New ideas, bright vision
meet at 'Intersections'
Agency's main focus will be to raise HIV/ AIDS awareness
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
The Triad has a new nonprofit focused on
educating the masses about HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted infections.
Intersections of the Triad also provides
facilitated support services those living with
HIV/ AIDS, as well as for those who facing
other perils such as the homeless and ex-offend
ers, explained Dr. Victor Seltzer, Intersections'
president.
"When I started thinking about (moving to)
North Carolina, I started researching sort of the
unmet needs here," said Seltzer - a seasoned
nonprofit coordinator. "I wanted to be involved
in helping other nonprofits address these
issues."
To that end, Intersections will work in con
junction with existing agencies to promote HIV
awareness "and encourage testing; and to create
a drop-in center, where homeless men and
women can use computers and speak with case
managers.
Seltzer also wants to form alliances with
other agencies to create what calls a "safe
place," where members of the LGBT (lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgehder) community can
gather freely and comfortably.
A Bronx, N.Y. native. Seltzer says issues
like HIV/AIDS are more difficult to address in
the South because they are often connected to
the often taboo topic of homosexuality.
Intersections of the Triad plans to meet clients
where they are. Seltzer says there is a large
group of men who have sex with other men but
do not consider themselves homosexual. The
agency wants to reach these men to encourage
them to get tested and practice safer sex.
"A lot of folks around here don't talk about
(homosexuality)," Switzer remarked. "It's kind
of swept under the carpet, but we need to deal
with things for what they are."
Intersections, which was incorporated in the
spring, had its official unveiling last Thursday
evening during a reception in the swanky
Traders Row loft of Gordon Duggins and
Armando Dunn. The couple was pleased that
the event drew such a wide cross-section of
area residents.
"People in Winston-Salem like to do things
for people, but we're still not certain how to do
things with each other - this community is
polarized," said Duggins, who operates an
emergency homeless shelter in NYC and has
worked with Seltzer in the past. "I really like
seeing black people working with white people,
working with Latinos."
Intersections President
Dr. Victor Seltzer
For the reception, the walls of the loft were
lined with the work of noted South African pho
tographer Michael Myersfeld. The 19 portraits,
showcased for the first time in the United
States, were a sampling from Myersfeld's pho
tography book "Gaze," which provides a stun
ning visual commentary on the lives of South
Africans of virtually every sexual minority.
"It was the perfect match with Victor's
organization... because Michael's wife is one
of the country's leading HIV/AIDS activists,"
said Peggy O'Donnell of the consultancy firm -
Morgan and Masterson - that brought the exhi
bition to the reception.
Roger Hayes, pastor of Winston-Salem
based Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship,
said he sees Intersections as "a new insurgence"
in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. While
Hayes acknowledged that there are already sev
eral agencies in the area that are working to stop
the spread of HIV/AIDS, he believes
Intersections will bring a fresh perspective.
"It's not doing away with the old," Hayes
stated. "When you look at the number of
syphilis and HIV cases that have been reported
this year in Forsyth County, that lets us know
that there is room for more."
For more information about Intersections,
contact Seltzer ; at 336-782-4556 or via email:
VictorSeltzer@gmail.com .
Adams
from ixige .4 /
years-plus to be on the safe
side," he said with a smile.
Adams didn't fill out an
application or go through an
extensive interview process
to land the job The Y found
him, but it was all by chance.
It was the 1970s, when the Y
was located on Patterson
Ave. Adams - then a talented
track star at Winston-Salem
State University - was there
training, as he often did to
keep his championship-win
ning form. His familiarity
with exercise and workout
equipment came in handy on
this particular day.
"The director asked me it
1 would show one of the
members how to use the
treadmill," Adams recalled.
"And that's pretty much how
1 got hired."
Adams has always had a
full-plate, so his job at the Y
has always been part-time. In
the beginning, he balanced
the job with classes and track
meets; when he graduated
from WSSU in 1975 with a
degree in health and physical
education - he spent his days
teaching school and his
evenings at the Y. a tradition
that continued when Adams
joined the school system s
transportation department.
Adams is now a trans
portation supervisor, respon
sible for seeing that hundreds
of kids get to and from
schools safely. That job is
more than enough to keep
him busy, but Adams said he
has never given much
thought to leaving the Y - a
place that he says is like a
second home and its mem
bers are like his family. .
"I like it here. I like the
people. 1 like making a posi
tive impact on people." he
said.
Y member Jim Conrad
has felt Adams' impact in
years since he and his wile.
Cotton, became loyal
Winston Lake Y members.
"When 1 met AI. 1 felt like
I'd known him all my life,"
said Conrad. "He is a true
people person."
To do what Adams does at
the Y - loving people is just
one of the traits one must
possess. Patience and caring
?are two others, and a good
sense of humor doesn't hurt
Fit Lin
Photo by Kevin Walker
Adams helps member Patricia hosier with the K'j popular
FitLinx exercise program.
either. The Wellness Center is
where members stretch, lift
weights, walk on treadmills,
glide on ellipticals and ped
dle on stationary bikes.
Adams still instructs mem
bers in the proper use of the
yarious equipment. He is also
a social worker of sorts -
always triere w ith in open ear
and a kind word.
"Sometimes people just
want someone to listen to
them, and 1 am a good listen
er," he said.
Shawan Gabriel, the
executive director of the
Winston Lake Y, says Adams
is tailor-made for the family
like environment that
Winston Lake is known for.
"A1 is a great asset to our
branch." Gabriel said. "He
has a great passion for help
ing others and it shows in his
work."
Adams is. also one of the
branch's biggest cheerlead
ers. When he tells folks about
all of the advantages th?y
would reap if they simply
come to the Y to work out.
Adams is speaking from per
sonal experience. The former
All- American hurdler and
Winston-Salem State, Atkins
High and Winston-Salem
Sportsmen halls of fame
inductee will soon turn 60.
but he stills makes exercise a
part of his weekly schedule.
"It contributes to your life
in so many good ways," he
said. "I tell people that there
is something in this Y that
everyone can do."
Mo Lucas, who with more
than half a century of service
at the branch is the indis
putable patriarch of the Y, has
known Adams since Adams'
first day of work at the old
Patterson site. Lucas said he
is proud of the manNthat he
has seen Adams become.
"He is one of those people
that you can truly call a gen
tleman," said Lucas. "I really
can't find a fault with him."
With two jobs for the past
three decades. Adams says it
often took creativity to make
time for his wife of 56 years,
Lectrice, and the couple's
now adult children -
Shannal. A1 Jr.. Tivana and
Rashfldt
Adams, a member of
Union Baptist Church, is
using that same creativity
these days to make sure his
four grandkids get the quality
time they deserve.
When asked if it is possi
ble that he could break
Lucas' longevity record at the
Y, Adams thought for a sec
ond and then chuckled.
"I am just gonna take it
day-by-day," he said.
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H.
Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every
Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 617
N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem. N.C. 27101. Periodicals
postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price
is S30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle. P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
Y ok'vs been warned
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