Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 10, 1991, edition 1 / Page 3
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Best Choice Center gets 2 New Year surprises By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERING - Community Newt Editor Monday marked the first day of operation for the Best Choice Center in a facility that its direc tor, Dorothy Graham -Wheeler, has wanted since early in 1990. An elated staff moved the pro gram's furnishings and equipment from the old location at~14th Street to the building that previ ously housed St. Peter's Apostolic Church World Outreach Center at 1 1th Street and Highland Ave. And at the same time she received the go ahead to occupy the new quarters, Graham Wheeler was surprised with a $25,000 check for <he center from her brother and his wife, Mr. and " Mrs. Joseph Carter. The gift is the largest dona tion from an individual that the center lias ever received. Overwhelmed with the double good fortune, Graham -Wheeler is pleased to have some relief from the problems that plagued thfe city's only neighborhood community-based drug interven tion and prevention program for most of last year. The building where the center was previously housed has been a source of concern for the staff almost from the start when the program began in 1988. Beset by leaks and flooding when it rained, the center was forced to close temporarily in November because the floor was under water. The center was also facing the threat of having to move anyway in light of road improvements on 14th Street that might possibly involve the cen ter's location and neighboring buildings. Graham-Wheeler began looking at other locations that would provide a better environment for the children that the center served and offer more space to expand the program when she became the center's director nine months ago, she said. "Young kids who live in the city should have a better environment <ajt the center)ihan that in which they live. The center should represent the programs offered," she said in a recent inter view. ^ the funds from the city, Graham-Wheeler said, as well as additional funds from other sources. The board is scheduled to meet Monday, Jan. 14, to review the center's request Once the initial funds required in the purchase agreement have been obtained, the center has until 1992 to complete the acquisition, she said. The surprise donation from Mr. and Mrs.. Carter will go a long way toward assisting the center in its financial dilemma. "I was elated by his gift, so pleasantly surprised," an excited Gra ham-Wheeler said of her brother and sister-in law's check. She said the amount was equal to a foundation grant and hopes that her family's gen erosity will spark others in the community to sup^ port the cgjiter. "Winston-Salem has a lot of pros perous petite, especially black people," she said. "They may not have that much ($25,000) to give, but $500 or $1,000 can do a lot," she added. Contacted in Raleigh where the Winston Salem native now makes his home, Carter said that his gift was sparked by his own childhood in Winston-Salem. "Someone has to reach back... I really wanted to do something. 1 had this thing in the back of my mind all my life to do something to help some kids do something with their lives." He said that he hopes his gift will help the center geach its potential in developing programs that offer solutions to some of today's problems. He added that Best Choice gives youths a chance to get a better start in life. Carter, formerly assistant director is senior marketing and state representative for the Interna tional Loan Network^ two-year-old company headquartered in Maryland. He just opened the firm's first regional office in Raleigh. Saying that he does not consider what he did "unique," Carter said he wants to see others who have gained financial ability do the same thing,, to give something back to their community. "So many young people seem to be in trouble. It is far different from when I was growing up," he said, recalling the family support that he jrnd his sister had. "Family structures have eroded, and there seems to be no one who is concerned... We have Photo by Elizabeth Martin An elated Dorothy Graham-Wheeler, Best Choice Center director, leads the way into new center facility at 11th Street & High land Avenue. Helping with moving day are (l-r): Rodney Mullins, program coordina tor, and Chris Martin, youth coordinator. to prepare the children to take over what their parents have started." The old site will continue to be used until the end of January as a satellite location where meet ings of Alcoholics Anonymous take place, according