«. ATyon Street
rtlYry* AVIf >TMV Λ Charlotte ,,c,^
ΐίϋΗ THE CHARLOTTE POST- [iÏP|
— "Charlotte's Fastest Growing Community Weekly" black consumers
»
Vol. 4 No. 49 CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28206-THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1978 PRICE
NÀACP
Youths To
Celebrate
The North Carolina State
Youth Conference of the
NAACP will have it's Second
Annual Youth of the Year
Celebration Saturday, June
17, at Saint Augstine's College
in Raleigh.
The day's activities will in
clude workshops on education,
employment, life skills and
sex. Special workshops will
deal with the NAACP today
and an advisor's training
workshop. And a Blue and
Gold Coed Volleyball game
will end the afternoon's activi
ties.
me worKsnops wili have
consultants from the N.C.
Agricultural Extention, Ben
nett College, the U.S. Navy,
University Television, the
Carolina Peacemaker, the
NAACP departments of
communication, field services
and ACT-SO: Afro-Academic,
Cultural, Technical, Scienti
fic Scholarship Olympics,
Planned Parenthood of Char
lotte and American Federal
Savings and Loan.
The speaker for the evening
program will be Ms. Althea T.
L. Simmons, Associate Direct
or for Branch and Field Ser
vices. A seasoned NAACPer,
Ms. Simmons has held staff
positions as National Training
Director, Legislative Advo
cate, Special Field Represent
ative, Field Director, Summer
Projects Director and Direct
or of NAACP National Voter
Registration Project.
Ms. Simmons, a former
college teacher and news
paper woman, was a graduate
o£Sauta·»UMvamty (La) in
Business Education and holds
a M.S. Otgtee in Marketing
from the University of Illinois
and a J. D. degree from the
Howard University School of
Law. _
The winner of the xouth of
the Year contest will be
selected and named the
NAACP Youth of the Year.
The winner will
receive a trip to the 69th
National Convention in Port
land, Ore. July 1 through 8.
the other participants will
receive tripe to tour the U.S.
Naval Academy in Annapolis,
Md. August 3 through 5 and a
special trip aboard a U.S.
Naval Ship in Norfolk, Va. will
be given to the young man who
raises the most money. All
participants will be presented
to the Adult Conference on
June 18 at the NAACP Annual
Freedom Day Celebration at
the Raleigh Civic Center at
which time the speaker will be
the NAACP's new Executive
Director, Benjamin L. Hooks.
Anyone interested in partici
pating please contact T.
Dianne Bellamy-Small, State
Youth President 2730372.
Public Hearing
Set For County's
Tentative Budget
The Mecklenburg Board of
County Commissioners will
hold a Public Hearing at 8
p.m., Monday, June 19, for
discussion of the County's
tentative budget for 1978-79
and for discussion of the pro
posed uses of Federal Reve
nue Sharing funds.
REMEMBER when the ONLY
PAY CHECK deduction was
the one slipped out for a
BEER on the way home from
work?
Sales Τ raining Session
j Planned F or Minorities
LA'RITA JENEE LUSTER
...Pretty ninth grader
La'Rita Jenee Luster
Is Beauty Of Week
uy ueora aianiey
Post Staff Writer
La'Rita Jenee Luster,
daugther of Mr. and Mrs.
James Luster, is the Post
Beauty of the Week. A ninth
grader at Randolph Junior
High, La'Rita feels that her
peat two years at Randolph
ha ν e been the meat umpertani
years of her life. "I feel that
Junior High years are the
most important years in a
persons' life, because they are
the years of molding one's life
into manhood or womanhood.
They are the years when you
begin to find out who you
really are,'' she commented.
La'Rita went on to say that
as a newcomer at Randolph
she wasn't very involved in
the numerous activities that
were offered. "The reason
being," she cited, "I was
really quite shy and not so
sure of myself."
