Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 1, 2004, edition 1 / Page 10
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Children's book by local author takes look at weighty issue of homelessness BY COURTNEY GAILLARD THI C HRONICLE Jerrilyn Johnson has been working with homeless children for the last eight years. As pro gram director for Project HOPE, a program that assists homeless students in Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools, she knows all too well the plight of children who have no home to go to after school. Johnson has penned a chil dren's book, "Mommy. Are We Homeless?," about one girl's transition into homelessness once her parents lose their jobs. Molly, the main character, man ages to still make friends while her family adapts to their tempo rary living situation. "I'm hoping that it will pro vide advocacy (for homeless children). So many people have told me we don't have homeless children in Winston- Salem. Peo ple need to know some of the issues involved with homeless children going to school," said Johnson. Project HOPE serves hun dreds of children and their fami lies every year by offering after school and iri-school tutoring, transportation, school supplies and free and reduced lunches Homeless children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. By law, any child without a regular resi dence is considered to be home less. Families and children make up 40 percent of people who are homeless. Johnson said she was inspired to write the book after dreaming about it several times. After the -third dream, she woke up and began writing down ideas for the story. "I was dreaming about a Photo hy Cuurtney'GjwIlard Jerrilyn Johnson who has worked on homeless projects for many years hopes the book creates a better understanding of the issue. Here, Johnson (right) poses with Mary Bentley Clark , who illustrated the book . book that 1 was writing, and I woke up and thought, "Oh no, that's a lot of work,'" Johnson said. "But I realized this was something I needed to do," "Mommy, Are We Home less?" is not about one particular child she has worked with, says Johnson. But she hopes the book will give young readers a glimpse into how some of their peers may be coping with life when when the bus stops at a shelter instead of a neighbor hood. "I have a general feel for what (homeless) children go through. I see it every day. I know that many people are not knowledgeable about a child liv ing in a shelter or a hotel," John son said. "It's a very sensitive issue. People have to remember it's not the child's fault (that they're homeless). We have to educate children so we can stop the cycle that the family is in." Salem College alumna Mary Bentley Clark illustrated the book's bold and vibrant images. Both she and Johnson want ed the images to jump off the page and leave an impact on readers. "It was a reaKneat project for me. The issue of homelessness and trying to create awareness of that problem for children was a really nice outlet for me to use my art in terms of a social prob lem we need to be more aware of," said Clark. "For a child reading the book, this could be someone sitting right next to them who is actually homeless." Johnson hopes that "Mommy, Are We Homeless?" will make its way into class rooms next year since there may be a student whose real life mir rors Molly's life in the book. "I need to do it if it's going to help the world. All of us are here to help each other and provide enlightenment," said Johnson. More than 1 million children experience homelessness in a year. For many of them, school is a major source ^of stability, security and safety. School enrollrnent can help children develop skills to escape poverty. Copies of "Mommy, Are We Homeless?" can be purchased at The Master's Loft, 50 Miller Street, and through Southland Consultants at 774-0607. Troopers are looking for DWI offenders this weekend SPECIAL TO THI CHRONICLE The N.C. Highway Patrol will be participating in several traffic enforcement operations through out the state dur ing the July 4 holiday week, the depart ment said this week. There will be an increased presence of troopers and motor carrier enforcement officers on the inter states and major four-lane high ways. "I have requested that our troopers place special emphasis on removing drunk drivers from the highways," said Col. Richard W. Holden, commander of the State Highway Patrol. During the July 4 holiday, the Patrol will be conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the stale in conjunc tion with the state's "Booze It and Loose It" anti-drunk drivingcam paign. "Our overall goal is to reduce the number of crashes on our highways." said Holden. Troopers will be participating in the Combined Accident Reduction Effort (CARE) as well. CARE is a nationwide pro gram in which highway patrol and state police agencies across the nation increase their visibility during the holiday period in an effort to prevent crashes. The July 4 holiday weekend officially begins at 6 pan. on Fri day. July 2, and ends at midnight Sunday. July 4. Statewide last year, there were 1. 47 1 crashes, 1,040 injuries, and 10 fatalities during the official holiday period. Holden Moratorium from page A I exonerated of crimes of which they were convicted. Sunday, during the two hour forum held at Cleveland Avenue Christian Church, Darryl Hunt and Alan Gell showed how powerful first hand accounts of those affect ed by capital punishment can be. Hunt and Gell were both convicted of murder and both were eventually exonerated after serving years in prison. For Gell, his time behind bars was spent on death row. Gell was convicted in Bertie Coun ty in 1998 of murdering Allen Ray Jenkins nearly three years earlier. Prosecutors convicted him largely on the testimony of two of Gell's friends who fingered Gell for the crime. Gell was sentenced to die for | the crime. Gell's case is a textbook example of what moratorium supporters say is wrong with the capital punishment sys tem. Gell's right to a speedy trial was trampled upon because a series of court I appointed attorneys aban ? doned Gell's case for greener pastures. He spent almost three years in jail before he went to trial. When Gell final ly got a lawyer who stuck around, the attorney had only two months to prepare for Gell's case, as a opposed to the 18 months