Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 29, 2016, edition 1 / Page 8
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Ending generational poverty takes a new approach Jerry Anderson Guest Columnist Over the years (Happy Hill Garden-'51) there have been countless attempts to end poverty among minori ties here in Winston Salem. And even nationwide! While strides have been made in education, employment, housing, social justice and a number of other areas in our society ... generational poverty abounds in this city, rich in history, technology, educa tion, the Arts. The levels of genera tional poverty are unac ceptable. The resulting litany of low expectations, low performance, low this or that, is truly a paradigm that CAN change. A growing number of people realize the need to envision, construct and implement a new approach to address this issue. This new approach must include FORUM an understanding amongst this impoverished people. The process of ushering in this concept is an educa tional piece developed by the foremost authority on poverty in the U.S., Dr Ruby K. Payne of ... aha! ... Process Inc., who seam lessly demonstrates that the poor must first understand poverty before a system can be put in place to erad icate it. That is the "Vision." One of the many chal lenges faced in this process is created by the environ ment in which these, chil dren, fathers and mothers live. Neighborhoods where success models are those of the people that are the most visible but are often the ones who don't represent the shift necessary to pro pel the youth into an orbit that will pull others along with them. Car, tennis shoes and items of clothing or lack thereof form the reality that resides. That ENVIRON MENT will not support CHANGE! In order to effectively develop leaders that will help dismantle this chronic, systemic malady of generational poverty, a refuge must be created wherein the necessary skills can be honed free from the distractions of the toxic environments that we seek to positively impact. This is the "Construct." Development of a "col laborative body" will aug ment this residency plan from which a pilot program will emerge. A program that is fully funded through private, non-governmental participation that rewards participants that complete the training with business ownership and all of the attendant back room serv ices that businesses need to ensure profitability and longevity. Just as we invest in cor porations, we should invest in poverty and see the con tributions made by tax pay ing, engaged fathers, who begin to inspire their chil dren to greater heights as a result of the Pride one feels when success takes hold. There are many service related careers that don't require a college degree and have relatively short start up timelines. Imagine the possibilities if the busi ness community could view this virgin territory of prospective " franchisees " as not only vehicles to power economic develop ment in local coriununities but as investment opportu nities that would positively impact THEIR bottom line. Lastly, there could not be a conversation about eradicating poverty with out a clear understanding of "Toxic Charity," that is - money spent to positively impact some social ill that instead becomes part of the problem. Valuable resources are committed to programs that have time tested measurables that speak to the lack of impact to scale delivered by solu tions that fail to recognize the insidious characteris tics of GENERATIONAL POVERTY. Understanding how to re-integrate the men that live in these neighbor hoods into the fabric of those communities is imperative and doable. We move at warp speed to improve our lives through intoxicants that are short lived. Children yet to be bom will be challenged by the lack of resolve of the prevailing paradigm to speak boldly and with the wisdom of the past, to know that all who said that the earth was flat changed their minds when they changed their prospective. We are not bound by information that served us yesterday when it is clear that information is flawed against the backdrop of an ever-changing landscape. Winston Salem, the city of Arts & Innovation, can truly live out that vision now by weaving this col laborative web of inclusion that will strengthen OUR community and ultimately serve as THE model that drives the winds of change. Jerry Anderson owns Village Produce and Country Store in Ogburn Station with his wife, Paula McCoy. ?. Winston Salem mixer to promote business opportunities SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The city, in partnership with the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Winston-Salem Black Chamber, the FTCC Small Business Center, and Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, is organizing an after-hours business mixer on Jan. 10 to help small businesses, minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses learn about opportunities to do business with the city, with other companies, and with local contractors. The Winston-Salem mixer will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wake Forest Biotech Place, 575 Patterson Ave. All size businesses are invited to attend, including larger companies that use local business for goods and services. The mixer will offer open networking to meet fellow business owners, along with two speed networking opportunities: Construction Trades Speed Networking for one-on-one meetings with general contrac tors and engineers who use subs; and City Department Speed Networking for one-on one meetings with city departments that purchase goods and services. Space for speed networking is limited and registra tion is required. Participation will be first come, first served. In addition, information will be avail able at the mixer about business opportuni ties resulting from projects approved in the Forsyth County bond referendum. Light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Attendance is free, but please RSVP by Jan. 6 so organizers know how many to expect. To RSVP or register for speed networking, go to CityofWS.org/WSMixer. For more infor mation call Tiesha Hinton at 336-734-1262 or send an email to tieshah@cityofws.org. - HitfkiisiMfwallnettttalcmewtybtpfwwtedmifcjftiM NViBHttxttMliinttakkfMtlmtiwSSira. $Urttae6eLinetiehi**snk*M fofiyth County DejartmentofPabit Healtti mN.Htglfcnd fee WiintM Srftm.NC CLINIC 3 HOURS MW&30?-W5pTb93Q?&45f>.fr830it145a [ or more informal on about the flu wcc?t contact tlx health department at 336703-3(00 irrmt mm.nix jpv - Wfl Utatuson: mi faccbook* m I I F# W m mm M i ^Hl j^HH ^U| UB ? ? a ^bb
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 29, 2016, edition 1
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