Her rapid emergence from
her "shy" stage was mostly
because of a newly acquired
friend, Ann Kale. Speaking of
Ann, La'Rita noted, "She was
pretty, very popular, had a
great personality, and seemed
to be liked by everyone at
school. She also belonged to
most of the school activities
and organizations." It was
because of the assertiveness
La'Rita saw and liked about
Ahn that she decided to over
come her shyness and become
a part of Randolph by being
involved.
Her first goal was to become
a cheerleader. During try
outs, La'Rita wondered if she
could be a cheerleader, and
told herself the only way to
nix .a ' λ _ a ■· ■ .
■ ■•■va uui noo W U J , OIIC U1U OI1U
made it.
The following month Execu
tive Council elections were
beginning. After much
encouragement from her
parents and the executive
council advisor she decided to
run. After only a week of
campaigning, the student
body voted end La'Rita was
elected. Leter she was elected
President of the Student Body
for the following school year.
Recalling how she felt at that
time, La'Rita said, "I was
quite honored, but also a bit
afraid of what the coining
year would bring. I made up
my mind that this would be the
best year ever at Randolph.
Being president meant a lot of
hard work and much decision
making. Moat of this year'i
projects were successful ; this
year's experiences helped me
to know that if you really try,
you can accomplish anything
you set out to do," she con
cluded.
The same year La'Rita wai
voted Beat All Around Student
by the ninth grade Student
Body. She also received Um
DAR ( Daughters of the Amer
can ne volution) citizenship
Award. She entered the
Junior Debutant Pageant,
sponsored by the Zeta Eta
The ta Sorority held in Greens
boro, and was crowned Queen.
La'Rita stated that without
the love of her family twoe of
)hc iccooilistaoveiU
kw*e been pow&te 1 have
two sisters, Candace, 11 and
Lynette, 13. My brother,
James attends East Mecklen
burg High School. That's my
family, and without the love,
patience, understanding, and
most of all sacrifices made by
each of them, none of my
accomplishments would be
passible." When she referred
to her experience of being
crowned Queen of the Junior
Debutant Pageant, La'Rita
confided, "The greatest joy of
all was to see my parents,
grandparents, aunts and
uncles sitting out there
ka/tlrinM »» CWa f—1- tU-i
her junior high years have
prepared her to face high
school with courage and self
direction.
La'Rita list her career goals
as to become either a sociolo
gist or child psychologist be
cause she wants to help kids
"who unlike me did not have
parents to love, understand
and encourage them."
Affirming her reasons for
wanting to become a child
psychologist, La'Rita con
cluded by saying, "Maybe
through my help they may be
able to find their purpose of
being and belonging."
La'Rita lives at HOB Nancy
Dr. and attends McClintock
United Presbyterian Omrch
June 21-24
38th Annual Convention Of NNPA To
* m
Be Welcomed To Ohio By Governor
wasnington (ΝΝΡΛ)--Ηοη.
dames A. Rhodes, who is
serving his third term as
governor of Ohio, will wel
come the 38th Annual Conven
tion of the National News
paper Publishers Association
- Black Press of America -
which will meet in Cleveland
at the Park Plaza, June 21-24.
Others who will Join In the
welcome with the governor on
Thursday, June 22, are:
Mayor Dennis J. Kucinich,
Boxing Promoter Don King,
and host publisher William O.
Walker of the Cleveland Call *
Poat, ΝΝΡΛ President Cartion
B. Goodlett, announced this
week
Governor Rhodes is a wall
known author and political
figure His books Include:
"Johnny Shiloh," "The Trial
of Mary Todd Lincoln," "The
Court Martial of Commodore
Ferry," and "Alternative to a
Decadent Society." In the
latter book, Rhodes argues for
more extensive vocational
training.
Rhod·· began his political
career as mayor of Columbus
in 1943, serving three terms,
then he became state auditor
and held that poet until his
election as governor in 1962.
He left office in 1971 after two
term·, and was elected to a
third term in 1975.
