YWCA offers housing, education and more to women and children

by Angela Lindsay

The YWCA Central Carolinas makes many people think of shelter/housing, swimming instruction and cardio classes. However, the reach of the 110-year-old organization extends far beyond its award-winning fitness center. Its many programs, such as those for women and children, are dedicated to nourishing a lot more than just physical well-being.

“We’re the oldest and largest women’s membership movement in the world,” says Kirsten Sikkelee, CEO of YWCA Central Carolinas. “Our mission is about eliminating racism and empowering women, so our programming is really designed to reach vulnerable populations who might otherwise be left on the margins — those who are brimming with potential and the desire to have a full life just as you and I have.”

Training and job interviews

In the 18 years she has been with the YWCA, including more than two years as CEO, Sikkelee has focused much of her energies on developing the Women in Transition (WIT) program, which offers safe and secure transitional housing for single, homeless women. She describes it as “not emergency shelter and not permanent housing, but a stepping stone for women to move from homelessness to greater stability.”

The program grew out of a need the YWCA already was fulfilling, having housed women in Charlotte since 1909. The organization began to put programming and staffing into place in the mid-1990s to create supportive services for the women who already were living there.

Now, WIT operates within a network of agencies that serve homeless women and can refer those women to the YWCA, such as the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte’s Center of Hope Shelter, the Charlotte Rescue Mission’s Dove Nest program and area mental health facilities. The YWCA provides a supportive environment for women who find themselves in poverty due to a variety of reasons, including domestic violence, substance abuse or mental illness. While in the program, the women receive services ranging from computer training and budgeting skills to preparing for job interviews, as well as health and fitness. There are 66 rooms available for women, who can remain in the program for up to two years. Some 600-700 women have transitioned through WIT since it officially began.

“We have lots of amazing success stories, and delightfully, we have women who have left here seven, eight, nine years ago who still come back and share encouragement with current residents. It’s neat to see the long-term impact in a woman’s life,” Sikkelee shares.

In 2008, seven WIT participants attended Central Piedmont Community College, while an eighth enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Another graduate returned to the accounting profession and purchased a home in less than a year.

Families succeeding together

Because of the success of Women in Transition, the Board and staff at the YWCA used it as a model to build a program for families. Families Together provides safe, affordable housing and intensive support services for homeless families with minor children. Supported by Christ Episcopal Church and numerous other donors and friends, the YWCA built a 10-unit housing complex on the Park Road campus and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Families Together program in April 2008. The YWCA now houses more than 100 individuals each day as they work toward permanent housing.

“It’s been a phenomenal opportunity to work with clients of all ages and see them turn their lives around,” says Rebecca Stickel, inaugural director of Families Together.

Stickel not only oversees the entire project, but also serves as direct case manager for four of the 10 families that reside there. Kenya Henderson manages the other six. Families are referred by local homeless service network agencies like A Child’s Place and the Shelter for Battered Women. Like WIT, the families can remain in the program for up to two years.

In 2009, the YWCA formed a partnership with the Charlotte Housing Authority. The CHA is providing subsidies for nine of the 10 units, allowing families to pay only 30 percent of their income on rent (which includes utilities, and supportive services). Families that meet certain criteria can graduate with a Section 8 choice voucher from CHA, which Stickel describes as a “huge incentive.”

She and Henderson continue working with the transitioning families for a year after they graduate to help them achieve longer term self-reliance. Five families have graduated with the vouchers so far, three are at the after-care stage and two have achieved permanent housing.

“This is a great positive step for them in the continuum of homelessness to permanent housing,” Stickel says.

Educating, leading children

Though there are many moving parts in the organization, the YWCA’s programs collaborate and often overlap to provide additional support and the most comprehensive plans and opportunities for women, youth and families to advance. For example, children ages 5-12, who are in the Families Together program, can attend the onsite youth learning center. For 50 weeks each year, the YWCA operates eight youth learning centers in Mecklenburg County and two in Union County.

The centers serve more than 300 children and are open daily and after school, including teacher workdays and holidays. In addition to homework help, the kids also enjoy swimming, storytelling, field trips, and arts and crafts.

