**Happy 4th of July**
NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door are always open to you! As always, thank you for your support!
NEWSLETTER INDEX
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AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE
… and MORE Sen. Bryant goes to High School at Beddingfield
Senator Bryant with the students of Beddingfield High School in Mr. Scott Jones’ class. Photo Credit: Stephanie Creech | Wilson Times
Congratulations To Katie Ammann
Teach for America Celebrating Community Impact Teach For America – Eastern North Carolina is pleased to announce Katie Ammann as one of the inaugural winners of the Lindsay Budnick Award for Community Engagement and Impact. Ms. Ammann is the founder and owner of The Music School of Roanoke Rapids and a 2009 corps member from Southern Illinois. She taught high school math in Northampton County Schools and during her third year of teaching, she created The Music School of Roanoke Rapids, combining her love of music with her passion for teaching. Today, the school reaches over 200 students through its individual music lessons and community classes. Katie said it was the community that made her feel welcome and encouraged her open her own music studio. In fact, in the first year after she opened the school, she was awarded the Roanoke Valley Chamber’s New Small Business of the Year Award. Robyn Fehrman, Teach for America Organization
______________________________________________________________________________ Congratulations Goes Outs to Marqueita Dickens Wilson Community College: NC Back-to Work Program
Marqueita Dickens attended a Back-to-Work information session at Wilson Community college on December 4th. The young Army veteran served five years and earned three Army Achievement Medals, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, an Army Service Ribbon, and two Overseas Service Ribbons among several other commendations. More than a year after receiving an honorable discharge, Marqueita was unemployed and expecting her second child. Excited to learn about the opportunity that the NC Back-to-Work program at Wilson Community College provided, Marqueita diligently set out to complete the necessary criteria for acceptance into the program. On May 7th she finished the Certified Nurse Aide Level 1 Class. For more information on Allied Health Programs, contact Elise Webb, CE Allied Health Program Coordinator, at 252-246-1325, or at ewebb@wilsoncc.edu. Theresa Peaden, Director of Continuing Education, Wilson Community College
Senator Bryant and law school intern Jasmine Colquitt Delta Day, June 11, 2014 Senator Bryant and Senator Foushee shown with Sorors
Senator Bryant receiving the Green Tie Award for Senator of Year on May 27, 2014
SCHOLARSHIP/GRANTS AWARDS, JOB and OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Vance County school wins $4,884 grant from the CenturyLink Foundation for innovative technology project
HENDERSON, N.C. – CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced a Henderson-area winner of the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation’s Teachers and Technology grant program. The program, which has been offered since 2008, awards grants to schools in CenturyLink’s local service areas on behalf of teachers who have developed specific plans to innovatively implement technology in their classroom.
About the CenturyLink Foundation CenturyLink’s vision is to improve lives, strengthen businesses and connect communities by delivering advanced technologies and solutions with honest and personal service. CenturyLink extends this vision through the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to contributing to endeavors that improve the well-being and overall quality of life for people throughout CenturyLink’s communities. Named after CenturyLink’s founder Clarke M. Williams, the Foundation is endowed by CenturyLink to support community initiatives that encourage our employees to use their time, talents and resources to strengthen the communities in which they live and work.
NASH EDGECOMBE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.
JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Child Development Division Director
General Statement of Duties: Perform administrative work in developing, coordinating and directing a large Head Start/Child Development Program for disadvantaged children of low-income families. Work is performed under the supervision of the Executive Director of the agency and is evaluated through conferences, written reports, staff development and acceptance by the community.
Develop and supervise a child development program for preschool children; determine needed facilities, equipment and supplies.
Supervise the planning and accomplishment of food service, health care, parent involvement, and educational programs; evaluate each part of the program.
Participate in advisory board meetings and assist in developing sound policies.
Provide staff development for staff and volunteers. Perform related work as assigned.
Considerable knowledge of the growth and development of young children, and the planning and implementation of appropriate programs to meet their needs.
Considerable knowledge of community resources offering child development facilities.
Considerable knowledge of business management aspects of operating child development facilities.
Ability to work closely with staff members in identifying those clients who might benefit from child development program services.
Ability to plan and conduct staff development programs.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING Graduation from a four-year college or university, preferably with a degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or Elementary Education. Five (5) years experience in human services program management, including program planning, operations, and evaluation or an equivalent combination of experience and training. Must be able to develop and manage a budget. Possess a valid North Carolina Driver’s License.
SALARY GRADE: 45 ($54,225.60 – $81,993.60)
Audition for:
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rain ow is Enuf” Performance: Date: September 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th @ 7:30 pm They need (7) women of color for the performance. Auditions:
For additional information contact David Nields.
