Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 5, 1998, edition 1 / Page 2
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MCNAIR from page CI but to soar," stated state Rep. Alma Adams. (D-Greensboro). The keynote speaker of the pro gram, Dr. Michael J. Massinino a NASA astronaut candidate gave the standing-room-only crowd an inside look at what aspiring astronauts must do to make it. His slides showed what types of training and hard work it takes to become an astronaut candi date. After receiving your candidacy, you must train a minimum of two years to become eligible for a flight. Once assigned a flight, another year's worth of training awaits "Hard work is important, but you also got to be able to put up with fail ure, even though things don't turn out the way you'd like the first time, you just gotta keep going," said Massimino McNair's influence at N.C. A&T has always been seen and recognized amongst faculty and students "Our university is a better place because of Ronald McNair," said Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs Sullivan A. Wellborne Jr. Hurley Williams, a junior history education major is a proud member of the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Post- ,V,* ' x Baccalaureate Program. "I became a part of the program last fall. The pro gram is here to inspire m young African- ^ Americans in any fifcRf to get a Ph. D," said Williams. Many are also thankful and appreciative of McNair's hard work and perseverance. "(He) lets you know that , no matter where you're from, your back ground, your upbringing that you can make it as long as you have determi nation and you strive for success," > stated senior Veronica Logan, a child development major. "We thank God for sharing Dr. McNair with us and for permitting us to experience his love and concern for this campus and nation," said N.C. A&T Chancellor Edward B. Fort in |^^^^thcprogram insert. vocnran on umcsm FILE ? Johnnie Cochran, Jr., center, leaves Brooklyn Hospital after visiting alleged police torture victim Abner Louima on Sept. 3, 1997 in' the Brooklyn borough of New York. Lawyer Brian Figeroux, top left, as well as Carl Thomas and Casilda Roper-Simpson, quit representing Louima in January. Thomas cited ainerences wun jonnme locnran ana two omer memoers of O.J. Simpson's ' dream team." Prosecutors say Louima was sodomized by officers with a wooden stick at a Brooklyn station house after his arrest for disorderly con duct. Four police officers have been charged, and Louima is suing the city for SI 55 million. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey) > Peace Prize nomination Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has formally nom inated President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique to receive the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize. McKinney and supporters of Chissano point out that when he assumed the presidency in 1986, his country had been embroiled in civil war for almost 22 years. In just 10 years, they say, he has brought peace, democracy and bil lions of dollars in foreign investment to Mozambique. While working to rebuild his own war-torn country, President Chissano has simultaneously assisted in brokering peace agreements in Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe, say those championing Chissano s nomination. They also high light that he was a strong regional player in the effort to end apartheid in South Africa. Speaking from her Decatur, Ga. office McKinney said that "much of the credit for Mozambique's pluralistic democratic political system - as well as for similar developments in other countries in the region ? must go to the quiet and steady work of this Mozambican statesman." i (AP Photo/Alan Freund,Pool) " * 4 ? ? Brawn found guilty, ? I Singer Bobby Brown puts his hand to his face after a jury ."found him guilty of drunk driving in a 1996 accident, Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Brown, >husband of singer Whitney Houston, was ordered to serve 3ive days in jail and undergo drug treatment. Jurors deliber ated just over an hour after Brown's lawyer wrapped up his ^defense attacking the handling of blood evidence and ques tioning police motives in waiting four months to charge his ^client. r : f ; Comedy comes to Howard ' WASHINGTON (AP) ? Comedian Chris Rock is bor rowing a page from the Harvard Lampoon to develop an ^Undergraduate humor magazine at Howard University. J Rock* who hosts his own HBO variety show, will provide rthe financial backing for the project but his exact role is still ^undetermined. j "We are in preliminary discussions, and we are commit ted to doing this with Chris," said Nesta Bernard, director of alumni affairs at Howard, a predominantly black univer sity in Washington. ; Rock hopes the magazine will create a training ground for black comedy writers at Howard, said New York music entrepreneur and friend Bill Stephney. ;! Rock's wife, Malaak, is a 1992 Howard graduate. : Rock developed the idea after noticing the dominance of harvard Lampoon alumni in comedy writing. Late night ;host Conan O'Brien is a Lampoon alum as are several writ ers for "Seinfeld," "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night live." ? \ ?