to Graham- Wheeler. She said that an intake person will be on-site during that time to handle drug and alcohol referrals. Whether or not the building will continue to be used will be decided at the end of the month by the center's board of directors. i?i if E m SSSURj Army Thrift Shop Brtc-a-brac ?Bedding ?Furniture 'Appliances ?Oothlng ?Household Items $1.00 OFF Any Purchase OTcr $5.00 with thia ad New Location: 800 North Liberty St. 735-8604 m III : H 51 *? !? it Friende and Burke Atto&fy* at Law vV 548 North Main Street WinstoivSalem, NC 27ioi (919) 722-4140 B. Friende Jr. L.T. BurtcC ? Criminal Law (Felonies ft Misdemeanors) ? Traffic Offenses (DW1) ? Personal Injury Law ? Bankruptcy ? Family Law ? Real Estate Law and wills and Estates THE 1991 WINSTON CUP PREVIEW n a i \ " ' jy ? "111 Be There Because! Care! JANUARY 12, 1991 10:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. BENTON CONVENTION CENTER WINSTON-SALEM, NC FOR TICKETS CALL 1-800-444-4950 miumgfl. Drivers scheduled to appear at different times. C WM WONTS MMKZTMQ I 1 * The 6,000-square-foot facility will allow the center lo add more programs and can accommo date from 200-300 students, a significant increase from the approximately 25-30 served at the 14th Street location. In describing her search for a new location, Graham -Wheeler credits the teamwork of people like East Ward Alderman Virginia Newell, James Mack, and Bishop J. C. Hash, pas tor of St. Peter's. "I had no single-handed task," she said and acjded that she knew the Outreach Center was destined to be Best Choice's new home. She said, "I claimed that building in the name of Jesus...Bishop Hash shared my vision, . too." According to the terms of the contract to pur chase the building, the center must have $50,000 by January 31 in order to remain m the facility.ln; ^ December 1990, Graham -Wheeler and the co-\^ chairs of the Best Choice Center's Campaign Fund, Ernie Pitt and Eldridge Hanes, requested that the Board of Aldermen's finance committee recommend approval of their request for $50,000 toward the acquisition and renovation of another facility to house the center. She moved into the : .Highland Avenue location contingent on getting *s^ * ? 7 ? Photo by Howard Ward Dorothy Graham-Wheeler accepts $25,000 check from her brother, Joseph Carter, making him the largest Individual contributor to the center. VAMEI rallies forces to 'Stop Bush's War' : By PATRICIA SMITH-OEERINQ vf ? Community News Witor *?* + I The Voices Against Middle East Intervention (VAMEI) will . - sponsor a bus pilgrimage to Wash V * in g ton, D.C., Jan. 19, to participate - ifil a national peace rally protesting - ?Xti& intervention of the United *: - States in the Persian Gulf. "We are 'in support of the troops, but we do . - jiot agree with the administration's " jjolicy," said Southeast Ward Alder jmfrn Larry Womble, founder of m I ~ JVAMEI. . yl The grOup will leave from - <*^flunanuel Baptist Church at .1:30 7 iBfeOi. and return at midnight. They will meet other peace marchers in y - l^fayette Park in Washington at 11 * * * *.fn. and proceed to the White House. There a rally will be held from noon until 5 p.m. According k. 10/ Womble, approximately 100 ; 5** organizations from across the coun C try are sponsoring the march on 5: Washington to "Stop Bush's War." V. Womble said, "Some people ?** are of the opinion that we're there for the wrong reasons," He added, "We haven't given the sanctions the test of time to work." He explained that the response ?(. organizations like VAMEI is a growing demon ? -1 stration that more and more^qple _ are supportive of the troops v^hose lives are endangered "buf not encouraged by the policies of Presi dent Bush to ignite a perilous war. ? The cost for the one-day trip is S30. Anyone interested in partici pating should confirm reservations by Jan. 15 with the Reverend John Mendez, (919) 788-7023, or Larry Womble, (919) 784-9373. Checks should be made payable to Emmanuel Baptist Church. Come for the thrill of the game. Come for the passion of the artists and writers. But come. > Becausejthis is the greatest baseball exhibition since Creation, Diamonds Are Forever: - Artists and Writers on Baseball Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art _ 750 Marguerite Dr., Winston-Salem. (919) 725-1904 November 17, 1990-February 3. 1991 ? D&monds Are Forever was organized by the New York State Museum ! and made possible by j American Express Company. 1990 American Express Company a ?Michael Langensteitf, Play Ball, 1982. Postcard Cottage
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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