“It’s time to look at the basics: food, clothing and shelter,” saids Yusef Suggs-El , Executive Director of Action4Now. Winston-Salem can be a leading city; we should expect to agree and disagree and not prejudge. Mr. Suggs-El believes the first step of providing the needs of our community is for elected officials to take their oath serious and that we have to do what’s moral if we are ready for REAL CHANGE.

“We need more immunity in our population to slow COVID-19 down, and then each of us will have a 95% chance of protection when taking the vaccine,” states Dr. Christopher Ohl, MD of Infectious Disease, Professor of Medicine at Wake Forest University of Medicine. He educates us on how the vaccine is safe, why the safety data is reliable, and how the vaccine was so quickly available. Dr. Ohl believes that “we are half way there” and he can at least see the finish line.

4 of 4 of the Gun Violence Series: Losing a love one due to gun violence does not only effect the mother and/or father but “it causes psychological damage FOR LIFE to the ENTIRE FAMILY”, said Ashley Warren, sibling to Dontrell Warren, who lost his life on October 17, 2017. His plan that evening was to simply go to the store and come back home to his loving family. Ashley states with frustration because her brother’s case has not been solved , “one is just as guilty as the gunman when you don’t speak up to say ANYTHING about what you know.”

Tracy Dent saids “IT’S TIME TO STAND AND TELL MY STORY” even though she is still broken ..the May 2016 story of losing her son from a drive by shooting and 3 years later losing her daughter’s longtime boyfriend. “It’s a new day and time” and “time to change the constitutional rights to protect the witnesses so justice and closure can be received.”

Crystal Thompson, a mother who “plays over and over NOW without insanity” the day of March 23, 2014 when her son was killed in front of her home. She continues to push through each day “mimicking his life by LOVING LIFE” and being strong for her two daughters in which one is the twin to her deceased son who continues to ask “why did my rib have to leave me.” Crystal saids the job of a mother is never done so she effortlessly find ways and time “to reach one and teach one” of our young people to help “stop the pattern” of this gun violence.

From Forsyth County high school student at Craver High School Yellow Jackets to the youngest Chancelor of the 17 institutions in the UNC System , Dr. Karrie Dixon is successfully leading the only institution in the NC system that offers a 4 year Aviation Program at Elizabeth City State University ..she quotes “ This is an opportunity I did not see myself doing but someone saw the potential in me thanks to my mentors and sponsors .”

“Let’s start early to prepare our children to LEARN WELL” are the words that Bob Feikema, President/CEO of Family Services is sharing to get Forsyth County businesses, organizations and community to join forces in providing access to “high-quality” education opportunities for our 4 year-old children. Priority Pre-K Program ( an entity of Family Services) is a solution for what is not a family issue but a community problem.

“Candidly, one of the very best things about Winston-Salem is the diversity that underpins the whole community.” John Currie, the Wake Forest University Athletic Director, joins Sheriff Kimbrough at the table. The two discuss Currie’s appreciation for our community, the finer points of collegiate athletic divisions, and how “athletic directors are never celebrated, only tolerated.”

Your past challenges should not dictate your future life. Rod Wilson, an IFB Solutions Employee of the Year recipient, blind and had been diagnosed with COVID-19, is still determined to keep moving forward.  He talks with Co-Host, La Shanda Millner, FCSO PR Manager , to not only share his story but to spark the attention of many to know that his past life of incarceration and not the best  decisions made in his earlier years is HIS personal story but an experience that can be shared to help others know not do the same.