The key focus, according to Kimberly Roseboro, regional director of Youth Programs at YWCA Central Carolinas, is to ensure students are developed as leaders and learners. It also features a family support component. “We’re beyond day-to-day afterschool (programs) … because we really serve the entire family,” says Roseboro. “We understand that in order for a student to truly be successful, it takes a school, the community and the families.”

Roseboro says she is “very passionate” about the YWCA and continually sees the results of the program, as former students still communicate with her, saying how much the program meant to them. They even return to volunteer.

“We have to educate (children). We have to expose them to a better world to help them make and achieve goals,” adds Roseboro.

The YWCA Central Carolinas recently was honored with the Trailblazer Award from the Charlotte Housing Authority, honoring its leadership in youth issues and participation in educational and community-strengthening activities.

“It’s nice when you have partners that can recognize the work you’re doing, and that you can you can work in concert (with) so well,” Stickel says, noting the YWCA’s “incredible team” is a “staff that lives and breathes our mission.”

College campuses are filled with students of all ages

by Lee Rhodes

Ah, college. Dorm rooms. D-Hall. All-night cram sessions. Four years of post-high school fun.
Or not.
Today’s college student is difficult to stereotype. More and more so-called nontraditional students are becoming the norm. In fact, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and the University Continuing Education Association, the fastest-growing group taking college courses is adults ages 25 and older who are working and raising families. And, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, roughly half of these students are financially independent, are enrolled part-time and attend two-year community colleges rather than four-year schools.

A diploma opens more doors
Gone are the days when students went directly to college from high school, studied full time on campus for four years and entered the work force. Today’s students are any age, perhaps even elderly; they may be entering college for the first time as an adult or re-entering college in order to change careers, update professional credentials, earn an advanced degree or achieve personal fulfillment. They may go to school full or part time, and they may attend classes on campus or online. The possibilities are endless, as evidenced by these four real-life non-traditional students.
For Regina Davis, returning to school at UNC Charlotte has provided the opportunity not only to improve her career prospects, but also to make connections with fellow non-traditional students. The 42-year-old is working on her bachelor’s degree in Heath Communications, building upon a career spent in medical billing, emergency paramedic services and public relations for the health sector.
“I want to craft effective health messages and help underserved and minority communities,” she says of her current goals.
Going back to school also has provided a social outlet. Davis recently attended a national conference in Georgia for the Association of Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education. Closer to home, she’s vice president of the UNC Charlotte Non-Traditional Student Organization, which provides its members with academic and social support. The members lean on one another as they learn to juggle school against other responsibilities.
“I’m really trying to delegate responsibilities in my home,” says Davis, the married mom of three boys. “I think I’m pretty traditional in terms of mom roles. But I had to give that up. I can’t be all things to everybody.”
Delegation in Davis’ home will continue until at least May 2012, when she is scheduled to graduate from UNC Charlotte.

Never too old

Another student on the cusp of commencement is Antoine Allen, who is attending ITT Technical Institute, a private college focused on technology-oriented programs of study. Tackling a dual major, Allen will have earned two degrees from the School of Drafting and Design by March 2012. He’s already working in his field, however, having accomplished the goal he set for himself when he started school at age 30.

“I was tired of working at fast-food restaurants,” he explains. “I started to evaluate myself to determine where I want to be in the next few years.”

Allen always has been a night owl but still finds the rigors of working full time alongside attending evening classes to be an adjustment. Still, he says, “You’re never too old to not have time for school. It’s up to you to go after what you want.”

Darlicia Dickens is equally determined. She is proud to claim that, all told, it’s going to take her 30 years to earn her degree. She attended college right out of high school, but a successful career waylaid her plans. When her own mother graduated from Phoenix University at the age of 65, Allen knew that was all the inspiration she needed. She enrolled at Strayer University, known for its online course offerings, in January of this year at the age of 47.

“Don’t be afraid,” she advises. “There are a lot of people out there who want to help you, especially in the African-American community.” After she graduates in 2013, Dickens plans to pursue a master’s degree.

Keeping pace with change

Chris Arline, on the other hand, recently completely a master’s degree at the Wake Forest University School of Business, after working in his field for many years.

