OUTREACH
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Beyond Soul and Salsa
At each Beyond Soul and Salsa forum, community representatives meet to discuss different issues and commonalities relevant to both the African-American and Hispanic populations.
Since its inception in June 2005, forums have been held at churches and community centers around the Winston-Salem area to facilitate dialogue between diverse groups of residents. Panelists have included elected officials, city and federal government officials, local religious leaders, community activists, and many other local organizations.
Forum One at El Cordero De Dios Moravian Church
Topics: Stereotypes and misconceptions in and about the African-American and Hispanic communities
 
Forum Two at Southside Baptist Church
Topics: Involving African-Americans and Hispanics in local elections, positive police relations, and community activism
Forum Three at the Winston Lake YMCA
Topics: Housing Code enforcement, public housing, and gang prevention
  
Forum Four at the Emmanuel Baptist Church
Topics: Challenges facing adult and student immigrants in the community
 
Forum Five at the Salvation Army
Topics: Economic development and small business concerns in the African-American and Hispanic communities
  
Forum Six at Union Baptist Church
Topics: Various diversity challenges in education
 
Forum Seven at Sprague Street Recreation Center
Topics: Voter rights, gang prevention, fair housing, and immigration
  
Forum Eight at Gateway YWCA
Topics: 287 (g) concerning immigration law, the city's neighborhood stabilization program, tax myths, and the results of a survey of Hispanic residents
 
Forum Nine at Gateway YWCA
Topics: Increasing workplace diversity in the Winston-Salem community
   
Black History Month
The City of Winston-Salem has hosted and participated in many Black History Month events. The events are aimed toward improving race relations and celebrating the contributions of esteemed African-Americans in the Winston-Salem community.
Honoring Local Medical Legends: NAACP President Stephen Hairston and Director Wanda Allen-Abraha of the Winston-Salem Human Relations Department honor local medical legends for their contributions to the African-American medical community.
   
Global Festival Series
The Global Festival Series highlights various emerging immigrant populations and global cultures in the local community. Through partnerships with local universities, such as Winston-Salem State University and Salem College, art, clothing, food, dance, and music from countries such as Ethiopia, Nepal, Germany, various East Asian countries, Jamaica, and many others are featured.
   
  
Jena 6 Forum
College students and community leaders who traveled to Jena, Louisiana learned lessons regarding why Jena 6 is important to our local community. A town hall meeting was also held in Winston-Salem titled “Reflections on Lessons Learned.” Panelists included Rep. Earline Parmon of the North Carolina General Assembly, Stephen Hairston of the NAACP, and several community members from area high schools and colleges. Panelists spoke candidly about the impact of the Jena 6, whether or not a similar incident could occur in Winston-Salem, and what could be learned from the events.
 
Triad Juneteenth Festival
The Triad Juneteenth Festival, coordinated by Triad Cultural Arts and co-sponsored by the City of Winston-Salem Human Relations Department and various other community organizations, celebrates the freeing of the last group of slaves in America. The festival educates the community about African-American freedom and commemorates the end of slavery. Different cultural entertainment and several forms of African-American Art are featured during the celebration.
  
Latin American Expo
Hispanic residents educate the community about various Spanish-speaking countries and cultures through dance, clothing, and music. In addition, information is available for Hispanic residents about community agencies and services.
The Latin American Expo-Fair is organized by the City of Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission, the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, the Hispanic Center at Forsyth Technical Community College, and the Hispanic Arts Initiative.
Student Race Relations Forum
High School students from each of the public high schools in Forsyth County discuss the state of race relations and stereotypes at their schools. Since its inception in 2002, the annual forum has been held at a different high school each year. The 2009 forum was held at West Forsyth High School and was moderated by radio personality Busta Brown.
 
African/Mexican Photo Exhibits
In 2006, the Human Relations Commission co-sponsored three art exhibitions at the Sawtooth Building that called attention to the common heritage of many of Winston-Salem's Hispanic and African-American residents. One featured exhibit was titled "An African Presence in Mexico: The Photographs of Romualdo Garcia and Wendy Phillips." Also on display in the Sawtooth Building was "Colors of Mexico," an exhibition organized by the Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University, and "Going to Carolina del Norte: Narrating Mexican Migrant Experiences," an exhibition organized by the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Wanda Allen-Abraha, the director of human relations, said that the exhibit is part of the commission’s on-going efforts to improve relations between African-Americans and Hispanics in Winston-Salem. "The majority of the Hispanics in Winston-Salem are descendants of African slaves who settled in Mexico," she said. "They have a common heritage with our black residents."
The Interfaith Community programs are designed in accordance with the Interfaith Committee’s Mission Statement: “To initiate activities that facilitate the harmonious bringing together of people of various faiths and 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.” Committee members strive to remain active in activities that promote positive interfaith relations while working to educate youth about the importance of an Interfaith community.
Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award
2009 marked the first annual Young Dreamers Award. This award is bestowed upon several young citizens of Winston-Salem to commend young leaders who have brought about positive and real change in race relations in their communities.
 
