? ~ .. Living Waters * from page AI $' a facility, the Living Water family extended a hearty welcome, Davis said. "This pastor was very much willing to open up his church," she said. The day-care center has been a success, Davis said. Parents love the low teacher-to-child ratio, and they seem to appreciate the fact that many of the lessons the youngsters learn are Bible-cen tered. "This i^ a Christian organiza tion," Difvis said proudly. The day care has cut out its own distinct niche in the building. The bright toys and colorful abstract masterpieces that the chil dren have created contrast with the monotony of the rest building. One day this week, a group of children in the day care played with shiny, gold fabric while others sat around a small table talking to one another. Still another group crooned a Spanish tune along with ' , a record. The tuition is based bn family income. The center also awards several scholarships through Smart t Start. There are more than 30 kids at the center. But like the other services the center offers, the day care could handle many more youngsters, staffers say. The resources at the cenfer are t* "? super-light, and staffers say pro- , moling the center is usually a task they leave to word of mouth. But now they want to get the word to people who pass by Living Water every day and see it as just another church. ^ "There is still room at the cen ter. We need for people to know that we are here." Davis said. "We would like for this community to come out." Last year, when people in the community grumbled that the lines at Reynolds Health Center were too long and that the bus trip to the center was even longer, the cen ter responded by opening the pre natal clinic. A nurse/midwife is on staff full time, and obstetricians and gynecologists from the med ical center come in two times a week. ? The spacious clinic houses four examination rooms, complete with familiar hospital cots, drawers and stools. Davis says the clinic is no mock-up. Women are treated to top-notch prenatal care, she says. "We can do everything they do at (Reynolds Health Center) except ultrasounds." she said. , Davis says that "the family friendly environment at the clinic keeps patients coming back and brings new ones in every day. "It's on a small scale so we are able to develop a rapport with our (customers)." Davis said. The clinic accepts Medicaid. But there are also options for those who do not have insurance. Staffers say patients at the clinic will pay a "substantially" lower amount compared to other health care facilities. The dentist office is the center's newest venture. About '27 local dentists volunteer on Saturdays to man the center's dentist facilities. There is no charge for the service, but because the program is funded through Smart Start, families must have at least one member who is 5 or under to qualify for the dental services. While many of those who uti lize the center live in the southeast section of the city, the center is open to anyone who wishes to use it, although staffers say they prefer those with private health insurance to use other facilities so the center will be free to those who need it most. The center has a diverse clien tele. Translators are often brought to help staffers and health-care providers in their quest to provide quality service, Davis said. Davis says that the center is anxious to hear from the public about the type of programs it wants offered at the center. There are already a few classes on parenting being offered. Davis hopes one day to add a computer lab to the facility so that people can come in and type resumes; cur rently the only public computer the center has is in the day care. Davis said the center's ultimate goal is to build healthier individu als, families and communities. It is a goal she says the small staff and the volunteers at the clinic will work toward. ., "I don't think there is anyone alive who doesn't want (his or her life) to be better," Davis said. / The Living Water Family Resource Center is at 2315 Urban Street, near Sprague Street. For more information on services call 650-0633. < Photo by T. Kevin Walker Audrey Davis talks about soma of tbm brand-now equipment in the dentist office at the Living Water fam ily Resource Center. It opened late last year. Taylor fmm%page AI n So when you have that desire to . obtain a certain position, and then it happens, there's a pressure associated with it." he explains. "You work harder and you're a little bit more apprehensive because you don't want to fail.. There are so many folks who have wished you well and said you have the skills to do it, so the pressure to succeed is there. There is no question about it." But pressure or no pressure, Taylor is ready. After all, this is ! not the first time that he has been among the first. When he joined the Charlotte Fire Department in 1971, he was only the second African American to be made a part of the department. Though some may attribute his ground-breaking achieve ments to sheer good fortune or chance. Taylor is a staunch believer that preparation, more than hick, is the key to succeed ing. ' There's a lot of times when folks say you,are successful by being in the right place at the right time, and that is true in a lot of cases. But even being in the right place at the right timg you have to be in a position to take advantage of the moment, to take advantage of the opportunities," he said. Good advice from a man who obviously has been prepared more than once. Born in Montgomery, Ala., and raised in what he calls a "typ ical Southern black" home with working-class parents, Taylor remembers his father's dedication to honesty and hard work. "My father often said, 'Your word is your bond,'" he said. "I believe in leadership by example and haying integrity beyond reproach. I define 'integrity' as doing the right thing whether anybody is looking or not."