Last weekend the city’s Human Relations Commission kicked off Black History Month by showcasing the talents of local gospel choirs, soloist, and other performers during their annual Showcase of Songs. 

For the past six years, the event which is free of charge, has brought people together from all parts of the city to celebrate black culture and the gospel music that has been passed down for generations. This year’s celebration was no different as more than 50 people gathered inside the Old Salem Visitor’s Center last Saturday afternoon, Feb. 3.

When Africans traveled through the Middle Passage during the first half of the 20th century, many brought with them their culture of using songs and dances to worship. 

While a lot has changed since that time, dozens of songs are still a part of African- American culture and are sung regularly at church and other gatherings.

Wanda Allen-Abraha, Human Relations director and coordinator for the showcase, said it is important that we remember the sacrifices our ancestors made and the role gospel music played in their lives during slavery and beyond. 

“Gospel is the soul of African-Americans; there’s nothing like it,” Allen-Abraha said. “We took gospel music and made it our own thing.”

Performers during the Showcase of Song included soloist Abigail Dowd, Carmen Redmond and Tamara Bradshaw. The Extraordinary Worshippers, F.O.C.U.S Professional Gospel Group, mime Evelyn Dixon and the Kidane Mehret Ethiopian Orthodox Church Children’s Choir performed as well. 

The post Celebrating Black History through gospel songs appeared first on WS Chronicle.

In honor of Black History Month, Off The Beaten Path Coffee and Beverage Cafe, downtown’s newest minority-owned business, will be hosting several events throughout the month designed to empower and inspire the African-American community.

Owner Jemi Moore kicked off the monthlong celebration last weekend when she invited author Joyful Soul for a book signing event for her latest novel “Giving Birth to HIV.”  The bestseller, which is available on Amazon and Goodreads, tells the story of an African-American couple and their struggle with HIV.

During an interview with The Chronicle, Moore said she decided to host events throughout the month to show people of color they can achieve anything they put their minds to. The events Moore has planned will address a number of issues that plague communities across the country.

Moore said, “This is not just about a business. Doing things that connect us to the community is what we’re really about. I’m a God-fearing woman, so everything I do I do it with passion and with my love for Christ.”

This Saturday, Feb. 10, financial guru Cordi Powell will host a free workshop to help attendees manage their finances. Powell, who is the founder of Favored Financial Planning, works to help individuals understand how to integrate the pieces that comprise their financial life and know they can achieve their goals and ultimately fulfill their purpose in life.

The workshop is scheduled to begin at noon. Off The Beaten Path Coffee and Beverage Café is located at 102 West 3rd St. For more information or to register for the workshop, call (336) 869-3481.

The post Off The Beaten Path looks to inspire community appeared first on WS Chronicle.

The name Larry Leon Hamlin is synonymous with the city of Winston-Salem and performing arts across the country but as the saying goes, behind every good man is a strong woman, and in Larry’s case, there were two: his mother Annie Hamlin-Johnson, and his wife, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin.

Larry, a native of Reidsville, is best known as founder of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NCBRC), the first professional black theatre company in the state and host of the bi-annual National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF). Long before the NBTF became one of the city’s biggest events, it was Larry’s mother who introduced him to the stage.

Hamlin-Johnson, who starred in several on-stage productions herself, said she first introduced Larry to theatre through productions at church. From there, Larry showed so much interest that she had a stage built at home so Larry and his friends could work on their acting skills.

“We began in the church and Larry’s interest just grew from there. He would pretend he was one of the big name actors on TV,” she laughed. “But that’s how he got started. When I saw how interested he was, we got children from the neighborhood and started putting on productions at home.”

Larry’s love for the arts stuck with him through grade school and high school, where he sung on the choir, and led the drama club. After graduating from high school, Larry went off to attend Brown University, where he studied theatre.

In 1979, following the death of his older brother, Larry returned to North Carolina with a vision to create a one-of-a-kind theatre company committed to exposing the local community to African-American classics, the development and production of new works, and sustaining black theatre. While selling tickets for his first show at a social event, Larry met Sylvia and told her what he was trying to do, and the rest is history. Although she had seen several on-stage productions in Philadelphia, where she lived for 10 years, Sylvia said it was Larry who introduced her to the theatre world.

