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Vol. XXXVIII No. 6
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
THURSDAY, October 6, 2011
Rams face
a great
challenge
on Saurday
?See Pane
Students
discuss
state of
racism
-See Pufie All
Alumni . Scents
return to Kit/
campus
North Qa
i*. ForsytlidCcflrff/ ffitlic Library
to strvt 660 Wes^j?h strft^
< Winston-Safetol,*lC 27101
See f'tifte AJ
New home
for 16 small
businesses
Enterprise Center being called
engine for economic development
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONIC! I
After a decade of operating out of her home,
city native April Witherspoon moved her com
pany. ZOE Behavioral Health Services, into
Winston-Salem State University's new small
business incubator.
The Enterprise Center - housed in the old
Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club on Martin
Luther King Jr. Drive - was formally opened
Friday.
Witherspoon. a Salem College alumna, says
making the
move into
the Center
this sum
mer was
one of the
best deci
sions she
has ever
made for
her compa
ny. which
draws its
name from
a Greek
word that
mean s
"abundant
life" and
provides
m en t a I
health serv
ices.
"Bei ng
Photoby U?y la. Farmer
April Witherspoon (seated)
with Tiffany Williams, one
of her employees.
at The Enterprise Center has allowed me to
expand where I couldn't have done that at
home," said Witherspoon. who has added five
new employees to the seven she already had
since she arrived at The Center.
The Center is providing more than shelter
for the 16 small businesses that have chosen to
lease office space within its walls. Business
owners have access to the university's knowl
edgeable scholars through the frequent work
shops that are offered. Soon WSSU MBA stu
dents will pitch in by helping the companies
with things like creating business plans.
Officials call the Enterprise Center - which
is spearheaded by WSSU's Simon Green Atkins
Community Development Corp. - the result of
a multifaceted. collaborative approach to com
munity rev i tali /.at ion and economic develop
ment. The building has leased all of its available
office space to local companies. Other tenants
include a tour bus companies, a digital media
operation, and real estate and renewable energy
firms.
"This center represents so much more than
the renovation of a building that has served this
community for so many years." WSSU
Chancellor Donald Reaves told the dozens who
gathered for the facility's ribbon cutting ceremo
ny. "The Enterprise Center is also a prime
Sec Center on AS
One Heck of a Pick-up Game ,
W SSI Pholo h> ( iarrell ( iartns
Chris Paul poses with
basketball legend and for
mer Winston-Salem State
University player Earl
"The Pearl" Monroe (cen
ter) and WSSV C hancellor
Donald Heaves on
Saturday evening at
WSSV's C.E. Gaines
Center, where I'aul invited
a number of his NBA pals
to play a pick-up game.
Lett ro n Jam e s , I) H' ay n e
Wade, Kevin I) u rant,
Carmelo Anthony , John
Wall, J.R. Smith and
Stephen Curry were among
the NBA stars who played
in the game before a crowd
of more than 2,500.
Proceeds from ticket sales
will benefit WSSV's ath
letic programs and the
CPS Foundation, which
Paul, a Winston-Salem
native, founded.
Big Muscles and Even Bigger Hearts
Powerlifers use talent to help
Special Olympians
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Twenty-nine year-old Israel Woods has
been working oat since high school, but
the Special Olympian was a powerlifting
novice before Saturday.
"This is the first time I've ever been in
here competing," said Woods, one of nearly
30 contestants from the local area and
across the nation who competed in Press for
Special Olympics.
The fundraiser was held at Johnny and
June's Ultra Saloon. The popular night
spot, which is adjacent to Marketplace Mall
See l.ifters on A 9
Israel Woods
Disabled workers honored for being just as good
Photos hy Luiyla Farmer
Doug Smithey (center, rear) poses with members of his
team (from left) Richie Anderson, Duane C arpenter,
William Carpenter, Belli I'oplin. Tint lliggins and Mark
llol brook .
BY l.AYLA FARMER
I HI CHR< >NICI I
I V>v ?"\ I t . ? / I 1 V 1 ?< \ I ? ?*? I I I I
ceded. "Bui when I look in this room
... I see greatness in all of you."
As the first legally bl ind graduate
. i* II > J ii- ?
L/V^pllt vil ivl'U I c?
unemployment rates For
people with disabilities.
Goodwill Industries
International CEO Jim
Gibbons told local resi
dents to believe in them
selves and not to stop
looking for work.
Gibbons gave the
keynote address Tuesday at
The Winston-Salem
Mayor's Council lor
Persons with Disabilities
award luncheon.
(libbom
"It's al
01 narvaru university s
MBA program. Gibbons is
no stranger to facing diffi
cult odds. He told the
audience that success
begins in one's own mind.
He advised those with dis
abilities to speak candidly
about their challenges and
how they can be met. as
well as pointing out their
unique assets when they
meet with potential
employers.
I about thinking different
Photos by Laytu Farmer
Citizen of the Year recipient Anthony Cornell in
his office at Goodwill .
"With 65-75 percent ot us (people
with disabilities) not working, you
could get kind of down - it's not a
very pretty picture." Gibbons con
ly. and I know from my experience,
thai was my challenge." said
Sec Workers on A2
A Nome cause
Former Miss North Carolina working to
make all girls queens
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Nijdia Moffett was a queen,
Stie reigned a.s Miss North Carolina
USA and enjoyed all the prestige and ben
efits that eame along with the title.
These days. Moffett spends her days
working to make all young women feel
like they are royalty through her non-prof
it, The Queen's Foundation, Ine.
The 26-year-old Los Gatos, Calif,
native, who was raised in Hillsborough,
won the Miss North Carolina erown in
2010, after placing in the top 10 in 2009.
She said that one of the reasons she com
peted for the title was because she knew
the crown would give her a sounding
board to inspire young women.
"I knew that (by) winning Miss North
Carolina, I was going to get a platform to
be a positive role model and show that it
is a really cool thing to be powerful and
to feel confident and to feel beautiful and
have opportunities at your feet," said
Moffett.
Moffett started the Foundation three
years ago. before she even won the title.
The Foundation's Make Me a Queen
Program is a program designed help at
Sec Moffett on A 9
Submitted Photos
M e it t o r
J e u n e s s e
Wright with
mentee Tiara
Bennett at the
P o w erh o u s e
Project recep
tion last
month.
H^t-n
Spend it here.
Keep it here.
BUY LOCAL FIRST!
CHAMBER
A Mind For Business.