BASIC REFRIGERATION & EPA/CFC CERTIFICATION! FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OR GED EQUIVALENT
Get Prepared for 50 Different Types of Positions in a Profitable Industry. FREE Nine weeks starting Saturday, July 12, 2014 (July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, September 11) 12:00 NOON TO 3:30 PM
FIRST COME FIRST SERVED CLASS SIZE LIMITED TO 15. DON’T BE LEFT OUT. One-on-One Mentoring Available This course offers the career-minded a HUGE Jump-Start in a very profitable industry. M. A. RAY CENTER 1405 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Tarboro, NC. FOR REGISTRATION, CALL 252-823-1733
Instructor: Richard H. Parker Jr. “MY BROTHER`S KEEPER”
Golden LEAF Grants to:
Nash County
The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors voted to provide $1.5 million to Nash County through the Community-Based Grantsmaking Initiative in order to provide sewer service to Highway 97 industrial site. This matches county funds of $1.7 million and is sufficient to complete the project.
The county and its economic development team have had several distribution clients (similar to Rooms to Go, which recently announced a distribution facility in Harnett County on the 95 corridor) visit the site. In today’s competitive economic development environment, infrastructure is often crucial to have already in place. This grant will permit that to happen, and county officials target up to 1,000 jobs that may come to this site as their goal.
Wilson County
The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors voted unanimously to provide two grants to Wilson County educational institutions to benefit efforts to build our future manufacturing workforce.
The Board approved a grant of up to $750,000, the entire amount requested, to Wilson County Schools toward renovations of Beddingfield High School to accommodate another Early College on that campus. The grant would require a match from other sources for renovation and equipment (including in-kind donations of equipment from private companies) to obtain the full amount.
The Board also approved a grant of $500,000 to Wilson Technical Community College for expenses related to the Mechanical Engineering Technology Lab and welding equipment for use in the Lee campus property (the former car dealerships). This builds on earlier Golden LEAF grants for manufacturing training equipment to WTCC.
The strong and clear involvement of local private companies gives us a great deal of confidence in the prospects and relevance for these two projects. We realize that there is more work for the grantees to do to obtain the other funds necessary to complete the project, but the Board is glad to do its part.
Thanks for your service and support, and best wishes for a quick and successful end to the legislative session. Halifax Community College
The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors voted to provide $450,000 to Halifax Community College through the Community-Based Grantsmaking Initiative to purchase equipment for advanced manufacturing training. Private sector employers strongly endorse the proposal to ensure they have the workforce they need to move forward.
Warren County
The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors voted to provide two grants to Warren County entities through the Community-Based Grantsmaking Initiative. Forty-five thousand went to the Warren County Free Clinic to modernize their equipment and provide better service; and $50,000 granted to Warren County for planning and feasibility of the costs of renovating the old Pack mill for use as an agricultural business center.
Best regards, Dan Gerlach President Golden LEAF
S.T. Wooten Corp. Inc., Wilson, North Carolina, is being awarded $9,975,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0003 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-13-D-5245) for repairing various areas of runways 23R and 14L at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION…
Childcare in Halifax County
v Approximately 2,758 children under the age of 6 reside with at least one working parent. v In March 2014, the county served 586 different children with child care subsidy and had 67 eligible children on the waiting list for subsidy.
v Halifax County has 46 licensed child care programs. 32 of which are centers and 14 are family child care homes. 56% of the centers and 43% of homes have a 4 or 5 star rating. v There are 904 children up to the age of 5, and 162 school-age children currently enrolled in these child care programs.
v 70% of children in centers are in a 4-5 star licensed centers. 46% in daycare homes are in 4-5 star licensed homes. v Most families in Halifax County cannot afford the full cost of child care and need a child care subsidy.
v Low income families and families with more than 1 child have to pay a high percentage of their income for childcare.
Earn your MPA online at the UNC School of Government A new online program at UNC-Chapel Hill is making it possible for more students than ever to learn how to serve their communities, without having to leave them. Just one year old, the MPA@UNC has enrolled 70 students, half of them from North Carolina and half from 15 other states and the District of Columbia. It builds off of similar success from the UNC-CH business school’s online program, called MBA@UNC. “With the addition of this online MPA option, qualified students can choose a program that fits their life needs and their learning preferences, and we will expand our positive impact on communities across the state and the country.” School of Government Dean Mike Smith. In January 2013, MPA@UNC welcomed its first students. There are currently 70 total students enrolled in six different groups, and that number is expected to double by the end of 2014. MPA@UNC has the same curriculum as the program’s on-campus format. With courses ranging from management and leadership to public policy analysis and project evaluation, the program educates leaders for local, state, and federal governments and nonprofit organizations.
ETHICS TIP
Academic or athletic scholarships based on the same criteria as applied to the public are not considered gifts under the State Government Ethics Act. G.S. 138A-3(15).