“Larry came back to Winston-Salem in May of 1979 and we met in June that same year.” Sprinkle-Hamlin said. “He said he wanted to start a professional company because he felt that actors and actresses, writers, and directors didn’t get the recognition they deserved.

“He was always in to exposing people to black history, and I was, too, so it really worked out.”

A few months later Sylvia, Annie, and Larry signed the charter for the company and the trio got to work spreading the word.

In the early days, Sylvia and Annie were responsible for managing the box office, amongst several other responsibilities.

Sylvia laughed, “We would be sitting in the theatre hoping someone would come. We had no idea that it would grow to what it is today. We were just supporting Larry. From having hardly anyone in the audience to the big audiences like the Black Theatre Festival, we’ve seen it all, but we were determined.”

In 2007 following a long illness, Larry passed away at his home in Pfafftown, but the NCBRC is still going strong. The company is universally recognized for its artistic and administrative achievements and its international outreach. During an interview with The Chronicle earlier this week, Hamlin-Johnson, who was always there to support her son emotionally and financially to reach his goal, said it makes her feel good to know Larry’s legacy will live on.

“I think about him a lot and things he used to do as a child,” Hamlin-Johnson said. “Sometimes I go way back and talk with my daughter about things we use to do. I must say I am proud of what Larry accomplished.”

When discussing the future of the NCBRC, Sprinkle-Hamlin, who serves as president of the board of directors, said with new programs like the Teen Theatre, the future is bright. She also mentioned that Larry’s son and grandson are now working in theatre and hopes they will follow in Larry’s footsteps here in Winston-Salem

“I think we have enough support that it will continue to grow and Larry’s legacy will continued to live on,” she said. “We have a really good team and hopefully that team can lead the company into the future.”

The post Black History Month: Family discusses the late Larry Leon Hamlin and the NCBRC appeared first on WS Chronicle.

After celebrating and learning about African-American culture throughout the month, students at Diggs-Latham Elementary School wrapped up Black History Month earlier this week with their annual celebration.

During the event held on Tuesday, Feb. 27, students took to the stage to show their talents. Performers included members of honors band & orchestra, honors dance and the art club. The keynote address was delivered by Aliza Diggs-Bailey, executive director of the Delta Fine Arts Center.

As she stood before the hundreds of students in the crowd, Diggs-Bailey encouraged students to “dream big and paint their own future.” After giving a brief history of John T. Biggers, an artist in who came to prominence after the Harlem Renaissance after overcoming several obstacles in life, Diggs-Bailey said, “Never let anything get in the way of your dreams. Dream big, paint your own picture, all your dreams will be fulfilled.”

The post Diggs-Latham wraps up Black History Month appeared first on WS Chronicle.

In celebration of Black History Month, more than 100 residents came together last week to honor the life and legacy of two of Forsyth County’s finest, the late Maize S. Woodruff and late Walter Marshall.

During the celebration, held at Forsyth Technical Community College’s (FTCC) Maize S. Woodruff Center on Thursday, Feb. 22, relatives of Woodruff were on hand to witness dozens give thanks and show their appreciation.

After the keynote address and catered lunch, donations were collected for the Maize S. Woodruff Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is designed to give one FTCC student a $250 scholarship each semester. One requirement for the scholarship is to be active in the community. The fund was formed last year.

Last year’s recipient of the scholarship, Vernell Springs, who will graduate from FTCC in May, said Maize S. Woodruff Scholarship helped her purchase books, and helped her stay in school. She said, “This scholarship has tremendously helped me.”

In 1926 Woodruff became the first African-American to be elected to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, on which she served for 14 years. In 1997, when Woodruff died, she was known for standing up for those in need throughout the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community.

Marhsall, a native of Wadesboro, moved to Winston-Salem after finishing his education at Winston-Salem State University. Soon thereafter, he became a member and advocate for the local NAACP Chapter. After becoming chapter president in the 1980s, Marshall would go on to serve on both the county commissioners and school board.

While delivering the keynote address, the honorable Judge Denise Hartfield said Woodruff and Marshall left legacies that will live on forever. She said the first thing we learned from Woodruff and Marshall is that you don’t have to leave your home to make a difference.

