Area's first Hispanic yellow pages should be available by Christmas BY WALI PITT CHRONICLE INTERN At last the 800,000 plus Spanish-speaking population of North Carolina will have a reference book to hundreds of businesses by picking up the Spanish Yellow Pages. "Las Super Guias," which may hit the streets by late this year, will be the first all-Span ish phone book in the state. The yellow pages will feature three sections, all in Spanish, which will make it incredibly valuable to any Spanish-speak ing person or business. Digital Imaging Solutions Center (DISC) is the company that is producing the book. DISC has been servicing the Triad for more than 12 years, starting as a photo developing ^hop and eventually develop ing into a graphic design cen ter for businesses of all sizes. The owner of DISC, Jorge Correa, said, "We are very excited to be producing the first yellow pages publication dedicated to the needs of the growing Triad Hispanic com munity." Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro rank one, two, and four, respectively, as the fastest growing Hispanic cities in the United States, according to the 2000 census. Numbers like this show that a phone book entirely in Spanish is needed, said Correa. Figures also show that 86 percent of N.C. Hispanics can read and write only in Spanish. "Las Super Guias" is first targeting three specific areas of North Carolina that have the highest concentration of His panics. Charlotte, the Triad and the Triangle will receive more than 90,000 phone books, which will be distrib uted throughout the three areas. The Triad and the Trian gle will each receive 25.000 books, and Greater Charlotte will receive 40.000. The books will be distributed at many Hispanic centers such as churches, schools, restaurants. "Las Super Guias" will be mailed to all Hispanic organi zations. city/county officQ, federal/state government, and legislative offices. The full-color white and blue page sections will provide detailed information on more than 75 topics that will be use ful for everyday living, such as first-aid tips, public school enrollment. and driver's license requirements. The yel low page section will include the listings of businesses that offer Hispanic products and services as well as companies that provide Spanish-speaking customer service. The book is also a way for businesses to tap into the nearly $10 billion that Hispanics spend each year. According to census fig ures, in 2003 the Hispanic pop ulation of North Carolina will go from 828,981 to 1.036,265. I I lie Photo Three cities in North Carolina are among the places with the largest growth of Hispanics in the nation, according to census figures. Figures also show that many Hispanics can speak and read only Spanish. Joe Watson wins scholarship to 1 o attend 10-month NAB program SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Joe Watson, president of Watson Production Company Inc. - which is the home of WSMX 1500 AM, Watson Sports Marketing and Words of Wisdom - has received a scholarship to participate in the National Association of Broadcasters-Broadcast Lead ership Training Program. This is a 10-month program that will give senior manage ment broadcasters the hands on training to acquire radio and TV properties. The sessions are held one weekend per month from September to June 2003. Watson is one of, 15 recipi ents of this scholarship, worth more than $10,000. Watson said. "It was my faith that opened the door for me to attend this Broadcast Leadership Training Program. I received the information and application forms a few months ago in the mail. Upon reading, I told my wife that I was going to attend because this was the type training that I needed to move on to the next level. Sure enough. 1 received my notification in the mail on July 26." The first phase of the lead ership training will begin in 4 September in Washington. | D.C. i i Watson Hair from page A 8 affairs specialist for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportu nity Commission in Washing ton, said, "Typically hair is a religious accommodation issue." She said religious cases accounted for only 2.6 percent, or 2,127, of the 80,840 bi'js charges that were filed in 2001; racial discrimi nation cases accounted for 36 percent, or 28,912. of the charges filed in that same year. Hair discrimination isn't placed in its own category, so it could fall under racial or religious discrimination. Employers who impose such restrictions may be mis guided. "We are concerned about talent, what is in the head as opposed to what is on the head," said Tom Vines, founder of the Washington based National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, which provides a national forum where blacks can share experiences and provide leadership on issues affecting their careers. Continued Vines, "We understand and accept that because of religious cultures people have different hair styles." The issue hasn't been extensively discussed at the organization. But policies