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“Diverse Views,Common Cause”“Diverse Views,Common Cause”

SPRING 2013

NEXUS“Linking Our Community”

Fair Housing Month EventsThe city's

annual observance of Fair Housing Month commenced Wednesday, April 10, when Mayor Allen Joines read a proclamation at noon at the office of the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors, 195 Executive Park Blvd., Winston-Salem.

Fair Housing Month promotes the federal Fair Housing Act and its laws against housing discrimination. 2013 marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. The theme for this year's Fair Housing Month is “Our Work Today Defines Our Tomorrow.”

Winston-Salem has a fair housing ordinance that mirrors the Fair Housing Act. The Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission and Human Relations Department are responsible for enforcing fair housing laws locally to ensure fair and equal housing access and treatment for all people regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, family status, or religion.

Also during Fair Housing Month, the annual Fair and Affordable Housing Summit for housing professionals will be held Thursday, April 25, at 11:30 a.m. at the LJVM Coliseum, 2825 University Parkway.

The department provided fair housing training at City Hall, 101 N. Main Street, on Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m. and was at Winston Salem State University for their off campus housing fair to help college students learn about their rights as a tenant on April 15th. Fair housing and landlord/tenant rights training is available upon request to local organizations and schools.

Black History Month: Showcase of Song

33rd Annual Human Relations Student Awards Banquet

In celebration of Black History Month, the Human Relations Commission sponsored the first-ever “Showcase of Song: An African-American Cultural Celebration,” on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in the Salem and Winston Rooms at LJVM Coliseum.

Five choirs and a soloist showcased the link between the African culture and modern-day African-American hymnals and spirituals by including information about the origins of the songs and their cultural significance.

The performers were: James H. Diggs Heritage Choir, the Napper Singers, the Renaissance Choir, the Triad Children's Choir of Kidane Mehret Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Voices of Galilee Choir of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist, and soloist Nelson Roberts. The Paisley I.B. Magnet School African Drummers opened up the show.

This free event brought out over 200 people in attendance and we are already looking forward to our next Showcase of Song.

A student from each public school in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, as well as from some private schools, were honored Feb. 21 during the 33rd Annual

Human Relations Student Awards Banquet. The Human Relations Commission partnered with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools to hold the banquet, which honors students who

exemplify positive human relations in their dealings with

others on such issues as race, religion and cultural differences.

The theme of this year's banquet was “Compassion is Contagious.” The speaker at this year's banquet was Nora Baker, the principal of Jefferson Elementary and the 2013 Principal of the Year for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Entertainment was provided by a choir of First Assembly Christian School first graders and the R.J. Reynolds High School Jazz Band. 600 people were in attendance.

The City Council and the Human Relations Commission honored two city residents as the 2013 recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award at the City Council meeting Jan.22.

The Young Dreamers Awards honor two emerging or proven young adult city residents between the ages of 18 and 40 who have made a tangible difference in the lives of those who otherwise might have been overlooked, ignored, or disadvantaged.

Honored this year are Reynita McMillan, 22, member of the Student Government Association at Forsyth Technical Community College; and Kismet Bell, 31, a teacher at STEAM Academy and chief idea strategist for Beyond the Box Innovative Solutions.

The Human Relations Commission established the Young Dreamers Award in 2009 to encourage young adults to participate in philanthropic, altruistic community involvement that is in the spirit of how Martin Luther King Jr. lived and encouraged others to live.

The Human Relations Department sponsored its 10th Annual March for Homeless Children as part of the Winston-Salem Holiday Parade on Saturday evening, December 10th.

“The march will raise awareness for the plight of homeless children,” said Wanda Allen-Abraha, the Human Relations Director. “Homelessness does not just affect adults. Anytime parents lose a home, their children are homeless, too.”

MLK Young Dreamers

Human Relations Sponsors 10th Annual March for Homeless Children

Ethiopian Church Children's Choir

2013 Awardees

2009 Housing Summit

First Assembly Children’s Choir

You and your children are long-time residents of a community. After a new family moved in with loud children, you received a notice from the landlord that that children are no longer allowed to play outdoors unsupervised. What type of discrimination is this representing?

Is it:A. Nationality discriminationB. Youth discrimination, or C. Familial discrimination

C. Familial Discrimination, Policies that target families with children could trigger a Fair Housing claim of discrimination based on family status.

Answer

3)

April11 Fair Housing/Landlord/Tenant Training Fair Housing/Landlord/Tenant Training

2126 27 Human Relations Commission Meeting

Human Relations Commission Meeting 5:30 p.m. BAS, Pub. Mtg. Rm.5:30 p.m. BAS, Pub. Mtg. Rm.

JulyFair Housing/Landlord/Tenant Training 10 Fair Housing/Landlord/Tenant Training10:00 a.m., City HallHuman Relations Commission Meeting 5:30 p.m. BAS, Pub. Mtg. Rm.

June12

Fair Housing Kick-Off Luncheon 15 Juneteenth Africana Festival, 11 a.m.-5 American Dream Weekend p.m., LJVM ColiseumFair Housing Summit

May8

10:00 a.m., City Hall23

Human Relations Department & Commission NewsHuman Relations Department & Commission News

Winston-Salem Human Relations Department assists citizens with housing, landlord/tenant rights and community relations. For more information, please call:

311 (336-727-8000)Fax 336-748-3002www.cityofws.org

MissionStatementEliminate housing discrimi-

nation and ensure equal housing accessibility by working with community entities (government, businesses, clergy, education, civic, educating/empowering minorities, persons with disabilities and others) in developing, imple-menting and analyzing activities

This is the eighth year the march has been incorporated into the Holiday Parade. Representatives of Project Hope (a program offered by the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools that addresses the needs of homeless children and their families) were on hand to accept donations.