Hartfield said, “It’s not about your ZIP code; it’s about what you’re getting in the framework of where you live, and we have to build up this community where Walter Marshall worked every day, where Maize Woodruff worked every day. We have to work in that same vineyard to make sure East Winston remains a beacon not just for North Carolina but for the United States of America.

“The legacy is not always about land, the legacy is not always about money. The legacy is about what you have given to somebody and how you have empowered somebody,” Hartfield said.

For more information on the scholarship fund visit www.foundation.forsyth.edu.

The post Celebration honors legends appeared first on WS Chronicle.

On Friday, March 2 students, faculty and staff at Salem College invited the community to witness their annual Black History Month Finale Show.

A culmination of several programs held through the year, the finale show is annually sponsored by Salem’s BADU (Black Americans Demonstrating Unity) organization. This year’s event, held inside the Hanes Auditorium, had enough entertainment to keep the entire family engaged.

The show featured singing, dancing, spoken word and a show-stopping performance from the Carver High School Marching Band.

The highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony. Throughout the event, which was staged like a star-studded award show, students were honored with awards that were named after song titles. For example; the “Cool Like That” Award, the “I Will Survive” Award, the “Get Like Me” Award and countless others were presented to students who stand out on campus.

Since 2015, BADU has hosted the Black History Month Finale Show as a fundraiser and a way to honor students for their achievements and contributions to the Salem Community. This year more than a dozen students were honored during the event.

The post Salem College group hosts Black History Month Finale Show appeared first on WS Chronicle.

Last week Ashley Elementary School kicked off their month-long celebration of African-American heritage with a visit from Judge Camille Banks-Prince.

During her visit with the fourth and fifth graders, Banks-Prince talked about her journey to becoming a Tenth District Court Judge in Forsyth County, the importance of education, and several other topics, including the different branches of government and how they work.

The visit was part of Ashley’s annual African-American Heritage Month Celebration. Throughout the month students will learn about African-Americans who have made major contributions to society. Students will also have the opportunity to hear from various individuals right here in Winston-Salem who are making a difference in our community, like Judge Banks-Prince.

A native of Winston-Salem, Judge Banks-Prince was appointed as a Tenth District Court judge in Forsyth County in 2008 by former Governor Michael Easley. A graduate of NC A&T State University and NC Central University School of Law, Banks-Prince worked as an associate attorney in a local law firm for a year before taking a position in the Forsyth County Public Defender’s office. Since her appointment in 2008, Banks-Prince has been re-elected three times.

As a city native, Banks-Prince said she felt it was her duty to come and talk to the students at Ashley. Banks-Prince said she wanted the students to know that they can become a lawyer, judge, or anything else they want to be if they just put in the work.

“For me I never really saw a judge until I was in college and it’s a career opportunity that a lot of children may not even know is available to them.

“I’m a firm believer in giving back to a community where I got the tools necessary to become a successful and productive member of society. I want all these students to know they have the potential to do anything,” said Banks-Prince. “I would not have made it if people would not have shared their experiences or opened their arms to me. So this is my way of giving back to my community.”

African-American Heritage Month at Ashley will continue throughout the month with special guests visiting students on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. There are also events scheduled throughout the month to engage parents as well.

The post Judge Camille Banks-Prince visits students at Ashley Elementary appeared first on WS Chronicle.

Throughout Black History Month, The Chronicle will be highlighting history makers from right here in our community who are making a difference and setting an example for others to follow.

This week we shine our light on John Davenport Jr., founder and owner of DAVENPORT, an engineering, design, and consulting firm located right here in Winston-Salem.

Growing up Davenport’s father would regularly take him to construction sites where he became fascinated with designing and building. Although Davenport fell in love with construction at a young age, he had no idea those visits to construction sites around town would lead him to where he is today.

After graduating from East Forsyth, Davenport’s love for construction and design led him to continue his education at N.C. State University.  After undergrad, Davenport went on to attend N.C. A&T State University where he received his master’s in engineering. In 2002 Davenport went out on a limb and decided to open his own engineering firm. While speaking with The Chronicle last week, Davenport said he never imagined his company would take off the way it did.

“When I first started, I was just trying to survive,” laughed Davenport. “So to be where we are today with over 70 employees, that wasn’t my original thought.”

