Published Every Thursday in Pembroke, NC
"CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
"Building Communicative Bridges in a Tri-Racial Setting"
VOLUME 29 NUMBER 17 THURSDAY, APRIL 25. 2002 25c IVr ( op>
Pictured top left- Kirk Blue, Brandon Maynor, Darryl Locklear, Tyson Meadors, Charlotte Branch,
and Lee Ryan Lowery. Middle left- Telisha Oxendine, Gerren Maynor, Bridget Dinterv, Brittany
Hall, Karen Fagan, Victoria Locklear, Thomas McKoy, Krystal Harris, Martina Locklear, Candace
Lowry, Fallon Carter , Fallon McNeill, Jasmine Jones, Laura Oxendine. Bottom left- Bradrick
Brooks, Danielle Chavis, Sheena Oxendine, Sarina Maynor, Laury Rose Chavis, Ashlex Locklear,
Lakeshia Jacobs, Nicole Jacobs, Jennifer McNeill, Beth Lowery, Charly Lowry. and Adam Chavis.
Third Annual Poetry Reading and Art Exhibition
Students from Pumell Swett High Scltool participated in the third annual poetry reading and art exhibition
at the Indian Education Resource Center.
The Poetry reading and art exhibition is sponsored b_^the Public Schools of Robeson Counts Indian
Education Resource Center under the direction of Margaret Chavis and coordinating director. Bruce
Barton.
Directors of the event include: Gregorv Sampson. Deloria Cumminas. Emilv Crain. and Yvonne Barnes
Dial.
Pembroke Middle School "Battle of
the Books County Champions"
Pembroke Middle School took
home first-place honors in the
"2002 battle of the books Competition".
.Teams .form the 14
middle schools in the county
competed in the "battles" held
March 30 and April 8 at Luntberton
Jr. High. Lesa Maynor,
Media Coordinator and Ruby B.
Locklear, Media Assistant
coached the team. Dr. Rose
Marie Lowry-Townsend is principal
at Pembroke Middle School.
Pembroke Middle placed fifth in
the regional, competition, which
was held April 11 at Whiteville
High School. Teams from 12
counties participated. The participating
counties were Bladen.
Brunswick, Clinton City, Columbus,
Cumberland, Harnett. Iloke.
Montgomery. Moore, New
Hanover. Public schools of Robeson
and Whiteville City. The
scores from the regional "Battle of
the Books" are listed here:
Cumberland 1st- 146, New
hanover 2nd- 118. Moore 3rd117,
Harnett 4th- 114, Robeson
5th- 113.
CONGRATULATIONS r
WARRIORS!
. : __^2SuOUiZEKaE?aZXU&. m ! II ! !! 1 til. Mg' uU?. ii^i ? i -J
Front row from left; Rachel Fusing, Keisey Harris, Rachel Malcolm, Gertie Parker, Emily Aitomare.
Back row; coach Lesa Maynor (Media Coordinator) Hannah Woriax, Mick Woolf Raisa jones, coach
Ruby Locklear (Media Assistant).
Three Employees Lead Fundraising
Efforts at SRMC
Charity begins at home for three
Southeastern Regional Medical
Center employees. Tammy
Abernathy, Edith Jones and James
E. Jones agreed without hesitation
when asked to co-chair the employee
division of the Take it to
the Top! Capital Campaign. The
campaign will help fund a six-story
Patient Bed tower- offering 136
private rooms with baths for patient
care? and expansions and
renovations to Emergency Services
and the Cancer Center. Because
all three employees believe
strongly n the cause, they are
working to spread their enthusiasm
among their more than 1.900 coworkers.
Tammy Abernathy of Lumberton
joined SRMC 17 years ago as
a staff nurse and now manages the
hospital's psychiatric services unit.
She has served as a customer service
coach, a member of the Patients
Rights and Organizational
Ethics committee, and a United
Way facilitator. She is working
towards 100 percent participation
among employees. "Supporting
the campaign shows that we are
united as a team in supporting one
of our hospitals biggest projects
ever!" she said.
Edith Jones of l.i mbcrton believes
in the campaign as a way to
give back to an organization that
has helped her fulfill a lifelong
dream. When Jones began her career
at SRMC, she worked as a
housekeeper. On (Tic advice of a
supervisor, she continued her
eduction with financial assistance
from the medical center and eventually
worked her way up to her
current position, payroll assistant
accountant. "It is my hope." Jones
said, that all employees will realize
the importance of making this
campaign successful. It doesn't
matter how much you contribute
just that your cared enough about
the medical center to support this
project."
Supporting fundraising efforts at
SRMC comes naturally for James
Jones of Shannon. Each year he
helps out with two annual events.
the Foundation Gala and Festival
of Trees. In 1998 Jones was recognized
for his leadership skills
and caring attitude when he won
the medical center's highest employee
award, the John I). Drake
Distinguished Service Award. He
believes other'employees through
their participation in the capital
Campaign are showing the same
commitment he demonstrates for
the Medical Center. "Completion
of this project will make all of our
jobs much easier. The new private
rooms will make patients and staff
more comfortable." said Jones.
lo date, employees at SRMC
have pledged almost $300,000 toward
the funding of the Take it to
the Top! Capital Campaign. A
community campaign to raise part
of the $50 million to complete the
building projects is also under
way. For more information or to
make a donation, please call the
SRMC Foundation office at 671
5583. all donations will be acknowledged.
Scholarship Established to Honor
Dexter Brooks
PEMBROKE. \.C . - Dexter
Brooks, senior resident Superior
Court judge for Robeson Counts,
died on March 0 after a long illness.
Friends and relumes rentem,ber
him as a man who elutmpijoned
justice. Newspapers eulogized
him as .trr"mrrrnnm
change." and. "one of the most
influential Robesonians of the
second half of the last century."
