WS Chronicle

The Winston-Salem Center for Education and the Arts’ The John 3:16 Building on West Sixth Street is receiving growing financial support.

The building offers rent-free space for qualifying non-profit organizations. The first tenant will be the Winston-Salem Street School; other groups are currently being considered.

The Center recently received a $30,000 grant from the Jessica T. Fogle Fund of The Winston-Salem Foundation, a $25,000 grant from the Reynolds American Foundation and a $25,000 grant from the John Wesley and Anna Hodgin Hanes Foundation. Many individual contributions from throughout the community have also been made, according to the Center’s board.

The money will be used to complete the rehabilitation of the 17,500-square-foot building, the former Forsyth County Employment Security Commision. The property was given to the Winston-Salem Center for Education and the Arts by First Baptist Church to provide a center to promote education and arts for the community.

More funding is needed for the makeover. Phase I renovations to the building and parking lot require raising $475,000. Board President Cathy Owen says that half of the goal has now been met.

The Winston-Salem Street School offers “a road to hope for at-risk youth.” The private high school is for those who have dropped out or have been expelled from the public school system.

For more information, email Owen at cathyannowen@gmail.com.