From humble beginnings in 2002 with less than five employees, today DAVENPORT is a leading engineering and design firm with clients throughout the Southeast, with certifications in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida. DAVENPORT has also worked on a number of projects here in the City of Arts and Innovation, including; the Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem State University’s north parking lot, and Simon G. Atkins High School to name a few.

Despite all his success, Davenport always finds ways to give back to the community that gave him his start. Aside from his father taking him to construction sites, Davenport also credits Addie Hines and the Upward Bound program at Winston-Salem State University for introducing him to the world of engineering.

“I went through that program and she was instrumental in helping me get in the position to go to college and go far,” continued Davenport. “Upward Bound prepared me and helped me understand what that looked like.”

Since 2007, Davenport has held a summer camp where children from local high schools and the Winston-Salem Urban League have the opportunity to intern with his company. Davenport said giving back is one of his “core pillars.”

“…Someone gave me an opportunity and quite honestly, when I was at that point in life I didn’t even know how to get into corporate America. I didn’t know what engineers did,” he continued. “But now that I have an opportunity and I know the ins-and-outs, I feel like it’s my duty. And it’s actually one of the most gratifying things I do.”

In 2011 Davenport’s passion for giving back led him to take the vacant seat on the board of education left by Geneva Brown. Davenport said being from Winston-Salem and knowing the community, he felt it was important to bring his experiences and insight to the board. Currently, Davenport is also a board member for several other organizations in the area including: the board of Health and Human Services, the Forsyth Tech Board of Trustees, and several others.

“It’s very important for me to give back. Whether I’m serving on the school board or working with other organizations in the area, it’s all about giving back and being able to shape how things unroll in our community,” said Davenport. “Someone has to serve on these boards to be the voice and provide prospective. Very few people from Winston-Salem are serving on these boards and the older I get the more I understand how valuable that is.”

When asked what advice he would give an up-and-coming entrepreneur who may be having second thoughts about following their dream, Davenport said he would encourage them to learn from their failures. He said, “Everybody has some strength and you don’t measure your strength by somebody else. You look at what you can do and what you bring to the table.

“… The only time you fail is when you don’t try. If you just try you’re probably going to go a lot further than you thought you were going to go. And then you have to be resilient because anybody who is successful didn’t become that way overnight,” said Davenport. “So as an entrepreneur, you can’t expect to start right off and knock it out the park. That’s not how it’s going to be. You have to be comfortable with learning how to fail and learn that failure is a learning lesson.”

The post Davenport pays it forward appeared first on WS Chronicle.

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

It’s a good thing that David Cooper didn’t listen to the naysayers when he decided to start a real estate business.

In 1975 he was told, “The economy is bad,” “interest rates are too high,” “it’s too risky to go into real estate.” Cooper decided the time was right for him – if he could make it in bad times, he could make it when the good times came.

Cooper grew up on a farm in Hemingway, South Carolina, where he learned the value of hard work and a strong work ethic. He came to Winston-Salem to attend Winston-Salem State University and after graduation, worked in the airlines industry. The job was good, but after 14 years it had become routine. He was bored. He wanted a new challenge. During a visit with his brother who lived in California, Cooper mentioned that he was looking for something else to do and his brother, who was in real estate, suggested that he consider real estate. Cooper was looking for an opportunity to connect with people on a more personal level and this seemed like the perfect fit.

Cooper earned his real estate brokers license in 1975 and worked briefly for another company before striking out on his own. In 1977 he became the first African-American in the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors®. Cooper remembers buying his first house and having no one to help him through the hurdles of getting a mortgage. He knew he wanted to help others buy their first homes and to guide them through the process of one of the most important decisions a person will ever make.

Over 40 years later, Cooper Realty is still going strong. Cooper says, “I’ve never had a bad year, even during housing slumps.”  During recessions, he maintained his business on a conservative basis and planned for downtimes by investing in rental properties and partnering with Fannie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association.

Cooper doesn’t pay much attention to negative news and says, “When things got rough, I just worked harder.” Based on company size, Cooper Realty has been the number one seller for several years, averaging about 100 houses sold a year. Cooper says, “ … just be honest with folks and do the right things, you’ll succeed.”

