi rfrrtt't 11 of Public MeattH
Promoting Health, Improving Live*
For more information about the flu vaccine contact, the health department at
336-703-3100 or visit www.flu.nc.gov
c5\ H
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Saturday, November 14, 2015
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Registration Begins at 6x30 a.m..
Corbett Sports Center
1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
Learn about N.C. A&T State University!
An all-inclusive day for
middle school, high school
and transfer students
Take a tour of our
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faculty and staff
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offerings
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