that most lawyers need to ready them selves for capital cases. Uell was given a new trial and was acquitted earlier this year after it Was distovered that prosecutors withheld evi dence that could have proven Gell's innocence, evidence that Included a vyiretapped conversation in which Gell's two accusers are heard cook ing up a story to tell authori """fies to link Gell to the crime. Gell admits that his story and the many like his have diminished his faith in the legal system. "The fact that (I was) inno cent didn't matter to the jus tice system," Gell told a crowd of about three dozen. Hunt said prosecutors who hide evidence and toy with the truth need to be dealt with, especially when their actions lead to innocent people going to jail. "pipre is no accountability for pfOsecutors," Hunt said. "With no accountability, peo ple will continue to do what has been done to me and what has been done to Mr. Gell and what has been done to .other people." Hunt, an African-Ameri can, was convicted after a File Phoio Larry Womble and Earline Parmon lead a moratorium protest in Winston-Salem last year. racially-charged trial in 1985 of the murder of white news paper copy editor Deborah Sykes. During Hunt's first trial for the crime, his jury contained only one African American. The rest of the members of the jury were white. Moratori um supporters say racial bal ance in capital case juries is another, issue that must be addressed. It took two decades and a DNA test before Hunt was released from jail and exoner ated of the crime. Hunt just barely missed being sentenced to death. He was given a life sentence instead. But Hunt said the issues that would be examined as part of a morato rium would have a "trickle down" effect and make the criminal justice system fairer for everyone who stands trial. Former Superior Court Judge Tom Ross, the current head of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, pointed out that the state is already working to -maktfjjtMf criminal justice sys tem Mfc^He pointed So the Actual" Innocence Commis sion started by the chief jus tice of the N.C.- Supreme Court. The commission has already pushed through new eyewitness identification poli cies that have been adopted by the state's largest police departments. As a judge. Ross could not take a position on the death penalty one way or the other. Sunday, he did not say if he was a death penalty sup porter or opponent, but he strongly believes that a mora torium is needed to ensure that innocent people are not falling through the cracks. "Mistakes happen in every kind of case. When it comes to the death penalty, we can't afford to take that risk," Ross said. Ross also talked about his own connection to another controversial death penalty case. In 1999, Ross, then a judge, vacated the sentence of Charles Munsey, who was waiting on death row in Wilkes County for murder. Munsey's sentence was vacat ed after it was discovered that prosecutors sat on evidence that could have exonerated him. Unfortunately, Munsey died of natural cau*fes before he could taste freedom. "I believe to this day that we have the best system of justice in this world." Ross said. "But I also believe we don't have a perfect system." Womble - who along with fellow Forsyth County House member Earline Parmon have been two of the state's most vocal moratorium supporters - cited a number of reasons why he thinks Morgan is stalling the moratorium bill. One of the primary reasons, Womble said, is that the co speakers have a gentlemen's -agreement to avoid controver sy if at all possible. Womble said there are also concerns that debate on the bill would take up too much time in an election year. But Womble said each day the bill is stalled, people move closer and closer to being put to death. "It is sad that people are still dying even as we speak," he said. Audience members were urged to call, write or e-mail elected officials to push for the a moratorium vote. Mora torium supporters vow to stay vigilant even if this session passes without a vote. For more information on the moratorium, log onto wHH.ncmoratoriumnow.org. ? I Carter G. Woodson School Of Challenge A nurturing, parent-run charter school that provides a friendly learning environment! Offering K-1 2 Regular Day Program PLUS... The Night High School Diploma Program The Night High School Diploma Program of the Carter G. Woodson School of Challenge is an alternative program for students in the Piedmont Triad area. As an accredited charter school approved by the North Carolina Board of Education, the Night High School leads to graduation with a high school diploma, not a GED. The program will be helpful to young parents and individuals employed during the day and/or parenting who may find that an evening school environment better suits their lives. The program offers NC Standard Course of Study, opportunities for students to create an individualized learning plan, and seeks to allow the student to proceed at his or her own pace. The Carter G. Woodson Night High School Diploma Program has two central goals: 1) To provide students with instruction in all required areas toward graduation with a standard diploma 2) To provide an alternative educational experience for students who have not been successful in other high school environments Student Enrollment Requirements ? Must be a resident of North Carolina ? Must be between 16-20 years old Currently confirming prospective students. Call NOW for enrollment information: Sonya Johnson 336-472-8567 We provide an environment for academic improvement and social diversity. Carter G. Woodson School of Challenge Personal Data: Student Name: Student Enrollment Information (Please type or Print Clearly. Complete Form Fully) First (Nickname): Grade Entering: . Student Address: Telephone Number: ( ) Age: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: (Month) (Day) (Year) (City) (State) Social Security Number Email Address: Student Demographic Data: Sex: Female Male Race/Ethnicity: Black White Native American Hispanic/Latino (Specify: Multi Racial School Previously Attended: List, if any, the school you have attended [Including Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools] Grade Level Name of School Address & Zip Code I
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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