Arline has worked in television in one capacity or another since 1995, moving around the country before landing in North Carolina to become a local sales manager for WCNC. His decision to return to school was based on the evolving nature of his work.

“My industry is changing at a quick pace,” says Arline. “I wanted to make sure I was prepared for what was coming.”

To ensure he selected the right MBA program to fit hiss needs, the 38-year-old visited several local universities. He recommends others considering a return to school talk to people in admissions departments, chat with former students and even sit in on classes.

“This is a huge investment, both personally and financially,” he says, “so not knowing it’s the place for you is the wrong move.”

Arline acknowledges working full time and attending school at night is challenging (“It’s graduate-level work, so they’re not throwing softballs at you,” he says,), but he feels it’s been well worth it.

“Professionally, it’s one of the best things I’ve done in the past few years,” he concludes. “I have a new perspective on how to approach things with business owners, and I look at the market in a way I didn’t before. There is no question I’m better prepared to deal with the future.”

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Advertorial Example for Pride’s Special Education Section

(2011 September/October Health Issue)

Jada Grandy

Pittsburgh native Jada Grandy moved is senior vice president and community reinvestment manager for the North Carolina Affiliate of Fifth Third Bank. She is on the Affiliate Leadership Team where she is responsible for overseeing community development initiatives and Community Reinvestment Act regulatory compliance efforts. She also directs community development sponsorships and foundation grant opportunities to organizations throughout North Carolina.

Her vision for the bank is that it will be a “socially responsible community partner in transforming lives and empowering communities in North Carolina.”

“The most important part of my job is to ensure the bank is connecting with all the communities we serve,” she shares.

Prior to joining Fifth Third, Grandy was a national bank examiner providing regulatory oversight to ensure sound operations throughout the national banking system. She has also held positions in credit risk management and commercial lending.

She says her “passion for community and the banking industry” drew her to this career.

Grandy holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA in management from Robert Morris University.  She received the Women’s Financial Empowerment Award and served as a board member of the North Carolina Housing Coalition. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Marvette Monroe

Drawing on her 28-year banking career and current position as a tax professional with H&R Block, Marvette Monroe enjoys teaching others about financial literacy.

“While my degree in finance led me to a very successful career in banking, I sometimes think I missed my calling because I really find my passion now is in educating and helping individuals learn and understand the importance of basic finance matters in their everyday life,” she says.

The Washington, D.C. native moved to Charlotte three years ago with husband Rodney Monroe, chief of police for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Since then, she has helped develop a financial literacy curriculum for youths at the YWCA, and developed and facilitated a financial literacy program for youth in the Mint Museum of Art’s community outreach program in Grier Heights.

“I not only believe it is my responsibility to give back, I truly enjoy being able to help others.”

Monroe graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in finance. She is treasurer of the YWCA Central Carolinas’ Board of Directors and a member of the Romare Bearden Society.

She and her husband have been married 30 years. They have two children and a grandchild.

Debra Plousha Moore

As senior vice president of corporate human resources at Carolinas HealthCare System, Debra Plousha Moore directs recruitment and employment, compensation, benefits, employee relations, education, organizational development and employee health. She holds the top human resources position in the largest health care system in the Carolinas, and the third-largest public system in the nation. In January, she also took on responsibility for LiveWELL Carolinas!, the organization’s employee-based health and wellness program.

“At CHS, my team and I are privileged to work in an environment designed to recruit and retain the highest quality of healthcare professionals,” she says. “Our shared vision is to provide CHS teammates with a worthwhile employee experience where they will develop and thrive.”

Prior to joining CHS, the San Francisco native was senior vice president of human resources/organizational development for OhioHealth. She served as vice president of human resources and organizational development at Genesys Health System in Michigan and vice president of employee relations, diversity and human resources for the Franciscan Health System of the Ohio Valley.

A graduate of San Francisco State University, Plousha Moore earned a master’s degree in education, counseling and human services from the University of Dayton. She is married and has two sons.  

Regina Y. Wharton

Last fall, Regina Y. Wharton became senior vice president and director of human resources for the North Carolina Affiliate at Fifth Third Bank.

