Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 8, 2015, edition 1 / Page 19
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Asset Building Coalition begins at Enclave Apartments n<-n A > r?V~k ? Submitted photo The Asset Building Coalition holds Community Day at the Enclave Apartments on Sept. 17. THE CHRONICLE The Winston Salem/Forsyth County Asset Building Coalition (ABC) held a Community Day celebration at the Enclave apartments on Sept. 17. The Coalition has invited the residents of the Enclave Apartments to par ticipate in a community based project that offers tools for families to increase their financial sta bility. The project offers resi dents financial education, coaching, and a variety of supports for pursuing homeownershipbetter jobs, savings, and affordable credit counseling. The Coalition will work togeth er with individual residents to create a plan based on what they want for them selves and their families. "We believe that by bringing asset building services such as informa tion about banking prod ucts and enhanced money management skills direct ly into a neighborhood, entire families can learn how to skillfully prepare for their economic futures," said Twana W. Roebuck, executive director of the non-profit Experiment in Self-Reliance, which co leads the ABC. "This can be a powerful way to break the chains of generational poverty." The Community Day event was open to all resi dents at the Enclave Apartments and featured entertainment, food, and games for kids. The event gave residents and Coalition members the opportunity to get to know one another and to learn about what the Coalition could provide. Linda Bates, resident of the Enclave Apartments, heard about the event and wanted to volunteer. "My neighbors were happy. We have never had anything in the Enclave," said Bates. "That was something to get the neigh borhood together and it definitely did. People found that they didn't know a lot about the part ner agencies and it enlight ened a lot of people about different non-profits." Shenell Thompson, Director of Financial Education at Financial Pathways of the Piedmont, which also co-leads the Coalition, oversees the ABC place-based initia tive. "The ABC is grateful for the warm response we received from the residents of the Enclave," Thompson said. "Opportunities to work alongside families as they create life plans is exciting. We are also appre ciative of the support of our financial sponsors, local foundations and communi ty partners in making this event a success. We look forward to supporting the long-term success of the participants." The Community Day was the first of several planned events and net working opportunities for residents and Coalition members. The place-based initiative will be an ongo ing process. "I am very grateful to all the members of the Asset Building Coalition for making this community day so much fun," said Peter Laroche, president and CEO of Financial Pathways. "And it was very gratifying to see the com munity come out and take an interest in financial sta bility. This is a good sign for the Coalition's first place-based project." barber tbis year, tne /.. Smith Reynolds Foundation awarded a grant to support the Coalition's activities. A website is currently under construction with the sup port of The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. The Community Day was sponsored by PNC Bank, BB&T, Truliant Federal Credit Union, the City of Winston-Salem, and Chick-fil-A. The Wins to n Salem/Forsyth Asset Building Coalition (ABC) is a voluntary collabora tion of more than 20 local organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals. For more information on the Asset Building Coalition or its place based initiative, contact Peter Laroche at peter@financialpaths .org or Twana W. Roebuck at twana .roebuck@eisr.org Wells Fargo donates to free tax preparation SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Experiment in Self Reliance has received a $15,000 grant from Wells Fargo. These funds will support ESR's Forsyth Free Tax Program. Forsyth Free Tax, a program of Experiment in Self-Reliance, provides free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to low and mod erate income individuals and families in Forsyth County making $53,000 a year less. All tax preparers are certified by the IRS and help people receive every tax credit for which they qualify (for example, the Earned income Tax Credit, or EITC). On average, a qualified Forsyth County taxpayer receives $1,700 in EITC credit, and the credit can sometimes total more than the amount earned during the year. In, addition to benefiting working families, the cred it brings money directly into our community. Forsyth Free Tax also offers online tax services a t' www.myfreetaxes.com/for syth to individuals making less than $59,000 who