As governor, he named Pub
lisher Walker to his cabinet as
Director of Industrial Rela
tion. This was a first for
blacks in Ohio
Other highlights of the four
day program will be addres
see by Congressman Louis
Stokes of Cleveland. Richard
Ferris president of United
Airlines, and president Good
lett who will deliver his annua
message
Greetings are to be brough'
by Mrs Martha "Bunny'
Mitchell. Special Assistant t(
the President, Marc Τ
Henderson, Associate Whit<
House Press Secretary
Ambassadors Olujimi Jolaost
of Nigeria and ^rancis A
Dennis of Liberia; Richarc
Tullis, Harris Corporation
and General l>aVern Weber
Chief of the National Guarc
Bureau
The convention sessions will
focus on the programs and
objectives of NNPA, news
paper production costs, circu
lation problems, and advert ι
sing salesmanship
Area Media
Endorse
Airport Bond
Dy oiuuey rawre, jr. .
Post Staff Writer
Endorsements from various
area media have preceded the
upcoming bond vote to build a
new $47 million airport
Area newspapers and tele
vision stations are carrying
advertisements and editorials
in favor of the bond vote on
Tuesday, June 20. A favorable
vote is seemingly preferred
because proponents of the
bond issue say it will not cost
taxpayers any money.
Half the costs would be paid
out of user fees paid by the
airlines. The other half is
expected to be realized from
parking, advertising and dis
play rentals, restaurant, con
cession and the like earned by
the city owned facilitv.
The bond package includes
a 270,000 square feet terminal
area, $39.5 million; service
facilities such as crash fire
and rescue, lighting system,
utilities and signage at 96
million; end a fuel supply
system at $1.5 million, accord
ing to literature from the
Airport Bond Committee.
The present terminal would
become an air cargo facility.
Atter the Donas are
approved, said the committee,
the new terminal will be sche
duled for occupancy in 1982.
Borrowing will be for actual
needs to meet construction
requirements.
President Seeks
Environmental
Protection Funds
President Carter bas re
quested that Congress amend
his 1979 fiscal year budget to
provide the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
with an additional $47 8 mil
lion, primarily to initiate the
environmental provisions of
the President's recently
announced urban plans.
Carter's plan is designed to
rehabilitate cities that have
suffered significant economic
and physical decay, and to
prevent other cities in better
health from experiencing the
same deterioration.
City Councilman Ron Leeper and
son, Atiba. walk in the March for Justice to
Ron Leeper
PUMBBI
Free the Wilmington Ten and the Charlotte
Three. Photo by Eileen. Hanson )
Γost s Man Of The Year"
By E-ueen naiiaun
Charlotte's newest Black
council member, Ron Leeper,
is the recipient of the Char
lotte Post's "Man of the Year
Award." The award is
granted annually to a Char
lottean who has made a sub
stanial contribution to the
community through voluntary
involvement in civic and
social affairs.
Leeper is well qualified for
this latest award. Active in
church and community
affairs, he is known as a man
who sees a problem and
immediately begins organi
zing people to solve it. Five
years ago when people in his
neighborhood needed more
stop lights and sidewalks, he
organized the Clanton Park
Community Organization to
solve those problems. When
he and his wife, Phyllis,
moved to their current home
at 417 Colony Acres Drive,
Leeper organized the Colony
Acres Homes Owners Associa
tion and served as its presi
dent until his Council election
As the father of two, Leeper
has a special concern for the
future generation. He orRani
tcu me youm ana scouting
programs at St. Mark's United
Methodist Church where he is
an active member. He also
chairs the social concerns
committee of the church
"I see some relationship in
everything I see that the lack
of recreational facilities in a
low-income community
directly relates to vandalism
and a lot of excess energies
not being used in a construct
ion manner, but rahter in a
destructive manner,"
explains Leeper
In last Fall's City Council
election, Leeper gained a re
putation as a "grass roots
man." "I am from the grass
roots," asserts Leeper. "I'm
a working man and I feel the
needs and concerns of working
people." Leeper currently
works as assistant manager of
Β & Β Supply company
The son of a mill worker and
a domestic, Leeper grew up in
Belmont, N.C where he
started doing odd jobs at the
early age of 10, to help the
family income. "I come from
a low income family and I
can't forget it." Leeper
reiiieiuuers. ι îcei a ic
sponsibility to try to get rid of
these conditions that cause
impoverishment."