The New York native moved to Charlotte eight years ago to work as senior human resources business partner with Wachovia / Wells Fargo. At Fifth Third Bank, Wharton is responsible for human resource management.

“I’ve always had a passion for having and being in outstanding work environments, knowing that human resource management plays a huge role in ensuring that the workplace is a great environment to work in,” she says.

Wharton held positions at Cornell University including director of human resources strategic planning. She was also human resource manager at Corning Inc. for the legal and Steuben Glass divisions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from State University of New York and a master’s degree in labor relations/organizational behavior from Cornell University.

Wharton is on the executive advisory board for UNC Wilmington, the Cameron School of Business board, and the National Board of Directors of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources.

She is married to Nick Wharton, director of diversity at Charlotte Latin School. They have three children.  – Compiled by Angela Lindsay

The CIAA experience

by Tiffany L. Jones

This year’s CIAA tournament took place Feb. 28 to March 6. In addition to the basketball games, there were hundreds of events. Tournament attendance this year was projected to surpass last year’s estimated attendance of 175,000.

Official CIAA events were held at Time Warner Cable Arena and the Charlotte Convention Center. Out of the hundreds of events that took place, I can only feature a handful.

Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists

CAABJ hosted its annual media mixer on March 1 at Cosmos. There were writers, producers, news anchors, reporters, on-air personalities, etc., all ready to mingle.

N.C. Mutual Life Insurance: ‘A Cultural Celebration

On March 2, N.C. Mutual Life Insurance held an event at the Gantt Center, hosted by The 100 Black Men of Charlotte and the Grays. This cultural celebration brought out some of Charlotte’s most prominent individuals for an evening of networking, fellowship and presentations.

Food Lion CIAA Teen Summit

Food Lion partnered with Janine Davis, founder of the Girl Talk Foundation, to host the summit at the convention center on March 4. There were workshops, presentations, dance competitions and giveaways for the teens.

Anthony Hamilton & Friends

This sold-out event on March 4 at the Fillmore brought out a diverse group of fans for an intimate evening with Anthony Hamilton & Friends.

Digital Divas Welcome to Charlotte Weekend

Each year since the CIAA has been in Charlotte I have hosted an entire weekend of events that cater to the 35-plus crowd. This year’s night parties were held at Vida and Blue. The weekend ended with the “Panache” Farewell brunch at Ruth’s Chris. For more info or pics, visit www.digitaldivasevents.com and www.pridemagazine.net

The Charlotte Chamber, Pride Magazine and UNC Charlotte are proud to announce a joint research effort to identify a previously unmeasured yet vital sector of Mecklenburg County’s economy — women and minority-owned businesses.
Currently there are more than 8,000 such businesses within the MSA however the most detailed listing includes fewer than 700 firms. It’s a segment of the Charlotte business community that remains an untapped resource and one that holds tremendous potential for future economic development.
Recent census data further supports this urgent need. Over the last 10 years, North Carolina has experienced the fastest growth of the Hispanic population in the country. Meanwhile, African Americans continue their reverse migration trend of moving back to the South in great numbers.
In addition, a local survey of business owners showed that while total businesses grew by more than 3,592 firms within Mecklenburg County from 2002 to 2007, the growth of black and women-owned business remained stagnant. Due to the significant changes in minority population, it is difficult to comprehend why there has been a lack of business growth within these particular groups.

330 South Tryon Street, Suite 200 • Charlotte, NC 28202 • 704-378-1300 • BOOMcharlotte.com • twitter.com/cltecondev

“That’s why this joint research project is so imperative at this time,” said Tony Crumbley, vice president of research for the Charlotte Chamber.
The project will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will develop a definitive list of women and minority-owned firms within the 16-county Charlotte region. The second phase will attempt to understand the issues minority-owned firms have faced that may have impeded their success as well as to understand the market potential for minority-owned businesses within the area.
It is an ambitious venture that all three entities are proud to initiate. Dee Dixon of Pride Magazine sums it up best; “Pride is extremely excited about participating in this innovative research project. We look forward to getting trail-blazing results that will benefit women and minority-owned businesses across the region.”

