Community News B1
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BKHI
NAACP holds awards banquet at Grace Presbyterian
? Volunteers, students, and churches were recognized for their
achievements and continuing support of the cause
By YVETTE N. FREEMAN
Community News Editor
John Feemster's acceptance
speech at the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People's (NAACP) award and
recognition banquet seemed to
convey just what the organization
is all about ?
"When I work, I feel I'm
he (Feemster) has written close to
37 memberships. That is an entire
effort by an individual that gets out
there and does this on a voluntary
time. When you talk about writing
memberships and asking people to
get a membership to the NAACP,
that's a tough task." Dr. Manderline
Scales, special assistant to vice
chancellor of student affairs at
Winston-Salem State University,
<:*ii '? ? - i
Doris Moore, coordinator off the NAACP Learning Centers, said the
ceremony was long overdue In recognizing the volunteers and
directors of the centers.
** working for a great cause. I'm
working for a great people, and a
great race. I think anybody that
will invest $10 in the NAACP is
making a great investment because
we are doing this not so much for
our own sake, but for our children
and grandchildren that are going
come on behind us. And I pray and
hope to God that one day we won't
need this organization; that all
God's children wherever they are
will be as one."
Feemster was the recipient of
the NAACP's "Community Ser
vice/Volunteer Award," which was
handed out this past Friday, June
12 at Grace Presbyterian Church.
According to William Tatum, pres
ident of the Winston-Salem chapter
of the NAACP, Feemster received
the award for his efforts in increas
ing the organization's membership.
"In writing the memberships over
the last two weeks, I do know that
was the keynote speaker.
The ceremony was held to
honor individuals involved with
the NAACP's Learning Centers,
volunteers, and churches that have
Grace Presbyterian Church
Learning Center student Quaneisha
Davis was also honored as "The
Most Improved Student," and Mar
jorie Gregory received a certificate
"When I work, I feel I'm
working for a great cause
... for a great people, and a
great race. "
John Feemster
supported the organization.
Those recognized included the
directors of the NAACP Learning
Centers such as Bronnie Daniels of
Waughtown Baptist Church, Peggy
McLaughlin of Hanes Memorial
CME Church, Savannah Thomas
of Wence Church, and Felicia
McMillan, of the William C. Sims
RecreationiC enter.
Others recognized for their
involvement with the organiza
tion's SAT Preparation programs
were Diane Piggott, director of the
program at the Sims Center; Deltra
Bonner, director (first session), and
Clarence Lowery, director (second
session) at the Brown-Douglas
Recreation Center; and John
Moore, director at Grace Presbyte
rian Church, along with volunteers
Billie Matthews, Dr. Pauline Ful
ton, and Yolanda Sims.
L ? u . "iu' Zk U W<
for her volunteer work.
The organization also honored
Bethania AME Zion Church and
United Metropolitan Baptist
Church for their support of the
NAACP spiritually, academically
and through community service.
The Sara Marsh Scholarship,
which was named after a longtime
NAACP President William Tatum presents the "Church of the Year"
award to Virginia Lash, who represented the recipient, Bethanla
A.M.E. Zlon Church.
John Feemster received the NAACP*s "Community Service/Volun
teer Award" for helping to Increase membership.
NAACP President William Tatum; Monica Reld, a representative for scholardhlp recipient John Taylor;
Learning Center student Quanelsha Davis; Virginia Lash; and John Feemster post for a photo follow
ing the ceremony.
employee of the NAACP, was
awarded to John Taylor, who was
unable to attend the ceremony.
'This was our first special cere
mony for them (volunteers) as far as
the NAACP is concerned in recog
nizing them, and I think it's long
overdue because anytime that a per
son gives of their valuable time and
service after they have worked a
regular job, 1 feel like the least we
can do is recognize them for their
services," said Doris Moore, coordi
nator of the NAACP Learning Cen
ters."
Hazel Brown said, "1 think this
is an excellent opportunity to say
thank you to the community, and
especially to the youth, because I
feel that anytime you can give
young people some positive
stroking, that'9 where we need to
be right now with the conditions of
our community and across this
country. We need to be able to say
thank you and we need to be able
to draw those folks in who are
doing some positive things and let:
them know we appreciate what:
they do."
DECAPP Talent Show held for public housing kids
A Over 200 residents of the city's public housing communities turned out for good, clean, fun and education
By YVETTE N. FREEMAN
Community News Editor
Nearly 300 kids and adults ? residents
of the city's four public housing residents
? turned out for the the DECAPP T&lent
Jam, held this past Saturday, June 13 at the
Holiday Inn-North.
The event, which was sponsored by
Mr. Bill's Productions and the Winston
Salem Hpusing Authority and stood for
Drugs, Education, Crime Prevention, AIDS,
and Pregnancy Prevention, was held from
6-10 p.m. and featured the musical group
AGAPE, and several performers vying for
prizes in the talent contest Deronnie Jen
nings served as the dj for the evening.
The contestants from the Piedmont Cir
cle Park community included "Another
Smooth Creation," "The Fly Boys," The
Fly Girls," who won second place; and
"PCP," who won third place; and Tamont
Bell, who was the first place winner from
the Kimberly Park community. Bell, who
performed a dance impersonation of the
rapper Hammer, received a $50 prize from
Bill McClain, owner of Mr. Bill's Produc
tions. He and the remaining winners will
also receive additional prizes from the Win
ston-Salem Housing Authority, and perform
r
again at the "Community Day with Ray
Agnew" at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds on
June 27. Fourteen-year-old Bell said that he
was surprised at winning the contest, but
also excited.
McClain explained that the talent show
came about when Art Milligan, executive
director of the Housing Authority,
expressed a concern for more positive
activities and programs for the youth in the
public housing communities. McCain then
suggested the DECAPP program. "A show
like this, in addition to talent, it also helps
them (kids) develop poise, confidence, and
it gives them some experience in the enter
tainment arena," said McClain.
He went on to say that the event was a
complete success, not only because of the
number of people who participated, but also
because there were no incidents of violence
between the residents.
Traditionally, there has been a rivalry
between the different housing communities,
and this concept is to bring these different
communities together. We could say that we
were blessed that there weren't any inci
dents. When you bring that many young
people together, especially teenagers from
different communities, regardless of
whether they're in housing or not, there's
always a chance of problems; territorial
types of things," said McClain. "One of the
most impressive things about the show was
that the communities rallied as one to sup
port all the acts, even though each commu
nity supported the kids from their commu
nities, they also supported all the kids."
In addition to the talent show, the
members of the AGAPE group also deliv
ered positive messages to the audience
regarding drugs and alcohol, education,
crime prevention, AIDS, and pregnancy
prevention. The members included Kevin
Hayes, Antonia Thomlinson, Shawn Little,
Nicole Perkins, Sha'Mika Albright, and
Harold Kinard.
Sixteen-year-old Thomlinson, who is a
teen mother, inspired the crowd by explain
ing how having a child at a young age has
changed her life. "The best and safest sex is
no sex at all," she encouraged. She added
that she plans to graduate from high school
next year and that "if I have to walk down
the aisle with baby in one hand and diploma
in the other, I'm going."
Other youth activities are currently
being planned, and according to McClain,
this first DECAPP event will hopefully help
to recruit more young people to participate
in future activities.
Bill McCraln, owner of Mr. Bill's Productions, presents Tamont Ball s check for
$50. Ball won first place In the DECAPP Talent Show thla paat Saturday.