Feeling that many elective
officials lack sensitivity to the
people's concerns, Leeper
decided to run for City council
last year. At age 32, he was
young, with no previous
elected experience. But he
had been active in Democratic
precinct work and in the Black
Political Caucus, and had
spearheaded the campaign for
district representation
Through the new district plan,
Leeper saw the potential for
more citizen involvement in
the crucial questions of hous
ing. public transit, parks and
recreation Now as the
Councilman from the Third
District, he holds regular
meetings with the District
Three Committee, composed
of precincts, community
organizations, and a broad
base of his constituency "It's
a give and take situation,"
says leeper I keep them
informed and they keep me
At a recent District Three
meeting Leeper sought the
support of his advisory com
mittee for the airport expan
sion referendum, which he
strongly favors because he
feels it will bring jobs to the
area He also wants to be sure
that minority businesses have
an equal opportunity to bid on
a competitive basis for airport
contracts if the airport bill
should be adopted
After only six months on the
Council, Leeper already
points to several accomplish
ments He introduced pro
posais to guarantee public
transport where the need is
, greatest. and is currently
working to get funds for park
1 improvements in the new
budget Another l>eeper pro
i posai was ttOO.OOO for low
income housing, one of his top
I priorities
Jobs is another of l>eeper's
concerns "Some officials
think there's nothing wrong
with low incomes, he says
"But people can change that
attitude What's good for
Charlotte is what's good for
our people " 1-ack of unions
and that stale's "right-to·
Soe !,eeper on page 7
13-Week
Session To
Begin July 10
By Sidney Moore, dr.
Post Staff Writer
Minority business develop
ment is the business of Char
lotte Business Resource
Center.
Funds for the Office of
Minority Business Enterprise,
U.S. Department of Com
merce, are used to support
services offered by the center.
It is also associated with
Charlotte Chamber of Com
merce
Cooperation with other .«ν«
agencies that support minor· ί|
ity business development ia
also encouraged by the center.
Currently, it is pulling t^i J
gether a sales training courat
through the Metrolina Regfc
onal Minority Purchasing
Council. It is an organization
of local and national compap
ies. *.·· "■
Because Of Who You Ar·"
is how the course is entitled» 1!
is expected to be offered forti
weeks beginning MtnAqfc
July 10. This is the feurtb yaw
of this annual project.
Harriston Jones, center
executive director, said the
probable time for the course
will be 6:30 or 7 p.m.
This course will provide
minority business owners and
managers the professional
salps techniques needed to
approach the corporate
market." said a statement
from the agency.
Areas of study will include
classroom instruction and dis
cussion, closed circuit tele
vision for taping and replay of
role playing and actual sales
presentations with corporate
buyers, the statement said.
The course will be presented
"On the Square" at Central
Piedmont Community Col
lege. said Jones. A $10 regi
stration fee will be charged.
In previous years 21 busi
ness persons have completed
the course, according to
Jones He hopes to have 15
participants this year. If
demand is sufficient, the busi
ness promoter said, another
session can be offered.
In another project the
center proposes to establish a
One-Stop-Center for minority
economic development to
serve Mecklenburg, Gaston
and Union counties. This
center will be one-of-a-kind In
this area and will have profes
sional staff and volunteers to
offer a wide range of services,
said the statement. Among
services listed were expand
ing a business market, identi
fying opportunities, raising
capital, education and train
ing, loan packaging and
diversification
This new service is expected
to be in operation by July 1,
according to the statement.
(bounty Wine 4
National Awards
Four program* of Mecklen
burg County government have
been named winners in a
nationwide competition spon
sored by the National Assoc!
ation of Counties (NACo).
The programs that are reci
pients of the 1978 NACo
Achievement Awards are as
follows
Fire Safety Education Pro
Hi am for Fourth Grade Child- ·
ren. developed and admini
stered by the County Fire
Administrator's Office