In April, his brother Larry
Brooks contributed $5,000 to establish
a Judge Dexter Brooks
Endowed Memorial Scholarship
at The University of North Carolina
at Pembroke. He pledged an
additional SI.000 per year for
each of the next live years.
"People like Dexter don't
come along often." Mr. Brooks
said. "He worked for equity and
fairness for all people, and. as a
judge. Dexter worked to promote
racial harmony."
The Brooks family invites
' friends'of Judge Brooks to honor
his memory by making contribu
tions lo the scholarship. I or information.
please call the Office
of Advancement at *>10-5216252.
"We want to create a lasting
mentors for him." Mr. Brooks
said. "In his later years. Dexter
took a real interest in mentoring
and counseling young people."
"To help other young people. I
believe this is an appropriate tribute
to him." he said. "It is our
hope that others will share in this
memorial "
lhe first friend of Judge
Brooks to contribute to the scholarship
was IJNCP Chancellor
Allen C. Meadors. Judge Brooks
presided ov er the swearing in ceremonv
of Chancellor Meadors on
Dec. *15. W?I9
"Dexter Brooks was one of the
first people in this community to
welcome me." said Chancellor
Meadors, "I really appreciated
that, and 1 valued his guidance
and friendship."
Judge Brooks was the first Native
American to serve as a Su
lienor Court judge in Robeson
Counts when he was appointed in
I l'X8 '
l.arr. Brooks and his daughter
i.ela Brooks Woodell contributed
the funds through their Pembroke
business. I.ela Anne's I earning
Center, a daycare center serving
ch11dren from binh to age 12
A Id~| i. nc P graduate and
principal of Pembroke I lementary
School, Larry Brooks said his family
lias a long and mutually beneficial
relationshipwith the university.
"M> wife Lli/abeth and I and
three of our children are graduates-."
he said "We are all beholden
to this university."
As an endowed scholarship, the
principal of the gift remains as a
perpetual memorial, and interest is
used for scholarships.
With the gift. Larry and his
daughter Lela become members of
the Chancellor's Club of donors to
the university.
From Left: Larry Brooks, Chancellor Allen C. Meadors and Lela Brooks Woodell
Tammy Abcrnathy
' 1? 1
Edith Jones
JamesE. Jones
* \* i. r.
AIM will Honor Local
American Indian Mothers
The small group of women who incorporated American Indian
Mother (AIM) as a state chartered non-profit organization never envisioned
that their numbers would grow from 5 initial incorporators
to a total of 74 American Indian women and is still grow ing.
In July 2001. the first meeting of AIM was held at the Longhouse at
the NC Cultural Center. Those in attendance heard reports of the high
incidence of STDs in Robeson County and particularly among American
Indian youth from April Oxendine of the Robeson County Department
of Public Health. Shirley and HB Billiard from the Ameri-ean-Tndian.Alaska
Native National Marrow Donor Program. Lora
Collins on the health issue of Lupus, and Dr. Ruth Dial w oods on the
Role of American Indian women and mothers in the education of
American Indian people and families
The very first meeting of AIM brought together a cross-generational
group of American Indian women. The organization has continued
to meet monthly with a focus on strengthening the organization.
attracting service-oriented and community women, and moving
into critical issues of health, education, community service, youth
programs, and serving the elderly. Organizational projects have focused
on weekly breakfast services with the elderly, the establishment
of a youth tutoring center, the Ruben Center that provides counseling
and tutoring to middle school students, and targeting drug and
alcohol abuse through the Daughters of Tradition Program.
On May 10.2002. AIM will sponsor a county w ide banquet to honor
all American Indian Mothers'and to memorialize three deceased
American Indian Mother. These honorees include Brenda B. Brooks,
a state and community activist in human rights: Delora Locklear. a
community leader who supported projects and activities that benefited
the human good, and Brigette Bray boy Cummings. and outstanding
role model for young women who was Miss Lumbee 1981,
-and outstanding vocalist who performed at numerous church and com-,
munity functions, and career woman at Abbott Laboratories in Laurinburg.
An awards banquet will recognize outstanding service of American
Indian Mothers, excellence in eductioixawards to youth, and Ruben
Center Awards at the May 10th American Indian Mothers Benefit
and Memorial Scholarship Banquet at the Southeastern Farmers market.
Information on tickets, corporate sponsors and advertisements
can be provided by calling either 843-9911 or 843-8601.
Metrolina Native American
Association's 11th Annual
Pow Wow/Festival May 3-5
Mctrolina Native American Association
will host their I Ith Annual
pow wow May 3-5 with Friday.
May 3 being set up day for vendors.
Exhibition and contest dancing
will be Saturday and Sunday.
Grand Entry is 12 noon Saturday
and I p.m. Sunday. The powwow
will be held at Pearl Park on
Kcliworth Ave., across from MidTown
square.
There will be vendors selling Native
American Arts. Crafts and
Jewelry.. Mctrolina will be selling,
native authentic foods.
Master of Ceremonies will be
Keith Colston. Head Judge is Nora
Dial Stanley. Head Female Dancer
is Brenda Silva. and Head Male
Dancer is Ray Silva.
Host drum will be Kautonah Jrs.
Guest drums are invited to participate
in the pow wow and drum
competition.
More than 5.000 are expected to
attend. All dancers are encouraged
to come and dance., there will
be competition dancing Saturday
and Sunday.. Please note the prize
money has increased.
Admissions is free and donations
welcome. Everyone bring your
lawn chairs where you can relax
and enjoy the pow wow, food and
the vendors arts and crafts,
for more information please call
Letha Dial Strickland at 704-9261524
or 704-724-3343.