NAACP
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ty can come together and find solutions to
the issues that impact everyone.
"Hopefully, the NAACP can be that
mechanism that makes sure community
and those in political power are working
together," Carlisle said.
To focus on his new position as presi
dent, Carlisle said he will no longer serve
as the third vice president of the Ministers'
Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity.
Carlisle said although he will still be an
active member of the organization, his
main focus will be reviving the local
NAACP branch.
The Ministers' Conference will hold
elections to replace Carlisle and other offi
cers on Tuesday, Dec. 20..
Bishop Todd Fulton, president of the
Ministers Conference, said as president of
the local NAACP branch, Carlisle will gal
vanize the community and bring structure
back to the organization. Fulton mentioned
Carlisle has a track record of bringing peo
ple together.
"Reverend Carlisle is a real communi
ty organizer. Throughout my tenure as
president he was there by my side every
step of the way," said Pulton. "I'm confi
dent he has what it takes to turn the local
NAACP branch around and bring this
community together."
Many of the local branch members
seem to be confident in Carlisle ability to
lead as well. When Carlisle first
announced he would be throwing his hat in
the race for president longtime branch
member Jimmy Jordan said Carlisle was
the right man for the job.
"I think Reverend Carlisle has what it
takes to turn this chapter around," said
Jordan. "We need to get more going and 1
think Carlisle will do that for us."
The local NAACP branch will hold the
last meeting of the year on Tuesday, Dec.
27. New officers will be sworn in during
the meeting on Jan. 31.
Shelia Bailey looks through the selection of greens
at the Village Town <ft Country Produce Store on
Saturday, Nov. 26, during the Shop Small Bus Tour.
Photos by Tevin Stinson
Eager shoppers board the bus on Saturday, Nov. 26, during the Shop Small Bus Tour hosted by the
Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce.
Randon Pender, president of the
Winston-Salem Black Chamber of
Commerce, served as the tour guide
during the Shop Small Bus Tour last
weekend.
Tour
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pers to take a chance, and
shop small not only during
the holiday season but
year-round.
"We aren't trying to tell
anyone how to spend their
money, but we want the
people to know there are
options," she said. "You
don't always have to go to
the big name stores to find
quality products. There are
a number of small busi
nesses in this area that
many people don't even
know about, and we hope
to change that."
Along the way, the bus
made a number of stops so
those on the tour could
shop and explore. One of
the first stops on the tour
was at the newly opened
Village Town & Country
Produce Store, which spe
cializes in providing fresh
fruits and vegetables at a
price cheaper than most
grocery stores.
While boarding the bus
after buying a bag of fresh
greens at the Ogburn
Station store, Shelia Bailey
applauded the Black
Business Chamber for put
ting the event together.
"I think this is just won
derful," she smiled. "I am
really enjoying this."
The tour also made
stops at Zael's Florist,
Popcorn Fanatic, Body and
Soul, Kingz Convenience
Store, and Malone's
Restaurant for lunch. A
number of business owners
and entrepreneurs even
took the time to personally
thank shoppers for stop
ping by.
The owner of Kingz
Convenience, Keith King,
said he was grateful for the
support from the Black
Business Chamber and the
busload of shoppers. King
mentioned his store, locat
ed near the bus station
downtown, has been in the
same spot for a decade.
"I am really thankful
for the Black Business
Chamber and everything
they do to support minori
ty-owned businesses in the
area," said King. "It really
means a lot to know that
you have the support of the
community."
When measuring the
success of the tours, Pender
said a number of people
have requested that tours
be held throughout the
year. She said they are now r
looking to hold a tour in the
summer to accommodate
those who are out of town
during Thanksgiving each
year.
Andrew Lindsay, Black
Chamber member and
owner of AKS Gifts &
Promotional LLC, said the
event has grown to become
one of the organization's
biggest events. He said the
event is so important
because if we don't support
our minority-owned busi
nesses, they will go away.
"The more businesses
we have in our community,
the stronger it will be,"
continued Lindsey. "If
we're going to have strong
communities, we have to
support our businesses.
"For us to be success
ful, we have to support
each other, family support
ing family," he said.
For a complete list of
minority-owned ventures
highlighted during the
Shop Small Bus Tour con
tact the Winston-Salem
Black Chamber of
Commerce website,
www.wsblackchamber.co
m.
Photo by Todd Luck I
The Shalom Project's Peters Creek Community Initiative would like to put work
force housing on the site of the Budget Inn.
Housing
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who work downtown or who work in our
community," said Mitter.
"We've developed an awful lot of high
end lofts and that kind of stuff, which is
great, but we also need to create housing
for folks who an? working there who can't
afford that. So this is a missing piece, I
think, in the housing picture around down
town."
The city grant, along with a $5,000
BB&T grant and possible additional funds,
will pay for a feasibility study by the
National Development Corporation, which
will work in collaboration with the North
Carolina Housing Foundation. The study
will begin this month and is expected to
last sixth months. It will be used to deter
mine what form the project will take,
including how many units of housing
might be put on the property.
"Enchants and enthralls...
?
The Nutcracker sweeps us up in a spell..."
- Winston-Salem Journal
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