In December 2012, Jayme Waldeck joined the Human Relations Team. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She comes from a professional background of working with youth, service learning, and not for profit development work. Her most recent work was with the United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Jayme is new to the Winston-Salem area and North Carolina. She is from Charleston, West Virginia and is looking forward to working with the community in Winston-Salem through outreach programs and events.

Since her arrival at the department, she has helped to organize a State Youth Conference hosted by the Winston Salem Youth Advisory Council, 33rd Annual Human Relations Awards Banquet, and the Inaugural Black History Month: Showcase of Song.

Some of her roles include working with the youth and college boards, coordinating with outreach, working to conduct trainings, and generating Nexus TV and Nexus Newsletter articles and information.

To contact Jayme Waldeck, one can e-mail her at or call 336-734-1228.

Please Welcome...

jaymew@cityofws.org

Commissioner Chanthini Palmer was appointed to the Human Relations Commission in 2009. She currently serves as chairperson of the Student Relations Committee and is the immediate past chair of the Community Relations Committee. In her role as a Human Relations Commissioner, she has been actively involved in working with staff on the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Young Dreamers' Awards, the annual March for Homeless Children, and International Village at Rock the Block.

Commissioner Palmer is a former middle school teacher. She has a strong interest in issues involv-ing children, young adults, and the elderly. She also enjoys inter-cultural immersion and diversity advocacy. Her hobbies include traveling and ski-ing.

Although Commissioner Palmer was born in San Francisco, California, she considers herself a native of Winston-Salem. She is a proud graduate of Carver High School, North Carolina Central University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Education, and North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned a Master's degree in HR Counseling. She is the owner and operator of Sugar and Spice Child Enrichment Centers of Virginia and North Carolina. Commissioner Palmer is married and has two daughters.

Commissioners’ Corner...A rental community has a no-pet policy.

Recently, the landlord discovered that a tenant is keeping a cat inside her apartment. The resident says that she is disabled and that she is entitled to keep the cat as an emotional

support animal. The landlord says that cats are not considered service animals and that the tenant must get rid of the cart or move out.

Who is right? Is it:A. The tenant?B. The landlord? orC. It depends on the cat.

Time For Nexus Challenge...1)

Answer A. Although it is true that cats can't be service animals, fair

housing law is broad enough to permit an individual with a disability to have an emotional support animal other than a dog, including cats, birds, lizards and snakes, if that individual has a disability-related need for the animal.

Jayme Waldeck

Chanthini Palmer

Spring 2013 Upcoming Events ...

Mayor: Allen Joines Human Relations Staff

City Council: Wanda Allen-Abraha, Director

Vivian H. BurkeMayor Pro Tempore, Northeast Ward Adolfo Briceño, Specialist, Hispanic OutreachDenise D. Adams, North Ward John Floyd, SpecialistDan Besse, Southwest Ward Jayme Waldeck, Specialist/Outreach CoordinatorRobert C. Clark, West Ward

Molly Leight, South Ward Human Relations CommitteesWanda Merschel, Northwest Ward

Derwin L. Montgomery, East Ward Community RelationsTo provide programs that promote an understanding James Taylor, Jr., Southeast Wardof respect for cultural diversities; provides educational programs regarding human relations, City Manager: Lee D. Garrityhuman rights, and civil rights; promotes ways to build bridges of understanding throughout the community.

Human Relations Commission

Student RelationsJenny Viars (Chair)

To provide human relations and leadership experience jviars@wsifb.com for high school students through diversity, facilitation

and conflict resolution training. The SHRC will Elbia Altamirez conduct forums to educate students on human

relations issues and assist in nurturing a positive Ealtamirez108@rams.wssu.eduhuman relations climate throughout the school system.Nora Baker

greedypat45@yahoo.comInterfaithTo initiate activities that facilitate the harmonious

Kelly Carpenter bringing together of people of various faiths and revkelly@gmail.com beliefs in an effort to foster a better understanding of

how citizens can live together respectfully as they openly practice their spiritual and religious beliefs.Michael Clinton

mclinton1@triad.rr.comNew HorizonsTo eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equal Chantinin Cruisehousing accessibility by working with the community sugarbabies2@embarqmail.comentities (government, businesses, clergy, education, civic, educating/empowering minorities, persons with

Lee LeVallee disabilities and others) in developing, implementing LeeLeVallee@realtor.com and analyzing activities that impact on housing

availability.

Michael McIntoshHispanic Human Relationsecimac@aol.comTo provide workshops to ensure that the Hispanic community will receive fair treatment in all real estate

Ben Tennille transactions and to co-sponsor events which support, businessjudge@gmail.com encourage and promote cultural understanding and

tolerance of the growing Hispanic community in the City of Winston-Salem.

Ernie Wadeewade@triad.rr.com Designed by City of Winston-Salem

Marketing & Communications Department

Magdiyel Brito, Intake Specialist

Answer B. If an apartment community's screening policy includes

criminal background checks, the landlord is obligated to apply the policy consistently to all applicants. To avoid the appearance of selective enforcement, the landlord should not make exceptions to the policy for former residents.

The screening policy for an apartment complex includes a criminal background check for all adult applicants. Recently a former resident, who moved away for a new job, returned to town and applied to move back in. Since she was a good tenant, can the landlord skip the criminal background check this time without triggering any fair housing concerns.

Is the answer:A. Yes, the tenant's previous record allows the landlord to skip the criminal background check.B. No, the landlord must conduct a new background check, or C. The landlord can skip the background check if it has been less than 6 months since the tenant moved out.

2)

Youth Council Marchers