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In Our 24th Year Issue No. 1943 January 2006 www.theacphoenix.conn Associate Consultants
Serving the Triad FREE
GREENSBORO TO HOST WATCHEIL
NETWORK’S IITHANNIAL
BISINESS EXPO
TRYING TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE
The Watchful Network’s
Business Expo is an annual event
held each year during the month
of February in celebration of Black
History Month. The event will be
held at the Greensboro Coliseum -
Special Events Center on Friday
February 10th from 10:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m. This is the organiza
tion’s major event of the year
where small business owners and
entrepreneurs come out to
showcase their products and
services to the consumer. The
Expo has been a tremendous
success, so please come out and
participate in this historic event,”
said President and Founder,
Tyrone Smith.
The Watchful Network, Inc. was
founded in 1994 through the
determination of a group of pro-
ANEW
YEAR, A
NEW YOl!
Nina Shay
For millions of women New
Year’s Resolutions have long
been a traditional aspect of
ringing in the New Year.
Whether it’s making promises
to lose weight, exercise more or
start a new career, the inten-
Founder Tyrone Smith
fessionals to build an alliance
amongst black business owners
and the community through
networking. It is estimated that
African Americans now earn in
Continued on Page 34
tions are always good at the
turn-of-the calendar but for
many, the path to self Improve
ment is not an easy one.
Procrastination, family obliga
tions, work demands and lack
of time and energy are just a
few of the roadblocks to stop
the best of resolutions in their
tracks, no matter how resolute
you are at the start of the New
Year.
More than half the women
who will make health-related
resolutions in the beginning of
the year will start to show signs
of failure as early as late
February or by mid-March.
Better health and an
improved appearance are at the
top of the,.list for 2 out of 3
women each year but for most
women the culprit is the “all or
nothing approach”. Just as it
took you some 20, 30, 40 or 50
years to develop your eating
habits and settle into your pres
ent style, it will take time,
patience and a customized plan
to adopt a new lifestyle.
Unrealistic expectations are a
Continued on Page 6
INSIDE
Golden State Mutual
Offers Church
Program
Lexington Community Minister’s Conference
By Herbert Miller II
On December 9, 2005, the Lexington Community Minister’s
Conference met for its annual Holiday Dinner. Every year the members
of the conference and their spouses come together for a time of fun,
fellowship, and celebration of the Christmas Holiday. An added bonus
this year was the presence of many persons who were not members of
the conference. The conference extended an invitation to pastors and
ministers in the community who
were not members, but had a
desire to be a part of the fellow
ship. Indeed, it was a joyous
occasion.
The Lexington Community
Minister’s Conference was
started five years ago by a group
of local ministers who desired to
make a difference in the commu
nity. Cver the past five years the
conference has slowly become
youth oriented. In the past year,
the organization has been
involved in the push for a
community center for youth. It
also adopted local education,
and mentoring as its main focus
for the immediate future. Many
members of the conference are
mentors. Some churches have
adopted schools, focusing on
mentoring, maintaining a
presence in schools, and helping
out wherever they can.
The current president is Rev.
Derrick Kelly, pastor of New Faith
Full Gospel Fellowship, and
serves on various boards and
community groups. His term
ends on December 31,2005. Rev.
Kelly says, “This conference is
Continued on Page 7
HAPPY HOLIDAY!
Getting Out and
Staying Out of Debt ... .6
Teens and Money . .;. . .8
The AC Phoenix
Prison Ministries 10
In their Own Word
Program Causes
Positive Change in
Teens 14
King Family Divided .. .15
Letter from the
Birmingham Jail 16