Ned Erickson: UPDATE Week of July 27

Fellows Alum Mathu Gibson

Some friends are joining the effort of making this world a better place for all by posting billboards and making t-shirts with a message for our time.

One of their models was the talented and inspiring Mathu Gibson.

check it out on Business 40 near Cloverdale.

Also:

Go to imjustshirts.com and purchase an “I’m Just_____” t-shirt! All proceeds go to colorofchange.org and other groups DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC RACISM! ⠀

there are other t-shirt examples in the More Photos section later...

Also, for those of you who are of a lighter complexion - there are "He was just _____" shirts as well.

#KidsStuff4Kids

First installment

Lia came home this week pretty distraught. She sees firsthand the price that children pay for the fact that we haven't as a society been able to get a handle on stopping COVID-19.

Children in our city are going to suffer this fall. It's that simple.

She was shocked to learn that these children don't have books to read! She asked why and they told her how libraries won't let them check out books because they have books they didn't return and they can't find them.

Any parent knows that this happens all the time. You figure out a solution, like buy the book. But when you are poor or have language challenges, solutions are not as easy to come by. So these kids don't have books to read, and now they are being asked to learn from home.

Where are they going to get school supplies? Art supplies? Things like jump ropes, frisbees, balls?

Lia felt compelled to do something about it. So we are collecting Healthy Stuff for kids.

Not food. There are other organizations doing that. But brain food.

So if you have the following:

Books suitable for Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade

Sports stuff like balls, jump ropes, frisbees

Art Supplies

School Supplies

Seeds for gardening or flowers

We are collecting them and handing them out at doctor visits at Waughtown Pediatrics and the Downtown Health Plaza.

Contact: winstonsalemfellows@gmail.com to learn more or find out where you can drop things off. Or if you know where we live, just drop it off on our front porch.

Spread the love of learning this fall by sharing your kids stuff with kids who don't have stuff

The Fellows Are Coming!

Our weekly Directors Zoom Meeting

Meet the 20-21 Class...

Michelle Howard

Michelle is originally from Winston-Salem and graduated from Furman University.

Bryn Lenkatis

Bryn is from West Chester, PA and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

AJ Britton

AJ is from Orlando, Florida and graduated from University of Florida

Caroline Filston

Caroline Filston is from Lookout Mountain and went to Furman University

Caroline Rassenfoss

Caroline is from Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Wake Forest University

Hayes Mabry

Hayes is from Shelby, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University

Caroline Wolfe

Caroline is from Charlotte, NC and graduated from Samford University

Bailey Yerby

Bailey is from Greenville, SC and graduated from University of South Carolina

Sam Bishop

Sam is from Orange Beach, Alabama and graduated from Wake Forest University

Tori Ellingson

Tori is from Gurley, Alabama and graduated from University of Alabama Birmingham

Meghan Beck

Meghan Beck is from Mountain Brook, Alabama and graduated from Wofford College

Owen Wood

Owen is from Winston-Salem, NC and graduated from Davidson College

Find our their majors and their hobbies next week!

Life Last Week

We continue to hunt for jobs, host families and living accommodations.

If you are hiring let us know!

If you want a Fellow in your house this year, let us know!

We continue to hammer away at our COVID plan. If you are interested in learning more, let us know.

The big thing this week was CHURCH PLACEMENT.

This is huge!

We have a great group of Church Partners this year.

Shout out to:

First Presbyterian

Hope Presbyterian

Redeemer Presbyerian

Reynolda Church

River Oaks Community Church

Salem Chapel

These churches are going on the offensive this year! we are honored to be part of their mission!

And Yes! We are finally venturing beyond Presbyterians! Woo Hoo!!!! Nothing against Presbyterians...

churches are in a struggle for survival during these wild and challenging times. we are excited to link arms with these churches and other churches in our community to help them be the salt and light we are called to be. we believe the local church must play a big part in the healing and good work that needs to be done if we are going to get through this.

This Last Week of July

We are working hard to finalyze jobs, families, recruit mentors, and continue our program planning. It's a marathon not a sprint.

This week, churches will be reaching out to Fellows.

Fellows will be interviewing for jobs.

We hope to be hearing from housing opportunities.

And we are preparing for our big summer board meeting next week.

Among other things...