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
NC State Health Plan Approves Autism Benefit: ABA Treatment to be Covered by Insurance
Citing “sound financial standing and ability to meet its financial and statutory obligations without increasing employee premiums in 2015”, the NC State Treasurer, Executive Administer and Lead Actuary for the NC State Health Plan recommended the legislature forgo the scheduled increase to premiums for 2015.
The North Carolina State Health Plan voted unanimously to add coverage for ABA for autism beginning in 2015. The North Carolina State Health Plan added ABA/autism coverage without raising premiums, providing coverage for more than 670,000 North Carolinians. The General Assembly needs to pass HB 498 to get the same coverage to the remainder of the state-regulated market.
PAGES
Local Students Serves as Page in the North Carolina Senate
Statewide high school students in grades 9 through 12 serve as pages when the General Assembly is in session. They perform valuable duties for the Senators and their office staff. They attend daily Senate sessions, committee meetings, and assist staff members with office duties during the week they serve in the Legislature.
The North Carolina Senate was honored recently to have Erial JaPelle Harris, a student at Roanoke Valley Early College, and Destini N’Cole Morton, a student at Rocky Mount High School, serve as a Page. Erial is the daughter of Michael and Endia Yancey of Weldon, and Destini is the daughter of Stevern and Sheila Morton of Rocky Mount. Erial and Destini were both sponsored by Senator Angela Bryant and appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, Phil Berger of Rockingham County. Erial Harris Destini Morton
“How was your experience?”
“If you believe it, you can and will achieve it!” says Erial. “I just want to let you know that my daughter Erial Harris really enjoyed serving as a Page last week. She is talking about her experience to everyone she meets. Thank you for the time that your office invested in her. As a parent it makes me proud to see her so excited about this experience. And she was so happy to have lunch with Senator Bryant that truly made her day.” Endia Yancey
“My week as a Senate Page has been very adventurous! Not only have I enjoyed being able to help my personal Senator, but I’ve also enjoyed working at meetings and during session. It was nice to see how the Senators work and hear the terminology that they use to edit or vote on a bill or amendment. Making new friends and meeting many incredible people has been exciting. My week as a Senate Page has not only educated me but also helped me appreciate the work these men and women do to help the state.”- Destini Morton
BECAUSE YOU CARE – WE THANK YOU
Good Afternoon Senator Bryant, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to visit with us on Tuesday and for all of the advice and information you shared with our 4-Hers. I really appreciate your support of both Halifax County and our youth. I have attached the pictures both from our visit and from the Nurse Family Partnership visit. Thanks again for all you do! Kind Regards, Ashley L. Brooks
Haylie Williams, Senator Bryant, Shannon Miles and Ashley Brooks
Dear Senator Angela Bryant,
I was delighted to read recently of your designation as Senator of the Year for the Green Tie Award given by The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters.
We appreciate all of the hard work you do on behalf of North Carolina’s citizens to protect our natural resources and quality of life. Scenic North Carolina has, as its mission, to protect and sustain the natural scenic beauty of North Carolina, and you have demonstrated a commitment to these values.
Thank you for working to enhance the natural and built environment through public policy. We are grateful for your leadership.
Sincerely,
Scenic North Carolina Reyn Bowman, President Shelly Green, Secretary
I am not in your district but I would like to thank you for voting against the fracking bill. I wish we had more representatives like you.
Penelope Boyette
Dear Senator Angela Bryant,
Many thanks to each of you for the time you spent with us today. We appreciate very much the effort you give to serve the citizens of NC. You made us feel at ease and your attention to the issues in forestry and the Cooperative Extension gives us confidence that you understand just how important your support for them is to us. Since we had no handouts, I will send you a very short and simple list for your reference. Thank you once again for serving the citizens of our great state. We are available if you should have questions regarding anything we shared with you today.
You remain in our prayers. Dwight Batts
Dear Senator Bryant: Wilson Community College and I would like to thank you on behalf of the students who are receiving support through the NC Back-to-Work initiative. The program at Wilson Community College is assisting more than 70 unemployed or underemployed individuals in gaining the skills and third party, stackable credentials to obtain or upgrade employment. I hope you enjoy learning more about the program and the lives it is changing through the following article about one young lady who has overcome obstacles to get “Back-to-Work.” Again, thank you for your continued support! Theresa R. Peaden Director of Continuing Education
Contact: Senator Angela R. Bryant, North Carolina Senate • District 4• North Carolina General Assembly • State Legislative Office Building • 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 520, Raleigh, NC 27603 • 919-733-5878-P • 919-754-3289-F •Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net or Karon Hardy, Legislative Assistant at bryantla@ncleg.net. |