> A hero for Mack youth Alonzo Washington entertains his sons, Kahlid, in his arms, and Malcom, with several Omega Man action fig ures while working a booth at Bannister Mall in Kansas City, Mo. The figures of the black superhero come in a vari ety of skin tones and are based on the popular ' comic book series pub lished by Washington's J Omega 7 Inc. 4 ' # (AP PSoto/Orlin yVagner) ? i MARKET STREET from page CI tuHin* cutllnm once and for all do something about the Cumberland Shopping Center," said N.C. A&T Chancellor Edward B. Fort "I am going to advocately assist on that as Chancellor and as a mem ber of this board (East Market Board of Directors ex. officio member) and my hope is that you're with me in con junction with the removal once and for all of that "gargantuan" like eye sore, it has to go. Any effort to attain the center will be hard pressed. According to Greensboro City Council member Claudette Burroughs-White, the own ers of the center reside in Connecticut and attempts to contact them to make a bid for the property have been futile. Another question that has arisen lies with the small businesses presently in the area. What hap pens to them if an influx of larger compa nies come in? Getting sup port from the community is hard enough without stiffer competition : _ <1 turning miu mc mix. Crystal Miller, who owns "Gifts Galore" at 2101-E East Market street in the Market East Plaza says that the store was opened to provide a service to the community and her concerns about being left out of the picture should not go unheard. "If we bring in businesses, big busi nesses and they saturate the small businesses that are already in exis tence, what was the risk for, we were the pioneers, the very first people to come in," Miller said. Miller acknowledges her role in the community and hopes everyone else knows theirs. ? ,? / .? ? ' .'ff ? ? ? "As a business owner, I must be committed to my business, I must bring in the right merchandise, I must be customer oriented consumer friendly, etc. and the same thing lies on the customers. The customers must support the businesses that are there, you Can't forget about us and that's what often happens. They'll (customers) run somewhere else that maybe (is) more convenient instead of making a commitment. We must make a commitment hand in hand." Commitment is a key word and it raises yet another question. How committed will this plan be in consid ering two other entities...students and the residents of this area? ?n e ?? ?? ? i nc iccnng among college stuaenis is that there is a need for restaurants ? especially those of African American culture ? and quality entertainment in the area. Residents expressed the need to "clean up" the neighborhoods and increase police supervision which can help keep crime under control. Both sides also emphasize the need for a better way of getting around the area since the tran sit system does not run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "There should be a transportation system for people that don't have cars and won't be getting cars to get these places," said Kenya Samuels, a Bennett College student. With so many needs and wants, somebodies suggestion is bound to be left out. "We're not going to be able to sat isfy everybody," stated White. But with the help of some visitors from out of state like Chris Palladino, the plan for the corridor should express the best interest and needs of the peo ple. Palladino, who works for Development Concepts Inc. a compa ny in Indianapolis, Indiana says that he and his colleagues are here to put the development plan together. The plan will come from informa tion gathered from research and dis cussions with the community. The plan will be specific about the uses of resources and where they should go. The roles that the city and private sec tor will play in it will also be specified along with funding parameters and resources. White says the community will continue to have a voice as the plan takes form. Anyone who gave there name and address at the workshop will receive a summary of the infor mation gathered on Saturday. In about a month and half another workshop will take place to review over a draft of the plan. The last step in finalizing the plan will be the public hearings. At least three of these must take place before the City Council can adopt the devel opment plan. Hearings will be held by the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission, Planning Board and City Council. CDC from page CI "I was told very recently," Randolph added, "that we're in a war. That we lose some and we win some. My com ment was, at 0003%?we lost. "Hie war is over." However, during its nine-year exis tence, the CDC itself has won some battles and lost a few. The group has successfully assisted some families with moving into affordable and decent housing with its handling of the Thirty-Six East Apartments. Also, the CDC, in addi tion to counseling families interested in becoming homeowners, has helped with the renovation of many houses and apartment complexes. It received a federal grant that is being used to build a cafeteria in East Winston. Plans for the cafeteria are currently in the work* Randolph said that pro jects such as this normally take up to three years to complete. The CDC's cafeteria project is in its first year. On the other hand, the group's operating budget