WS Chronicle

The Winston-Salem City Council heard dozens of nonprofits ask for funding in the city’s $482.2 million budget during a public comment hearing on Thursday, June 8.

The City Council annually holds a meeting for comments on its budget for the next fiscal year, which will go into effect on July 1. It’s become a time for nonprofits who receive funding from the city to thank the council for that support. It’s also an opportunity for those who aren’t recommended for funding or didn’t get as much money as they wanted to ask the council to consider adding their request to the budget before its vote on June 18.

The city has allocated nearly $3 million to fund dozens of nonprofits in the budget. HARRY Veterans Community Outreach received $25,000 in the proposed budget, just $5,000 shy of the agency’s request.

“We humbly thank you and are grateful for everything that you do for us,” said HARRY founder Ciat Shabazz.

She asked the council to fund the full request to cover the cost of psychiatric and medical services to veterans.

The Josh Howard Foundation’s Steve Nivens thanked the city for the $6,500 it’s allocated in the budget, but said he’d like the city to at least meet the organization halfway on its request for $20,000.

“We can’t do much without funding,” said Nivens.

The charitable organization of basketball player Josh Howard is receiving the money as part of the city’s SOAR (Successful Outcomes After Release) grants. Helping ex-offenders find work is one of the group’s many initiatives. Its numerous other works include a back-to-school program and free basketball camps.

Organizations that didn’t make it in the budget that made appeals included Honorable Youth Inc., which is seeking $11,000 for a Shooting Stars enrichment program for 20 youth this summer in East Winston. Rasheeda Shankle said that she started the initiative after doing a needs assessment in the Cleveland Avenue area.

“I just respectfully ask you guys to please, please reconsider our application so that we can provide a safe environment for these kids and prevent summer learning loss,” she said.

Advancing Children, Families and Communities Director Daymond Lindell asked for his organization’s rejected request for $5,000 to be reconsidered.  The group plans to hold a mentoring program at Title 1 schools with low-income students. It’ll include tutoring opportunities that will involve the students’ families.

The many diverse groups that thanked the city council for the funding they received included The National Black Theatre Festival, Old Salem Museum and Gardens, Shepherd’s Center, Bethesda Center for the Homeless, Experiment in Self-Reliance and Reynolda House.