WS Chronicle

Award recipient shows giving back is important

To the Editor

So many times you hear negative stories about young Black men.  I would like to share with each of you my firsthand experience with a positive Black man who is very important in my life.  He is my husband Antwan Steele Sr.

Antwan is a selfless and phenomenal person.  When we met, I always knew he was special and could bring so many positive attributes to our community.

My husband has been volunteering in the Winston Salem community for the past five years.  During this time he has coached football with the AYF league; with the Fulton YMCA he coached basketball, soccer, referee many games and is still an active coach with the Fulton YMCA for about four years now.

On top of all of this, he spends his free time working with many middle and high school guys, with school work, sports or just an ear to listen.

Because of these accomplishments, and Antwan Steele’s dedication to our community he was recognized on April 19 by the YMCA Northwest Chapter and was given the STRONG award from the Fulton YMCA.

It is one thing to just volunteer but it is another when you become positive influences in young men’s lives. This is what my husband has done, what he will continue to do and what he stands for.

I love my husband so much and because of his passion in making a difference, we will continue to dedicate our time and attention to different organizations throughout our city that make a difference in our youth, because they are our tomorrow.

Raising kids ourselves, he always would say, “I want to make sure our kids know why community and giving back is so important. You don’t have to have money to make a difference; you just have to give the most important gift God gave us: time.”

Thank you Antwan for showing us that giving back is important.

Leah A. Steele 

Winston-Salem

Nonprofit helps community to bolster education

To the Editor:

I agree with Donna Rogers’ opinion that transforming education takes a collaborative approach.

We can’t just rely on parents to teach their children at home.  We can’t expect teachers to do it all at school.  We need community partners like READWS to work with parents, students and teachers to ensure the success of our most vulnerable students.

READWS, started as the Augustine Literacy Project, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free tutors to underserved students with reading problems. We have since expanded our mission. The mission of READWS is to reach, teach and advocate for struggling readers by training tutors, educators and parents to use the evidence-based best practices of a multi-sensory, structured literacy approach.  We focus on students who are at an economic disadvantage.

Over 160 Augustine Literacy tutors currently serve economically disadvantaged children in more than 35 public schools and after-school programs in Forsyth County. These volunteer tutors teach twice a week, and their students are learning. Last year, Augustine tutors provided over 7,000 hours of free, direct instruction in our local schools.

We hope some of you reading this will decide to join us as tutors, supporters and advocates.  We need everyone to be “all in” for our WSFCs students.

Tonya Nealon, Augustine Tutor

READWS staff

 520 Summit Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-723-4391, ext. 1507

Tonya@ReadWS.org

http://www.readws.org/

Note: Learn more about Augustine Project tutoring. on Tuesday, May 17, at Carl Russell Recreation Center, 3521 Carver School Road., from 9:30 to 11 a.m. RSVP is required by calling 336-723-4391, ext 1506 or emailingpam@readws.org.

Harriet Tubman on $20 bill is big milestone

To the Editor:

I’m glad Treasury listened to my call, and the calls of many other members of Congress and the American people, in keeping Alexander Hamilton on the $10 and putting a woman on the $20. Harriet Tubman, a woman who through sheer perseverance and fearlessness, led hundreds out of captivity, deserves this great merit.

This decision is a major milestone to recognize the contributions women have made to this nation.

The other changes to honor leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, such as Susan B. Anthony, and the civil rights era, such Martin Luther King Jr., are a testament to their shared significance in moving our nation forward.”

U.S. Rep. Alma S. Adams (NC-12) 

Washington, DC 

Note: Adams sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in July urging him to keep Alexander Hamilton on the $10 dollar bill and put a woman on the $20 dollar bill. Adams is also a cosponsor of

H.R.2147, the Woman on the Twenty Act.