has been reduced from $500,000 to $75,000 due in large part to the N.C. Community Development Initiative, a state group which funds CDC's throughout North Carolina, cutting back on its support. And NationsBank recently backed out of a deal to set up a SI00,000 revolving loan fund. The leadership and management of the CDC has been under fire. The grpup's management and financial woes has led the group back to the drawing board. Their current strategy is to implement a new mem bership drive. They intend to raise S2S0.000 annually in membership funds. "We must help ourselves," stated Randolph. Board members of the CDC are asked to obtain twenty new members at any membership level. The individ ual level membership is $25; sponsor level membership is $100-$499; sus taining level membership is $500 $4,999; and the corporate level membership is $5,000 and up. "One thing that we do have to have is a commitment from this board," Randolph emphasized. "[Funding sources] want to know where is the support of the board? Problems that we had with the CDC in the past have been no board participation in terms of what was actually going to happen." SELF REUANCE from page CI the Experiment in Self-Reliance has just been forgotten," Ross said. There was anger and sadness in her voice last week as Ross explained the circumstances surrounding her resig nation from the role of chairman. Wednesday, Jan. 27 was to have been her last day as chairman of the ESR board of directors. This Tuesday, however, Ross said that she will remain at the helm until an external evaluation of the organization had been conducted. A study on ESR's operations was commissioned sinee Ross submitted a letter stating her intent give up the role of chairman. Ross said she does not know how long the evaluation will take to complete, but she will remain in place. "I still believe I can be of more value to the organization as a member of the board rather than as its leader," she said. Ross, who credits her late husband C.C. Ross for her volunteer leadership, explained that as the chairman her role at meetings is to moderate and let others express their opinions. Ross said that's a significant disadvantage because she has much to say about some of the recent board decisions regarding the staff's daily operation of the Experiment in Self Reliance. "When I'm sitting here playing chairman, I have to maintain a certain amount of dignity," observes Ross. "But when I'm sitting around the table and you bring something up I have a right to speak it the way I want to sneak it." During a two-hour interview with the Chronicle, Ross acknowledged that waging the war against poverty in Forsyth County has become a sec ondary concern for the Experiment in Self-Rieliance. That's because the core leadership of the nonprofit group is embroiled in a bitter, power struggle, said Ross, who is at the center of the controversy. "It started in October. October, November, December and January," Ross said, holding up one finger for each month. "Four meetings, five and a half hours was dedicated to Dorothy Ross," she said, adding "They spent that many hours crucifying me" Ross, who calls her situation, "the lynching of the leader," said she is being forced off of the ESR board of directors. She has no plans of leaving. Instead, she intends to serve the remaining two years of her term as a very vocal member of the board. She contends that other board members want her out because she is the dri ving force behind day-to day activi ties. Ordinarily, nonprofit groups are ecstatic about having an enthusiastic and committed volunteer to pitch in and make things happen. The prob lem, however, is that running an orga nization is the job of the executive director. At the Experiment in Self Reliance, the execute director is Robert Law. Law, who has been ESR's director for 12 years, also plans to leave the organization. He has said he will retire. However, according to the resignation letter that he submitted to the board of directors, Law's pro-1 posed date of termination is April 1000 Although Law gave his letter to the board several months ago, the board has yet to accept it. Ross said the majority of the board's executive committee doesn't want to keep him around that long. Other executive committee members want to replace him now, claims Ross. In addition to Ross, John Sheldon, C.P. Booker, Pamela Hakl, Kenneth Rocker, Jonathan Yarbrough, Jesse Draft, Pedro Herran and Edmund Hairston serve on the executive committee. '?\ "The whole thing after me is to get to him," Ross insists. She said that she took on a very active role after being coached a few months ago by a United Way official on effective vol unteer management. "l have not been the same since," noted Ross., who said she has evolved from being a passive board member to being a visible board chairman. "That meant that I began to go down to the office and see what was going __ ?? on. Ross said that she, not Law, has kept the organization running. For example, in a Dec. 2 memo, Ross admonished Law because no one was on duty to answer the telephone on a Monday morning until after 10:30 a.m. With her out of the way, it will be evident that Law has not been doing his job, said Ross. But she does not want to be used as a tool to oust Law and rob him of his retirement. "When