want to self-prepare their taxes EITC and VITA are vital asset building tools that help low-moderate income people build wealth. Nine community sites are available throughout Forsyth County during tax season to provide free tax preparation services. In addition to free tax prepa ration, sites offer Asset Building Counseling, and linkages to asset-building programs such as Experiment in Self Reliance's Individual Development Account program, NC Saves, Financial Literacy Counseling and more. "We are most thankful to Wells Fargo for their support of Forsyth Free Tax. The grant they have awarded us will enable us to expand our reach to more of our neighbors, empowering them on their path to self-sufficiency. This gift will also help to save taxpayers thousands of dollars in tax prepara tion fees," said Takia Miller, Forsyth Free Tax Program Manager. Executive Director Twana W. Roebuck is grateful for the longstand ing relationship with the Foundation. "Wells Fargo has been a major lynchpin for ESR's capacity to continuously improve our asset building programs for many years," said Roebuck. "In concert with our tax program and our signature IDA program we are able to inform Winston-Salem/Forsyth County residents of tax preparation services and a menu of supportive finan cial stability resources community-wide. Our joint vision is to empower people to become self reliant long term." Wells Fargo awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. "There is a tremendous need for resources like financial and tax assistance programs in the Triad," said Tamika Bowers, Wells Fargo's community devel opment officer. "Wells Fargo is honored to sup port ESR in their mission to empower individuals to better themselves and help build the foundation for a brighter tomorrow." Experiment in Self Reliance is a United Way partner agency established in 1964 during Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. Its mission is "empower ing working low income and chronically homeless individuals and families to achieve their full potential for long-term social and economic self-reliance. For more information about EStt's services, visit our website at www.eisr.org. (Submitted photo L-R): Twana W. Roebuck, Executive Director of ESR, Jim Rosenberger, Analytic Consultant, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Chris Bryan, ESR Board Chair, Jerry Romans, ESR Vice Board Chair, Leslie Hayes, Carolinas Business Banking Manager and Tamika Bowers, Community Development Officer Piedmont Triad holding the donated grant. ? ?' V v V V V V V V V v \ '/i% Big 4 Alumni Association of Forsyth County, Inc. *. ' ?*? Community Service Day Clothes Closet for Job Seekers Support the Big 4 Clothing Drive by Donating Gently Used - Nearly New - "Ready-to-Wear" Workplace Appropriate Clothes Male Shirts Ties Slacks Socks Shoes Coats Female Blouses Skirts Suits Sweaters Jackets Coats Clothes Closet Drop-off/Pkk-up Location: Winston- Salem Urban League, 3441 Patterson Ave., W-S, NC 27105 Important Dates and Tmes: ?_ _ ? ? - 1 1 11 "1 11 \ wnmtum-mtm-m TO COHTWBUTC CL0TMM8 CONTACT: Patriaa Sadtef 336 72S-S614 or Frank Thomas 33624S-3S51 Contributions are Tax-deductible * w M&F Bank donates school supplies to ESR SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR) partnered with M&F Bank for a back to school drive to benefit clients of ESR. With the help of M&F Bank staff members and individuals from the community, three boxes filled with school supplies were donated to help ESR families in need. A non-profit, Community Action Agency, ESR has been helping people in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County since 1964. Often clients struggle to find ade quate and affordable school supplies for themselves and their children. ESR was thankful to partner with M&F Bank to relieve that burden for clients. "Feeling prepared on that first day is important," says Twana W. Roebuck, Executive Director of ESR. "It can truly dictate the course of the day." As the loan holders for ESR's new facility, M&F Bank has supported JESR and countless community partners in their endeavors to provide much needed resources to individuals and families in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. "We could not be more grateful to M&F Bank, its staff members and commu nity supporters for helping our clients and their children breathe a little easier," said Roebuck. Experiment in Self-Reliance Programs include Self-Sufficiency, Housing, Forsyth Free Tax, and New Century IDA (Individual Development Account). Clients must be working low to moderate income individuals and families. For more infor mation about ESR, visit our website at www.eisrorg or call 336-722-9400. I
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Oct. 8, 2015, edition 1
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