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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
volume 44, Number 19
THURSDAY, January 11, 2018
NAACP chief pi
black busines^^
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
During its first meeting
of the new year, the
Winston-Salem Black
Chamber of Commerce
invited the leaders of two
of the most influential
organizations in the city'to
discuss their organization’s
vision and strategic plan
for economic development
in the black community.
Alvin Carlisle, presi
dent of the local NAACP
chapter, said when he took
over leadership early last
year, one of the things that
was vital for him was to
help advance black busi
nesses in the area. He said,
“I’m unapologetically pas
sionate about advancing
the plight of colored peo
ple.
“One of my missions as
president was to be
involved in the advance
ment of black businesses. I
think the game-changer for
black communities is when
we have black businesses
engaged,” Carlisle contin
ued. “Around the time of
Reconstruction, we had to
do business with each other
because that’s all we had.
Unfortunately we’ve lost
that passion and our eco
nomic base.”
As he continued to dis
cuss the importance of
black-owned businesses in
the area, Carlisle said we
. must treat minority-owned
businesses like newborn
babies. He said just like a
newborn, small businesses
take time to develop and it
is important that we give
business owners that time.
“I believe that it is
important that black people
become compassionate
about becoming that family
member that takes care of
our. businesses until they
grow,” Carlisle said.
Since taking the reigns
Photo by Tevin Stinson
Last Week the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce invited Pastor
Alvin Carlisle and James Perry to discuss their organizations and economic
development in the African-American community.
of tiie local chapter,
Carlisle and the NAACP
executive board h4ve host
ed several “Small Busihess
Days” at the chapter head
quarters on Oak Ridge
Drive. These events, which
are free to all who partici
pate, are designed to pro
mote business owners who
don’t have a physical space
to sell and promQte their
products or services. The
week before Christmas,
more than a dozen minority
owned businesses partici
pated in a holiday versjpn
of the Small Business Day
event.
Carlisle also announced
he is in conversations with
The Chronicle to feature a
Black Business of the
Month. Carlisle said
although conversations are
still in the early stages, he
hopes to start highlighting
black-owned businesses in
the area very soon.
Before discussing some
of the initiatives his organ
ization has to support the
local economy, James
Perry, CEO and president
See Business on A8
Public Arts Commission
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
, An artistic tribute to Larry Leon Hamlin, a water tank
mural and a city wide portrait initiative are projects cur
rently being commissioned by the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County Public Art Commission.
The 10-member Public Arts Commission was
appointed in 2016 by the Winston-Salem City Council
• and the Forsyth County commissioners to facilitate local
public art. The Commission’s first two projects went up
last year. One was the 11-foot tall steel book sculpture by
Alabama artist Deedee Morrison that now stands in front
of the Central Library on Fifth Street. Just down the street
at the Benton Convention Center, the Commission’s other
project can be seen as the works of 11 artists are (ft per
manent display there. The variety or. work includes
Dennis WelFs 13-foot tall portrait of the late Poet Maya
Angelou made out of her own quotes, ceramic sculpture
by Randleman potter Joseph Sands, photographs by
Owens Daniels of Winston-Salem and large abstract
paintings by Charlotte artist Nico Amortegui.
“The whole point of public art is to bring not only
awareness to the arts but to also give artists a voice and a
vision',” said Commission member Endia Beal, who is an
artist and director of Diggs Gallery at Winston-Salem
See Art on A8
Photos by .Todd Lucl
(Above) This large painting by Charlotte artist
Nico Amortegui can be seen through the win
dows at the front of the Benton.
(Left) This metal sculpture by Deedee
Morrison greets visitors to the Central
Library.
N.C. LEGISLATURE
N.C. NAACP
leery of GOP
special session
BY CASH MICHAELS
FOR THE CHRONICLE
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, supporters of the N.C.
NAACP came from all across the state to rally at the N.C.
General Assembly to protest why they believe the state
legislature is back in session weeks before they’re offi
cially scheduled to come back. *
“The independent judiciary is under attack in North
Carolina,” says Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, president
i--aKr i
Spearman Berger
of the N.C. NAACP, and the people understand that
this attack is a threat to our democracy.”
Thus, the reason for “Fair Courts Day of Action.”
A coalition of social justice groups, led by the N.C.
NAACP, Democracy North Carolina and Progress NC,
reacted to bills either passed or introduced by the
Republican-led legislature in 2017 that gerrymanders the
state’s judicial districts, targeting black judges by packing
them so they would compete against each other (passed),
or would cut judicial terms from the state Supreme Court
to Superior Court from eight years and four years, down
to just two years (proposed), or even institute a merit
selection system where state lawmakers appoint the
judges they want to the bench (also proposed).
See GOP on A8
SALEM NC 27101-2755 60
Night, weekend service added to some bus routes
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
T
Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) has
added night and weekend service- to many bus
routes for 2018.
WSTA and Winston-Salem City Council mem
bers held a press conference last week to highlight
the route changes, which went into effect Jan. 2.
The changes are in response to rider feedback to
mm
WINSTON-SALEM TRANSITAUTfiOMTY
last year’s total route overhaul, which wa.<
designed to make them more efficient. The new
routes were adjusted last year for some communi
ties that lost service in the overhaul. With these
new changes, 11 routes are gaining either night
service, weekend service or both.
“The public wanted more service, specifically
night service and Saturday and Sunday service,”
said WSTA General Manager Art Barnes. “And
the City Council was so gracious, after looking at
all this information, to underwrite this service.”
See Bus routes on A4
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