Dr. Martin Luther King Day Observance
(In partnership with Mutter Evans and Winston-Salem NAACP)
   
Cartoon Crisis
Pastor Richard Groves, Imam Dr. Hamdy Radwan, Rabbi Mark Strauss-Cohn and Imam Khalid Griggs discuss the world-wide and local implications of the Islamic Cartoon Crisis and the impact on the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities, sponsored by the Human Relations Commission´s Interfaith Committee.
  
The Winston-Salem Human Relations Department is dedicated to ensuring that all area citizens are treated equally and fairly in their pursuit of renting or owning a home. In addition to providing counseling on issues of housing discrimination, the Human Relations Department sponsors several Fair Housing themed events throughout the year.
Fair Housing Month
(In partnership with HUD and the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors)
Fair Housing Month is celebrated in recognition of the anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act came just over a century after the Civil Rights Act of 1866 – the first legislation to prohibit racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property. The Fair Housing Act expanded the conditions of discrimination to include judgments based on color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status (families with children) and physical or mental handicap.
To celebrate Fair Housing Month and the laws preventing housing discrimination, Forsyth County and Winston-Salem hold a series of themed events during the month of April. Annual events include the Fair Housing Kick-off Luncheon hosted by the Winston-Salem Regional Association of REALTORS® and the Fair Housing Summit.
   
March For Homeless Children
Since 2003, the March for Homeless Children has been an annual tradition in Winston-Salem. It has has been incorporated into the Winston-Salem Holiday Parade for the past several years. The March for Homeless Children raises awareness of the sobering number of homeless children in our community. Donations are collected on-site by Project HOPE, a local program offered by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools that addresses the needs of homeless children and their families.
  
College Civil Rights Educational Exchange
(In partnership with Wake Forest University)
Students in the Student Eastern European Youth Leadership Exchange program at Wake Forest University discuss and compare civil rights issues with local college students.
   
29th Annual Human Relations Awards Banquet
Students in grades K-12 in the public schools are honored for exhibiting inclusive behaviors in their communities and schools despite barriers and obstacles.
Thank you to our sponsors: Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Elliot Pishko Morgan P.A., Hispanic League of the Piedmont Triad, Southern Community Bank and Trust, Legal Aid of North Carolina, NAACP of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, Winston-Salem Fire Department, Winston-Salem Housing/Neighborhood Development Department, Winston-Salem Police Department, Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department, Piedmont Federal, Union Baptist Church, Kidane Mehret Ethiopian Church, Commissioner Pam Peoples-Joyner, Monte White, City of Lexington Human Relations Commission, and Winston-Salem Regional Association Realtors.
  
Race and Gender in the Presidential Election
The Human Relations Department and Wake Forest University sponsored “Race, Gender and the Presidential Election." The panel was made up of faculty from five colleges in the Winston-Salem area and moderated by the Wake Forest chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society. The forum was focused on discussing the influence of race and gender on the Presidential election, as well as the implications that the outcome would have on civil rights.
 
University UNCSA Women's Empowerment and Community Engagement Partnership
The Winston-Salem Human Relations Department partners with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) for a series of events promoting community engagement and understanding of social issues among college students. The first event includes college students participating in the Social Justice Training Institute, a program which teaches youth to better understand prejudices and privileges. "Telling Your Story: A Valentine's Community Arts Day" gives children of all races the chance to interact with college students while producing art projects. "The Word Is Women: Stories of Empowerment Workshop" focuses on women leaders and community members sharing a story of a time in their lives when they felt marginalized and/or empowered. Past panelists include Mayor Pro Tempore/Council Member Vivian H. Burke, Angel Hooper, Dr. Mary Niepold, Chevara Orrin, and Dr. Anna Rubino.
   
   
Human Relations staff interview various community partners regarding upcoming programs, initiatives, and events. Recent guests have included Bertha Caldwell, Principal of the Year, and Ellen Rosenberg, a faculty member at UNCSA.
  
Watch Nexus Television on Channel 13, WSTV 13.
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