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Vol. XXXIII No. 35 THURSDAY, May 10, 2007
Young
runner
has bright
a future
See Page BJ
Artist
starting to
get notice *
for work
Race for
the Cure
draws
thousands
75 cents
r e\ebri%
m
Poster boy shows disease's new face
Photo by Layla
Fainter
H o s e a
Sajaro Jr., a
fourth grad
er at Griffith
Elementary,
has battled
sickle cell
all of his
young life.
Long a black illness, sickle cell now affecting Hispanics
BY LAY LA FARMER ^ase or carry the trait, offering a variety of
THE CHRONICLE sen ices and educational resources to help
families deal with the challenges that go hand
Mckle Lcll Anemia is a
debilitating disease that affects
one in every 12 African
Americans nationwide The
disorder arises from a genetic
mutation which causes red
blood cells to form abnormally.
It manifests with symptoms
such as anemia and pain
episodes, and is potentially
fatal.
Once thought to be a "black
disease," cases of Sickle Cell
Anemia are rampant in Hispanic populations
as well, with one in 16 Hispanics carrying the
genetic sickle cell trait.
For decades, the Sickle Cell lJisease
Association of the Piedmont (SCDAP) -
which serves _Alamanee, Caswell, Guilford,
Forsyth, Randolph and Rockingham
Counties - has worked to improve the quail
ty of lite for those who sutler from the dis
Herrell
in hand with the disease.
ITie association oversees a 26
niember advisory board, which
provides Winston-Salem residents
with the support and education they
need, hosting fundraisers and other
events to raise awareness and sup
port the various programs tliat the
SCDAP offers.
"We have close to 200 clients;
both Hispanic and black," said
Advisory Board President Doris
Herrell. "We have raised quite a bit
of money for sickle cell and been able to do
a lot, for the children especially "
The SCDAP has seen an influx of
Hispanic patrons in recent years, according to
Executive Director Gladys Robinson, who
has managed the association since 1982.
"In Winston-Salem, we have our largest
See Sicklv cell on A 14
Impressive class departs to serve
BY T KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONICLE
Four years ago, the world
of higher education was
Darien Davis's oyster.
California born and
Charlotte^bred, Davis - then a
Martin
high
school
senior -
had high
aspira
tions, a
drive to
be the
uvai <11 tu
a tran
script to
back it
all up.
He could have studied easi
ness at any school in the
nation; he picked Winston
Salem State University.
Saturday - as he swam in a sea
of praise for being the member
of the WSSU Class of 2007
with the highest GPA - Davis
said if he has never once
regretted his choice. At
WSSl', he said, he found pro
fessors who not only taught
but cared and friends that he
grew to love, not just like
"The school has a great
business program, and I was
offered a full scholarship,"
said Davis, who was also
influenced by his sister, a
WSSl' alupini."
Davis's unmatched 4.0
GPA, earned him time at the
podium during the com
mencement ceremony, which
brought out thousands of peo
WSSlPholo*
Darien Davis speaks at Saturday's graduation ceremony.
pic to the Lawrence Joel
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
to watch a class of more than
4<X) receive bachelor's and
master's degrees. Davis, who
earned a Bachelor of Science
in Finance and Economics,
told his classmates and their
assembled friends and family
members, that there is sparse
time to celebrate and rest on
oneW laurels after graduation
Tm challenges of the real
tforld await.
f "This is not the end for
W.he said, reminding the
cla^ that learning is a
irlaratlion and not a sprint.
Davis is an example of the
high caliber of students that
have helped to bring VVSSl ' -
a more than 100 year histori
cally black college - into the
21st century. In this century,
the school's campus has
undergone a metamorphosis
that will soon nearly double
its size. The student-body lias
experienced an equally signif
icant growth. Two years ago.
the school was proclaimed the
fastest growing in the
I niversity of North Carolina
system. And several times
over the past seven years, U.S.
News World Report has"
named the school one of the
best in the South. All of these
See Grads on A 12
Postal carriers will pick up food Saturday
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
"Hunger doesn't take a holiday or a vaca
tion "
It is one of Nan
Griswold's favorite
sayings, and for good
reason, p
As executive
director of Second
Han est Food Bank of
Northwest North
Carolina, Griswold
knows the statement
holds true here in the
Triad. That's why she
(iris wold
is so glad to have the help of local mail carri
ers, who contributed more than I (10,000 lbs. of
food to the bank last year, during what
(iriswold refers to as its "dry season."
The food was collected as part of a nation
See Food Drive on A5
Photo i ourte?y c4 Second H?rveii
l.ocal postal carriers pose with some of the food they collected last year.
Program
wants to
feed more
children
BY LAY LA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Mayor Allen Joincs and
Don Martin, superintendent of
Winston- Salem Forsyth
County Schools, held a press
conference in the cafeteria of
Carver High School Tuesday
morning, to announce their plan
to boost the number of children
participating in the school sys
t e m s
"Summer
Feeding
Program
for Hungry
Children "
The
program
has existed
in Forsyth
County for
more than
Corpening
30 years and is backed by fund
ing from the federal govern
ment. Hie money is mandated
to help children who are eligible
lor free and reduced lunches get
the nutrition they need during
tlie summer months.
The school system has the
means to feed thousands of chil
dren systemwide who are
enrolled in free or reduced
lunch programs, but the turnout
has been scant in recent years,
according to Martin
"The pool of kids who qual
ify for the Summer Feeding
Program for hungry children is
about 24,(XX)," he stated. "We
were sen ing about 1,690 kids
(through the summer feeding
program) last year on the aver
age
"If we had 2,500 everyday,
or if we liad K).(XK) everyday,
we can staff-up and serve
them," he continued. "The bar
rier has been actually getting
students to come."
In an effort to increase
awareness about the program
and to make it more accessible
to those who need it, die
mayor's office and the city of
Winston-Salem have joined the
initiative, along with the Second
Harvest Food Bank and the
YWCA
"I lungry kids and Winston
Salem is not two two words that
I want to go together," Joines
remarked.
I 'nused funds set-aside for
die summer feeding program
mast be returned to federal gov
eminent at the end of each sum
mer, another fact that doesn't sit
See Meals on A 14
A Day at thk Theatre
N( SA Photo
Students from several local schools got a treat Tuesday as
they watched the magic of live theater at the Stevens Center.
The N'C. School of the Arts invited the students to a special
free performance of its popular staging of "West Side Story,"
which has been drawing big crowds since it debuted last
week. Here Maria Watkins, a NCSA School of Music alumna
and a guidance counselor at Philo Middle School, poses with
some of her students outside just before show time.
'
In Grateful Memory of Our
Founders,
Florrie S. Russell and
Carl H. Russell, Sr.
"Growing and Still Dedicated to Serve You Better"
jRuggell ffifame
Wishes to Thank Everyone For Their Support
822 Carl KunncII Ave.
(at Martin I.uthcr King I)r.)
WinNton-Salcm, NC 27101
(336) 722-3459
Fa* (336) 631-8268
riisfhome@t)elis?)uthjict