For more information please contact:
Tony Crumbley
V.P. Research, Charlotte Chamber
tcrumbley@charlottechamber.com
704.378.1303

Erin Watkins
Dir. Research, Charlotte Chamber
ewatkins@charlottechamber.com
704.378.1308

Click “Here” or image above to view the Charlotte Multicultural Resource Guide

It was the generosity of others that helped Joy Payton-Stevens realize her dream. And now, she’s passing along that goodwill to others.

Since joining the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra last January, the 26-year-old cellist has been volunteering at local elementary and middle schools, where she attends music classes and helps coach the students, particularly with the cello and other stringed instruments.

“Oftentimes the teachers that are there are doing a really, really great job, but they don’t necessarily play the cello,” she explains. “They might play the piano, or they might play the violin or something like that. So it’s helpful to have a cellist there to help with the cello students or a just string player in general to just give tips on posture or fingerings or anything.”

She volunteers through the symphony’s outreach programs through which it adopts several schools in the area to buy instruments for students and sends coaches to assist with rehearsals and performances. Given the cuts in funding for the arts in schools, Payton-Stevens thinks it is “really important” for the local orchestra to make a contribution. For her part, she says giving free music lessons and encouraging young students is something she “really enjoys doing.”After all, someone did the same for her.

Generous teachers, strict parent

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Payton-Stevens began taking cello lessons at age 4. However, being able to do so was often a sacrifice.

“I had really awesome teachers when I was growing up. My family was not, by any means, rich or even comfortable. There were times when we couldn’t afford lessons, and I had awesome teachers that would just give me lessons for free. So when I was growing up, I knew that would be something that I would want to do whenever I was able to,” she explains.

Though neither of her parents played instruments, Payton-Stevens says her mother was adamant that she and her older sister, a violinist, practice regularly.

“She always made us practice every single day and made sure that we were prepared for lessons and took us to lessons and carried my cello when I was too little too carry it. So she was very strict about it. I think in order to be a good musician, you have to have a strict parent . . .,” she states.

Her mother also stressed that because of her racial background (Payton-Stevens’ mother is African-American and her father is white), she would probably have to perform better than some of her white counterparts in order to get noticed or to get into certain programs. Though she says she never really noticed much of an issue, she understands there was some truth to her mother’s directive.

All of Payton-Stevens’ hard work and her mother’s support have paid off. She is now in her first full season with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, her first professional position, and is one of its youngest performers.

“The other members of the section have been really, really supportive. They’re all very nice and really awesome,” she says. “They know a lot, and they are very happy to pass it along to me. So, it’s nice.”

Prior to moving to Charlotte, Payton-Stevens performed with the New World Symphony in Miami, a training academy that mirrors a professional orchestral schedule with full rehearsals during the week, two performances on the weekends, and instruction from various coaches and conductors. She describes the learning environment as a step between school and a professional career.

Audition alters a career path

Payton-Stevens originally wanted to be a lawyer — that is, until she auditioned for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra as a freshman in high school. Her coach there was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra’s cello section, and that’s when she realized she could make a living as a cello player. She began to think that it would be “a pretty fun way to make a career” and, again, with the help of others, set out to do just that.

Payton-Stevens’ parents were able to purchase her first cello as a child, a quarter-size, relatively affordable model. However, a full-size cello can be costly. In fact, in high school, Payton-Stevens played her modest cello alongside fellow cellists with $20,000 instruments. So while pursuing her college degree in cello performance at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, she sought assistance from a foundation in Los Angeles that loaned her a cello. Although she was supposed to return the instrument upon graduation, she made an agreement with the foundation to keep the cello and make monthly payments of $250 until she covers the $10,000 total cost. She is still paying for that cello and currently plays with it in the symphony.

It has been a good instrument, Payton-Stevens says, but not a great professional instrument, and she would love to own a “really, really super nice instrument” one day. Until then, she says she will “make it work.”

She shares that same resilient attitude with the students she instructs, and believes being a musician is about more than just notes and melodies. It is an art form that teaches discipline and improves academic achievement, concentration and focus in youth — lessons that can benefit anyone for a lifetime.

“I would encourage anybody, absolutely anybody,” Payton-Stevens urges, “to just pick up an instrument and give it a try.”