Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / April 26, 2007, edition 1 / Page 9
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Community learns about plans to end homelessness BY L.AY1.A FARMER THH CHRt >NK'I I Hundrcdstomerged at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Anncv last week to participate in Winston Salem's first-ever Project Homeless Connect. The proj ect is an initiative of the city's 10-year plan to end chronic homelessncss, a multi-organi zational effort that implements various programs and services to help people get off the streets once and for all. "The original idea for Project Homeless Connect started in San Francisco, as a service project as part of their work to end chronic homeless ncss in their city," related Andrea Kurtz, implementation director of Winston-Salem's Ten- Year Plan. "That model has spread across the country." Winston is not alone in its effort to end homelessness. More than 300 communities in 49 states are also trying, com bining the resources and expertise of government agen cies. faith-based communities, nonprofit organizations and concerned individuals, to create an innovative and effective manner of addressing the prob lem of homelessness through programs like Project: Homeless Connect. "The purpose behind Project Homeless Connect is to try and bring all of the service providers who serve people who arc homeless or having housing problems into one place for one day. so that it's easier for people who need those services to get them." said Kurtz, "We have over 50 agencies represented here today" The comprehensive nature of the project was one of it's most important components. Kurtz said. "We have pretty much every service you can imagine, from the health department pro viding STD screenings and health screening services, men tal health providers working with people, housing services, employment services, all on site." Kurtz said. "If we could imagine it. we tried to get it .here." Several local and national leaders were also in attendance. Andrea Kurtz holds the award she received. including Mayor Allen Joincs. who spoke at the event, ami Philip Mangano, executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. which oversees the various ten-year plans. Mangano presented Kurt/ with an award for her tireless efforts on behalf of the home less, both through volunteering and through her work with the project. "It was very overwhelm ing." she said of receiving the honor. "I do this work because it's important to me: it's impor tant to my community ... I never dreamed that I would be getting a volunteer award from the President." Although there are many cities that arc seeing declines in the levels of homelessness as a result of their ten-year plans, Mangano said that Winston Salem has displayed a rare col laborative spirit that is sure to make it a frontrunner in the struggle to end chronic home lessness. "I think that there's a very good partnership here in Winston-Salem. The mayor, I think, has been very good in bringing together people around a lot of different issues." he remarked "Homelessness is not the exception there. Even today with this Project Homeless Connect, we're see ing the corporate presence here - American Express has sent ... 40 people that are volunteering here to help their homeless neighbors ... United Way is here, and in my past visits. ] have seen other people from the Photo* hy Lay la Farmer Philip Manganu speaks. business and the corporate community participating. "That kind of partnership in communities, that absolutely correlates with how well the Ten Year Plan rolls out." he continued. "It's not enough just to have government, it's not enough just to have the faith community - you need to have a partnership that spans govern ment and the private sector to get the job done. I absolutely see that here in Winston-Salem, so we're looking for great things to roll out of Winston Salem. in terms of not simply serv icing homeless people, but solv ing their homelessness." Heart firm! [kinr AH secondhand smoke; - Lower blood pressure if necessary: Follow a healthy diet low in grease. cholesterol and salt: and - Engage in regular phys ical exercise and maintain a healthy weight. All people should get reg ular medical checkups, espe cially those at high risk lor heart disease. Many effective drugs can control hyperten sion, high cholesterol, and diabetes: your healthcare provider can help you deter mine the best regimen for youl Coronary artery disease and many other types of heart disease cap be prevented; it is essential to identify your risk factors and take steps to reduce them ! - Contribution by Sarah Fahey For further information or Questions or comments about this article, call toll-free I 877-530-1824. Or, for more information about the Maya An ne hit Research Center on Minority Health. visit wwwMfubnic.edu/mihorityr health. Obesity from page AS workers' compensation claims. Because the BMI takescinto account both a per son's height and weight, it is considered the most accurate measure of obesity. For Americans, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal: to 29.9 is considered over weight. and* 30 and above is considered obese. The researchers found that workers with a BMI greater than 40 had 1 1 .65 claims per l(X) workers, compared with 5.8 claims per 100 in workers wilhin the recommended range. In terms of average lost days of work, the obese aver aged 183.63 per 100 employ ees. compared with 14.19 per l(X) for those in the recom mended range. The average mcdical claims costs per 100 employees were $5 1 .0 1 9 for the obese and S7.503 for the non-obese. The body parts most prone to injury among obese workers were the lowerc extremity, wrist or hand, and back. The most common causes of these injuries were falls or slips, and lifting. Dispute from paqc A2 Artman wrote in the letter, which tame in response to an earlier letter from Watson and other members of the Congressional Black t aucus. Who have called the Chcrokees' vote discriminato ry. A spokesman for Watson said the congresswoman is drafting a bill to keep the Cherokee Nation from receiving millions of dollars in fedcr al funds. She wants the HIA to require the tribe to restore cit izenship to the frccdmcn descendants. Cherokee Nation Art ma it spokesman Mike Miller said only' ihe tribe, and not the BIA, ean determine the requirements for tribal citi zenship. "The Cherokee people have fought for centuries to preserve our rights of self-governance, through jorecd relocation, geno cide and outright land theft," Miller said. Miller said- the March vote was not racial in nature "Wc proudly count African American C'herokccs urhong our citizens." he said. Miller said that when members of Congress learn the facts of the defjjtc, they will side with the Cherokee Nation Salem College Continuing Studies 1136-721-2669 Although I worked in business tor 35 yean, my other passion has always been children, mainly at-risk youth I did an internship in social work for my sociology minor, and that project just sealed it lor me I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do I'm not going to close the doors to any options Aquita Burt us C '05 Business administration major. sociology minor , Reach within. Shajv the future. "I hid a degree in architecture, bul I had always thought about going to medical school. Medicine appeals to me because it brings together the things I enioy so much the creative and the technical. I was amazed at the atmosphere at Salem Here, it's not about achieving a goal, it's about enjoying the process. One goal always leads you to another, and before you know it you re achieving things you never imagined ' Noma Mouna COS Bachelor ol Science in biology: double minor in chemistry and music Information Sessions: Thursday, May 3 at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ? Main Hall Call 336.721.2669, visit www.salcm.cdu or drop in for more information You multi-task. Shouldn't your business checking? Finally, everything you need from a business checking account ? for free* Introducing Integrated Business Checking, only from SunTrust. It's Free Business Checking, plus Free Personal Checking with free Bill Pay, and free Check Cards for each account, all managed in a single view through SunTrust's exclusive Online Cash Manager. It's the best business banking in the business, and it just got better. Call 800.259.5730, stop by your local SunTrust branch, oro/isit suntrust.corri/&izbanking for more information. 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Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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