_ , . _ . fi Photo by Kevin Walker
radzia Treadwell speaks directly to the (lass of 2001.
Construction
from paAI
munity Development Block Grant;
and The Department of Housing
and Urban Development after the
federal government became con
cerned that cities that receive federal
money for housing programs put
too much emphasis on brick and
mortar and not enough on people.
Richie Brooks, director ol
Housing and Neighborhood Ser
vices, the agency that oversees the
program, says his department has
never been a brick and mortar oper
ation.
"We want to provide opportuni
ties to persons that really want to
change their lives," said Brooks "We
T Rave the belief that if we can touch
? One person, we have been success
| ful."
I In recent years the program has
; increased its focus on job placement
? after the graduates complete the
1 program. The placement rate for
I graduates is near 100 percent.
; Some have found jobs with city
? agencies; others have found work
I, with private companies The pro
; gram is trying to form more part
? nerships with local construction
. companies for employment and
; educational purposes The gradu
; ates have benefited by visiting and
? working at actual construction sites
! Quivette Powell, a 2001 gradu
; ate, has already landed a job with
; the city. Powell admitted that at one
? point she never thought she would
1 hold the certificate that she caressed
I I
last week like a newborn.
"I really didn't think I was going
to finish this class. It was hard so
; many times for me even to come to
, class," she said.
Powell's motherly responsibili
ties (she has three young boys) often
I clashed with her classwork. She said
she kept her eyes on the prize
because she wants a better life for
her little ones. It's a goal that she
? believes is obtainable now that she
has cleared the first major hurdle.
Graduate Demetrius Wilson
said he entered and stuck with the
class because he did not like what he
was seeing around him. Friends and
neighbors were on the wrong side of
the law, partaking in seedy activities
He said he knew that if he didn't
look for change, he would head
down the same road.
"If I didn't join this class I
'know that I would be locked or
dead," he said, looking down at his
framed certificate in wonderment.
Kelly Sparks was given the task
of putting the hopes dreams and
experiences of him and his class
mates into a compact speech at the
graduation ceremony. He told of
their many days of frustration and
insecurity. He also said that on
many days members of the class
wanted to give up. Sparks thanked
the teachers counselors friends and
families on behalf of his class. He
also expressed the hope that officials
say is evident in many of the con
struction graduates.
"It has been a long time coming,
but a change did finally come."
Sparks said.
jFlog
< p~om page A4
j pew flag, saying the Confederate X
? had branded Mississippi with nega
] tive stereotypes.
J Mfume praised Gov. Ronnie
] Musgrove and business leaders for
? working with the NAACP and
other groups for a new banner.
! : Officials at the University of
( Mississippi's Institute for Racial
i Reconciliation had endorsed a new
. flag. On Wednesday, the institute
] issued a letter announcing plans for
J a meeting in June for people who
' want to work on race relations.
1 . "It is clear that racial divisions
J still plague our state. We call upon
j all Mississippians to work to end
i those divisions once and for all
J time," the letter said.
] The National Collegiate Athletic
1 Association will discuss April 27
? whether to cancel future sporting
! events in states that embrace the
] Confederate battle flag. At stake
could be NCAA postseason base
ball tournaments.
Casinos paid $360 million in
state taxes and fees last year. Missis
sippi Gaming Association, the casi
no's lobbying group, endorsed a new
flag.
"We thought it was the right
thing to do." director Andy Bour
land said, citing the racial diversity
of the casinos' employees and
patrons.
Bourland said he doesn't know
what impact a boycott would have
on state casinos, some of which
belong to companies that operate in
Las Vegas and other places.
John Saleeby of Natchez Pil
grimage Tours, umbrella for the
state's largest and oldest pilgrimage
to antebellum homes, said he doubts
a boycott would keep tourists away
from Old South attractions.
"I might have my head stuck in
the sand or something but I'm not
overly concerned about something
like that," Saleeby said.
The Trustees, Chancellor, Faculty and Senior Class
?
L of
Winston-Salem State University
request the honor of your presence at our
O
109th Commencement Exercises
Saturday, May twelfth
Two thousand and one
Nine forty-five in the morning
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
(
Speaker
. Myrlie Evers-Williams
civil rights activist
Winston-Salem Stale University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27110
Church builds bridge during
event in Easton community
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
A bridge is a place or means of
connection or transition. We nor
mally think bridges create pathways
between great distances. However,
some of the most important bridges
span only a few miles and are con
structed out of the fabric of human
ity. not steel. On Saturday, April 28,
families from St. Peter's World Out
reach Center and the Easton com
munity connected for a fun-filled
afternoon and began building what
promises to be a productive rela
tionship that will benefit local resi
dents.
The event took place in the field
of Easton Elementary School. The
afternoon's activities included a
mini-concert featuring lively Latin
and reggae music selections, face
painting, games and refreshments.
Representatives from St. Peters
Family Life Enrichment Center and
St. Peter's Family Support Services
were on hand to provide informa
See Bridge an A8
A family enjoys the activities at the "bridge" event.
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