I read his letter to the exec utive committee in October, they got very, very busy," recalled Ross. "Now it is worth you understanding at the newspaper, and everybody else in Winston-Salem, that that board was not doing one blooming thing that amounted to anything until they got Mr. Law's retirement tetter." According to Ross, other board members "want to interrupt the retirement, find fault and fire him. So they want me to leave. But Ross maintains that she is not going to be a part of stabbing Mr. Law in the back. "I am not going to be a part of saying to Mr. Law, 'you didn't do this in '96,' or 'you didn't do this or you didn't do that."' Last April, the board gave Law a list of 10 things to accomplish, said Ross. "But when the board met the next month in May, no one asked the status of any of the items, she said. "It's like parents with your chil dren, if you give them a task and they didn't do it. If you don't ask, they're not volunteering." Ross said that she agrees with those who think an April, 1999 retire ment date is too far away. The group's legal advisor, Beverly Mitchell is among them. In a Nov. 20 letter to Ross, Mitchell wrote, "I believe this letter of intent to resign or retire is premature and should not be accept ed. My recommendation is that the Board of Directors advise Mr. Law that you have received his notice of resignation but because of its effective date (April 1, 1999) it will not be accepted at this time." Although Law has submitted his letter of intent, Mitchell advised Ross that he "remains an 'at will' employee of the Experiment in Self-Reliance for such period as he chooses to-remain or the BoanLof Directors chooses to retain him." According to Ross, the board is inclined not to retain him but to replace him with the recently-hired assistant director, Daniel Haire. But Ross is determined to keep that from happening. "Dorothy Ross thinks its about time that they put a strong black man down there as executive director," she said. "I want a brand new talent." Louise Wilson was the first direc tor of the Experiment in self reliance. She was followed by Law. She believes that the current staff turmoil will only worsen if Haire is made director. Ross said there have been numerous complaints, some of them in writing. For example, in November, Ross received a letter from a job applicant alleging that Haire had been shockingly rude. "I am writing to express my disap pointment, as well as my concern regarding the treatment I received from Mr. Haire during a phone con versation regarding the status of my application for a position as a case worker specialist with the Experiment in Self-Reliance," wrote Carl Morris Jr. In his correspondence to Ross, Morris said that he "was rudely rebuffed by Mr. Haire, who apparent ly is lacking in interpersonal skills." Ross said that staff members call her regularly with their gripes. They have since been instructed by law and Haire not to call Ross, and she is for bidden to come to the ESR office more than once a week, said Ross. "Now who ever heard of an orga nization telling a volunteer she can't come to the building?" Ross asks. "I have rights, too and I am not staying away from ESR." Ross believes that by keeping her away from the office, everyone will see that she was the one getting tasks accomplished, not the executive direc tor who is paid to fulfill those respon sibilities. She said others on the board want "to give Dorothy Ross hell because she is doing his work. And if we can get to her, we can get to him." Ross said that the board should release Law, but it should be done in a fair manner. "I am the first to admit that Mr. Law is not a very good manager. I will admit that he has not managed ESR in the way that I felt he should. I'm agreeing to that. Buf he has been doing all of this for 12 years." If the bickering among leaders isn't enough of a problem, the Experiment in Self-Reliance is also defending itself against claims of dis crimination. Last spring, ESR imple mented a Strategic Plan that called for a reduction in staff. In June, the staff was trimmed, but several former employees have filed charges alleging that the decision on who to let go was based on age. One of the complaints adds that race also was a factor in the s firings. "After my termination, a younger white male was hired to assume my duties and responsibilities as Deputy Director, but under the job title as Assistant Director," states a discrimi nation claim filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Vera Phillips, who was cut from the position Haire how fills. Ross said she, too is bothered that the organization would Are a black woman and replace her months later with a white male and give him a higher salary. "Mr. Hatre is not going to become the executive director, and that's why I'm not getting off this board," Ross said. According to the statement Phillips gave the EEOC, "At least seven Case Managers/Case Aides within the organization were also dis charged, all of whom, like me were Black, over SO years of age and with 25 plus years of experience as Case Managers with the agency. Since these terminations, persons (white) and under 40 years of age have been hired. ? #
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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