Cooper Realty is a family business, which includes his wife Ernestine, son Alton, and brother Sam. Cooper gives credit for his success, “first to Creator God be the glory,” and to his wife, who he calls his “silent partner.” Cooper said, “My desire is to work with people and help people be homeowners, especially first-time buyers.” His proudest moments are when someone tells him, “I just paid off my house.” He is now selling homes to the children – and grandchildren – of people he first sold a home to when he was starting out.

Cooper has seen a lot of changes in the industry since he began over 40 years ago. He remembers the days of MLS (Multiple Listing Service) books where you had to wait for paper updates, so you were always behind on new listings. With today’s technology, new listings are immediate and accessible through his phone. “I can show a house and if they ask if there is anything else available in that neighborhood, I can immediately pull up every listing there, by price or size,” he commented. He added concerning technology, “Unless you move with it, you will be left behind.”

Cooper also stressed that today’s homebuyer is different from when he started out. They are more educated and shop smarter. They are more apt to use technology to search for a home. Cooper said he has sold homes to people he has never met and who never personally saw the home until after they purchased it. It was all done over the Internet.

Although he loves what he does, he still finds time for his hobbies: traveling, fishing and photography. He started taking pictures of his own listings when he first started out in real estate and has continued ever since, although now it’s with more sophisticated cameras. He also takes pictures for his church, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, and has taken a few weddings and birthday parties. He was recognized by his church on Feb. 16 for his contributions to the community. He started Cooper Realty Scholarship Fund 13 years ago in partnership with his church and each year they give a $2,000 scholarship to a deserving student.

Cooper was also recognized as a Realtor Emeritus in 2017 for his 40 years of membership in the Association of Realtors and was inducted into the Realtors Hall of Fame in 2013.

For people who are considering going into the real estate field, Cooper says, “You have to love it because you are going to live it, eat it, and sleep it.”  He added, “I play real estate. It’s not work to me.”

The post David Cooper – over 40 years in real estate and still going strong appeared first on WS Chronicle.

By Darron Daniels, Jr.

During the month of February, the Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork Elementary School celebrated Black History Month through song, dramatic play, daily trivia, door decorations, a historically black college and university research presentation, a local radio personality visit, and a living wax museum.

Students from kindergarten to fifth grade classes created, researched, and produced projects on prominent and lesser-known black inventors, athletes, civil rights leaders, activists, politicians, and entrepreneurs. The literacy lab school’s theme for the month, “A World Without Color,” provided students with insight on the contributions and legacies of individuals such as Harriet Tubman, Jesse Owens, Ruby Bridges, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Children need to understand and know their history in order to understand where they are going. Therefore, it was important for us here at the Academy to start a tradition of celebrating who we are and the endless possibilities of where we can go,” stated Verschello M. Nelson, assistant principal.

Other keynote events that took place at the Academy included a presentation from Renee Vaughn, 97.1 QMG radio personality, and a student-led evening program for families that demonstrated what daily life would be like without the inventions of African-Americans. “Our students were highly engaged while they explored and connected their past to their present,” said Ms. Johnson, fifth grade teacher.

The event, named after the month’s theme, contained musical performances of influential and inspirational songs including “We Shall Overcome,” “Respect,” “Glory,” and the national black anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” “I felt that kids needed to know how important music was in helping African-Americans get through the tumultuous times of the past,” stated April Whitfield, music teacher.

The culminating event held on February 28 was a living wax museum in which the school’s fourth and fifth graders brought the historic figures that they spent the month learning about to life. With dozens of poster boards, costumes, and fact sheets written in first-person, students in younger grades were able to interact with their peers by placing coins into cups near display boards to activate their famous person’s narrative.

Alicia Kinzer, a first grade teacher who served on the Academy’s Black History Month committee, affirmed, ”It was a good experience for students and me to be able to focus on influential African-Americans who paved the way for all people of diverse cultures.”

As students carry the torch of citizenship in their future families and becoming community leaders, they came to appreciate the famous statement: “If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”

“We are fortunate at the Academy to have a diverse population of students and parents who embrace education and are committed to learning together, “ stated Wanda McLemore, fourth grade teacher.

The post Breathing life into black history at the Academy appeared first on WS Chronicle.