HISTORY MONTH See Opinion/Forum pages on A6&7 • See Sports on page Bl* The Ch RON IC EE Volume 45, Number 28 ■WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE In an attempt to con nect male students with mentors and role models, last week administrators at Julian Gibson Elementary School held their second annual 100 Men Chal lenge. During the event on Friday, March 15, men from all walks of life showed up to enjoy break- fast with male students in the fourth and fifth grades. According to Princi pal Glenn Starnes II, the initiative, which his team started last year, falls un der the umbrella of “Big Rock #2.” Starnes said at Gibson they focus on three “Big Rocks” that focus on: high quality, core in struction, family and com munity engagement, and professional development for teachers and staff. Gib son said after holding the event for all grade levels last year, they decided to focus on fourth and fifth graders this year. He men tioned they also have simi lar events for girls. “Today is an opportu nity for our young scholars to see and engage in con versation with positive role models in the community. We know and realize that a number of our children may have an absent father or absent male role model in their household or im mediate community and if they’re like me, they won’t have a male teacher until they get to high school,” said Gibson. “We really want to engage in oppor tunities for our students to interact with males so they can see what positive role models and positive suc cess looks like. “... We invite men from across our school district, across our lo ¬ Photos by Tevin Stinson Students enjoy breakfast with male role models cal community, and even across the state to come in and share with our young boys.” Starnes said he has seen a tremendous improve ment from male students since implementing the 100 Men Challenge and other events last school year. Gibson said any child who is in need of a men ¬ tor is paired with one. He said, “I’m a firm believer that the achievement gap can only be closed by building relationships with children. “We have to find a way to regularly build relation ¬ ships with children, not just with their classroom teacher, not just with their See Challenge on A4 1 Crystal Towers’ residents will be forced to move HAWS close to finalizing the sale of Crystal Towers BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE Less than a year after they announced the sale of the building, next month the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS) is expected finalize the sale of Crystal Towers. Here’s what we know: Built in 1968, Crystal Tow- O S co 00 00 00 2 * mm $ & W 1 CZ) 00 00 ers is one of three high- rise towers in the city for senior citizens and those with disabilities. In Au gust of last year, HAWS’ Board of Commissioners voted to sell the 11-story high-rise building, citing more than $7 million in re pairs as the reason for the sale. At that time HAWS’ Executive Director Larry Woods told The Chronicle Crystal Towers needed renovations to the eleva tors, drainage lines, elec tric switch gear room, and resurfacing of the roof. He also said units in the build ing needed new kitchen File photo Crystal Towers located on Sixth Street downtown Winston-Salem. H^ Ha UI 1 - www.wschronicle.com We Rent U-Haul Trucks! Professional self-storage. SELF STORAGE ••• ASSURED ••• STORAGE of Winston-Salem, LLC cabinets and appliances, flooring and new air con ditioning systems. In an article pub lished in The Chronicle on Thursday, Aug. 23, Woods said in recent years HAWS has received less funding from the Department of Housing and Urban De velopment (HUD), which made it impossible for the organization to afford the renovations or get a loan. Less than two months after the sale of the prop erty was made public, sev eral members of the Win- See Towers on A4 (336) 924-7000 www.assuredstoragews.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-3pm Gate Hours: 5am-10pm 4191 Bethania Station Road • Winston-Salem CN CO ill o Q % * * CQ Z o - ^ - S 5 b o z WILSON NcUf