Liza Barron
Evan Raleigh
Conditions
from page XI
ner or face they would face
fines. According to reports,
a number of units had
rodent and rat infestations.
As if that wasn't bad
enough, other units had
much bigger issues, includ
ing leaking sewage.
"We thought it was
important to get the word
out about the resources
available in the communi
ty," said Franco. "Some
people may feel like there
is noting they can do. We
take it as our responsibility
to spread the word that
there is something you can
do."
To begin the meeting.
Legal Aid attorney Liza
Barron discussed the
responsibilities of land
lords under the city code
and Fair Housing Act.
Barron encouraged tenants
to read their leases and
keep a record of all unfit
living conditions after
reporting them to the land
lord. She said it is impor
tant to keep a record
because it can be used as
evidence, if they decide to
take legal action.
"It's important that you
read all the terms of service
listed in your lease," she
continued. "If the landlord
refuses to make repairs or
takes too long, there could
be a breach of contract and
you can go to court."
Barron noted to begin
the legal process the city
must first conduct an
inspection. Although the
city cannot force the land
lord to make repairs, they
can levy fines every day
until repairs are made.
Next, Human Relations
Department director
Wanda Allen-Abraha and
fair housing investigators
Adolfo Brieno and Jelani
Biggs discussed the inspec
tion process carried out by
the city, and how they are
handling the complaints
they already know about.
Brieno and Biggs men
tioned while some repairs
have been made at the
complex, nearly a dozen
units still need repairs.
While acknowledging
that many people in the
community may not know
about the Fair Housing Act
or their rights as tenants,
Abraha said having infor
mation sessions can help
change that narrative. She
mentioned human relations
representatives have been
going door to door speak
ing with residents to find
out what's going on.
According to Abraha,
after talking one on one
with tenants, they were
able to find out more than
half a dozen tenants have
experienced some type of
discrimination from man
agement.
"We have received alle
gations based on race dis
crimination, sex discrimi
nation, and disability dis
crimination," she contin
ued. "At last count we have
about seven open cases that
we are looking into. There
could be more."
Abraha said they will
continue to speak with res
idents to find out if any oth
ers have had their rights
violated.
Following the meeting,
residents spoke with The
Chronicle about what they
learned.
Although she hasn't
had any major issues in her
apartment, Teresa Archea,
who has lived in Rolling
Hills for 11 years, said she
decided to attend the meet
ing just to arm herself with
knowledge, just in case she
has any issues in the future.
As she sat among a sea
of empty seats, Acrhea said
she was disappointed that
more people didn't attend.
"The people who really
need this information
aren't here," she said.
"They are providing us
with the information we
need. I learned a lot of
valuable information about
my rights that I didn't even
know.
"I wish the people who
are having the real issues
were here to get this infor
mation. We have to do a
better job of taking care of
ourselves and our commu
nity. It has to begin with
us," Archea said.
Later this month the
Human Relations
Department will host a fol
low-up session. A date has
not yet been set.
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1?
The start of the 2016-2017 school year will officially launch a new instruction
al model focusing on literacy at Cook Literacy Model School, at 920 11th St.
Principal Dr. Paula Wilkins said she is excited about the future of the school.
Cook
from pageHl
with The Chronicle to dis
cuss the restart model, and
the start of a new chapter
for Cook.
Wilkins, who is a
native of the city and a
graduate of Carver High
School, said she decided to
accept the position at Cook
because , she wanted make
a direct impact in the com
munity, and Cook seemed
like a perfect opportunity
to do so.
Before taking the helm,
Wilkins served as the
director of human
resources for professional
and talent development
here in Forsyth County.
She also worked as an
administrator with the
local district's initiative for
Professional ?Learning
Community, a program
that looks to widen the
availability of early child
care development, as well
as the Gifted and
Advanced Learning
Program.
"I've always wanted to
make an impact in this
community, so I asked
myself, what better way to
do so than working every
day directly supporting
students," said Wilkins.
c v
i
"Although I was making
an impact working with
the district's improve
ments teams, I wanted to
make a difference on a
smaller scale as opposed to
the district."
In 2001, Wilkins
returned to her alma mater.
During her tenure at
Carver, the high school
was regarded as a priority
school, which called for
reform as well. She said
she is confident and fully
prepared to turn things
around at Cook.
"I've been through this
process before, and I
understand there is work to
do"
While the summer is
usually regarded as the off
season for students and
educators, for Wilkins and
the 51 new teachers she
has hired since March,
summer 2016 has been
filled with meetings, and
professional development
courses.
Along with working
with a design team to cre
ate a new curriculum,
administrators and teach
ers have been connecting
with parents and students
as well. Wilkins mentioned
along with making phone
calls, school leaders have
been making home visits
l
to receive feedback from
parents.
"The focus has been
one band, one sound," con
tinued Wilkins. "For this to
work, we all have to speak
the same language. We
have to know and under
stand the same things so
we can be consistent in our
support for students and
their families."
Last month, a number
of roundtable discussions
were held to receive feed- ?
back as well.
Administrators have also
been working with local
organizations in an attempt
to provide services for
families in the community.
Wilkins said in order for
things to change at Cook,
the community must be a
part of the change as well.
"The key to this turn
around is letting the com
munity in. The walls of
this building don't have
the capacity to do the turn
around and impact the
lives of these children. But
this community has the
access to do it.
"We have to' wrap our
arms around everyone who
is willing to do this work
with us."