?
>v.v, F()rmer W S S U5 ""'*
-See Page BIO R A. IV4 S "
The Chronicle
Volume40,Number II WINSTON-SALEM, N.C THURSDAY, November 7, 2013
' I i
CHAMPIONSHIP SWACCCfc.
A :
^ Submitted Photo
The Winston-Salem Tiny Indians hold their championship trophy on Saturday after winning the Cadet
Division 11 Championship of the Piedmont Youth Football and Cheer League. The squad beat the
Greensboro Giants 13-0. The Indians' Junior Peewee team also won the championship in their divi
sion, beating the Winston-Salem Grayhounds 40-31. The Cadet and Peewee squads will be back in
action Saturday at North Forsyth High School for the state championships.
Fashion Foward (and Reverse)
Mobile clothing boutique making the rounds ^
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
Meka Harrcll is hoping to become a "dri
ving force" in local women and children's
fashion.
The Baltimore native is the proud owner of
Pink Culture Inc., billed as the Triad's first
fashion truck. She opened the doors to her
vibrant "Barbie pink" Chevrolet Step Van in
August during a Greensboro event, officially
embarking upon a dream that began more than
a decade ago when she got her first job work
ing in her godfather's clothing boutique.
Harrell said she was a tomboy prior to
starting at the boutique, but she quickly fell in
love with clothes and fashion there.
"Honestly, I worked for clothes when I was
16," confessed the 32-year-old. "I worked and
bought clothes ... I was kind of like a walking
billboard for my godfather's store."
Fashion was a positive escape from the
harsh realities of HarreU's youth. She grew up
on the wrong side of the tracks. Her father was
murdered when she was four, and her mother
was addicted to drugs. Many of her friends had
dropped out of school by the time they reached
eighth grade. Never one to follow the crowd,
Harrell, who relocated to Winston-Salem dur
ing her senior year of high school, earned her
diploma and then became the first person in
her family to earn a bachelor's degree after
completing her studies at Livingstone College.
"I'm always asked the question, Hpw do
you do that when you don't have any positive
influences around you?' I've always had this
motivation to be successful," related Harrell,
who also holds an MBA from Pfeiffer
University. "I think it's weird, but I always
believed. I felt like God told me to be success
ful."
See Harrell on A7
Photo by Liyla Gurm I
Meka Harrell sits at the entrance of her "store."
Photos by Todd Lock
Antonio McKoy talks about YouthBuild.
Jobs program
pushes to
fill roster
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
YouthBuild, a new City of Winston-Salem pro
gram, is giving high school drop-outs a chance to earn
their GEDs while learning the lucrative construction
trade.
YouthBuild is targeting drop-outs ages 16 to 24
who meet at least one of the following criteria: is a
youth or adult offender: is a low-income city resident:
are a current or former foster child: is a disabled resi
dent; has an incar
i i i
cerated parent; or
is a migrant farm
youth worker.
During the six
month program,
participants take
GED classes and
courses that will
lead to certifica
tions needed for
entry-level con
struction work.
Along the way,
they will rehab a
house that the
City's Housing
Rehabilitation pro
gram will convert
to an affordable
housing unit.
Participants will be
paid while in the
program. which
operates under the
auspices of the Office of Community and Business
Development and is funded by a three-year $1.1 mil
lion U.S. Department of Labor grant.
City Council Member James Taylor helped to bring
the national program to Winston-Salem. He said it will
provide second chances to many local residents.
"This takes young men and women who may have
dropped out of high school, who may be experiencing
some problems with the juvenile justice system, and
gives them something productive to do. and then you
get paid for it and learn a trade all at the same time."
Taylor said.
Last week, YouthBuild held information sessions
at several recreation centers. Applications for the pro
gram's second class, slated to start at the end of the
month, were also accepted. Program Manager Antonio
McKoy, speaking at the Sims Rec in Happy Hill last
Thursday, told prospective applicants about some of
the program requirements, including passing math and
reading assessments, a drug test and an interview con
ducted by a panel of City officials. After that, there is
a trial work week, when participants will take part in
the program's six hours of daily sessions. The city will
track the progress of those who successfully complete
the program for up to a year.
"If you want it. you've got to earn it yourself,
right?" McKoy asked. "The good thing is we provide
you with the opportunity to do that."
See YouthBuild on A8
I ^? 1
Daiquan Adams shares his
YouthBuild experience.
"s ^
2; P s
7 2 > ?
: o: ^
==: 8 < 2
=. t ffl o
?z. 2 -1 K
~ a y o
T ^ m z
I S |
J. I o?5
lil^i
IP
? o z u. a s
f
I Election Night 2013 offers no surprises
Molly Leight with Council
Member-Elect Macintosh.
BY LAYLA GARMS r
THE CHRONICLE L
Election night went off without a hitch for City
Council incumbents.
Across the board. Twin City residents favored r
veterans over newcomers, reelecting every incum
bent on the ballot for another term by a comfort
able margin. Incumbent Molly Leight in the South
Ward and Dan Besse in the Southwest Ward easily
reclaimed their seats with more than 71 and 81
Sec Council on A9
Pt>o?o? by Layla
Oirrm
Mayor Pro
Tempore
Burke poses
with her
son. Judge
Todd Burke,
and daugh
ter-in-law,
Barbara.
storage BHM i
of Winston-Salem. LLC ^ VHp
3? 9 '