on natural hair appear to vary across the pro fessions. U.S. Postal Service employees don't have to worry about their hairstyles. Derrick Richmond. a Washington letter carrier, has had dreads for about 11 years. "I had them before I started working for the post office back in 1995," he said. According to Bill Kennedy, manager of the Rosedale Branch office in Kansas City. Kan., neat in appearance is the main rule for postal carriers. "Certain areas such as those working around machinery have more restrictions." he said. Some large firms don't even address the issue. "Microsoft Corporation does not have a hair policy." said spokesperson Stacy N. Cail. John Skalko. senior pubic relations manager at Lucent Technologies in New Jersey, said that there are no regula tions on natural hair. "We were ranked number 12 in the Fortune Magazine as being one of the best places for women and minorities to work," Skalko added. Deidre Parkes, a spokesman for Hallmark, the greeting cards company based in Kansas City, Mo., said there are so many different types of jobs within Hallmark that the main guideline is "proper business attire. There are no hairstyle restrictions at Hallmark." Ingrid Sturgis, editor of Essence.com. has switched between wearing natural and chemically processed hair. She's now had natural hair for three years, but in the past she has worn it for as long as five years while working in main stream news organizations. Sturgis doesn't recall ever being discriminated against because of her natural hair. "I think corporations are starting to accept it now." Sturgis said. "They are accepting of different back grounds, and hair is a major part of that acceptance." While some professionals may find common ground, university career counselors are faced with the task of rec ommending to students what steps to take to secure their first jobs. "We advise stuchfnts not to have braids or dreadlocks," said Carlyle Roberson. Coop erative Ambassador Program manager at Grambling State University in Louisiana. She said some companies accept natural styles but others will not. "It depends on the com pany." Wanda McNeil, interim director of career services at Harris-Stowe State College in St. Louis, said. "I tell students a conservative style works better until you're in a compa ny and get a feel for what the company likes." Community group to start clean-up in Happy Hill Saturday SPIC1AI FOJHI CHRONICLE The Happy Hill Communi ty Association has launched a major project in the Happy Hill community to revitalize the community and foster neighborhood pride. The first phase of the proj ect was to relocate and secure the historic shotgun houses. The second phase is to begin a neighborhood clean-up and beautification program that will provide residents an opportunity to actively partic ipate ip the revitalization efforts. This phase is The Commu nity Pride Project, which includes extensive communi ty cleanup and beautification activities. The kickoff will tSke place on Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. on the corner of Humphrey and Free streets. This project is made possi ble by a grant from Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods. Keep Winston-Salem Beauti ful is also a partner. The organization Right Turns for Youth will participate by hav ing 10 young people helping to clean up and beautify tjhie Happy Hill neighborhood. The Community Pride Project is not just a one-day clean-up and beautification I activity. The Community. ? Association has scheduled ; monthly Community Pride educational sessions (?r com munity residents Neighbors ; will be given information. ? resources and support to, assist and empower them Irf J maintaining a clean and safe ; neighborhood. They will learn ? how working together in a ? . team effort strengthens conv - munities. Edith Jones. Happy Hill ! Association president, said;"' \ "Our goal is to get every fain-' ? ily involved with the revital? ? ization of this neighborhood-. ? We want them to know that each of them can make a dif ference in the quality of life in ? the Happy Hill community." ? ? ; The Happy Hill ^ommuni- * ty Association is calling on . houses of worship, civic I groups and individuals to vol- ; unteer one morning a month to help maintain a clean, healthy and safe neighbor hood for Happy Hill resi- ' - dents. Those who wish to volun- [ teer should meet at Humphrey ; and Free streets Saturday morning at 9 a nt. Clean-up supplies will be provided. Refreshments will be served compliments of Krispy Kreme and Pepsi. www. wschronicle. com ^""N- 1: llfcSimiuaoMllffJIllJ Special Occasions Afro-American Cultural Headquarters Greeting Cards ? Note Cards ? Collections Church Supplies ? Greek Paraphernalia BOOKS ABOUT AND FOR BLACKS : 112 N. Martin Luther King Drive ? ? Phone: 336-724-0334 ? l-HOO-321-3846 Fax: 336-724-64(14 ? Email: speco@bellsouth.net 4 Shaw's Tire Service .. J 1 : Office depot What you need. What you need to know. 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