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The Chronicle
Volume43,Number 13 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, December 1, 2016
Carlisle in lead local NAACP
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
The local NAACP branch elections went over without
any issues as candidates ran unopposed in races for lead
ership roles and the executive committee.
Tlie Rev. Alvin Carlisle was elected president. He had
announced his candidacy months ago, saying former N.C.
Sen. Earline Parmon, who died in March, inspired him.
At this crucial time for American democracy, and fol
lowing last year's local NAACP controversial election
that had to be supervised by state NAACP officials after
allegations of foul play, a quiet election is exactly what
the local branch needed.
According to branch members, Carlisle will be the
first president in some time to begin his tenure with the
local branch in good standing with the state board. In
years pass, delegates were unable to vote during the state
convention.
Other newly elected
officials are, Dan Piggott,
vice president; Tonya
McDaniel, second vice
president; the outgoing
president, Isaac "Ike"
Howard, third vice presi
dent; and Jannette Piggott,
treasurer. No one was
elected for secretary, assis
tant secretary or assistant
treasurer. According to
interim secretary Linda
Sutton, those positions will be
filled at a later date.
Those chosen to serve on the executive committee are
James W. Shaw, Rev. Keith Vereen, Walter Marshall,
Stephen Hairston, Patrick Thomas, Jamie Transou, Doris
S. Herrell, Mittie Glymph-Cooke, Stuart Cooke and Dr.
Richard Wyderski.
During an interview with The Chronicle, Carlisle said
that during his term as president one of his main focus
points will be improving underperforming schools in the
area.
"Our biggest focus will be improving the performance
of our children in the public school system," continued
Carlisle. "Years ago, the NAACP sponsored after-school
programs that were geared toward improving reading
scores, and we're looking to get back to that."
Carlisle said he will also look to promote black entre
preneurism, and build the connection between the com
munity and elected officials. He said a lot of people
believe there is a divide between politicians and the
African-American community. Under his watch, the
NAACP will look to be a hub where elected officials and
See NAACP on A7
Rev. Carlisle
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
, Photo by Tcvin S tin son
Patsy Squire admires a hat inside Body and Soul in downtown Winston-Salem last weekend during the Shop
Small Bus Tour hosted by the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce.
Tour emphasizes 'buying black'
Shoppers explore the minority-owned
business scene in W-S
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE . '
Last Saturday, the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of
Commerce marked "Small Business Saturday,", the coun
terpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, by taking
shoppers on a "Shop SmalT Bus Tour" of minority-owned
businesses in the area- \
American Express founded Small Business Saturday
on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2010. ?
Every Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Black
Chamber rents a bus, and invites shoppers to go on a guid
ed tour of the businesses in Winston-Salem and Forsyth
County that are owned and operated by men and women
of color. This year, more than a dozen passengers boarded
the bus to discover some of the city's hidden gems.
Throughout the voyage, organization President
Randon Pender highlighted more than 30 different minor
ity-owned ventures. As the bus traveled through the city,
Pender served as the tour guide, calling out various loca
tions where you can "buy black."
Pender mentioned when the organization started host
ing the tours in 2013, the goal was to persuade local shop
* See Tbur on A7
Shalom Project
wants to bring
workforce
housing to W-S
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
The site of the Budget Inn on Peters Creek Parkway
may be transformed into workforce housing.
Hfot's'lhe hope of the Peters Creek Community
Initiative PCCI, which is a subsidiary of the Shalom
Project. The Shalom Project at Green Street Church is
well known for its outreach programs to the economically
disadvantaged. The PCCI has been working for years to
revitalize tne section ot mers
Creek that runs -between .Silas
Creek Parkway and Broad Street.
Last week, the city approved
$15,000 for a feasibility study
PCCI wants to do on the corner of
Peters Creek Parkway and
Academy Street, which currently
contains the Budget Inn and a for
mer Ford dealership currently
being leased by the Salvation
Army. The motel has had issues
with crime and urban blight for
vears
PCCI would like to acquire both properties, which are
up for sale. It would like tp use the properties for work
force housing, some retail space and a new location for
the Shalom Project and its services, like its free medical
clinic, pharmacy and food pantry.
"The hope is we'd be removing a really negative
aspect along Peters Creek and replacing it with something
positive," said Shalom Project Director Lynn Brown at a
Nov. 10 City Council finance committee meeting.
PCCI has helped businesses acquire funds from the
city's Revitalizing Urban Commercial Areas (RUCA)
program to help make improvements. PCCI Chair Kelly
Mitter said those funds stimulated investment in the West
Salem Shopping Center, resulting in improvements at the
plaza. There's a push at the plaza to try to attract new
businesses, like a grocery store, to serve neighborhoods
near it. He said that the presence of the Budget Inn across
the street is making it hard to convince businesses to
locate there.
Mitter said that the project would act as a catalyst for
development around the intersection. It'll also provide
workforce housing near downtown, which he said is
greatly needed.
"One of the criticisms of downtown's revitalization is
that there hasn't been a lot of housing developed for folks
See Housing on A7
WttTr
NGCU alums remember Chancellor Saunders-White
BY CASH MICHAELS
FOR THE CHRONICLE ___
The proud Eagle Nation of North Carolina
Central University (NCCU) continues in deep
mourning for the loss of its leader last Saturday,
Chancellor Debra Saunders-White, the first per
manent female chancellor in NCCU's history.
Dr. Saunders-White, 59, died Nov. 26 after a
courageous battle with kidney cancer, which she
was diagnosed with in 2015. She took a medical
leave last August.
"So many of you have told me how stfong I
am with kind adjectives to reinforce it. While I
am immensely appreciative of your kind expres
sions, I must say that as a child of God, I am only
here today because of His continued grace and
mercy, along with the reassurance of you all,"
Saunders-White wrote to all of her support
ers in an open letter in October. "Please
know that my head is still held up high, delighted
' to continue to serve my Master as humbly as I
know how. I am incredibly grateful for your com
passion and love."
She signed it, "Deb."
The 11th chancellor in NCCU's history,
Saunders-White came to the school on June 1,
2013. Avon Ruffin, a member of the NCCU
See NCCU alums on A2
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