* Taylor's stint as High Point's chief will probably be his last pro fessional move. His overall vision is to make High Point's depart ment more effective. "Once that is done, I think I'll, retire professionally," he said. At that point, Taylor .yows to give more attention to his garden ing, Fishing and travel. And, of course, what retirement would be complete without golf, a sport of which he is an avid fan. But until then there is work to be done. "If I see something needs to be done, I just go after it," he said. < Conference from pafte AI American relationships. The theme for the conference is "community empowerment through arts and education." It was tailor-made for the marriage between the two events. "We really wanted to explore how the arts play a part as far as economic development in our city, and we want to show that the same thing can happen in other cities." ? Malloy said. The National Black Theatre Festival has pumped more than $25 million into the local economy since it began in 1989. This year will be the festival's 10th anniversary, and festival orga nizers are promising the best one ever. The executive director of the N.C. Black Repertory Company, which stages the biennial event, says the mix of stars and politicians will only add to the spectacle. "The National Bltrck Theatre Festival is truly exhilarated to have such an important event during our festival," said Larry Leon Hamlin, producer and artistic director of the festival. 'Hamlin said when he learned early this year that the festival would have company, he immedi ately "saw the benefits." Hamlin will-lead the featured workshop on economics and the. arts. He says he will use the occasion to show the politicians that the arts can be a sound financial investment, an investment that will pay off not only in dollars but in self-esteem for; young pepple. Despite the success of the festi val, Hamlin had a tough time get ting financial support from the city. Last month, as the Winston Salem Board of Aldermen wrapped up its budget talks, four of the eight board members, and the mayor, voted not to grant Hamlin's modest request of $150,000 to help cover some of the expenses for this year's festival. Lobbying on the part of the board's four black Democrats even tually led to the festival being awarded $100,000. Hamlin said it is a sum that he accepted gladly. "We are delighted that the Board of Aldermen had a change of heart," he said. "Of course we would have liked the $150,000. but we will take the $100,000 with a smile and push for the full amount next time." Womble said the city can always do more to help both events, espe cially since Winston-Salem will have a rare opportunity to outshine the bigger and brighter cities in the state. "This is a first for us in Winston Salem." Womble said. "The city will be publicized all over the country, and when people go back home they will tell everybody how won derful Winston-Salem is." Womble, who as a state repre sentative no longer qualifies for NBC/LEO, first became involved in u NBC/LEO when he became an e alderman in 1981. He, in turn, intro- a duced Malloy to the organization c when he joined the board a decade s later. Malloy brought Johnson and t Terry on board. Twenty-two-year- P veteran Alderwoman Vivian Burke has been a part of NBC/LEO for r much of her tenure. Alderman Ver- e non Itobinson is also a member of a the organization. Although hundreds of local 1 black elected officials have joined 1 the ranks of NBC/LEO, thousands of blacks hold such positions around the country. "There", is still room for (NBC/LEO) to grow," Malloy says. "Our membership should be more than it is." Malloy and Womble say it's incumbent on longtime elected offi cials to school newly elected officials ] about the organization. Womble 1 also shy? that black elected officials ^houfd not turn their backs on i NBC/LEO when they ascend to higher offices. "When I became a state (legisla tor), I still participated in the meet ings and attended the conferences," said Womble, who is the vice chair of states Legislative Black Caucus. "A lot of times when we come up in (politics), we forget the groups that we formerly were with. 1 promised not to do that." Malloy says the event will help NBC/LEO with recruitment by showing the various members unit ed. "We need to show that we are on tbfe same page on certain types of issues," Malloy said. The host committee also sched iled many of the conference's vents so that NBC/LEO members ind the public will not have to :hoose between plays and work hops. The two events complement arch other in every possible way, dalloy said. J:, "After we take care of our busi less during the day, we can then injoy the festival in the afternoon ind at night," Malloy said. Although NBC/LEO members lave gathered in cities like Las /egas, Washington and Cleveland n the past, Malloy and .Womble lay they want this year's conference o be the model for future cities to bllow. Both men have taken on the responsibility of publicizing the ;vent thrpugh the media. They say it is perhaps the most important job of all because with out support from the public, all the planning and preparation would have been in vain. "We are imploring this entire community to come out and sup port this conference." Womble said. "This is not only beneficial to the black community, this will be help ful to the entire city of Winston Salem." Hamlin is keeping his fingers crossed that the festival, which will run from Aug. 2-7, will have an unforgettable year. To mark the 10th anniversary, Hamlin is hoping for record attendance and tons of enthusiasm. "For our 10th anniversary, "I would like to see all of Winston SSlem, especially the African Amer ican community, come out and make this the best festival we have ever had," Hamlin said. ? mk I. i ? HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE THE SILENT KILLER African Americans are at a higher risk for hypertensioiv.and its end results- stroke, heart attack, kidney failure. Hypertension does not discriminate against race, sex., or age Help us to help you and future generations of African Americans. Call now and participate in our research studies and receive FREE medication, testing and parking. 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